Due to weather risks caused by Hurricane Debby, the planned outdoor concert featuring Watchhouse (formerly Mandolin Orange) at the North Carolina Museum of Art at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, Aug. 8, has been moved to the Martin Marietta Center for the Performing Arts, an indoor venue located in downtown Raleigh. The show, which is presented by First Citizens Bank, is also sponsored by Cat’s Cradle in Carrboro.
Starting over a decade ago playing coffee shops and local restaurants around North Carolina, Watchhouse, led by Andrew Marlin and Emily Frantz, is a bona fide folk music sensation and one of 21st-century indie music’s biggest grassroots success stories. They sell out iconic venues (Red Rocks, Ryman Auditorium) and attract hundreds of millions of streams while producing exploratory music that “redefines roots music for a younger generation,” according to The Washington Post.
TICKETS Please bring your original ticket (digital or printed). Log into your online account to access tickets and print or add them to your mobile wallet. Questions? Please contact help@ncartmusum.org.
SEATING Former premium reserved, reserved, and general admission seating will be designated in Raleigh Memorial Auditorium and available on a first come, first serve basis. Ticket holders will be directed by ushers to the appropriate sections upon entry.
TRAFFIC AND PARKING Martin Marietta Center for the Performing Arts is located just 12–14 minutes from the North Carolina Museum of Art. Directions and parking information can be found here.
ACCESSIBILITY Visitors with wheelchair-accessible tickets will be given accessible seating at Martin Marietta Center for the Performing Arts. For questions related to accessibility, please visit the Raleigh Memorial Auditorium’s Accessibility webpage or email pacfrontofhouse@raleighnc.gov.
The popular International Bluegrass Music Association (IBMA) World of Bluegrass annual conference and music festival has announced it is moving to Chattanooga, Tennessee, after a decade in downtown Raleigh thanks to a $25 million incentive from The Volunteer State after this fall.
But that doesn’t mean the Oak City is going to stop hosting a bluegrass festival. Instead, Pinecone announced last fall it would partner with the City of Raleigh to introduce the Raleigh Wide Open Bluegrass Festival, which will debut in downtown Raleigh on Oct. 3-4, 2025.
PineCone, the Raleigh music organization that has coordinated much of the free music at IBMA’s event, plans to resurrect the branding of a previous street festival with the help of the City of Raleigh, the Greater Raleigh Convention & Visitors Bureau and the State Department of Natural and Cultural Resources.
The new name is a tribute to a 2005 Raleigh festival that was launched to bring life to downtown at the time, PineCone says.
The goal, organizers say, is that festivalgoers won’t feel like Raleigh Wide Open is a completely new festival. The plan includes a mix of performances along Fayetteville Street and other downtown areas, with sights on keeping it a primarily free event. The festival will focus on bluegrass but will also include genres like Americana, alt-country and other folk music, especially those with North Carolina ties.
You know and love him from his signature tunes in the movie “O Brother, Where Art Thou?” as well as seeing him on stage as the longtime guitarist for Alison Krauss & Union Station. But did you know that Tyminski is among this year’s IBMA Male Vocalist of the Year nominees?
Take a listen of today’s release of the first single from his latest concert album, “Dan Tyminski: Live from The Ryman,” and you’ll have no doubt as to why he is nominated along with other standout bluegrass voices Greg Blake, Del McCoury, Danny Paisley and Russell Moore.
According to his publicist, “Live From The Ryman” out on Aug. 16 shines a light on Tyminski’s acclaimed live show. Recorded in Nashville at the world-famous Ryman Auditorium, the album showcases the sharp songwriting, full-throttle vocals, and guitar chops that have powered Tyminski’s music for decades. It’s also a showcase for his ace band, a young group of fiery flat-pickers, hotshot instrumentalists, and harmony singers whose sheer talent is matched only by the band’s frontman. The result is a blend of old and new: a record that makes room for traditional influences, progressive energy, cover songs, originals, and unreleased material.
