Charlotte’s sixth annualTuck Fest set for April 19-21, 2024, celebrates the outdoor lifestyle through competitions, exhibitions and demos at the U.S. National Whitewater Center, but also offers FREE live music interspersed with other activities Friday evening and Saturday and Sunday.
There is also a vendors’ village and the complex has several places to eat and drink. Competitions include trail running, kayaking, biking, climbing, stand-up paddle boarding, obstacle course and adventure racing. The name “Tuck Fest” comes from the Tuckaseegee Ford and Trail, a historical landmark located at the center.
ArtistsLineup Friday: Molly Tuttle and Golden Highway, The Heavy Heavy. Saturday: Margo Price, Dylan LeBlanc. Sunday: Courtney Barnett, Rayland Baxter.
Music starts 7 p.m. Friday, 1 p.m. Saturday and Sunday; activities start 10 a.m.
While tickets are free, parking costs $6 daily per standard car, $18 per larger vehicle.
According to ABC 11, the 2022 Dreamville Festival brought $6.7 million to the local economy. Restaurants, bars and retail shops saw a boost in tourism revenue. Many area hotels saw an average 92% capacity rate.
Hey there music lovers, are you ready to sing along to some electrifying music? Well, hold onto your hats because the Lovin’ Life Music Fest is coming to Uptown Charlotte May 3-5, 2024, and it’s bringing the house down with an epic lineup that will blow your mind!
Charlotte-based Southern Entertainment, the brilliant minds behind this sensational festival, have just dropped the bombshell of all bombshells by revealing the star-studded roster of artists who will grace the stages of this inaugural event.
Picture this: under the dazzling lights of Uptown Charlotte, you’ll be swaying to the soulful melodies of Post Malone, getting lost in the timeless classics of Stevie Nicks, and feeling the vibes with Noah Kahan. But wait, there’s more! Prepare to be serenaded by the enchanting sounds of Maggie Rogers, get pumped up with The Chainsmokers, and get down with Charlotte’s very own DaBaby. And that’s just the tip of the musical iceberg!
Joining these headliners are a plethora of sensational acts spanning various genres and generations. From the heartfelt harmonies of The Avett Brothers to the infectious energy of The Fray, from the funky grooves of Ripe to the soulful stylings of Allen Stone, there’s something for everyone at Lovin’ Life Music Fest.
But let’s not forget about our homegrown talent! The QC Local Stage will be buzzing with the electrifying performances of Charlotte’s very own musical prodigies, including Sweet Spine, Modern Alibi, Fox N’ Vead, and many more. Get ready to show them some love and support as they take center stage and rock your world!
And hey, it’s not just about the music at Lovin’ Life. We’re talking about a celebration of arts, culture, and cuisine that will tantalize your senses and leave you craving for more. With ticket sales skyrocketing and sponsors clamoring to be a part of this musical extravaganza, it’s safe to say that Charlotte is on its way to becoming the next big Music City!
So mark your calendars, spread the word, and get ready for the ultimate music experience of a lifetime at Lovin’ Life Music Fest. For more information about the lineup drop, click here.
The Down Home Concert Series has another seven shows scheduled, all of them happening Friday nights at Fletcher Opera Theatre. The rest of the season breaks down as follows (tickets for all events are on sale at pinecone.org).
Appalachian Road Show invites you to come and sit a spell as the five-piece band weaves together songs and stories emanating from the mountains and hollers of North Carolina and Virginia, to the coal mines of West Virginia and Kentucky. The band was nominated for the coveted “Entertainer of the Year” Award at the 2023 International Bluegrass Music Association (IBMA) Awards.
International Bluegrass Music Assocation fans and MerleFest faithful: The North Carolina Museum of History will present Tar Heel Troubadours: Liam Purcell & Cane Mill Road from 7–8:30 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 17. Purcell leads Cane Mill Road as they rock the traditional bluegrass standards they were raised on. The band also writes original music for the bluegrass, old-time and Americana genres.
From the museum’s website: “Join us for Tar Heel Troubadours, a celebration of Americana, roots, bluegrass, and traditional music performed by artists from or living and working in North Carolina.
North Carolina Songwriters in the Round returns to The Cary Theater at 7 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 3. This year’s showcase features two sets of songwriters sharing the stories behind the songs they’ve written, performing in the round, Nashville style.
Performers include Jason Adamo, Stephen Jenkins, George Hage, Reeve Coobs, Julie Mcknight, Jeremy Gilchrist, Brooke Hatala and Amy Gerhartz.
The temps may be frigid, but things will be heating up in Wilmington the weekend of Feb. 1-3, 2024, during the 44th annual North Carolina Jazz Festival.
