musicreporterblog

Musings on folk, Americana, country, bluegrass and newgrass


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North Carolina Folk Festival set for Sept. 7-9, 2018, in Greensboro to feature Rhiannon Giddens, Amythyst Kiah

The North Carolina Folk Festival is a free, three-day outdoor celebration of cultural roots and heritage held annually in downtown Greensboro, North Carolina. The folk festival is a legacy event of the National Folk Festival which was hosted in Greensboro from 2015 – 2017.

Performers include hometown girl Rhiannon Giddens, co-founder of the Carolina Chocolate Drops and star of CMT’s “Nashville;” Amythyst Kiah, Cabin Creek Boys and Bobby Hicks, Mark Kuykendall and Asheville Bluegrass. Continue reading


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Carolina Bible Camp Bluegrass Festival, Chick-fil-A of Clemmons announce inaugural Davie County High School seniors’ Bluegrass Day on Friday, Sept. 7

From the good folks at the Carolina Bible Camp Bluegrass Festival:

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8th annual Apex Music Festival to feature The Gravy Boys, Shawn Mullins, Lauren Nicole on Sept. 15, 2018

The eighth annual Apex Music Festival is set for Saturday, Sept. 15, 2018, in downtown Apex, North Carolina. Featured acts include The Gravy Boys, Lauren Nicole, Beth Wood, Shawn Mullins, and many more. Continue reading


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BE LOUD! ’18 set for Aug. 24-25, 2018, at Cat’s Cradle in Carrboro, N.C.

From the good folks over at the Be Loud! Sophie Foundation:

Are you ready to BE LOUD again?

Be Loud! ’18 is set for the weekend of Aug. 24-25  Cat’s Cradle in Carrboro, with all proceeds benefiting the Be Loud! Sophie Foundation.

This is our fifth Anniversary show (can you believe it?!) and we’re pleased to announce that Matthew Sweet is headlining Friday night with a reunited The Right Profile and Surrender Human opening. Saturday night is anchored by the one and only Sex Police with Collapsis and the Pre-Raphaelites supporting.

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Sam Bush Band, Hank and Pattie Duo rock Cat’s Cradle

Sam Bush loves North Carolina. And gauging from the roar of the appreciative crowd of some 200 souls gathered at the Cat’s Cradle live music venue in downtown Carrboro on Saturday night, North Carolina loves Sam Bush and company, and in this particular instance, the Sam Bush Band.

“It don’t get no better than to play in North Carolina,” Bush said from the stage.

His fans agree. “As always, Sam and band were amazing,” commented Rick Henderson of Raleigh. “No two shows are the same, but they’re all terrific.” Continue reading


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Shakori Hills Grassroots Festival of Music and Dance Fall 2018 discount tickets end Friday, Aug. 17

If you, like me, are a fan of FloydFest, Rooster Walk Music and Arts Festival and Front Porch Fest, you’ll love Shakori Hills Grassroots Festival of Music and Dance.

Hosted by one of MerleFest’s fan favorites, Donna the Buffalo, Shakori has a similar vibe and similar artists to the aforementioned festivals. But if you live in or near the Triangle, it’s just a short drive to Shakori’s home in bucolic Chatham County.

And for music festival lovers, it offers not one but two chances to camp out and catch some great live music each year — one in the spring and one in the fall.

I had the pleasure of meeting up and hanging out with some of my fellow die-hard festivarians (yes, it’s a word) at the spring 2017 festival featuring some amazing sets by Rising Appalachia, Violet Bell, Dangermuffin, The Mastersons and Steve Earle and the Dukes, just to name a few.

But if you don’t want to take my word for it, Blue Ridge Outdoors Magazine named it among its Bests of the Fests of 2018.

And for $90, you can take advantage of the 2018 fall festival, Oct. 4-7, and its 50-plus acts including headliners Lettuce and, of course, Donna the Buffalo, as well as Ryan Mountbleau, Urban Soil and Shiloh Hill, among others.

But don’t wait. Tickets go up after Friday, Aug. 17, and before the rest of the acts are announced on Monday, Aug. 20.

In the meantime, catch some of the acts who presumably will be at Shakori this fall on “The Road to Shakori” tour.

 

 


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Labor Day Weekend 2018 offers myriad music festival opportunities for fans in Virginia, North Carolina

Listen up music festival lovers: Labor Day Weekend 2018 has plenty of opportunities in North Carolina, Virginia and beyond. Continue reading


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First Listen: Shiloh Hill releases ‘Gardens’ new single, video to kick off ‘Magic Cool Bus’ tour

Shiloh Hill is a self-described eclectic folk-rock band that layers traditional folk instruments over a rock band rhythm section. My husband and I had the pleasure of discovering their unique sound last year at Craft City Sip-In in Greensboro, North Carolina.

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