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Musings on folk, Americana, country, bluegrass and newgrass


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IBMA Bluegrass Live, Late Night at Barrelhouse offering single-day tickets for Oct. 23-24 in Chattanooga, Tennessee

The International Bluegrass Music Association (IBMA) World of Bluegrass is just three weeks away, and single-day tickets for IBMA Bluegrass Live! and Late Night at Barrelhouse are available for purchase.

Whether you can only make it Friday, Oct. 23, or Saturday, Oct. 24, you can now pick the day that works best for you and still experience the music and community IBMA World of Bluegrass has to offer.

The lineup for IBMA Bluegrass Live!, presented by Chattanooga Tourism Co., in downtown Chattanooga, Tennessee, includes performances from Sierra Ferrell, Leftover Salmon, Larry Sparks, Michael Cleveland & Friends, Lindsay Lou presents Bluegrass Women, Lonesome River Band, Della Mae, Jason Carter Band, Special Consensus, Randy Steele & High Cold Wind, Barefoot Nellie & Co. and many more.

IBMA Bluegrass Live! takes on a new shape in 2026, offering fans two unique ways to experience the festival: the ticketed IBMA Bluegrass Live! experience and the free outdoor celebration, Pickin’ in the Park.

IBMA Bluegrass Live! 2026 will feature can’t-miss performances from the artists listed above across The Signal, the Chattanooga Convention Center and Barrelhouse Ballroom. The new format brings fans closer to artists and creates a more consistent experience, rain or shine.

With more intimate venues and a more focused festival experience, tickets will be limited. Fans are encouraged to secure their spot early when tickets go on sale to experience this special weekend of bluegrass music.

This year, attendees can choose between a GA Weekend Pass and a new VIP Weekend Pass designed for fans who want an elevated festival experience. The VIP Weekend Pass includes premium seating at the Chattanooga Convention Center, mezzanine seating at The Signal, access to a dedicated front-section standing area at The Signal, and a dedicated VIP entrance to bypass the line at The Signal, along with pre-sale access for Late Night at Barrelhouse and limited, first come, first served seating.

VIP ticket holders will also receive access to two exclusive Happy Hour receptions held ahead of the evening performances at The Signal, featuring live music, complimentary wine, beer, and whiskey tastings, and light snacks. These VIP-only events will include performances by Randy Steele & High Cold Wind on Friday, October 23, at Stratus Rooftop at Caption and Barefoot Nellie & Co. on Saturday, October 24, at 50/50 Wine + Martini Bar.

The festival will also feature Late Night at Barrelhouse performances at Barrelhouse Ballroom, with appearances from Lonesome River Band and Jason Carter Band. VIP and GA Weekend Pass holders who wish to attend Late Night at Barrelhouse will need to purchase a separate ticket, which will be available soon.

The 2026 festival will also introduce Pickin’ in the Park, in partnership with River City Co., a free outdoor community celebration formerly known as Streetfest. Located in the heart of downtown Chattanooga at Miller Park and Miller Plaza, Pickin’ in the Park will offer two days of live bluegrass music featuring college bands, Kids on Bluegrass participants, and local Chattanooga talent.

The free event will take place Saturday, Oct. 24, and will also include arts and crafts vendors, food, and plenty of space for fans and community members to gather, relax, and enjoy the music. No tickets are required for Pickin’ in the Park, making it an open celebration for bluegrass fans and the Chattanooga community.

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13th annual Carolina Bible Camp Bluegrass Festival set for Saturday, Sept. 13

One of the “coolest cats” to ever pick up a banjo will entertain the crowd at the award-winning Carolina Bible Camp Bluegrass Festival on Saturday, Sept. 13, in Mocksville, North Carolina.

Sammy Shelor, winner of the 2011 Steve Martin Prize for Excellence in Banjo and Bluegrass, will headline the festival with his popular group, the Lonesome River Band.

Tickets to Davie County’s Carolina Bible Camp Bluegrass Festival are available online now at www.cbcbluegrass.com. Ticket platform Zeffy makes the process easy. 

The Sept. 13 schedule of bluegrass’s finest also includes:

–        PBS Song of the Mountains host Tim White & Troublesome Hollow

–        Liam Purcell and Cane Mill Road

–        Caroline Owens and New Company

–        The Biscuit Eaters

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Women of bluegrass dominate nominations for International Bluegrass Music Awards in Raleigh, N.C, on Sept. 27

After Molly Tuttle’s impressive win at the 2017 International Bluegrass Music (IBMA) Awards as the first female IBMA guitarist, Becky Buller leads the field for the  2018 International Bluegrass Music Awards with eight nominations followed by Tuttle’s six. Close behind with five nominations each are Special Consensus, and The Del McCoury Band/The Travelin’ McCourys, with strong showings by Rhonda Vincent, The Earls of Leicester, Balsam Range, and Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver. Results of the balloting will be revealed at the International Bluegrass Music Awards on Thursday, Sept. 27, at the Duke Energy Performing Arts Center in Raleigh, North Carolina.