All evening concerts begin at 7:30 p.m. and will be held at the Hotel Ballast ballroom.
Thursday Night Showcase Thursday night, our “Special Event” night, is when the festival features different styles of jazz. This year we will open with The Port City Trio, a Wilmington-based group that is well known in the area for the Jewell Family’s tradition of playing jazz, blues and pop styles of music. “We welcome them to our stage, as they feature their daughter Annie, a violinist who was in our very first masterclass, given by Bucky Pizzarelli and Jonathan Russell,” the website states. “Not giving away ages, but Jonathan was about 12 then, and so was Annie!”
“Our main event for the evening will be The Emmet Cohen Trio. Emmet, a multifaceted young American jazz pianist and composer has emerged as one of his generation’s pivotal figures in music and the related arts. Last year he came to Wilmington as pianist for Tootie Heath, who gave a concert at UNC-Wilmington. The reception by the local jazz community was spectacular, and now we have the opportunity to present Emmet with his own trio as our very special introduction to his ‘style’ of jazz.”
The evening’s music will come to a close with some of the weekend’s All-Stars in a Traditional Jazz Jam.
Friday and Saturday Nights “We will continue our celebration with 15 All-Star musicians playing in the traditional seven sets of six or seven players, each set with a different leader. You will see/hear many of our favorite NCJF musicians plus new additions to our lineup. These will be 4½-hour concerts.
Patron Brunch “On Saturday from 10:30 a.m. until 2 p.m. we treat our patrons to a musical brunch, when all of our All-Star musicians play for their pleasure while everyone enjoys a delicious brunch. During the last hour we have a ‘jam’ when the patrons who are musicians have the opportunity to play with the All-Stars.”
Tickets start at $15 and can be purchased at this link.
“We have a lot of exciting shows coming up over the next few weeks, including at one of our favorite restaurant venues, The Purple Onion in Saluda, and opening for our pals the Steep Canyon Rangers at Oskar Blues in Brevard! We will also be performing in Winston-Salem for Fiddle & Bow and presenting our annual Valentine’s concert at the BMCA in February.”
“WE ARE GOING TO IRELAND IN JUNE!! We are so excited to go back overseas to the Emerald Isle for the Wesport Folk and Bluegrass Festival in the beautiful coastal town of Westport. Come join us!”
“We were so pleased that “Songs of Our Grandfathers” came in at No. 31 on the WNCW Top 100 of 2023 countdown! Thank you so much to everyone who voted for us and don’t forget to follow us on the streaming platforms and add us to your playlists.
The Big What? is back with three nights of Big Something & friends plus more artists TBA
THE BIG WHAT? is set for Aug. 22-24 at the Shakori Hills Community Arts Center in Pittsboro, about 30 minutes from Raleigh.
From the band: “The Big What? is back! We are so grateful and beyond excited to announce the 10th anniversary edition of our Music Festival & Campout this summer!”
Ticket Info
General Alien (GA) Weekend Passes include (1) GA ticket, GA tent camping, and GA parking for 1 person.
GA Tent Camping is included with a GA pass but Car Camping ($65) or RV Camping ($150) will require a separate pass per vehicle (available as an add on at checkout).
Very Important Alien (VIA) Weekend Passes include (1) VIA ticket with souvenir laminate, reserved tent camping in a prime location, access to a reserved viewing area in front of the main stage, access to private bathrooms, 1 hot meal each night plus access to refreshments during the day, and a free download of each Big Something set.
Supreme Very Important Alien (SVIA) Weekend Passes include (1) VIA ticket with everything from the VIA program above plus an exclusive Saturday afternoon acoustic Big Something performance in a secret location, plus (1) signed screenprint Big What? poster, and (1) signed Big Something setlist from all three nights.
Reserved TENT Camping in a prime location is included with every VIA/SVIA pass but Car Camping ($65) and RV Camping ($150) will still require a separate pass per vehicle (available as an add on at checkout).
Kids 12 and under are $30 each and can only be purchased day of show at the gate.
Please Note: a Parent or Legal Guardian must accompany anyone under 18 at all times.
The Big What? is a rain or shine event. All tickets are non-refundable. Tickets available at this link.
Mega Raffle tickets and Acoustic Kids Showcase sign ups begin Feb. 1
Music lovers, listen up: There is no better way than to catch the magic of MerleFest (and many other music festivals) than to volunteer! You get to listen to a slew of fantastic artists for FREE plus you get free parking and even a discount on camping for a few hours of your time.
MerleFest Volunteer applications are now open. As a volunteer, participants will receive free entry to the festival for the entire day of their shift, free parking, and shuttle, and 10% off camping at River’s Edge Campground. Most importantly, volunteers will be supporting a major fundraiser for Wilkes Community College.
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