“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.
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.
GRAMMY Award-winning Steep Canyon Rangers announce the Aug. 30 release of “Live at Greenfield Lake,” the band’s first live album of original material, recorded at Greenfield Lake Amphitheater in Wilmington, North Carolina, on Sept. 29, 2023.
The 16-track album is now available for pre-order on digital, CD and LP. Mixed and pressed at the state-of-the-art audiophile facilities of Citizen Vinyl in the band’s hometown of Asheville, North Carolina, lacquers were cut by renowned engineer Jeff Powell of Takeout Vinyl. Housed in a gatefold jacket, the first LP is pressed on deep purple color vinyl and the second on yellow color vinyl.
From the spellbinding, tender performances of “Recommend Me” and “Birds of Ohio” mixed with blistering, barnburning renditions of “Afterglow” and “Sunny Days,” “Live at Greenfield Lake” exhibits the wide breadth of styles and genres the band tackles in concert, and captures the magic of their onstage chemistry, demonstrating unparalleled harmonies, rich songwriting and unforgettable performances.
“This particular Greenfield Lake Amphitheater show is an example of the kind of night that we all dream of as musicians: a beautiful setting, an enthusiastic crowd, and the band is absolutely on fire,” offers Ranger Aaron Burdett. “While these performances do happen, it’s tough to get all of those elements at once. It’s like catching lightning in a bottle. But we did it on Sept. 29 of 2023 and had the good fortune to get it all down on tape. Live SCR is the best SCR by far. Makes me happy and grateful every time I hear this recording.”
Of the album,Beau Gunn, presenter/buyer at Greenfield Lake Amphitheater, adds: “Two things are synonymous with North Carolina Music: one is Greenfield Lake Amphitheater and the other is Steep Canyon Rangers. The magic and music were definitely in the air that night and captured perfectly in this first-ever live release recorded at The Lake.”
On May 17, the band will embark on a 41-date tour, beginning in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, with Steve Martin and Martin Short. They will perform with the North Carolina Symphony on June 8 at the Koka Booth Amphitheatre in Cary, North Carolina, return to Red Rocks Amphitheatre June 14 and the Ryman Auditorium June 20, and finish out the fall tour run with a return to Greenfield Lake Amphitheater Sept. 27 and will headline the IBMA Bluegrass Live! Festival at Red Hat Amphitheater in Raleigh, North Carolina, Sept. 28. A complete list of dates is below; tickets are available here.
The Grammy-winning Texican rock and roll band, Los Lonely Boys, is returning to Greensboro to headline the North Carolina Folk Festival‘s 10th anniversary, Sept. 6-8. Los Lonely Boys last performed in Greensboro in 2014 at the Carolina Theatre. Festival organizers are also excited to reveal that The Psycodelics, Olive Klug, Colin Cutler & Hot Pepper Jam, Elias Alexander, and Holler Choir will join the diverse 2024 lineup. The free three-day festival celebrates the rich diversity of America’s roots and heritage, as well as North Carolina’s regional traditions. With everything from Texican Rock & Roll and Indie Folk, to N.C. homegrown Bluegrass, this lineup exemplifies our 10th Anniversary slogan of “honoring the roots, embracing the branches.”
The story of how the Garza brothers rode their bluesy “Texican rock & roll” sound from San Angelo, Texas, to worldwide fame is one of rock’s great Cinderella tales. The three young brothers formed a band, got signed to a major label, and recorded a hit single that propelled them to stardom. “After a three-year hiatus, we are songwriting, recording, and touring together,” says Henry. “It is a blessing to share the stage with my brothers. We lift each other musically and spiritually. We consider this Los Lonely Boys’ resurrection.”Read more
An Army veteran who traded in his combat gear for a banjo and guitar, Colin Cutler is a Greensboro, North Carolina-based singer-songwriter, folk musician, poet, and storyteller. Whether solo or with his band, Hot Pepper Jam, he is a wide-ranging performer whose musical roots draw from the breadth of American folk music—from Appalachian old-time to blues to gospel to country to rock’n’roll.Read more
From a small bedroom in Oregon, Olive’s audience grew alongside them as they wrote countless new songs, discovered their non-binary identity, changed their name, moved to Los Angeles, started touring internationally, and signed their first record deal, all in real time. Olive is excited to solidify themselves as a fixture of the greater folk music community and return to what inspires them the most about music; the catharsis and social change that is possible when people come together and share themselves through song.Read more