From his publicist, “Why would I settle down when I’m this good at ramblin’ ‘round?” sings Tyminski in his unmistakable voice on the song’s opening line, setting the stage for the good-time, uptempo number that highlights his stellar band of young musicians as much as it does his own commanding vocal performance. Cascading from verse to verse, solo to solo, Tyminski and company wrap up “Whiskey Drinking Man” right on the raucous edge of control, it seems, though a quick and tidy ending reminds listeners that it is all by design and this is one of the finest outfits touring today. Fans can stream or purchase “Whiskey Drinking Man” today at this link and be sure to pre-order or pre-save Dan Tyminski: Live From The Ryman ahead of its August 16th release right here. Tyminski’s tour continues in August with Canadian appearances in New Brunswick and Quebec before heading back to the States for a slew of late summer festival appearances. Tour dates can be found below.
Catch Dan Tyminski On Tour: Aug. 24-25 – Rogersville, NB – Rogersville Bluegrass Festival Aug. 30-31 – New Richmond, QC – New Richmond Bluegrass Festival Sept. 20 – Louisville, KY – Bourbon & Beyond Oct. 5 – Doswell, VA – State Fair of Virginia Oct. 11-12 – Big Stone Gap, VA – Blue Highway Fest Oct. 18-19 – Farmers Branch, TX – Bloomin’ Bluegrass Festival Oct. 20 – Brownwood, TX – Brownwood’s Lyric Theatre Nov. 16 – Rochester, NY – Kilbourn Hall
About Dan Tyminski Dan Tyminski is an icon of modern-day bluegrass. In addition to reaching Number 1 on the Billboard Bluegrass Albums chart with solo albums like 2008’s Wheels and 2023’s God Fearing Heathen, he has won 14 Grammy Awards, released multiple records as a member of Alison Krauss & Union Station, and topped the charts in more than 10 countries with “Hey Brother,” his genre-bending collaboration with DJ Avicii. Tyminski sang “I Am A Man Of Constant Sorrow” on O Brother, Where Art Thou?’s multi-platinum soundtrack, inspiring a new generation to discover bluegrass and traditional American folk music. 2024’s Dan Tyminski: Live From The Ryman captures him onstage in Nashville, Tennessee, performing a mix of songs from throughout his career with a string band.
Today’s announcement by the International Bluegrass Music Association is bittersweet for me since it will be the last awards ceremony held in Raleigh, at least for awhile. That’s because last fall, IBMA annouced that this year’s annual IBMA Wide World of Bluegrass business conference and Bluegrass Live! festival will be its last in the Oak City.
But until we find out where IBMA is headed next, we will celebrate the nominees, recipients and inductees who will be honored at the 35th Annual Bluegrass Music Awards show on Thursday, Sept. 26, at the Martin Marietta Center for the Performing Arts in downtown Raleigh, North Carolina, during IBMA’s headline event of the year.
The nominations and honorees were announced on a radio broadcast at SiriusXM in Nashville, Tennessee, that featured live performances by nominees Missy Raines & Allegheny and Authentic Unlimited.
Billy Strings, Sister Sadie, Authentic Unlimited and Molly Tuttle & Golden Highway lead the nominations. Also announced during the event were this year’s Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame inductees and Distinguished Achievement Awards Recipients. Entering the Hall of Fame – the highest honor awarded by IBMA and its membership – are Jerry Douglas, Katy Daley and Alan Munde.
It’s the biggest night on the bluegrass calendar, according to IBMA, featuring once-in-a-lifetime moments and outstanding performances by the best in bluegrass.
