| It's mainly a barbecue competition, but live bluegrass and gospel - on Saturday - go down great with 'cue, and it's free. Kids' activities will be available, too.
Artists
Waymasters, Buncombe Turnpike, Whitewater Bluegrass Co., The Wisemans, The Moore Brothers, Southern Crescent.
Festival site: Western North Carolina Farmers Market
April 11 - 13 Big Lick Bluegrass Festival - Oakboro
Big Lick is in its 10th year in 2013. Like several other bluegrass festivals, most bands play afternoon and evening sets.
Artists
Thursday: Open mic.
Friday: Renaissance Bluegrass Band, Goldwing Express, James King Band, Deeper Shade of Blue.
Saturday: The Boxcars, Junior Sisk & Ramblers Choice, Balsam Range, James King Band, Renaissance Bluegrass Band.
Festival site: Big Lick Festival Park
View Larger Map |
6 p.m.-until Thursday, 2 to 10 p.m. Friday, noon to 11 p.m. Saturday.
Three-day pass: $45 before April 1, TBA afterward.
Thursday: $10, $5 ages 12 to 16, free younger.
Friday: $25, $10 ages 12 to 16, free younger.
Saturday: $30, $10 ages 12 to 16, free younger..
Camping on-site with limited hookups.
|
April 12 Darin & Brooke Aldridge Music Fest - Kings Mountain
The gospel and country show is a benefit for the Green Banana Project, a local charity that helps meet local needs in Cleveland and Gaston counties. The festival, which for three years was billed as a bluegrass festival, relocated from Cherryville in 2013.
Artists
Darin and Brooke Aldridge, Men Standing for Christ, The Kingsmen Quartet.
Festival site: Joy Performance Center
April 15 - 20 NCCU Jazz Festival - Durham
North Carolina Central University has presented an annual spring jazz festival featuring student bands and guest artists since 2009.
Artists
Monday - Thursday: Several student and faculty bands.
Friday: Benny Golson with the NCCU Jazz Ensemble, NCCU Vocal Jazz Ensemble.
Saturday: Carl Allen Quartet, NCCU Jazz Ensemble.
Festival site: B.N. Duke Auditorium and other NCCU campus venues
View Larger Map |
Featured shows Friday and Saturday at 8 p.m., other times vary.
Student, faculty band performances: Free.
Weekend pass: $30.
Friday: $15.
Saturday: $20.
|
April 18 - 21 Shakori Hills Grassroots Festival - Silk Hope
| The semiannual Shakori Hills Grassroots Festival of Music & Dance (see October schedule) presents an eclectic mix of music - from rock to jazz and Americana, Cajun and klezmer - on four stages. There are also musicians' competitions, art and craft vendors, food vendors, games, a drum circle, children's activities and more. Click on the photo for more information. |
 |
Artists
Donna the Buffalo (festival host), Keller Williams and the Travelin' McCourys, Oliver Mtukudzi and the Black Spirits, Solas, The Horse Flies, Preston Frank, Locos for Juana, John Brown's Body, Diali Cissokho & Kaira Ba, Thousands of One, Joan Soriano, David Wax Museum, The Beast + Big Band, Dirty Bourbon River Show, The Brothers Comatose, Dark Water Rising, Greg Humphreys, Lizzy Ross Band, Cyril Lance, Ben Miller Band, John Howie Jr. and the Rosewood Bluff, Sarah Shook & the Devil, Loamlands, Noot d'Noot, Ironing Board Sam, Randy Dean Whitt, Gasoline Stove, Big Fat Gap, Lynn Blakely, Equanimous Minds, The Tender Fruit, Big Ron Hunter, Deep Chatham, Humble Tripe, Pat "Mother Blues" Cohen, Captain Luke, Too Much Fun, Big Al Hall & His Bare Hands, Hindu Grass, D&D Sluggers, Bubba Norwood, The Mighty Wonders, The Owen Family, Chompin' At The Bit, Matt Tedder, Ben Payton, Boo Hanks, Trilogy, Apple Chill Cloggers, Paperhand Puppet Intervention.
Festival site: Shakori Hills
View Larger Map |
Four-day pass: adults $80 until December 31, $90 until March 3, $100 until April 15, $110 at gate; ages 13-15 $45 until February 24, then $55.