“The Psycodelics” features Cameron ‘Caminator’ Wescott (bass, vocals), Whitt Burn (guitar, vocals), Jim Rubush (guitar), Sean Bing (drums, vocals), Demario Kitt (drums), and Noah Jones (keys). Their flavor of Black American music has blended foundations of blues, jazz and disco with fresh funk rock. With a stage presence as multifaceted and emotive as its lineup, their already-potent sound retains even greater magic to make you get up and dance.Read more
Elias Alexander’s work swells from the intersection of traditional music, electronic production, and songwriting. Using electronics, he alchemizes tradition into something healing, deeply personal, and of this moment. Wielding bagpipes, fiddle, guitar, whistles, and keyboards on stage while deftly looping and sampling to build energy, Elias weaves together melodies from the Scottish and American traditions, with catchy beats, and original songs that discuss themes of alienation, belonging, and queerness.Read more
Led by the lyrical craftsmanship of singer, guitarist, and songwriter Clint Roberts, the distinctly Appalachian, old-time sound of Asheville’s Holler Choir combines haunting harmonies, stirring string compositions, and heart-wrenching ballads, yet hardly conforms to a stereotypical genre. Call it a confluence of old-time, Americana, and bluegrass, but, by its own exceptional design, the sound and atmosphere of Holler Choir are singular.Read more
The 20th annual Spring Shakori Hills GrassRoots Festival of Music & Dance returns May 2-5, 2024, in Pittsboro, North Carolina. Featuring performances from hosts Donna The Buffalo, Scythian, Watchhouse, Sarah Shook and the Disarmers, Time Sawyer, The Shoaldiggers and more than 50 other musical acts along with camping, yoga, food trucks, artisans, sustainability workshops, healing arts, kids areas and so much more.
After last year’s affectionately dubbed “MudFest,” MerleFest 2024 was blessed with only a few sprinkles and mostly sunny skies. That may be in large part to the new concrete slab that now graces the area in front of the Watson Stage that for decades has turned into a mud pit when the inevitable showers fell on fans and musicians alike.
But that wasn’t the only thing new at this year’s festival. The most diverse lineup the festival has ever seen graced the 12 stages throughout the four-day event, which remains inspired by the vision of festival founder and North Carolina native Doc Watson. As a result of that diversity, the most diverse crowd was also drawn to the campus of Wilkes Community College in Wilkesboro, North Carolina, over April 25-28.
“MerleFest 2024 was a testament to the enduring spirit of community and music,” explained Wes Whiston, festival director, in a press release. “The unwavering support from our artists, fans, staff, volunteers and sponsors not only creates unforgettable moments but also fuels the educational mission of Wilkes Community College. The beautiful weather this weekend served as a perfect backdrop to the magic unfolding on stage, adding an extra layer of joy to our festivities. We were thrilled to see an overwhelming turnout on Thursday evening, a resounding affirmation that MerleFest continues to grow stronger with each passing year.”
That Thursday turnout was the direct result of one of the most stellar one-day lineups in the festival’s history, which included local breakout star Presley Barker, Dan Tyminski, Steep Canyon Rangers, Molly Tuttle & Golden Highway and wrapping up with Old Crow Medicine Show, whorang in their seventh appearance at MerleFest with choice cuts from their expansive catalog, as well as some surprising covers including Beyoncé’s “Texas Hold ‘Em.” The Friday night headliners also commemorated 25 years of touring as well as the 25th anniversary of their MerleFest debut with cameos by Tuttle, Willie Watson and other MerleFest regulars. With even more to celebrate, the band presented a birthday cake and sang to MerleFest’s own “B” Townes before inviting the ever-present Arthur Grimes to the stage for an old-fashioned Appalachian flatfoot dance off.
Friday’s Watson Stage performances kicked off with MerleFest’s house band Celtic rockers Scythian, who are celebrating 20 years as a band. Kyshona made her MerleFest debut with her soulful sound along with other first-timers Nick Shoulders, Buffalo Nichols, Uwade and Willi Carlisle. Later, The Langan Band brought their Scottish sensibilities to the Traditional Stage, just before blue-rock sister group Larkin Poe fired up the Watson Stage and Red Dirt legends Turnpike Troubadours closed out the night. Night-owls were treated to a spectacle of hip-shaking singalongs by New Orleans-influenced Shinyribs.
Saturday saw too many memorable moments to count but included the annual Veterans Jam, featuring Jack Lawrence, Joe Smothers, Sam Bush, Jerry Douglas, Peter Rowan, John Cowan, and T. Michael Coleman and The Waybacks’ legendary Hillside Album Hour, which treated fans to a front-to-back performance of Stevie Wonder’s iconic 1973 masterpiece,“Innervisions,” along with tributes to Jimmy Buffett, Sinead O’Connor and Gordon Lightfoot among others.