And the nominees are:
ENTERTAINER OF THE YEAR Billy Strings Molly Tuttle & Golden Highway Del McCoury Band Sister Sadie The Po’ Ramblin’ Boys
VOCAL GROUP OF THE YEAR Authentic Unlimited Sister Sadie Blue Highway Del McCoury Band Molly Tuttle & Golden Highway
INSTRUMENTAL GROUP OF THE YEAR Billy Strings Michael Cleveland & Flamekeeper Travelin’ McCourys East Nash Grass Molly Tuttle & Golden Highway
SONG OF THE YEAR “Fall in Tennessee” – Authentic Unlimited Songwriters: John Meador/Bob Minner Producer: Authentic Unlimited Label: Billy Blue Records
“Too Lonely, Way Too Long” – Rick Faris with Del McCoury Songwriter: Rick Faris Producer: Stephen Mougin Label: Dark Shadow Recording
“Forever Young” – Daniel Grindstaff with Paul Brewster & Dolly Parton Songwriters: Jim Cregan/Kevin Savigar/Bob Dylan/Rod Stewart Producer: Daniel Grindstaff Label: Bonfire Music Group
“Kentucky Gold” – Dale Ann Bradley with Sam Bush Songwriters: Wayne Carson/Ronnie Reno Producer: Dale Ann Bradley Label: Pinecastle
ALBUM OF THE YEAR City of Gold – Molly Tuttle & Golden Highway Producers: Jerry Douglas/Molly Tuttle Label: Nonesuch
Last Chance to Win – East Nash Grass Producer: East Nash Grass Label: Mountain Fever
Jubilation – Appalachian Road Show Producer: Appalachian Road Show Label: Billy Blue Records
No Fear – Sister Sadie Producer: Sister Sadie Label: Mountain Home
So Much for Forever – Authentic Unlimited Producer: Authentic Unlimited Label: Billy Blue Records
GOSPEL RECORDING OF THE YEAR “When I Get There” – Russell Moore & IIIrd Tyme Out Songwriter: Michael Feagan Producer: Russell Moore & IIIrd Tyme Out Label: Independent
“Thank You Lord for Grace” – Authentic Unlimited Songwriter: Jerry Cole Producer: Authentic Unlimited Label: Billy Blue Records
“Just Beyond” – Barry Abernathy with John Meador, Tim Raybon, Bradley Walker Songwriters: Rick Lang/Mike Richards/Windi Robinson Producer: Jerry Salley Label: Billy Blue Records
“God Already Has” – Dale Ann Bradley Songwriter: Mark “Brink” Brinkman/David Stewart Producer: Dale Ann Bradley Label: Pinecastle
“Memories of Home” – Authentic Unlimited Songwriter: Jerry Cole Producer: Authentic Unlimited Label: Billy Blue Records
INSTRUMENTAL RECORDING OF THE YEAR “Rhapsody in Blue(grass)” – Béla Fleck Songwriter: George Gershwin arr. Ferde Grofé/Béla Fleck Producer: Béla Fleck Label: Béla Fleck Productions/Thirty Tigers
“Knee Deep in Bluegrass” – Ashby Frank Songwriter: Terry Baucom Producer: Ashby Frank Label: Mountain Home
“Panhandle Country” – Missy Raines & Allegheny Songwriter: Bill Monroe Producer: Alison Brown Label: Compass Records
“Lloyd’s of Lubbock” – Alan Munde Songwriter: Alan Munde Producer: Billy Bright Label: Patuxent
“Behind the 8 Ball” – Andy Leftwich Songwriter: Andy Leftwich Producer: Andy Leftwich Label: Mountain Home
NEW ARTIST OF THE YEAR East Nash Grass Bronwyn Keith-Hynes AJ Lee & Blue Summit Wyatt Ellis The Kody Norris Show
COLLABORATIVE RECORDING OF THE YEAR “Brown’s Ferry Blues” – Tony Trischka featuring Billy Strings Songwriters: Alton Delmore/Rabon Delmore Producer: Béla Fleck Label: Down the Road
“Fall in Tennessee” – Authentic Unlimited with Jerry Douglas Songwriters: John Meador/Bob Minner Producer: Authentic Unlimited Label: Billy Blue Records
