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

February 2024 - North Carolina Music Festivals

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


February 1 - 3    North Carolina Jazz Festival - Wilmington

The N.C. Jazz Festival provides an intimate setting and the opportunity to meet and chat with local and regional jazz artists who play in various combinations together. Concerts by touring bands Thursday night are followed by multiple sets with six- or seven-musician combos on Friday and Saturday nights, and a Saturday brunch with a concert and an open jam. The festival is in its 44th year in 2024.

Artists
Thursday: The Emmet Cohen Trio, The Port City Trio, festival all-stars in a traditional jazz jam.
Friday and Saturday: Seven sets of six or seven players with different leaders, including: Adrian Cunningham, Alvin Atkinson, Brandi Disterheft, Bruce Harris, Champian Fulton, Chuck Redd, Dion Tucker, Herman Burney, Jonathan Russell, Kellin Hanas, Ken Peplowski, Lucy Yeghaizaryan, Nate Nahar, Rossano Sportiello.

Festival site: Hotel Ballast

7:30 p.m. to midnight each evening.

Three-night pass (reserved seats, musical brunch with all-star musicians, name in program): $240.
Friday and Saturday (reserved seats, musical brunch with all-star musicians, name in program): $215.
Thursday: $45.
Friday and Saturday (each): $65.
Students $15, active duty military $25.
Daily ticket seating may be reserved in tables of 10 only.

The Hotel Ballast offers a special nightly rate for the festival.

February 2 - 3    Appalachian State Old-Time Fiddlers Convention - Boone

The event features competitions, a luthiers gathering, workshops and presentations. Competitions are typically for adults and youths in guitar, mandolin, banjo, fiddle, string band, dance. The festival, which previously inlcuded a concert and square dance, is student operated and funded. It is in its 17th year in 2024.

Artists
Competitors TBA.

Festival site: ASU Campus

10 a.m.

Free admission (registration fee for competitors).

TBA    North Carolina HIP Music Festival - Triangle

The series of "historically informed performances" in 2023 was 17 events featuring 60 artists performing music from 1500 to 2022 on period instruments at venues throughout the Raleigh-Durham-Chapel Hill area. One event is a Baroque dance workshop. The festival website says its next edition will be presented in 2025.

Artists
TBA. 2023 lineup included Mallarme Music, Gems of the Obscure, The Baryton and about 10 more.

Festival site: Multiple Raleigh, Durham, Cary, Chapel Hill Venues

Times vary, afternoon and evening shows

$100 all-show pass, not including Salome Sandoval "Baroque Brunch" concert and brunch. Individual shows about $20-$25, some free.

February 15 - 17    Carolina Jazz Festival - Chapel Hill

The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill festival includes public performances by touring bands, artists in residence, faculty and students in addition to workshops and master classes for students. The festival also hosts the North Carolina Regional Essentially Ellington High School Jazz Festival in conjunction with Jazz at Lincoln Center (click through above for details for high school musicians, band directors, etc.). The festival is its 47th year in 2024.

Artists
Thursday: Faculty Jazz with Sharel Cassity.
Friday: UNC Jazz Combos with Sharel Cassity.
Saturday: The Christian McBride Quintet, Sharel Cassity, UNC Jazz Band, Essentially Ellington High School Jazz Festival.

Festival site: UNC-Chapel Hill (map); Thursday at Sharp 9 Gallery in Durham

Thursday: 7 and 9 p.m.
Friday: 4 p.m., 8 p.m.
Saturday: Esesntially Ellington 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.; UNC Jazz Band 4:15 p.m.

Thursday Sharel Cassidy show: $20 to $30. 7 p.m. Christian McBride concert: $41.93; $10.75 UNC-Chapel Hill students. 8 p.m.
Other shows free.

February 16 - 18    Bluegrass First Class - Asheville

The hotel-based festival typically features a main stage, a showcase stage in the hotel lobby, a free gospel show on Sunday morning, rooms set aside for picking and jamming, and a kids' bluegrass workshop and performance for ages 6 and up. Main stage acts generally play afternoon and evening sets. A "quiet wing" of rooms on one floor of the host hotel is set aside for those who need some time in a no-jamming zone. Bluegrass First Class is in its 29th year in 2024.

Artists
Friday: Rhonda Vincent and the Rage, Malpass Brothers, Russell Moore and IIIrd Tyme Out, Rickey Wasson and the New South Tribute Band, Still House Drive.
Saturday: Southern Legacy featuring Don Rigsby and Josh Williams, Appalachian Road Show, Authentic Unlimited, Seth Mulder and Midnight Run, Olivia Jo, NuBlu.
Sunday: One Achord.

Festival site: Crowne Plaza Resort

11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday; 8 a.m. to 9 a.m. Sunday.

2023 prices; 2024 tickets on sale October 16, 2023
Two-day pass: $188 reserved seats, $118 general admission.
Friday and Saturday (each): $59.
Sunday: Free.



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