Bluegrass festival brings thousands of fans and stars to Raleigh

This article was written for our sponsor, IBMA Bluegrass Live! powered by PNC.

Raleigh is the place to be for bluegrass devotees from Sept. 28 through Oct. 2, when the International Bluegrass Music Association's World of Bluegrass will offer performances, educational opportunities and more.

With an audience that includes everyone from industry professionals to people who play for fun, the festival is a unique opportunity for fans and professionals alike to interact with industry leaders, discover the newest music and be a part of bluegrass history.

"There are lots of little mini jam sessions that happen in every nook and corner around downtown Raleigh," said David Brower, festival producer and executive director of PineCone, a local nonprofit that offers concerts and music programs. "When you get here, you're going to be surrounded by music that's played from the heart, and it's music that says something very deep and rich about this place that we call home here in central North Carolina. The music is deeply rooted in the community and the people who both live here and have migrated down to Raleigh for work, and that's really what you get."

The event starts with a business conference from Sept. 28 until 30 that offers networking opportunities, professional development sessions, keynote addresses, showcases, an exhibit hall and special events. In the evenings, the Bluegrass Ramble will showcase talent and new material at five venues throughout downtown Raleigh.

The Bluegrass Music Awards on Sept. 30 will honor the best in bluegrass. Finally, IBMA Bluegrass Live! powered by PNC, the largest free urban bluegrass festival in the world, will run Oct. 1 and 2 at the Red Hat Amphitheater and throughout downtown Raleigh.

"The most exhilarating facet of this whole endeavor is that we're doing this in person, and we're going to be gathering together again on the streets of downtown Raleigh around this music that we love," said Brower. "And we're going to be doing it safely and together again."

The safety precautions include requiring proof of vaccination against COVID-19 at all ticketed events, Brower said. Those attending multiple events can receive a wristband to speed up the entry process.

"We're all about bringing people together for shared cultural experiences and to share their love of music," said Brower. "We just want to get people back."

There will be dozens of musicians playing throughout the course of the event at the five stages scattered around downtown Raleigh, with the main stage at Red Hat Amphitheater.

"One artist that I'm very excited about is on Friday night, and that's Béla Fleck, who is a banjo virtuoso," said Brower. "He really defined what it is to play the banjo in the modern era. He's got a new project that he's been touring for the past couple of weeks called 'My Bluegrass Heart,' and it features an all-star lineup."

Fleck is also excited about World of Bluegrass, which he said is about the community and being connected to the bigger bluegrass world for him.

"I love the venue, the history and even the trains coming through," said Fleck. "Most of all, I love the highly astute bluegrass crowd that knows what they're listening to and being surrounded by great bands that I respect."

As for "My Bluegrass Heart," which was released Sept. 10, Fleck said the group will play as much of it as they can squeeze in. It is his third album with a bluegrass theme, preceded by "Drive" in 1988 and "The Bluegrass Sessions" in 1999. When one of the original musicians wasn't available for the new album, the sound had to change.

"I embraced the great big world of bluegrass instrumentalists on the scene and decided to make a record with lots of great players, rather than doing it with one group," said Fleck. "In doing so, I got to enjoy, appreciate, and be inspired by the immensely talented individuals that live in our music."

This article was written for our sponsor, IBMA Bluegrass Live! powered by PNC.