“Forever Young” – Daniel Grindstaff with Paul Brewster, Dolly Parton Songwriters: Jim Cregan/Kevin Savigar/Bob Dylan/Rod Stewart Producer: Daniel Grindstaff Label: Bonfire Music Group
“Bluegrass Radio” – Alison Brown and Steve Martin Songwriters: Steve Martin/Alison Brown Producers: Alison Brown/Garry West Label: Compass Records
“Too Old to Die Young” – Bobby Osborne and CJ Lewandowski Songwriters: Scott Dooley/John Hadley/Kevin Welch Producer: CJ Lewandowski Label: Turnberry Records
MALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR Dan Tyminski Greg Blake Del McCoury Danny Paisley Russell Moore
FEMALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR Molly Tuttle Jaelee Roberts Dale Ann Bradley AJ Lee Rhonda Vincent
BANJO PLAYER OF THE YEAR Kristin Scott Benson Gena Britt Alison Brown Béla Fleck Rob McCoury
BASS PLAYER OF THE YEAR Missy Raines Mike Bub Vickie Vaughn Todd Phillips Mark Schatz
FIDDLE PLAYER OF THE YEAR Jason Carter Bronwyn Keith-Hynes Michael Cleveland Stuart Duncan Deanie Richardson
RESOPHONIC GUITAR PLAYER OF THE YEAR Justin Moses Rob Ickes Jerry Douglas Andy Hall Gaven Largent
GUITAR PLAYER OF THE YEAR Billy Strings Molly Tuttle Trey Hensley Bryan Sutton Cody Kilby
MANDOLIN PLAYER OF THE YEAR Sierra Hull Sam Bush Ronnie McCoury Jesse Brock Alan Bibey
MUSIC VIDEO OF THE YEAR “Willow” – Sister Sadie Label: Mountain Home
“Fall in Tennessee” – Authentic Unlimited Label: Billy Blue Records
“The City of New Orleans” – Rhonda Vincent & The Rage Label: Upper Management Music
“I Call Her Sunshine” – The Kody Norris Show Label: Rebel Records
“Alberta Bound” – Special Consensus with Ray Legere, John Reischman, Patrick Sauber, Trisha Gagnon, Pharis & Jason Romero, and Claire Lynch Label: Compass Records
BLUEGRASS MUSIC HALL OF FAME INDUCTEES Alan Munde Jerry Douglas Katy Daley
DISTINGUISHED ACHIEVEMENT AWARD RECIPIENTS Cindy Baucom Laurie Lewis Richard Hurst ArtistWorks Bloomin’ Bluegrass Festival
The North Carolina Museum of History will host the Henhouse Prowlers as part of its Tar Heel Troubadours series, a celebration of Americana, roots, bluegrass and traditional music performed by artists from or living and working in North Carolina, on Saturday, July 20.
A music performance at the North Carolina Museum of History is unlike any other, according to the museum. “You’ll enjoy an intimate experience with an artist in our 300-seat venue. Every seat in the house has a fantastic view and the sound is exceptional.
“Our Tar Heel Troubadours series works to keep music accessible to our community by keeping ticket prices affordable. Visit the museum’s website for up-to-date information and tickets.”
The Henhouse Prowlers are bluegrass ambassadors. Founded nearly two decades ago with the simple desire to play original and powerful bluegrass, this Chicago-bred quartet now finds itself at the intersection of performance, diplomacy, and education.
Onstage, the group’s enthralling performances give audiences a sense of how much the musicians love what they do. On records — including their latest offering, 2023’s “Lead and Iron,” released via Dark Shadow Recording — the band explores their collective life experiences through songwriting and intricate instrumentation. While bluegrass is the undeniable foundation of the Prowlers’ music, the band bends and squeezes the traditional form into a keenly developed sound all their own.
