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Musings on folk, Americana, country, bluegrass and newgrass


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Raleigh Wide Open Music Festival to feature more than 40 artists for FREE on Oct. 1-3

The streets of downtown Raleigh will come alive for the second Raleigh Wide Open Music Festival, presented by PNC, with more than 40 artists performing music on multiple stages along downtown’s Fayetteville Street.

There will be something for nearly every musical taste including bluegrass, folk, country, rock, norteño, gospel and many other genres blended in, “played by real humans who make music about real things,” according to the website. Best of all, it’s FREE! There are no tickets or wristbands needed. Just show up ready to enjoy a great time with friends and family.

Visit the Lineup Page to get to know each artist.

I am particularly looking forward to hearing Caleb Caudle, Hank, Pattie and the Current, The Honeydew Drops, Tan and Sober Gentlemen, Jacob Sharpe and Joseph Terrell of Mipso, Shinyribs, Jim Lauderdale and Liam Purcell & Cane Mill Road. I am also looking forward to being introduced to new artists I haven’t had the chance to hear before.

In addition there will be arts vendors, food trucks, an N.C. Family Fun Zone, and more all celebrating roots music and community.

It all starts on Thursday evening, Oct. 1, with a Kickoff Celebration featuring music under the string lights at The Corner on N.C. State’s Centennial Campus. Then, on Friday, Oct. 2, and Saturday, Oct. 3, downtown Raleigh comes alive with multiple stages of music and a celebration of community that spans several city blocks.

The festival remains free this year thanks to generous sponsors and donors, whose support ensures the music is accessible to everyone.

To see the full artist lineup and schedule and learn more at raleighwideopen.com.

If you go


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Join the Raleigh Wide Open Lineup announcement on May 12 at Bowstring Pizza and Brewyard

Wanna be first to hear who’s playing the 2026 Raleigh Wide Open Music Festival? Come to our free Lineup Announcement live event on May 12, part of our weekly Beer and Banjos concert at Bowstring Pizza and Brewyard in Raleigh.

From 6:30-9 p.m., you’ll hear music from the Beer and Banjos All-Stars and a guest band, and we’ve got some extra fun in store as we unveil the festival lineup. It’ll also be the first opportunity to buy our brand-new 2026 festival merch – yes, our beloved banjo-hoisting squirrel will be prominently featured! 

Beer and Banjos is a free, family-friendly evening of roots music every Tuesday at Raleigh’s Bowstring Pizza and Brewyard. Hosted by the mighty local musicians known collectively as the Beer and Banjos Allstars, these weekly concerts feature guest musicians and take place on Bowstring’s spacious patio when the weather allows, or inside by the bar when rain, heat, or cold threaten the vibe.

Tips for the musicians are gratefully accepted (look for a helper walking around with a bucket for cash and QR codes for online tips), and don’t forget to check out the merch table. Bowstring serves tasty pizza and other food as well as cold beer and other beverages.

Learn more about Beer and Banjos events statewide here.

IF YOU GO

Raleigh Wide Open Lineup Announcement … Live!

Tuesday, May 12, 2026 , 6:30pm-9:00pm

Bowstring Pizza and Brewyard 1930 Wake Forest Road, Raleigh

Directions

A note about parking …

Parking at Bowstring Brewyard can fill up fast. If you arrive and find the parking lot full, here are some options:

PAY PARKING: Exit the Bowstring parking lot by turning right onto Wake Forest Road, then quickly take a right (at the light) onto E. Whitaker Mill Rd. Turn right into the parking lot of the StorageMax and look for a kiosk to pay.

FREE PARKING: Turn right out of the Bowstring parking lot and quickly turn left at the light onto E. Whitaker Mill Rd. Turn left into the parking lot of Wesley Memorial United Methodist Church. It’s about a 5-10 minute walk back to Bowstring from there.


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Raleigh Wide Open Music Festival brings bluegrass back to the Oak City on Oct. 2-4

Since the annual International Bluegrass Music Association (IBMA)’s annual festival and conference headed to Chattanooga, Tennessee, the City of Raleigh has partnered with Pinecone to keep the music playing in the form of Raleigh Wide Open 2025 on Oct. 2-4. 

The lineup includes IBMA favorites Balsam Range, Jim Lauderdale, The Tray Wellington Band, Unspoken Tradition, Hank Pattie and the Current, Stillhouse Junkies and other bluegrass greats. It also features rising stars in the Americana world like Sunny War, Shinyribs, Palmyra, Town Mountain and the Susto String Band, plus gospel bands from the Black Church traditions of Eastern North Carolina.

For the artist schedule, vendor opportunities or to volunteer, visit https://pinecone.org/faq-pinecone-produced-festival-coming-in-2025/.