MerleFest’s annual band competition entertained crowds on the Plaza before naming Florencia & The Feeling as this year’s winner. And over in the Walker Center, 14-year old prodigy Wyatt Ellis led a special jam featuring guests Jim Lauderdale, Peter Rowan, Jack Lawrence, John Cowan and The Kruger Brothers, before joining mandolin virtuosos Sam Bush, Liam Purcell, and Chris Henry on the Creekside Stage for Mando Mania. Back on the Watson Stage, Béla Fleck performed an inspiring set of instrumental arrangements and selections from his 2021 album, “My Bluegrass Heart,” followed by powerhouses S.G. Goodman, Sam Bush Band andcountry crooner Brandy Clark, who also graced the Hillside Stage earlier in the day with an inspirational set. The Teskey Brothers topped off the evening with their Aussie-tinged brand of blues rock.
Sunday offered something for every musical taste from gospel to he highly-anticipated return of Nickel Creek, whorounded out the weekend with a 90-minute string jam of seismic proportions. Chris Thile said it had been nearly 20 years since the trio had performed at MerleFest and their delight at being back was obvious.
The Sensational Barnes Brothers hosted a powerful Gospel Hour on the Creekside Stage; Roy Book Binder, along with Charles Welch, The Harris Brothers, and Bob Margolin led a Sunday Blues session on the Americana Stage. The Traditional Stage saw lots of activity too, with a traditional jam hosted by Pete & Joan Wernick, ‘Shaped Note Singing’ with Laura Boosinger, ‘Women Who Sing & Play’ with Carol Rifkin, Bayla Davis, Liz Lanham and others, and finally, Wayne Henderson & Friends closing out the afternoon. Finally, GRAMMY-winning country-rock outfit Lukas Nelson & POTR rocked the Watson Stage before turning the mic over to Raleigh-based New Dangerfield on the Cabin Stage and then Nickel Creek.
MerleFest, presented by Window World, concluded its annual spring homecoming this weekend with a larger-than-life “Traditional Plus” celebration, drawing both seasoned attendees and newcomers. The event is the biggest economic driver of scholarships, capital projects and educational needs within the greater Wilkesboro community. Since its inaugural event in 1988, MerleFest has continued to demonstrate a commitment to supporting the residents of Wilkes County, while showcasing outstanding talent from its home state and beyond. This year’s festival was no different, with nearly 100 acts spanning diverse styles and genres performing across 12 stages from Thursday through Sunday.
As the tents come down on another incredible festival weekend, all sights are set on MerleFest’s return to WCC on April 24-27, 2025, with ticket and lineup news forthcoming. Learn more at www.merlefest.org.
From the good folks at the Earl Scruggs Center: Having surpassed a milestone 10th year in operation this January, the Earl Scruggs Center in Shelby, North Carolina, will resume celebrations with the return of its annual Center Stage Concert Series on on Thursday, March 21, with a performance by IBMA award-winning outfit Tray Wellington Band.
The series features a world-class lineup of Americana and bluegrass mainstays, including Tim O’Brien and Jan Fabricius, Kristin Scott Benson & Friends, Black Opry Revue, and more, the series is set to kick off this week and continue monthly through Aug. 8. For a complete schedule of events, pricing information, and ticket links, see below.
Earlier this year, Earl Scruggs Center played host to a special anniversary edition of its yearly Remembering Earl benefit concert, which also coincided with the 100th birthday of three-finger banjo pioneer, Earl Scruggs. The one-night revue included performances by GRAMMY-winning bluegrass ensemble The Travelin’ McCourys, esteemed banjoist Tony Trischka and unrivaled dobro master Jerry Douglas. Taking place at Shelby’s Malcolm Brown Auditorium, just down the road from the small community where Scruggs was born and raised, the event was part of a widespread effort to memorialize the legacy and international impact of the singular bluegrass picker.
With a whirlwind year ahead, Earl Scruggs Center looks forward to showcasing an array of talent at its forthcoming Center Stage Concert Series. Founded in 2014, the first-rate facility boasts an immersive, all ages museum and multipurpose event space which plays host to a variety of programming year-round. In addition to its unique display of permanent exhibits, the Scruggs Center also regularly features a number of rotating presentations that further explore Earl Scruggs’ comprehensive career, personal history, and cultural impact. To learn more about Earl Scruggs Center and its current offerings, visit www.earlscruggscenter.org.
Tickets to Earl Scruggs Center Presents – Center Stage Concert Series are on sale now. A limited number of season passes are available while supplies last. For tickets, visit http://earlscruggscenter.org/events/.
