Beer Vendors Open
3:00 – 5:00pm
Raleigh Wide Open 2025
Raleigh Wide Open is coming October 3-4, 2025. This festival, presented by PNC Bank and produced by PineCone, continues the tradition of a bluegrass festival along the street of downtown Raleigh and in Red Hat Amphitheater. Like the previous festivals, Raleigh Wide Open will feature music on multiple stages, food and drink, art vendors, and fun for the whole family.
Best of all, it'S free!
For even more musical fun, we’ve invited some special guests to perform at Red Hat Amphitheater. Greensky Bluegrass and JJ Grey & Mofro play a ticketed show Friday evening, Oct. 3, with support bands to be announced soon. Tickets for this show are on sale now. Look for more announcements about Red Hat Amphitheater shows soon.
2025 Lineup
The artists performing at the 2025 Raleigh Wide Open Music Festival represent bluegrass, Americana, folk, gospel, and more. It all comes down to a sound that's rooted in Raleigh, and an event that's become a tradition on our downtown streets.
Raleigh Wide Open 2025 FAQs
Is Raleigh Wide Open a continuation of the previous bluegrass festival?
Yes. PineCone - the Piedmont Council of Traditional Music - was the producer of the International Bluegrass Music Association's festival for its entire 12-year run in Raleigh. For 2025, IBMA has moved its business conference and awards show to Chattanooga, Tenn., and will present a smaller festival there. But the fun will continue here in Raleigh on Oct. 3 and 4, with multiple free stages along Fayetteville Street downtown and ticketed evening shows in Red Hat Amphitheater. It will have a similar feel to previous years, with arts vendors and food trucks lining the street and families and friends enjoying the music.
Haven't I heard that name before?
Yes. Raleigh Wide Open started as an event celebrating the revitalization of Fayetteville Street in 2006. Reviving the name is a nod to a continued tradition of bringing people downtown to enjoy the energy and amenities of our city.
Will there still be bluegrass?
Bluegrass is no longer in our name, but it's still very much our game. Several bluegrass bands that were featured in the festival's earlier incarnation are back in the lineup, including Balsam Range, Stillhouse Junkies, Town Mountain, the Tray Wellington Band, and Unspoken Tradition. But we're giving other sounds some spotlight too, including Americana, folk, gospel, and other genres whose roots run deep.
Will there be a place to dance?
Dancing goes hand-in-hand with roots music and its spirit of community. We'll provide plenty of opportunities for square dancing (details coming soon). And of course, bringing your own dance moves while listening to music from the stages is always encouraged.
Can I buy a festival T-shirt?
Our squirrel logo is a loving tribute to the City of Oaks and a great way to show off the energy and fun spirit of this music. We'll feature the design on T-shirts, stickers, and more - coming soon!
How can I be a vendor at the festival?
We are once again partnering with our friends at Artsplosure to curate food, art, and local business vendors for Raleigh Wide Open. Find more information and applications at raleighwideopen.com/vendors.
How can I suggest a band for the festival?
Use the Contact Us form at the bottom of the Event Info page to tell us who you'd like to see at a future Raleigh Wide Open festival. Please note that booking has closed for 2025.
How can I volunteer at the festival?
Volunteers are the heart and soul of our festival, and we can't wait to welcome volunteer veterans and newbies alike to our 2025 event. Volunteer applications will open soon. If you'd like to be on our volunteer mailing list to get a heads-up when applications are ready, please send us an email and we'll add you.
What's the best way to get updates about the festival?
Please sign up for PineCone's weekly email newsletter here. (PineCone is the local nonprofit producing Raleigh Wide Open.) We'll have lots to tell you about the lineup and other festival details in the months leading up to the event. You can also follow us on social media at @pineconenc and @raleighwideopen.
Do I need a ticket?
All of the music along Raleigh's downtown streets is free and open to the public. No tickets or wristbands are needed. Evening concerts inside Red Hat Auditorium on Oct. 3 and 4 do require tickets, which will be available online via Ticketmaster or in-person at the Martin Marietta Center box office, the Coastal Credit Union Music Park at Walnut Creek box office and the Red Hat Amphitheater box office. Find more information on in-person ticket sales here.
Can I bring my kids?
Absolutely! The festival is family friendly, and there's lots for kids to do, including an instrument petting zoo where they can play a banjo, guitar, fiddle, or other acoustic stringed instrument. There are plenty of food vendors for snacktime and (relatively) quiet places to take a break.