Working with the U.S. State Department and under their own nonprofit, Bluegrass Ambassadors, the Prowlers have toured more than 25 countries across the globe. The group’s experiences with people and musicians across Africa, Asia, Europe and the Middle East have shaped the band’s worldview and broadened the group’s direction toward bridging cultural gaps with music, educational programs, and workshops. Using traditional American music as a foundation while connecting folk music, customs, and history the world over, including in North Carolina classrooms, the Prowlers incorporate international elements into their already robust repertoire of unique traditional American music.
Whether playing live or presenting seminars, the Henhouse Prowlers find and spread the commonality we share as human beings through the universal language of music.
IF YOU GO
Tar Heel Troubadours: Henhouse Prowlers
Saturday, July 20, 6:30 p.m. doors open, 7 p.m. performance
Tickets: MOHA/museum members $12; general admission $15
“Following a four-year hiatus, Jack the Radio is back. It’s the Raleigh rock scene’s dream come true. Jack the Radio is back with a new album and a collab beer with Trophy Brewing—a Helles lager with 100% NC Pilsner malt dubbed Jack the Radio Fast Fun (a nod to their 2023 single). After a four-year hiatus, the roots rockers are set to drop Under Lonely Light June 21, with a release show slated for June 22 at The Pour House feat. Fancy Gap, a comic release and vinyl fresh off the presses.
The magazine caught up with half the group, George Hage and Danny Johnson, ahead of their tunes and brews release. Learn more at this link.
From Scythian: As the vibrant rhythms of summer begin to hum and the sweet anticipation of sunlit adventures fills the air, we have an exciting announcement that’s music to your ears!
As the vibrant energy of summer kicks in, we know that many of you have been swept up in the thrill of new vacations, adventures, and the wonderful freedom that comes with the end of the school year.
It’s a time to explore, to dance under the sun, and to fill your days with the joy that only summer can bring. And what better way to amplify that joy than by securing your spot at the most anticipated event of the season, the Appaloosa Roots Music Festival?
That’s right – you now have until June 10 to secure your Early Bird tickets for Appaloosa at the lowest prices possible.
This is your golden opportunity to lock in your spot at the festival everyone is buzzing about without breaking the bank.
Why Should You Act Now?
Best Prices of the Season: After June 10, ticket prices will increase. This is your last chance to snag these unbeatable prices and save more of your hard-earned cash for those summer road trips, festival outfits, or perhaps an extra festival treat!
Unparalleled Festival Experience: Imagine three days of soul-stirring music, electrifying performances, and a community that celebrates roots music like no other. By securing your tickets now, you’re ensuring your place at an event that promises memories you’ll cherish for a lifetime.
Exciting Lineup: This year’s Appaloosa Roots Music Festival features a stellar lineup that will have you dancing from dawn till dusk. From beloved headliners to emerging talents, the stage is set for an epic musical journey.
Honestly, there doesn’t seem to be a reason to not do it!
Get Your Early Bird Tickets Now!
We believe that music has the power to bring people together, to create magical moments, and to make summers truly special. The Appaloosa Roots Music Festival is our way of sharing that magic with you!
With a lineup featuring some of the most talented artists in roots music, an array of food and craft vendors, and the beautiful backdrop of the Shenandoah Valley, this year’s festival promises to be the best one yet.
Remember, the clock is ticking! June 10 is just around the corner, and we want to see you at Appaloosa, dancing, singing, and making memories that will last a lifetime.
We’re thrilled to extend this offer to you and can’t wait to share the magic of the Appaloosa Roots Music Festival.
Hundreds of free outdoor music-making events to be held across the state
Thirteen cities and counties in North Carolina will join forces to present hundreds of free outdoor musical events on Friday, June 21, for Make Music Day, a global music celebration on the summer solstice each year that brings people of all ages and skill levels together to make music.