Earl Scruggs Center – Center Stage Concert Series 2024 Lineup March 21 – Tray Wellington Band April 16 – Tim O’Brien and Jan Fabricius May 21 – Laura Boosinger & Josh Goforth June 20 – Black Opry Revue July 18 – Larry & Joe August 8 – Kristin Scott Benson & Friends TICKETS: Individual Show $30-35; Season Passes $160-175 TICKET PURCHASE LINK: earlscruggscenter.org/events/
From the good folks at the Earl Scruggs Music Festival, which will return to Mill Spring, North Carolina on Aug. 30-Sept. 1 with a trifecta of outstanding talent, supreme amenities and family friendly entertainment.
This week organizers announced the 2024 lineup will include “Delta Dawn” hitmaker Tanya Tucker, seminal string band Old Crow Medicine Show, country and bluegrass mainstay Marty Stuart & His Fabulous Superlatives, Colorado jamgrass ensemble Yonder Mountain String Band, and many more first-class pickers. Held annually at Tryon International Equestrian Center, Scruggs Fest has quickly become a beloved tradition among fans of Earl Scruggs, the three-finger banjoist who pioneered one of the most popular musical techniques in history. Along with the aforementioned acts, Scruggs Fest looks forward to welcoming returning hosts Jerry Douglas and The Earls of Leicester, plus first-time guests The Steeldrivers, Mighty Poplar, Lindsay Lou, Miko Marks, and nearly a dozen others. See below for a complete 2024 lineup.
Now entering its third year, Earl Scruggs Music Festival was established in partnership with WNCW 88.7 at Isothermal Community College in Spindale, NC and the Earl Scruggs Center located in Shelby, NC. According to Bluegrass Today, Scruggs Fest “has already risen to the top tier of annual music festivals.” WMOT in Nashville adds, “[Scruggs’ family] would have been impressed by this tribute to the most influential bluegrass musician in history;” while Grateful Web dubs the festival “a truly exceptional event.” With a standout lineup featuring the best in traditional roots music and progressive fusions, Earl Scruggs Music Festival will continue to illuminate the profound impact that Scruggs had on American culture, while uplifting fresh and noteworthy voices in the genre. A portion of proceeds will support the festival’s beneficiaries, the Earl Scruggs Center and Isothermal Community College, who serve Earl Scruggs’ home region of the Carolina Foothills with cultural programming through multiple channels.
Additional programming to be announced at a later date will include performances by Junior Appalachian Musicians, PacJAM, and more. The festival will once again take place at Tryon International Equestrian Center in the heart of the Blue Ridge Mountains. Known for its roster of rotating events including world class equestrian competitions, festive holiday celebrations, concerts, and more, the immaculate campus will serve as a quintessential backdrop for the festival, which promises on-site lodging, dining, and comfortable amenities throughout the event weekend.
Advance-price tickets are currently on sale, with a variety of General Admission and VIP packages available. VIP ticket packages include reserved seating in VIP-exclusive indoor and outdoor spaces, exclusive merchandise items, complimentary refreshments, and more. On-site camping and cabin rentals are also available for reservation via the festival website.
For more details and to stay up-to-date on all things Earl Scruggs Music Festival, visit earlscruggsmusicfest.com/.
WHAT: Earl Scruggs Music Festival WHEN: Aug. 30-Sept. 1, 2024 WHERE: Tryon International Equestrian Center, 25 International Blvd., Mill Spring, NC 28756 TICKETS:earlscruggsmusicfest.com/tickets
About Earl Scruggs Center The Earl Scruggs Center combines the life story of legendary five-string banjo master and Cleveland County native, Earl Scruggs, with the unique and engaging story of the history and cultural traditions of the region in which Scruggs was born and raised. It was in the nearby Flint Hill community where Scruggs learned to play banjo and perfected the three-finger playing style that has come to be known around the world as “Scruggs Style.” The Earl Scruggs Center explores Scruggs’ innovative career and the community that gave it shape while celebrating how he crossed musical boundaries and defined the voice of the banjo to the world. Mr. Scruggs embraced tradition while also adapting to the changing times and looking toward the future – themes that resonate throughout the Center. Engaging exhibits, special event space, and rich programming provide a uniquely rich experience for visitors.