Can I bring pets?
Leashed pets are allowed on downtown sidewalks and streets, but please keep in mind that there will be crowds and noise, which may not be comfortable for all animals.
I'm coming from out of town. Where can I stay near the festival?
We're proud to partner with the Sheraton Raleigh Hotel, just steps from all the action. The hotel is located at 421 Salisbury St., with entrances on Salisbury Street and Fayetteville Street. Discounted rooms are available on jamming floors and non-jamming floors.
Use this link for discounted rooms on jamming floors at the Sheraton Raleigh Hotel.
Use this link for discounted rooms on non-jamming floors at the Sheraton Raleigh Hotel.
You can also reserve by phone by calling 1-800-325-3535. Mention the event name (Raleigh Wide Open) and code R10 for jamming floor rooms, and R20 for non-jamming floor rooms.
The last day to book to receive the discount is Sept. 5.
Where can I park?
There are plenty of parking decks and surface lots near the festival. Use this map as a guide. Street parking is generally free after 5 or 6 p.m. on Fridays and on weekend days, but make sure you observe posted signs for specific regulations.
Will food and drinks be available?
Yes, and plentiful! Food trucks will be parked throughout the festival area, selling meals, snacks, treats, and non-alcoholic beverages. Beer will be sold in designated areas, with Sip & Stroll rules in effect. You can also bring your own food and non-alcoholic beverages to all stages except the ticketed concerts at Red Hat Amphitheater.
Can I bring my own chair?
Yes, folding and camp chairs are allowed. Please do not bring tents, chairs with attached umbrellas, or other seating that may obstruct the view of people behind you. Chairs and other personal belongings cannot be left overnight.
What are the hours for the festival?
The music along Fayetteville Street runs from 5 p.m. to 11 p.m on Friday, Oct. 3, and from noon to 11 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 4. Please check back for the start time for ticketed concerts in Red Hat Amphitheater.
What disability services are offered at the festival?
Raleigh Wide Open's producer, PineCone, is committed to reducing barriers to participation related to disabilities and aging. We offer a variety of accessibility accommodations and services, including:
More information can be found here. To arrange assistance or for further questions, please email us or call us at 919-664-8333.
Where are the rideshare and ADA accessible dropoff locations?
There will be several ADA accessible and rideshare dropoff locations close to the festival. They will be announced soon.
I still have questions. How can I get in touch?
Please use our contact form.
2025 Lineup
Greensky Bluegrass
JJ Grey & Mofro
A Nest of Singing Birds
Balsam Range
Big Fat Gap
Blue Cactus
Cabin Creature
Charly Lowry
Chris Johnson & Freedom
Dom Flemons
Earl White String Band
Eliza Meyer & New Carolina Tar Heels
Gospel Jubilators
Gravy Boys
Hank Pattie and the Current
Holler Choir
Jalessa Cade
Jared Payton & The Legacy Chorale
Jason Carter Band
Jim Lauderdale
Joseph Decosimo
Kingdom Voices United
The Loblollies
Nixon, William, and Gage
Omar Ruiz-Lopez
Palmyra
Shinyribs
Slippery Hill Bluegrass
Sonny Miles
Stillhouse Junkies
Sunny War
Susto Stringband
Town Mountain
Tray Wellington
Unspoken Tradition
Williamson Brothers
Want to Stay in the Loop?
Raleigh Wide Open is produced by PineCone, a local nonprofit organization committed to preserving, presenting, and promoting roots music in the Triangle. Sign up to receive PineCone's weekly email newsletter below to get announcements about Raleigh Wide Open and all of PineCone's programming and activities. We also invite you to follow @raleighwideopen and @pineconenc on social media.
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5:00 – 5:45pm
City Plaza Stage
Mountain Home Recording Artist Unspoken Tradition is about new, original Bluegrass. Inspired by their own influences and the roots of traditional and newgrass music, this North Carolina based quintet brings a sound that is both impassioned and nostalgic, hard-driving and sincere.
5:00 – 5:45pm
Davie Street Stage
Omar Ruiz-Lopez (he/him) is a distinguished musician and educator currently based in Durham, NC, with a remarkable command over multiple instruments, including violin, viola, guitar, and mandolin. His roots lie in North Carolina, having been a part of the burgeoning Triangle music scene for 13 years until his move to Nashville in 2023 and back in 2025.