This year, with support from the North Carolina Arts Council, Bertie County, Brunswick County, Catawba County, Kinston, McDowell County, Raleigh, Stanly County, Statesville, Stokes County, Surry County, Vance County, Wilmington and Winston-Salem are some of the 150+ U.S. communities hosting thousands of Make Music Day performances nationwide, as part of the world’s largest annual music event.
Make Music Day began in France in 1982 as the Fête de la Musique, and in the years since it has spread to thousands of cities across 120 countries. This year is the first time it has been celebrated across the state of North Carolina.
Distinct from a traditional music festival, Make Music Day celebrates and encourages the natural music maker in all of us, regardless of age, ethnicity, background, or skill level. Make Music Day is a free and open invitation for everyone to perform, teach, learn, and experience the joy of making music on the longest day of the year. Reimagining their cities and towns as stages, every kind of musician – young and old, amateur and professional, of every musical persuasion – pours onto streets, parks, plazas, porches, rooftops, gardens and other public spaces to celebrate, create and share their music with friends, neighbors, and strangers.
“North Carolina has proven to be fertile ground for a rich and diverse musical tapestry, with music and musicians that have impacted and been influenced by musical traditions from around the world,” said Jeff Bell, executive director of the North Carolina Arts Council. “It’s exciting to have communities all across our state participating in Make Music Day this year to highlight the joy that music can offer to participants and audiences alike. We hope that other communities are encouraged to take part in future Make Music Day celebrations.”
Highlights of Make Music North Carolina include:
· Brunswick County: It’s a crazy year in Brunswick, with all-day Kazoo-Fests at branch libraries Rourk (in Shallotte), Harper (in Southport), Barbee (in Oak Island), and Southwest Brunswick (in Calabash). Free kazoos will be distributed while supplies last. The Harper branch library hosts Beatles Trivia at 2 p.m. as well. From noon to 5 p.m., Waterway Music & Education in Southport will host a free guitar string change-out and give out free rhythm sticks while supplies last. The Music Traders store in Shallotte will host a music jam from 4-6 p.m. Free performances include Tina Smith, joined by family and friends, for an old-fashioned front porch jam session El Coqui in Shallotte from 4-7 p.m., The Entertainers outdoor community concert hosted by Oak Island Parks & Rec in Middleton Park from 6:30-8:30 p.m., and the Brunswick Big Band indoor concert from 7-9 p.m., full of swing & dance fun at the Leland Cultural Arts Center.
· Catawba County: Make Music Catawba County will be a countywide celebration of music from all walks of life, administered by Arts Culture Catawba. Events included so far are Street Jams in Downtown Hickory and Downtown Newton, an Open Mic Night with the Hickory Music Factory, and a Songwriters Session hosted by Cesar Cruz. Musicians of all skill levels are invited and welcome to join us as we create music all day long across our community.
· McDowell County: We’re thrilled to present a Jam + Harmonize + Open Mic from 5-7 p.m. hosted by the FCS String Band and Chorus. The FCS String Band and Chorus, led by Freddy Bradburn, will perform a set of both old-time and original songs. Following their set will be an opportunity for the audience to participate in a beginner-friendly harmonica melody led by Mr. Freddy, with 30 free harmonicas provided! After the harmonica lesson, individuals and groups may sign up to perform a song at the open mic session.
· Raleigh: For the second year, Make Music Raleigh will host a series of events across Raleigh and Wake County. Among them: The City of Raleigh Museum will feature several interactive events, including a harmonica workshop, an instrument zoo with orchestral instruments provided and curated by the N.C. Symphony, and a bucket drumming session at Campbell University School of Law. Azure Violins in the Mordecai neighborhood will host a ukulele learning/strumming session for everyone, including beginners, with loaner ukes available, as we learn to play a song in less than 30 minutes! The Raleigh Uke Jam and the Handsome Ladies of Raleigh also will lead open jams at local libraries. Bring your axes and join the fun!