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Listen Up: Live music opportunities abound for Memorial Day 2018

There are numerous live music festivals and venues throughout North Carolina, Virginia and beyond on tap to help you celebrate the official kickoff of summer over the upcoming Memorial Day holiday weekend. Following are a few highlights. If I’ve missed one, let me know! Continue reading →


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The Cleverlys sign with same label as Balsam Range, Lonesome River Band and Doyle Lawson and Quicksilver

If you were fortunate enough to catch The Cleverlys, a five-member trio known for its unique musical stylings, at MerleFest 2018, then you most likely know why the good folks over at  Mountain Home Music Co.  have decided the to make them the latest group to sign with the award-winning label. Continue reading →


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8th Annual Chantilly Farm Bluegrass & BBQ Festival to feature Balsam Range, Seldom Scene and Love Canon, among many others May 25-27 in Floyd, VA

I’ve never made it up to the annual Chantilly Farm Bluegrass & BBQ Festival in Floyd, Virginia, in part because it is over Memorial Day Weekend, when I can usually be found at another southwest Virginia music festival, Rooster Walk, which is just down the winding road at Pop’s Farm in Axton,Virginia.

Chantilly’s lineup for its eighth annual event set for May 25-27, 2018, however, may be the just the charm needed to get me up there this year. Continue reading →


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2017 Wide Open Bluegrass features Steep Canyon Rangers, Steve Martin, The Infamous Stringdusters and many more

If bluegrass music has a Super Bowl, it’s the International Bluegrass Music Association (IBMA) World of Bluegrass week — the world’s largest urban bluegrass festival. The festival kicks off Tuesday, Sept. 26, with the Bluegrass Ramble and wraps up Friday, Sept. 29, and Saturday, Sept. 30, with Wide Open Bluegrass 2017 presented by PNC at the Red Hat Amphitheater in downtown Raleigh, North Carolina.

In between is a business conference featuring Greensboro’s own Rhiannon Giddens as the keynote speaker and exhibits at the Raleigh Convention Center, as well as the 28th Annual IBMA Awards Show hosted by Béla Fleck and Abigail Washburn — acclaimed artists in their respective careers and GRAMMY winners in their duo work — Thursday night at the Duke Performing Arts Center.

No self-respecting North Carolina event is complete without barbecue. The North Carolina Pork Council will once again host the 2017 Whole Hog Barbecue Championship as part of Wide Open Bluegrass. The best whole hog barbecue chefs in North Carolina square off to become state champion. After the judges have had their say, the mouth-watering barbecue will be chopped and sold in sandwiches Saturday to festival attendees.

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Seventh annual Chantilly Farm Bluegrass & BBQ Festival set for May 26-28, 2017

If you like bluegrass and barbecue, you won’t want to miss the seventh annual Chantilly Farm Bluegrass and BBQ Festival set for May 26-28, 2017. Chantilly Farm, located at 2697 Franklin Pike Road in Floyd, Virginia, is the home festival of the award-winning Junior Sisk & Ramblers Choice.

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Mt. Airy’s historic Earle Theatre concert series ‘Blue Ridge and Beyond’ to feature Mark O’Connor, Del McCoury, Jerry Douglas, Balsam Range

Mark O’Connor and the O’Connor Band will start off the “Blue Ridge and Beyond” series on Nov. 19 at the Historic Earle Theatre in Mount Airy, North Carolina.

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Bluegrass, Barbecue & Brew Festival 2016 set for Saturday, Nov. 5, in Brookneal, Virginia, featuring The Church Sisters, Lonesome River Band

The Bluegrass, Barbecue and Brew Festival 2016 will be held from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 5, at Patrick Henry’s Red Hill in Brookneal, Virginia.  Tickets for music only are $15 and children 12 and younger are free.
The music lineup follows:

Davis Bradley- 11:30 a.m. – 1 p.m.
The Church Sisters– 1:15 – 2:45 p.m.
Lonesome River Band: 3:30 – 5 p.m.

There will also be a first-ever BBQ Cookoff Contest Judging from 2:50-3:20 p.m.

From Facebook: “We’re expecting great weather , so come out and join us for amazing music, great local food, and ice cold beverages!”

https://bluegrassbarbecuebrew2016.eventbrite.com