Since his time in Nashville, Omar has played and recorded with artists such as the GRAMMY-nominated band War and Treaty, Franklin Jonas, Lizzie No, Harper Grace and Langhorne Slim, and cowritten with songwriters such as Rachel Baiman and GRAMMY-nominated Melody Walker (Sierra Ferrell, American Dreaming). He is currently working on an EP with Willa Frank (Paper Wings) and a full-length album with Rachel Baiman producing.
Born in Panama and raised in Puerto Rico, Omar’s early exposure to traditional Caribbean folk songs, courtesy of his father, laid the foundation for his deep appreciation for music. Spanish is his first language, and it remains an integral part of his cultural identity.
5:15 – 6:00pm
Martin Street Stage
Slippery Hill featuring Fiddlin’ Al McCanless specializes in Bluegrass and Folk music, performed by Chapel Hill, NC’s own Charles Pettee (guitar, mandolin, vocals) with his son Jackson Pettee (guitar, vocals), along with guests such as Al McCanless. Their repertoire is enhanced by original pieces composed by Charles during his tenure as a member of The Shady Grove Band and across his 30-year career as a professional musician. Charles has logged over 6,000 performances throughout the US, Canada, and Europe, and currently performs as a teaching artist in schools throughout the southeastern US,
5:15 – 6:00pm
PineCone Stage
Acoustic adventurers Stillhouse Junkies explore the worlds between roots, bluegrass, Texas swing, blues, and rock. Their free-flowing musical interplay and improvisation make every show unique as the trio weave through high-energy, intricately composed original songs, never taking the same path twice. Formed in 2017, the band consists of Fred Kosak (guitar, mandolin), Alissa Wolf (fiddle), and Jeanette Adams (bass).
6:15 – 7:00pm
City Plaza Stage
In Lloyd, Kentucky, on U.S. 23, there’s a sign on the Country Music Highway dedicated to renowned fiddler Jason Carter. It was placed there because of his other accomplishments—the Grammy awards, the worldwide tours, and the many other accolades he’s earned through his music. But for Carter, joining the legendary names honored on that stretch of highway just might mean the most. “There’s a certain sound that’s up there that you just don’t hear anywhere else,” he says. “I think that played a big part in how I sound today.”
True to those Kentucky roots, Carter continues to pour all he has back into bluegrass. For thirty years, he has been the fiddle player for the Del McCoury Band—the most awarded group in bluegrass history. He’s won three Grammy awards, including 2018’s “Best Bluegrass Album” with the Travelin’ McCourys, of which he is a founding member. And he’s taken home five IBMAs for “Fiddle Player of the Year,” a staggering number that isn’t quite so crazy once you realize just how many bluegrass greats have turned to Carter for collaboration.
6:15 – 7:00pm
Davie Street Stage
A “nest of singing birds” was the name Cecil Sharp gave to the Sodom Laurel Community of Madison County, NC when he visited the area in 1916 to collect the ancient ballads that had survived there, being gently passed from hand to hand and knee to knee. Singers featured in this set are carrying on this rich tradition that goes back at least nine generations.
6:30 – 8:30pm
Martin Street Stage
A leading interpreter of the fiddle, banjo, and song traditions from the Appalachian South, Joseph Decosimo has introduced audiences around the world to the beauty and vitality of the region’s music. A student of the last master traditional musicians in his home region of Tennessee, Joseph draws on a deep well of creativity and repertoire to create fresh sounds. His performances are inviting and nourishing, connecting audiences to the music’s transcendent beauty. Joseph performs in a trio with Cleek Schrey and Luke Richardson as well as the Bucking Mules. He also works outside of the traditional music world. His playing can be heard on recordings by fellow Durham, NC artists Hiss Golden Messenger, Wye Oak, Jake Xerxes Fussell, Elephant Micah, and others.
6:30 – 7:15pm
PineCone Stage
The Legacy Chorale is lead by its founder, Jared L. Payton. Based in the Fayetteville area its members draw from a wide range of North Carolina gospel traditions in creating the ensemble’s choral arrangements.
PineCone is proud to present this artist in collaboration with the North Carolina Folklife Institute with support from the National Endowment for the Arts.
7:30 – 8:15pm
Davie Street Stage
Acoustic adventurers Stillhouse Junkies explore the worlds between roots, bluegrass, Texas swing, blues, and rock. Their free-flowing musical interplay and improvisation make every show unique as the trio weave through high-energy, intricately composed original songs, never taking the same path twice. Formed in 2017, the band consists of Fred Kosak (guitar, mandolin), Alissa Wolf (fiddle), and Jeanette Adams (bass).