· Statesville: Downtown Statesville will transform into a vibrant musical experience with live performances, workshops, open mics, drum circles, STEM classes, buskers, karaoke, and more at every turn, both indoors and outdoors. No matter your musical preference, there will be something for everyone to enjoy.
· Stanly County: The Stanly County Arts Council is excited to bring the joy of Make Music Day to Stanly County, an area with strong and deep roots in many genres of music. We’re partnering with music instructors from Music on Main and rBc Music Store to provide free workshops throughout the day in both Albemarle and Locust, including bucket drumming, ukulele, guitar, voice, harmonica, and How to Build a Rock Band. All library branches will have stations to create your own rhythm instruments; the Stanly County History Center will explore all the countries that participate in Make Music Day and what instruments they play; Chorale will show you how to make your own kazoo, and our local music stores will host Instrument Petting Zoos with the assistance of our Concert Band members as demonstrators. Local musicians also will play throughout the county in venues such as breweries, bakeries, coffee shops, park amphitheaters, courtyards and the porch of the Historic 1852 Snuggs House.
· Stokes County: Make Music Day in Stokes County is offering something for everyone with live music at five different locations — 1889 Taphouse, Sto Co Provisions, Daily Basket, Palmetto Theatre, and The Arts Place of Stokes, featuring a Youth Open Mic Night.
· Surry County: It’s Mount Airy’s first Mayberry Make Music Day! We welcome musicians of all genres, ages,and skill levels to learn drumming rhythms, perform karaoke, play with MAUI — Mount Airy’s ukulele group — sing along to pop and gospel tunes, participate in an open mic session with our local DJ, take in a Makey-Makey surprise, and more! Enjoy special highlights at Mount Airy’s own traditional Surry County music jam. Music sounds better in Mayberry.
· Wilmington: Make Music Day Wilmington will be hosted at the Harrelson Center, a downtown campus of nonprofits that has long welcomed the community for a variety of humanitarian services. With expansive outdoor spaces, the venue offers a perfect venue for performances including a ukulele group; the Hot Flashes, a band of middle-aged female rockers, and a DJ with international influences. Organizers are working to recruit people with marching band experience to create a Sousapalooza.
Any musician, amateur or professional, young or old, is invited to visit MakeMusicDay.org to find the nearest Make Music Day celebration and sign up to participate. Likewise, businesses, buildings, schools, churches, and other institutions can visit the website to offer their outdoor spaces as concert locations.
For links to participating communities throughout the state, visit makemusicday.org/nc.
For more information, contact Karen Loew of the Make Music Alliance: karen@makemusicday.org, 917-621-5174 or Rick Henderson of Make Music Day Raleigh at rhenderson58@yahoo.com.
About Make Music Day Held annually on June 21 to coincide with the summer solstice, Make Music Day is part of the international Fête de la Musique taking place in thousands of cities across 120 countries. The daylong musical free-for-all celebrates music in all its forms, encouraging people to band together and play in free public concerts. This year, over 150 U.S. cities are organizing Make Music celebrations, encompassing thousands of music making opportunities nationwide. Make Music Day is presented by The NAMM Foundation and coordinated by the nonprofit Make Music Alliance. For more information, please visit makemusicday.org.
From the good folks at IVPR: Half of the fun of Robert Earl Keen’s latest musical output, “Western Chill,” is just how much his long-beloved band members have been involved in the album. It’s always been a family affair with Keen, but “Western Chill” ups the collaboration; feeling as if it’s a bunch of old friends sitting around the studio sharing songs to tape. And that’s because, well, it was. Released in physical form only last spring, “Western Chill” is set to make its internet debut on June 7, available for download or to stream.
“The fans spoke and we listened: you want ‘Western Chill’ on-the-go so we’re releasing this labor of love, and given that it’s digital, I trust you’ll share it!” exclaims the man himself.
For those not lucky enough to have purchased the all-encompassing “Western Chill” box set — which included a 92-page graphic novel inspired by the album, a play-along/sing-along songbook for all fourteen songs and a DVD of the Robert Earl Keen Band performing the entire new album at Keen’s Snake Barn studio space — REK and his band are releasing a few singles to preview exactly what “Western Chill” sounds like.
