Carolina Music Festivals is a comprehensive calendar and guide to multi-act, daylong or multiple-day music festivals in North Carolina.

April 2024 - North Carolina Music Festivals

Dates and other details may be estimated based on last year's festival until confirmed by festival organizers.


April 6 - 7    Dreamville Festival - Raleigh

The festival organized by platinum-selling rapper J. Cole is a two-stage show with acts from Cole's Dreamville label, other national acts and up-and-comers. There will also be food and drinks (including alcoholic beverages) and art to celebrate local culture. Proceeds are to benefit the Dorothea Dix Park Conservancy and Cole's Dreamville Foundation.

Artists
Saturday: Sza, Chris Brown, J.I.D., Lil Yacty, Schoolboy Q, Sexy Red, Jeremih, Earthgang, Teezo Touchdown, Amaare, Lute, Luh Tyler, Domani.
Sunday: J. Cole, Nicki Minaj, Rema, Jeezy, Monica, Rae Sremmurd, Key Glock, Bas, Muni Long, Cozz, Omen, TiaCorine, Chase Shakur.

Festival site: Dorothea Dix Park

Gates open at 12:30 p.m.

General Admission: $225.
General Admission+: $400.
Three levels of VIP Packages (special viewing area, bar, restrooms and more): $600, $650, $1,500.

Children age 6 and younger admitted free with paying adult.
No children under the age of 14 allowed in without the supervision of an adult, the website says.

April 11 - 14    Singers and Songbirds Songwriter Festival - Statesville

The festival is presented by Roots in the Round, a nonprofit committed to growing the local artistic community by bringing artists together on stage and encouraging conversation and storytelling between them to highlight their individual songwriting styles and identities. The four-day festival features 35-plus acts playing in a wide range of events, including the “Roots In The Round” series of five performances, a songwriters' competition, a downtown crawl organized to vist multiple venues, dances, after parties, artist interviews, etc. There will also be vendors and food at the Old Jail, the home of the Iredell Arts Council. The festival debuted in April 2023 and was held again in November. Organizers said they hope to eventually present a week-long festival once a year.

Artists
TBA. 2023 lineup included Ranford Almond, Anest, Kendra Blethen and about 35 more

Festival site: Iredell Arts Council, additional venues

Starts 3 p.m. Thursday.

Roots in the Round: $15 per round.
Other shows, dance party: $10 each.
VIP all access: $175.

April 12 - 13    Strange Fruit Festival - Greensboro

The festival celebrates "Black cultural music" and is put on by the Strange Fruit Foundation, nonprofit organization committed to creating opportunities of value to BIPOC musicians, artists, and entertainment professionals. In addition to live music, the festival will present vendors and food trucks. A Friday night bar crawl starts at Southend Brewery, ends at Europa and features musicians along the way and at Elm Street Lounge. The festival is in its third year in 2024.

Artists
NuBeing Collective, Destiny Stone, Alter Egos Band, Africa Unplugged, Unheard Project GSO.

Festival site: LeBauer Park

Time TBA Friday, 2 to 8 p.m. Saturday.

Two-day admission (includes admission to Elm Street Lounge Friday night and Flat Iron Saturday night): $25.
Friday (admission to Elm Street Lounge): $15 early bird, later prices TBA.
Saturday (shows in park and admission to Flat Iron): $15 early bird, later prices TBA.

April 12 - 14    Moo, Brew and 'Que Music Fest - Charlotte

The festival features craft beer from 25-plus local, regional and national breweries, as well as barbecue and burgers, "various games and entertainment," and a lineup of local, regional and national music artists. A portion of proceeds go to Second Harvest Food Bank. The festival expanded from two to three days for 2024.

Artists
The Revivalists, Hippo Campus, Lee Brice, Flipturn, Little Stranger, Richy Mitch and the Coal Miners, Illiterate Light, The Vegabonds, Trash Panda.

Festival site: AvidXchange Music Factory Festival Grounds

Gates open 2 p.m. daily.

Three-day general admission: $79.
Three-day Main Stage VIP (reserved VIP area with cocktail bar): $129.
Three-day Super VIP (complimentary beer, cocktails, soda, water; reserved Super VIP area with cocktail bar): $249.
Daily admission: TBA.

April 13    Luck Now Music Festival - Dunn

The festival presented by the Downtown Dunn Development Corporation is to celebrate the deep and diverse musical roots of Harnett County and surrounding areas through music, dance and fellowship while promoting Downtown Dunn as a destination for fun and entertainment. The festival debuted in March 2023.

