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.
Greensky Bluegrass began making music in 2000 and stood out for their non-traditional take on bluegrass, where they fused rock and acoustic influences.
Known for their improvisation on stage as well as performing multiple sets at one show, this five-piece band began in Michigan and has since has seen many changes, particularly to their line up. However, what remains the same is their original sound, compelling performances and indisputable passion. As well as their original songs, the band has also covered The Rolling Stones, Prince, Aerosmith and Bruce Springsteen, just to name a few.
You can check out this unique group at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 18, at The Ritz in Raleigh. Tickets are $49 for general admission and can be found at this link.
Donna The Buffalo & The Steel Wheels 2024 Tour comes to the Carolina Theatre of Durham on Thursday, Jan. 18, 2024.
Tickets to see Donna The Buffalo & The Steel Wheels in Durham are on sale at the Carolina Theatre box office and the venue’s website.
According to the Carolina Theatre’s website, Donna the Buffalo offers everything you want in a roots band — songs that matter, a groove that makes you dance, an audience that spans generations, and a musical voice that evokes a sense of community. The band has become a lifestyle for its members and audiences who gather at the countless festivals they perform at across the country, including the band’s own festival, the Finger Lakes Grassroots Festival in Trumansburg, New York.
The Steel Wheels, known for their rootsy brand of Americana, also gathers their fans at their own festival, the Red Wing Roots Music Festival. The festival, a weekend-long celebration of music, community, and the beautiful Shenandoah Valley allows The Steel Wheels to showcase their music informed by traditional sounds from the Virginia mountains where the band was formed.
About The Carolina Theatre of Durham
Carolina Theatre of Durham is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization which manages the city-owned Carolina Theatre at 309 W. Morgan Street, Durham, NC 27701. The Carolina Theatre of Durham is dedicated to presenting vibrant, thought-provoking film and live performances that contribute to the cultural and economic vitality of downtown Durham and the Triangle Region. Visit carolinatheatre.org for more information.
Want to whisk away the winter blues and get a preview to one of Rooster Walk’s artists?
Acclaimed singer/songwriter/guitar virtuoso, Daniel Donato, will perform at The Ramkat on Feb. 2, the good folks at All Eyes Media have announced. (ticket info). Donato is on tour in support of his recently released album, Reflector (Retrace Music). The 15 songs on this new record are Donato’s first collection of all original songs. They embody the progressing musical space he has created for himself, which he refers to as “cosmic country.” You can listen to the new album on your preferred DSP HERE.
“A longtime fixture on the stages of Nashville’s Broadway district, Donato has transitioned into a force in the rock and jam-band worlds…” – Rolling Stone
“It’s a feeling pitched between the retro country associated with Sturgill Simpson and Chris Stapleton and the “conversational music” (his term) of the jam world. It comes across with uncommon clarity on Donato’s latest album, ‘Reflector’…” – UPROXX
“’Reflector’ is, literally, a reflection of his well-developed tastes, like a kaleidoscopic color wheel of the music that seasoned him, from the jam-heavy Grateful Dead to the crooning country of Willie Nelson.” – No Depression
“Prepare yourself for one of the most interesting, omnivorous, and immersive experiences that you can discover in music that still claims an allegiance to ‘country.’ It’s Daniel Donato’s Reflector, and it’s the realization of his “cosmic country” dream first envisioned years ago, but finally coming to fruition in its full form now.” – Saving Country Music
Donato released a music video for the joyful track “Hi-Country.” You can watch it HERE.
Donato’s “cosmic country” is a combination of Southern rock, bluegrass, classic country, and honky-tonk with Southern California folk and Northern California musical exploration. His album opener, “Lose Your Mind,” perfectly demonstrates this incredible blend. You can listen to his single “Lose Your Mind” HERE.
Reflector possesses such an energetic yet vibey sound that encompasses everything Donato is about. Donato is dedicated to his craft and exemplifies incredible work ethic. It also helps that he is a monster of a guitar player. You can see him in action with Billy Strings on stage at the Double E Performance Center in Vermont HERE.
Reflector was also produced by multi-Grammy Award winning producer/engineer/mixer Vance Powell (White Stripes, Arctic Monkeys, Chris Stapleton).
The Shakori Hills GrassRoots Festival of Music & Dance is a collaboration between the Shakori Hills Community Arts Center and the GrassRoots Festival Organization, providing a family-friendly celebration of music, dance, art and education. Activities for all ages! Yoga classes, sustainability discussions, food vendors, local beverages, demonstrations, workshops and much more! There are a variety of camp site options on a bucolic 72 acre site in Pittsboro, North Carolina. Find tickets for the May 2-4, 2024, event on sale at this link: https://www.shakorihillsgrassroots.org/
From the good folks at Hopscotch: Act fast, y’all! These are the lowest prices available for 2024, and quantities are extremely limited. New for 2024: payment plans are available during checkout! Buy your 3-day GA or VIP passes for just 20% down, and split the remaining balance over four additional payments. For more info on payment plans, visit our website. We can’t wait to reunite with you all for another Hopscotch Music Festival in the heart of downtown Raleigh
Sarah Siskind’s artistry speaks for itself – an arresting voice; a respected, much-covered songwriter; a frequently-licensed recording artist; an admired, free-spirited, commanding performer.
You can catch this Winston-Salem native at 7:30 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 17, for $12 at the Wake Forest Listening Room.