Today, Keen released “Waves,” written and sung by Robert Earl Keen Band fiddler, Brian Beken. In Keen’s exact words: “Brian Beken is a major talent and a really great frontman! His song ‘Waves’ is about this guy who has just been jilted…or who’s about to be jilted. And he hasn’t quite felt all of the loneliness and betrayal of somebody leaving him yet, but he knows it’s coming. He can hear the waves crashing and he feels it fixing to just fall down on him.”
Beken and the band revisited “Waves,” a tune from one of his past bands, with a whole different feel than it originally carried. “It was originally very fast and upbeat, almost unrecognizable from how it ended up on Western Chill. I slowed it way down and that really brought the melancholy, reminiscent vibe out of the lyrics which I felt would work well on Western Chill,” Beken says. “I wrote it alone in an old apartment in downtown Austin one night, which was perched over a pretty busy street they were re-paving. If you imagined enough, the sound of the traffic from inside the apartment almost sounded like waves crashing.”
Fans can stream or purchase “Waves” today at this link, hear the previously-released “Western Chill” single, “Let’s Valet” at this link, and pre-order or pre-save “Western Chill” ahead of its digital release on June 7 right here. Beginning on June 7, individual pieces of the “Western Chill” box set will be available “a la carte” at REK’s web store.
Those keen-eyed fans will have already seen a short, sweet list of REK full band shows announced in recent weeks, but for those who may have missed them, Keen and the band will be hitting the road in very short spurts this summer to perform 1998’s Picnic and 2003’Farm Fresh Onions front to back in their entirety. “To keep it lively, we’ll alternate each record…Picnic one night and Farm Fresh Onions the next,” says Keen.
But first, the Robert Earl Keen Band will take the stage at Round Rock, Texas’s Lone Star Jam at Round Rock Amphitheatre on May 26th. A full list of upcoming dates can be found below or at robertearlkeen.com/tour.
Catch Robert Earl Keen On Tour: May 26 – Round Rock, TX – Round Rock Amphitheatre Lone Star Jam June 1 – Knoxville, TN – Tennessee Theatre June 2 – Nashville, TN – Ryman Auditorium* June 3 – Charlotte, NC – Neighborhood Theatre June 5 – Charleston, SC – Charleston Music Hall June 7 – Durham, NC – Carolina Theatre June 8 – Winston-Salem, NC – The RamKat June 9 – Rocky Mount, VA – Harvester Performance Center June 14 – Grand Prairie, TX – Texas Trust CU Theatre Aug. 6 – Alexandria, VA – The Birchmere Aug. 7 – Alexandria, VA – The Birchmere Aug. 8 – Alexandria, VA – The Birchmere Aug. 9 – Richmond, VA – The National *Kaitlin Butts opens
More about“Western Chill:” As befits the occasion, the “Western Chill” vibe is soulfully laid-back—especially compared to the crowd-amped rush of 2016’s “Live Dinner Reunion” or the spry, virtuosic kick of Keen’s 2015’s “Happy Prisoner: The Bluegrass Sessions.” This new album is packed with enough surprises to keep even the most seasoned fan guessing what’s coming next. The opening title track—an instant Keen classic in the easy-loping vein of “The Front Porch Song,” “Gringo Honeymoon,” and “Feelin’ Good Again”—sets the mood for the whole album, followed by back-to-back original stunners sung and written by fiddle/guitar player Brian Beken (“Waves”) and bassist Bill Whitbeck (“Bluelight”). If variety is the spice of life, “Western Chill” is the Silk Road to chill with more contributions are heard from Beken and Whitbeck, as well as compositions by the rest of the band. This has all been documented on the accompanying video because true to the “featuring” tag on the album cover, this really is a REK Band affair.
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