7:45 – 9:00pm
City Plaza Stage
Shinyribs defies genres as a sonic melting pot of Texas Blues, New Orleans R&B funk, horn- driven Memphis Soul, country twang, border music, big band swing, and roots-rock. The Austin-based nine-piece (sometimes 10-piece) supergroup is led by Kevin Russell, the charismatic frontman with colorful suits and extravagant shoes who continuously swaps out an electric guitar for a ukulele and never falls short of creating a cinematic experience with on- stage antics that often include him donning a light-up cloak or leading a conga line through the crowd.
7:45 – 8:30pm
PineCone Stage
Hailing from Asheville, North Carolina, Town Mountain is the sum of all its vast and intricate influences — this bastion of alt-country rebellion and honky-tonk attitude pushed through the hardscrabble Southern Appalachian lens of its origin. “For us, it’s all about the interaction between the audience and the band — doing whatever we can onstage to facilitate that two-way street of energy and emotion,” says mandolinist Phil Barker. “Whether it’s a danceable groove or a particular lyric in a song, we’re projecting what we’re going through in our daily lives, and we feel that other people can attest to that, as well — it’s all about making that connection.” Amid a renewed sense of self is the group’s latest album, Lines in the Levee, a collage of sound and scope running the gamut of the musical spectrum in the same template of freedom and focus found in the round-robin fashion of the musical institution that is The Band — a solidarity also found in the incendiary live shows Town Mountain is now revered for from coast-to-coast, this devil-may-care gang of strings and swagger. “This is the sound we’ve been working towards since the inception of the band,” says guitarist Robert Greer. “We realized we needed to do what’s best for us. We’re being true to ourselves. It isn’t a departure, it’s an evolution — the gate is wide open right now.”
8:00 – 9:00pm
Red Hat Amphitheater
From his early days playing cover music behind chicken wire at a west side Jacksonville juke joint while still working at a lumberyard, to playing sold-out shows at some of the largest venues and music festivals in the world, JJ Grey has always delivered his soul-honest truths. Since his first album, Blackwater, back in 2001, Grey has been releasing deeply moving, masterfully written, funkified rock and front porch Southern soul music.
8:45 – 9:30pm
Davie Street Stage
This Piedmont area a cappella group has been singing together since 1972. The group sings in the traditional jubilee style which dates back to the 19th century. Groups like the Fisk University Jubilee Singers brought the style to a broader audience.
The Gospel Jubilators opened PineCone’s 2024 Down Home Concert Season at the AJ Fletcher Theater. Chester Mayfield, Danny Massenburg, Don Adair, Fred Tyson and Fulton Waddell received a standing ovation from the sold out audience. “The guys enjoy what they do,” said bass singer Fred Tyson. “It’s been a rewarding experience.”
PineCone is proud to present this artist in collaboration with the North Carolina Folklife Institute with support from the National Endowment for the Arts.
9:00 – 11:00pm
Martin Street Stage
Omar Ruiz-Lopez (he/him) is a distinguished musician and educator currently based in Durham, NC, with a remarkable command over multiple instruments, including violin, viola, guitar, and mandolin. His roots lie in North Carolina, having been a part of the burgeoning Triangle music scene for 13 years until his move to Nashville in 2023 and back in 2025.
Since his time in Nashville, Omar has played and recorded with artists such as the GRAMMY-nominated band War and Treaty, Franklin Jonas, Lizzie No, Harper Grace and Langhorne Slim, and cowritten with songwriters such as Rachel Baiman and GRAMMY-nominated Melody Walker (Sierra Ferrell, American Dreaming). He is currently working on an EP with Willa Frank (Paper Wings) and a full-length album with Rachel Baiman producing.
Born in Panama and raised in Puerto Rico, Omar’s early exposure to traditional Caribbean folk songs, courtesy of his father, laid the foundation for his deep appreciation for music. Spanish is his first language, and it remains an integral part of his cultural identity.