Siskind’s songs have been covered by Alison Krauss, Bon Iver, Wynonna, Randy Travis and many others. She’s had more than 20 songs in the hit TV series “Nashville,” including the unofficial theme song “A Life That’s Good,” and heart-wrencher “Sanctuary” which was recently performed on “American Idol” by a finalist.
Her latest album, “Modern Appalachia,” finds Siskind clothed in authenticity, where mountain melodies intertwine with progressive turns, a sonic interpretation of how she uniquely weaves the traditional with the progressive. Guitar legend Bill Frisell and indie icon Justin Vernon (Bon Iver) guest along with band Daniel Kimbro, Mike Seal, Jeff Sipe and Rose Cousins. Mary Chapin Carpenter, whom Siskind has opened for, calls the album “heart-stoppingly GREAT.”
Growing up in a North Carolina house so steeped in music; she claims it as her first language. “I almost find it hard to talk about my music,” Siskind says, “speaking is really my second form of communication.” After moving to Nashville at the age of 20, her song “Goodbye Is All We Have” was recorded by Alison Krauss, which led to a job at Big Yellow Dog as a staff writer. Siskind went to have songs recorded by Randy Travis, Wynonna, Point of Grace, Madi Diaz, and countless others. Her music has also found its way onto television, where her songs have been heavily featured on MTV’s “Teen Mom 2,” MTV’s “Awkward,” ABC’s “Pretty Little Liars,” Lifetime’s “Army Wives” and HBO’s “The Wire.” She made her primetime TV debut in 2014, performing “Nashville”’s hit “A Life That’s Good” from the Ryman stage with the show’s cast and co-writer Ashley Monroe.
But her notoriety as a songwriter has not overshadowed her virtuosity as an artist. As I wrote in The Huffington Post, “Siskind has been compared to Bonnie Raitt and Brandi Carlile, but in my humble opinion, she’s incomparable.” In 2009, Siskind released her album, “Say It Louder” on Thirty Tigers, which met with critical acclaim and won “Americana Album of the Year” at the Nashville Music Awards.
In 2009, Siskind released her album, “Say It Louder” on Thirty Tigers, which met with critical acclaim and won “Americana Album of the Year” at the Nashville Music Awards. Her earlier album “Covered,” the release of which was derailed due to health issues, was brought back to life in 2014 by Justin Vernon (Bon Iver), who personally sought it out for re-release on his record label Jagjaguwar.
Since then, Siskind has become a regular NPR performer, with features on Tiny Desk concerts, World Cafe with David Dye, All Songs Considered, Song Of The Day, and most recently Mountain Stage. She has toured with Bonnie Raitt, Lee Ann Womack, Paul Brady, Bon Iver (who also famously covered her “Lovin’s For Fools”), and The Swell Season.
Check out other upcoming shows including The Gravy Boys and Songs from the Road Band at this link.
MerleFest, presented by Window World, has announced the initial lineup for its 36th annual event, taking place April 25-28, 2024, on the campus of Wilkes Community College. Leading the breadth of can’t-miss performances this year are Grammy-winning rogue-folk ensemble Old Crow Medicine Show (celebrating both their 25th anniversary and nearly 25 years since their MerleFest debut in 2000), Red Dirt stalwarts Turnpike Troubadours, decorated blues-rock duo The Teskey Brothers, and recently reunited bluegrass sensation Nickel Creek. MerleFest favorites Steep Canyon Rangers, Sam Bush, Jerry Douglas, The Earls of Leicester, and more are also set to appear. View the initial lineup below. Additional artists to be announced in the coming weeks.
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.
MerleFest 2024 will welcome Old Crow Medicine Show, Turnpike Troubadours, The Teskey Brothers, Nickel Creek, Steep Canyon Rangers, Sam Bush, Jerry Douglas, The Earls of Leicester, Shinyribs, Peter Rowan, Scythian, Donna the Buffalo, Jim Lauderdale, Kruger Brothers, Darin & Brooke Aldridge, Chatham County Line, Chatham Rabbits, John McEuen, Willi Carlisle, Adeem the Artist, The Sensational Barnes Brothers, The Waybacks, Alexa Rose, Andy May, Ashes & Arrows, B. Townes, Banknotes, Buffalo Nichols, Carol Rifkin, Charles Welch, Flattop, Goldpine, Gravity Check Juggling, The InterACTive Theater of Jef, Jack Lawrence, Jake Kohn, Jeff Little Trio, JigJam, Joe Smothers, Josh Goforth, Kyshona, Laura Boosinger, The Local Boys, Mark Bumgarner, Mitch Greenhill & Mitch’s Kitchen, Nefesh Mountain, Palmyra, Pete & Joan Wernick, Presley Barker, Roy Book Binder, The Silent Comedy, T. Michael Coleman, Them Coulee Boys, Tony Williamson, Uwade, and Wayne Henderson. For artist performance dates, visit merlefest.org/lineup.
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. Please visit merlefest.org/volunteer to sign up before the April 13th deadline.
Applications to be a MerleFest vendor are also open. Vendors are carefully selected to provide a variety of quality and unique goods for every MerleFest fan. Included in the vendor fee is the cost of your tent, tent setup, fire extinguisher, gutters, table, chairs, lightbulb for nighttime illumination, on-campus security, as well as general admission passes for the entire festival and one on-campus parking pass. Simply put, it’s a great deal! Please visit merlefest.org/vendors to apply now before the application window closes on January 15th.
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