Festival The 2024 Festival is September 27-28 in Downtown Raleigh. Each Fall the streets of downtown Raleigh bubble over with the joyful sound of friends and families coming together in song. There will be multiple stages for performance, another spectacular show at Red Hat, an art market, food and jamming. This year’s line-up features: Sierra Ferrell, Steep Canyon Rangers with special guests Chatham County Line , Sierra Hull , Sam Bush, Rhonda Vincent & the Rage, Danny Paisley, Amythyst Kiah , Crying Uncle , Balsam Range ; Barefoot Movement; Broken Compass; Compton & Newberry ; Chris Jones & the Night Drivers; Country Current (US Navy Band); Dewey & Leslie Brown ; Earl White String Band ; Evans, Smith & May, Frank Solivan & Dirty Kitchen; From China to Appalachia (Cathy Fink & Marcy Marxer with Chao Tian); Golden Shoals, The Gospel Jubilators ; The Gravy Boys; Hank, Pattie & the Current ; Henhouse Prowlers; Jacob Jolliff Band; Jake Blount; Jake Leg; Jim Lauderdale ; Junior Appalachian Musicians; Kaia Kater; Laurie Lewis & the Right Hands; Liam Purcell & Cane Mill Road ; New Dangerfield ; Nixon, Williams & Gage; Raised in Raleigh All Star Jam; Rocky Creek Ramblers; Sister Sadie ; Songs From the Road Band; The Tan & Sober Gentlemen ; Tray Wellington Band ; Union Grove Old Time Fiddlers’ Convention 100th Anniversary; Unspoken Tradition; The Williamson Brothers; Wyatt Ellis; and more. Reserved Seats for Red Hat Amp ON SALE NOW FRI 9/27: Sierra Ferrell, Sam Bush, Rhonda Vincent & the Rage, Crying Uncle SAT 9/28: Steep Canyon Rangers with special guests Chatham County Line , Sierra Hull , Amythyst Kiah , Danny Paisley Single Day Tickets range from $10 – $80. No tickets are required to enjoy the street stages. See you in September! NEW for 2024! Contest Stage The 2024 IBMA Bluegrass Live Festival will feature a contest stage to honor the 100th Anniversary of the Union Grove Old Time Fiddlers Convention started in 1924 by H.P. Van Hoy, and the contributions of H.P. Van Hoy, Harper Van Hoy and their families to traditional music in North Carolina. On Friday and Saturday afternoons during the festival there will be contests that are designed to be inclusive and welcoming to all. The event will be a chance for everyday people to showcase their love for playing bluegrass and old time music. Registration for the contest will open later this summer. CATEGORIES: Old Time Fiddle, Bluegrass Fiddle, Old Time Banjo, Bluegrass Banjo, Bluegrass Mandolin, Guitar FINE PRINT FOR THE FIDDLERS: In keeping with the Union Grove tradition, this competition is for people for whom music is a passion, not a profession. If you make a living playing music please come and cheer on the recreational players you inspire. Contestants will have five (5) minutes to play two (2) instrumental tunes, one fast, one slow. Contestants may be accompanied by one additional instrument and are encouraged to pick tunes from the standard bluegrass and old time repertoire. The festivities on the Contest Stage will end each day with a big All Y’All Welcome Square Dance. The band Golden Shoals plays for the dance Friday night. The Earl White String Band plays Saturday night. All dances will be taught. First-timers are welcome! Raleigh is Home for Bluegrass! There are some exciting changes on the horizon for how the festival will be produced in Raleigh. Here are some Frequently Asked Questions and Answers about what’s coming to Raleigh beginning in 2025. VIDEO: Festival 2023 VIDEO: Festival 2022 VIDEO: Festival 2021 Add to calendar Google Calendar iCalendar Outlook 365 Outlook Live