9:30 – 11:00pm
Red Hat Amphitheater
A string band with a big, expansive sound, Michigan’s Greensky Bluegrass rode their regional D.I.Y. roots to national success in the late 2000s after years of hard touring and a succession of finely crafted independent releases. Approaching classic Americana styles with an exploratory, progressive spirit, the group’s members claim to have come to bluegrass through the back door, citing rock influences as their gateway into more traditional acoustic styles. Through releases like 2014’s bluegrass chart-topping breakout If Sorrows Swim and 2016’s Shouted, Written Down & Quoted, Greensky Bluegrass have continued to fuse the energy of rock with the earthy spirit of string music. Following an outpouring of archival live releases, the group returned in early 2022 with the eclectic Stress Dreams.
9:45 – 11:00pm
City Plaza Stage
Established in Virginia’s Shenandoah Valley, Palmyra captures the collective spirit of three Virginia natives: Teddy Chipouras, Mānoa Bell, and Sasha Landon.
Palmyra straddles at least two musical worlds. They are, on one hand, a band from the South that plays traditional instruments and indeed once lived in the old-time locus of Floyd, Virginia. Comparisons to and a kinship with The Avett Brothers and even Old Crow Medicine Show are inevitable. On the other hand, Palmyra writes about grief, gender dysphoria and identity, and coming of age in songs that flirt with soul, post-rock, and even emo; the South, too, is the place of My Morning Jacket, Band of Horses, Cat Power, and now, Palmyra.
10:00 – 11:00pm
Davie Street Stage
Mountain Home Recording Artist Unspoken Tradition is about new, original Bluegrass. Inspired by their own influences and the roots of traditional and newgrass music, this North Carolina based quintet brings a sound that is both impassioned and nostalgic, hard-driving and sincere.
12:00 – 12:30pm
City Plaza Stage
Eliza Meyer is an “old soul,” singing and playing traditional string band, old time and classic country music reminiscent of Hazel and Alice, The Carter Family, and Tommy Jarrell. Influenced by traditional ballads of Madison County and the round peak music of Surry County, Eliza plays fiddle, banjo, guitar and autoharp.
12:00 – 12:45pm
Davie Street Stage
Charly Lowry, a musical powerhouse from Pembroke, NC, is proud to be an Indigenous woman belonging to the Lumbee/Tuscarora Tribes. She is passionate about raising awareness around issues that plague underdeveloped, underserved, and marginalized communities.
Since her teenage years, Charly has established a career as a professional singer-songwriter with unique passion and voice.
While she may be familiar to some from her success as a semi-finalist on American Idol, she has maintained close ties to her Native American roots, culture, and music.
12:15 – 1:00pm
PineCone Stage
Earl White has been a mainstay in the old-time, folk and dance community for more 45 years. An original and founding member of the famed Green Grass Cloggers, Earl is one of few Black Americans preserving and playing Appalachian style old-time music. Old-time music was once an intricate part of Black communities and formed the foundation of American music of today. Earl has played in numerous old-time string bands, and he currently leads the Earl White String Band, which has emerged as a favored dance band for both square and contra dances. The band performs at festivals and instructional music camp throughout the US and abroad.
12:15 – 1:00pm
Martin Street Stage
Cabin Creature, a folk duo from Raleigh comprised of Reese Mayfield and Silas Mann, focuses on traditional southeastern folk music with some modern influence.
1:00 – 1:45pm
City Plaza Stage
Big Fat Gap is a Chapel Hill based bluegrass band that’s as much a group of friends as it is a formal band. They have what’s been described as a “revolving door” policy for band members who come and go as life allows. No mater the membership they’re energetic and fun.
1:15 – 2:00pm
Davie Street Stage
Dom Flemons “The American Songster” is a GRAMMY Award Winner with four GRAMMY nominations, Two-Time EMMY Nominee, International Acoustic Music Award Grand Prize Winner, and was a United States Artists Fellow. He is a musician based in the Chicago area and he is famously known as “The American Songster” since his repertoire covers over one hundred years of American roots music; including country, folk, bluegrass, Americana, and the blues. Flemons is a songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, music scholar, historian, actor, narrator, host, slam poet, record collector, podcaster, and the creator, host, and producer of the American Songster Radio Show which was created at WUNC-Chapel Hill and now airs on WSM in Nashville, TN. He is considered an expert player on the banjo, guitar, harmonica, jug, percussion, quills, fife and rhythm bones. He is the Co-Founder of the Carolina Chocolate Drops and the Founder of American Songster Productions.
1:30 – 2:15pm
PineCone Stage
Chris Johnson & Freedom is a traditional Gospel band from Eastern North Carolina.