Artists
Landsharks (Jimmy Buffett tribute), Clint Alphin, Julia Golden, Corey Hunt and the Wise, Soule and the Superband, Tito Puente Jr., Caique Vidal and Batuque, 9DayTrip.

Festival site: Downtown Dunn

1 to 9 p.m.

Free admission.
VIP (access to VIP tent): $35.

April 18 - 20    Big Lick Bluegrass Festival - Oakboro

Like several other bluegrass festivals, most bands play afternoon and evening sets. Thursday is an open mic show. The festival is in its 20th year in 2024.

Artists
Thursday: Lonesome River Band, open mic.
Friday: Sideline, Grascals, Deeper Shade of Blue, Tennessee Bluegrass Band, Drive Time.
Saturday: Sideline, Authentic Unlimited, Po Ramblin Boys, Junior Sisk and Ramblers Choice, Ron's Parlor.

Festival site: Big Lick Festival Park

6 to 10:30 p.m. Thursday, noon to 10:30 p.m. Friday, noon to 11 p.m. Saturday.

Three-day pass: $75 before April 1, $95 afterward.
Thursday: $20, ages 12 to 16 $5, younger free.
Friday: $35, ages 12 to 16 $10, younger free.
Saturday: $40, ages 12 to 16 $10, younger free.

Camping on-site with limited hookups.
No alcoholic beverages.

April 19 - 21    Tuck Fest - Charlotte

The festival mainly celebrates the outdoor lifestyle through competitions, exhibitions and demos at the U.S. National Whitewater Center, but also offers 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. The festival is in its sixth year in 2024.

Artists
Friday: Molly Tuttle and Golden Highway, The Heavy Heavy.
Saturday: Margo Price, Dylan LeBlanc.
Sunday: Courtney Barnett, Rayland Baxter.

Festival site: U.S. National Whitewater Center

Music starts 7 p.m. Friday, 1 p.m. Saturday and Sunday; activities start 10 a.m.

Free attendance.

Race registration: $45 age 10 and older, $35 age 9 and younger; $5 more day of the event.
Timing chip for races: $10.

Parking: $6 daily per standard car, $18 per larger vehicle.

April 20    North Carolina 'Cuegrass Festival - Raleigh

The daylong show put on by The Pit restaurant in downtown Raleigh's Warehouse District typically presents bluegrass and roots music on two stages, barbecue and a beer tent, a silent auction of goods from downtown merchants, and kids' activities. For 2024, there's also an "after party" at a nearby bar/restaurant. Proceeds benefit local child abuse prevention agency SAFEchild, and the Junior League of Raleigh's BackPack Buddies, which is a food program for school kids.

Artists
Main Stage: Old Habits, Boone and Church, Courtney Lynn and Quinn, The Grasso Matics.
Beers and Banjos Stage: Sophie Lowry, Caroline Tanner, Parker-Duncan, Skye Pixon.
After Party: Pretty Little Goat.

Festival site: Fayetteville Street (After party: Raleigh Times)

Noon to 6 p.m.

Free admission.

April 20    Earth Day Jam - Salisbury

Earth Day Jam is a music and environmental awareness festival that benefits local nonprofit organization Happy Roots. The festival typically presents about a dozen national and regional touring acts, as well as local acts. Visual artists, food and drink vendors and environmental educators will also be on hand, and there will be children's activities.

Artists
Devon Gilfillian, Falllift, Austin McNeill, Abby Bryant and the Echoes, Empire Strikes Brass, Yarn, Carolina Detour, CJ Sunshine.

Festival site: Bell Tower Green

11 a.m. to 10 p.m.; pre-party 6 p.m.

Free admission.

April 20    RockyFest - Hiddenite

RockyFest is mostly a day of climbing and rappelling, but among the other festivities is a slate of live music performances and a picking tent. There will also be children's activities and food and arts and craft vendors. RockyFest is in its 10th year in 2024.

Artists
Kelley and the Cowboys, Whitetop Mountain Band, Twin Creeks Stringband, Gap Civil, Nobody's Business, Hilltoppers Review.
Dance demonstrations by Martha Spencer.

Festival site: Rocky Face Mountain Recreation Area

Music begins at 10 a.m.

Free admission.