About Tryon International Equestrian Center Tryon International Equestrian Center is the ultimate international destination for all who love horses, outdoor living, and an active lifestyle. As host of the FEI World Equestrian Games™ Tryon 2018, Tryon International Equestrian Center offers first-class facilities for all FEI disciplines in addition to showcasing hunter/jumper, equitation, steeplechase, polo, and multi-discipline events in Mill Spring, NC. From carousel to competition, the mission of Tryon Resort is to celebrate the magic of the horse, grow equestrian sport, and increase access to this majestic animal. A haven for equestrian competitors and enthusiasts alike, Tryon Resort is an iconic, year-round destination for connoisseurs of diverse cuisine and shopping, lodging getaways, and family entertainment.
About WNCW 88.7, Isothermal Community College WNCW is a listener-supported public media service of Isothermal Community College, which serves the community through advancing new musical discoveries, showcasing local and regional talent, and preserving and promoting the traditions of Appalachian and roots music in our area and beyond. The station’s eclectic mix includes Americana, Triple-A rock/acoustic, bluegrass, blues, jazz, reggae, world, and other roots music styles, in addition to weekly spotlights on jam bands, Frank Zappa, and more. Live artist interviews and performances are broadcast frequently from WNCW’s professional recording studio, “Studio B”. As the flagship bluegrass station, WNCW broadcasts contemporary, traditional, and historical bluegrass music for eight hours each Saturday. Listeners can find WNCW at 88.7 FM throughout most of its listening area, which includes Western NC, Upstate SC and Eastern Tennessee. Translators rebroadcast the signal at 101.3 in Charlotte, 97.3 in Greenville, 92.9 in Boone and 90.9 WSIF in Wilkesboro. The station also has a worldwide audience through its livestream at wncw.org
PBSNC Network Television Premiere of MerleFest Documentary “My Name is Merle” set for 10 p.m. onThursday, March 21
From the good folks at MerleFest: MerleFest, presented by Window World, will hold its 36th annual festival April 25-28 on the campus of Wilkes Community College. Today festival organizers announced MerleFest pioneering artist John Cowan will join the already stellar lineup, including appearances by Old Crow Medicine Show, Turnpike Troubadours, The Teskey Brothers, Nickel Creek, Sam Bush, Jerry Douglas, The Earls of Leicester, and many more.
Additionally, the festival is proud to unveil the complete 2024 stage schedules, in conjunction with the release of the updated MerleFest 2024 mobile app (available now for download now on all Apple and Android devices), making it easier than ever to plan your weekend, set reminders for performance times, learn more about each artist, listen to the official MerleFest 2024 Spotify playlist, and much more.
Ahead of this year’s festival, MerleFest fans can enjoy a screening of director Robert Kinlaw’s award winning documentary, “My Name is Merle.” The film will premiere on Thursday, March 21, at 10 PM, on PBS NC and the free PBS App. Chronicling the rise and continued legacy of North Carolina’s favorite community fundraiser-turned renowned music festival, My Name is Merle is a delightful crash course in all things MerleFest. My Name is Merle is produced by EducationNC.
MerleFest is proud to once again welcome its 2024 Acoustic Kids Showcases with Andy May. Since 2001, the Acoustic Kids program has given young musicians of any skill level the opportunity to perform on festival stages in a supportive environment. Beginner through pro, all musicians 18 or younger are welcome to participate and share their music with the MerleFest audience. Each year, MerleFest hosts three, 1.5-hour showcases, and a half-hour Acoustic Kids Ambassadors set. Pre-registration is required to participate in Acoustic Kids and is open through March 20 (or until all showcases are full). Register early to hold your spot! Online registration, showcase schedules, and FAQs are available at https://andymay.com/acoustic-kids-registration-merlefest/, and detailed registration instructions are at https://andymay.com/acoustic-kids/registration-instructions/.
The Wilkes Community College Foundation will host its fourth annual MerleFest Mega Raffle to support scholarships at WCC. Over $140,000 in cash and prizes will be awarded. ONLY 3,000 tickets will be sold, and you do not have to be present to win. The Mega Raffle drawings will be held during the festival on Sunday, April 28, 2024, at the Raffle/Silent Auction Tent at 2:00 p.m. Winners will be announced during the live drawings and notified via email and phone to confirm the prize. Raffle tickets are $100 each and include two entries to the MerleFest Mega Raffle drawings. Mega Raffle tickets ON SALE NOW! https://merlefest.org/megaraffle/
Celebrating its 36th year this spring, MerleFest continues to draw fans from all over the world to the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains for four days of music, moments and memories. Proceeds from the annual event will support the year-round initiatives of Wilkes Community College while continuing to preserve and honor the legacies of its founding figures, Doc and Merle Watson. MerleFest 2024 tickets are available now. For general admission passes, as well as patio seating, reserved seating, camping, parking, and more, please visit merlefest.org/purchase.
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