Thursday: $23 in advance, $28 at gate; ages 13-15 $14 at gate.
Friday: $33 in advance, $38 at gate; ages 13-15 $19 at gate.
Saturday: $43 in advance, $48 at gate; ages 13-15 $24 at gate.
Sunday: $23 in advance, $28 at gate; ages 13-15 $14 at gate.
Younger than 13: free.
Camping: Tents $15; RVs $60 in advance, $75 at gate. RV more that 25 feet long or a vehicle and trailer pays double. |
April 20 North Carolina 'Cuegrass Festival - Raleigh
| The daylong show put on by The Pit restaurant in downtown Raleigh's Warehouse District presents bluegrass and roots music, barbecue and locally brewed beer. Proceeds benefit the BackPack Buddies program, which is a partnership between the Junior League of Raleigh and InterFaith Food Shuttle. Click on the photo for more information. |
 |
Artists
The Moore Brothers, Justin Robinson & The Mary Annettes, Hailey Clark, Tonk, Jupiter Coyote.
April 20 Earth Day Jam - Salisbury
| The music and arts festival is a fundraiser for the LandTrust of Central NC and Saving Grace Farm, and is meant to raise awareness about land preservation, conservation, recycling, energy efficiency, nutrition, local farming, and homesteading/sustainability. In addition to music there will be kids' activities, food, beer and wine, informational booths, local artists and vendors, and more.
Artists
Larry Keel and Natural Bridge, Raven Roots and the Family Band, Jahman Brahman, Porch Dog Revival, Big Break, Band Of Opportunity, Moses Jones, Pam Taylor Band, Moogatu, Analog Daze, Tripp Edwards Band, Jeremy and Jessica Vess, No. 9 Coal, Matt Irie, Sue McHugh; Dionne, Hodges, Murphy Trio.
Festival site: Saving Grace Farm
April 25 - 27 Family Style Bluegrass Music Festival - Roxboro
Mike and Debbie Wilson, longtime partners with John Maness at the Bass Mountain Bluegrass Festival, carry on the tradition of family bluegrass shows at their own venue, and have added a May beach music festival.
Artists
Melvin Goins and Windy Mountain, Lou Reid and Carolina, Little Roy and Lizzie Show, Carolina Road, Michelle Nixon and Drive, Al Batten and Bluegrass Reunion, Bluegrass Brothers, Jr. Sisk and Rambler's Choice, James King Band, IIIrd Tyme Out, Malpass Brothers, Mark Newton/Steve Thomas and Stillhouse Band, Bass Mountain Boys Reunion.
Festival site: Willow Oak Park
View Larger Map |
Three-day pass: $65 before April 4, $75 afterward.
Thursday: $25.
Friday: $30.
Saturday: $30.
Ages 13 to 16 $15 per day with parent; younger than 13 free with parent.
Camping: Free with ticket, but a vehicle (in addition to camper) in camping area costs $5; parking free without camping. Camping $10 per night prior to festival.
|
April 25 - 28 MerleFest - Wilkesboro
| MerleFest, one of the country's best music festivals, features bluegrass and Americana music by top acts, and old and new favorites on more than a dozen stages. Some bands play a single show but many artists play several shows throughout the weekend and sit in with other bands and performers. The festival honors the late Merle Watson and the Doc Watson family, and is a fundraiser for Wilkes Community College. Click on the photo for more information. |
 |
Artists
Richard Watson, Chatham County Line, Charlie Daniels Band, Avett Brothers, Gov't Mule with Warren Haynes, Leon Russell, Steep Canyon Rangers, Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, The Del McCoury Band and Preservation Hall Jazz Band, Sam Bush, Tift Merritt, Donna The Buffalo, Rhonda Vincent & The Rage, John Cowan, Jerry Douglas, Russell Moore & IIIrd Tyme Out, Jim Lauderdale, Della Mae, Delta Rae, The Kickin Grass Band, The Kruger Brothers, Mountain Heart, Michael Martin Murphey, Nashville Bluegrass Band, Peter Rowan, Scythian; Sutton, Holt and Coleman; The Waybacks, Dehlia Low, Susana and Timmy Abell, Banknotes, Glenn Bannerman, Gregg "Buffalo" Barfield, Riley Baugus, Bayou Diesel, Matraca Berg, The Black Lillies, Blind Boy Paxton, Bobby and Blue Ridge Tradition, Roy Book Binder, Laura Boosinger, Calico Moon, T. Michael Coleman, Enter The Haggis, Tom Feldmann, French Broad Playboys, The Greencards, Mitch Greenhill, Wayne Henderson, Orville Hicks, Bob Hill, David Holt, The Honeycutters, Eilen Jewell, Johnson's Crossroad, Pokey LaFarge, Jack Lawrence, Jeff Little Trio, The Local Boys, Doug MacLeod, Bill Mathis, Andy May, Misty River Band, The Neighbors, The New Familiars, Paul's Creek Band, The Quebe Sisters Band, Red Molly, Carol Rifkin, The Sheets Family Band, The Sigmon Stringers, Steve and Ruth Smith, Chris Smither, Joe Smothers, Snyder Family Band, South Carolina Broadcasters, Kirk Sutphin, Bryan Sutton, Patrick Sweany, Tut Taylor, ToneBlazers, Charles Welch, Pete and Joan Wernick, Ted White, Phil Wiggins & Corey Harris, The Wild Rumpus, Tony Williamson, Alberti Flea Circus, The InterACTive Theater of Jef, and more TBA.