April 25 - 28    MerleFest - Wilkesboro

MerleFest, one of the country's best music festivals, features about 80 Americana, bluegrass, country, folk and rock acts on more than a dozen stages. The weekend also includes a well-regarded songwriters' competition, and there's a kids' stage and play area and a large, quality vendors area and a variety of food and drink vendors. The festival honors the late Merle Watson and the Doc Watson family, and is a fundraiser for Wilkes Community College. MerleFest is in its 36th year in 2024. Click on the photo for more information.

Artists
Old Crow Medicine Show, Turnpike Troubadours, The Teskey Brothers, Nickel Creek, Molly Tuttle and Golden Highway, Larkin Poe, Lukas Nelson and Promise of the Real, Steep Canyon Rangers, Dan Tyminski Band, Béla Fleck My Bluegrass Heart, Sam Bush, Jerry Douglas, The Earls of Leicester, Sierra Hull, Brandy Clark, Shinyribs, Nick Shoulders, Willie Watson, Peter Rowan, Scythian, Donna the Buffalo, Jim Lauderdale, Kruger Brothers, Darin and Brooke Aldridge, S.G. Goodman, New Dangerfield, Chatham County Line, Chatham Rabbits, John McEuen, Willie Carlisle, Adeem the Artist, The Last Revel, Twisted Pine, The Sensational Barnes Brothers, The Waybacks, Nefesh Mountain, Them Coulee Boys, Buffalo Nichols, Evan Honer, Jake Kohn, Wyatt Ellis, Colby T. Helms and the Virginia Creepers, Palmyra, Alexa Rose, Andy May, Arkansauce, Ashes and Arrows, "B" Townes, Banknotes, Bob Margolin, Carol Rifkin, Carolina Detour, Charles Welch, Corey Harris, Ettore Buzzini, Falling Timber Band, Goldpine, The Harris Brothers, Into the Fog, Jack Lawrence, Jeff Little Trio, JigJam, Joe Smothers, Josh Goforth, Kyshona, The Langan Band, Laura Boosinger, Liam Purcell and Cane Mill Road, The Local Boys, Mark Bumgarner, Missy Raines and Allegheny, Mitch Greenhill and Mitch's Kitchen, New Found Gap, Pete and Joan Wernick, Pixie and The Partygrass Boys, Presley Barker, Roan Street Ramblers, Roy Book Binder, The Silent Comedy, The Sullivan Sisters, T. Michael Coleman, The Tan and Sober Gentlemen, Tony Williamson, Uwade, Wayne Henderson.
Also ... Gravity Check Juggling, The InterACTive Theater of Jef, Flattop.

Festival site: Wilkes Community College

Gates open 2:30 p.m. Thursday, 9 a.m. Friday-Sunday; band competition is 11 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Saturday on the Plaza Stage.

13 stages; some in tents, three indoors.

Four-Day Watson Stage reserved seat: row 1-35 $300, $320 at gate; row 36-51 $275, $295 at gate.
Four-day patio seating (covered area, includes snacks and beverages): $505.
Four-day general admission: $225, $245 at gate.
Friday-Sunday general admission: $205, $225 at gate.
Daily: Thursday $80, $95 at gate; Friday, Saturday $100, $115 at gate; Sunday $90, $105 at gate.
Midnight Jam (Saturday in Walker Auditorium): $40.
Patron Packages at the Gold ($3,113), Platinum ($3,413) and Club ($5,696) levels for groups of four include Midnight Jam tickets, access to VIP area seating with complimentary drinks and snacks, meals, side-stage seating and backstage access, on-campus parking, more.

Several campgrounds are located nearby and are served by continuous bus shuttles, including Rivers Edge and YMCA camping (primitive camping; YMCA provides access to its facilities).
On-campus and Orange Parking Lot RVs, four days: $750.

April 27    Beach Fest - Selma

The Farm, a special events venue just off of I95, puts on a day of top-line beach music each spring. There will also be food trucks on site. The festival is in its 11th year in 2024.

Artists
Band of Oz, The Embers feat. Craig Woolard, Jim Quick and Coastline.

Festival site: The Farm at 95

Gates open 10 a.m., music starts at noon.

$20 through February 15, TBA advance, $50 day of show.
Younger than 6 free.

Premier parking $20, free parking farther away.

Tent space for 10'x10' or smaller $20-$50 based on site selected.

"NO glass is allowed anywhere on the property, including parking lots."



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