Festival site: Wilkes Community College
View Larger Map |
Gates open 2:30 p.m. Thursday, 9 a.m. Friday-Sunday
14 stages; some in tents, three indoors.
Four-Day Watson Stage reserved seat: row 1-35 $235 through March 10, $260 after; row 36-49 $210 through March 10, $235 after.
Four-day general admission: $150 through March 10, $165 after.
Friday-Sunday general admission: $135 through March 10, $145 after.
Daily: $40 Thursday, $55 Friday, $60 Saturday, $45 Sunday.
Midnight Jam (Saturday in Walker Auditorium): $40.
Gold Patron Packages ($2,200) and Platinum Patron Packages ($2,600) are also available.
|
Several campgrounds are located nearby and are served by continuous bus shuttles.
On-campus RVs, four days: $450.
On-campus tents, four days: $75.
April 26 - 27 White Oak Shores Bluegrass Festival - Stella
A campground-based show on the edge of the Croatan National Forest debuted in 2012.
Artists
Friday: Ted Jones and the Tarheel Boys, HWY 85, Sourwood Mountain, Sapony Creek, Unshackled.
Saturday: Boys From Carolina, Kevin Richardson & Cuttin' Edge, Chambergrass, Damascus Ridge, Outliers, Carolina Grass.
Festival site: White Oak Shores Camping & RV Resort
View Larger Map |
Music begins at noon each day; each band plays afternoon and evening sets.
Two-day pass: $25.
Daily: $15.
Camping package: $150 for two nights and two tickets for each day; additional people $25 each for two days; extra nights $25
|
April 27 Triangle Beach Music Festival - Garner
The Triangle Beach Music Festival has been bringing top beach music acts to Garner each spring since 1999.
Artists
Band of Oz, Jim Quick and Coastline, Spare Change, Craig Woolard Band.
Festival site: Bryan Farms
View Larger Map |
Gates open 9:30 a.m., music starts at 10:30.
$25 in advance online, $35 at gate.
The festival accepts reservations (and fees) for pop-up tents.
|
April 27 All Go West - Asheville
The All Go West street fair embraces the ideals of Asheville’s local music (on two stages), art, fashion, food and beer. New for 2013 is Savor the Westside, food from west Asheville restaurants and breweries. The festival will also present Ashevillain Skateboarding demonstrations, a kids' area and much more.
Artists
Quantic, Roadkill Ghost Choir, RBTS WIN, Marley Carroll, Johnathan Scales Fourchestra, Ahleuchatistas, The Critters, Moses Atwood Band, Kovacas and the Polar Bear, DeRobert and the Half-Truths, Asian Teacher Factory, Southbound Turnaround, Albert Admas, Comet West, Alex Krug Combo, Demon Waffle, Camp David, Stevie Lee Combs, Zombie Queen, more TBA.
Festival site: Isis Restaurant & Music Hall
Return to Carolina Music Festivals' home page
Go to May Music Festivals or to February Music Festivals
Visit Our Sister Sites
Carolina Outdoors Guide This Land, Your Land The Medium, The Message
|
|