PineCone is proud to present this artist in collaboration with the North Carolina Folklife Institute with support from the National Endowment for the Arts.
2:15 – 3:00pm
City Plaza Stage
An award-winning worship leader & vocalist.
PineCone is proud to present this artist in collaboration with the North Carolina Folklife Institute with support from the National Endowment for the Arts.
2:30 – 3:15pm
Davie Street Stage
Justin Osborne has been performing as ‘Susto’ since 2013, when he formed a collective of fellow musicians and artists in coastal Charleston, South Carolina. Now a bona fide emissary of alt rock and treasure to the indie crowd, a lifelong calling coupled with a cosmic push of serendipitous happenstance led to his latest venture: ‘Susto Stringband’ joined by Americana vocalist Clint Roberts, clawhammer banjoist Helena Rose, and upright bassist Joey Brown (now Holler Choir).
2:45 – 3:30pm
PineCone Stage
“…her right thumb plunks the bass part while her forefinger upstrokes notes and chords, leaving the other three fingers unused. A banjo technique, it’s also used by acoustic blues guitarists. Her fingers are long and strong – Robert Johnson hands – in jarring contrast to the waif they’re attached to. The walking bass line sounds like a hammer striking piano keys in perfect meter, while the fills are dynamic flurries – like cluster bombs. I haven’t heard a young guitarist this dexterous and ass-kicking in eons.” – Michael Simmons, L.A Weekly
2:45 – 3:30pm
Martin Street Stage
The Loblollies are a youth band that formed out of PineCone’s summer bluegrass camps and monthly youth jams. The Raleigh area band features Alanabeth Duncan (banjo), August Sanchez (guitar), Hattie Casper (guitar), Isabelle Parker (fiddle) and Jorja Cornwell (mandolin). The band is mentored by bass player Jef Walter and fiddler Sam Stage. The band plays traditional and contemporary bluegrass and are sought after as performers at local events.
3:30 – 4:30pm
City Plaza Stage
A “nest of singing birds” was the name Cecil Sharp gave to the Sodom Laurel Community of Madison County, NC when he visited the area in 1916 to collect the ancient ballads that had survived there, being gently passed from hand to hand and knee to knee. Singers featured in this set are carrying on this rich tradition that goes back at least nine generations.
3:45 – 4:30pm
Davie Street Stage
This Piedmont area a cappella group has been singing together since 1972. The group sings in the traditional jubilee style which dates back to the 19th century. Groups like the Fisk University Jubilee Singers brought the style to a broader audience.
The Gospel Jubilators opened PineCone’s 2024 Down Home Concert Season at the AJ Fletcher Theater. Chester Mayfield, Danny Massenburg, Don Adair, Fred Tyson and Fulton Waddell received a standing ovation from the sold out audience. “The guys enjoy what they do,” said bass singer Fred Tyson. “It’s been a rewarding experience.”
PineCone is proud to present this artist in collaboration with the North Carolina Folklife Institute with support from the National Endowment for the Arts.
5:00 – 5:45pm
City Plaza Stage
Balsam Range is a PineCone favorite. The band is Dr. Marc Pruett (banjo); Alan Bibey ( Mandolin, vocals) Tim Surrett (bass, dobro, baritone and lead vocals); and Caleb Smith (guitar, lead & baritone vocals). The original members are all acoustic musicians and singers from Western North Carolina. Their name comes from the spot in Haywood County where the Great Smoky Mountains meet the Blue Ridge, the Great Balsam Range.
5:00 – 5:45pm
Davie Street Stage
Led by the lyrical craftsmanship of singer, guitarist, and songwriter Clint Roberts, the distinctly Appalachian, old-time sound of Asheville’s Holler Choir combines haunting harmonies, stirring string compositions, and heart-wrenching ballads, yet hardly conforms to a stereotypical genre. Call it a confluence of old-time, Americana, and bluegrass, but, by its own exceptional design, the sound and atmosphere of Holler Choir are singular. Robert’s wordcraft and explosive vocal range is met with the dulcet clawhammer banjo plucking of long-time collaborator Helena Rose and the sturdy timekeeping of upright bassist Norbert McGettigan. With a rotating cast of gifted musicians featured on Holler Choir’s recordings and electrifying live performances, it’s no wonder they are the band to watch in 2023.
6:15 – 7:00pm
City Plaza Stage
“…her right thumb plunks the bass part while her forefinger upstrokes notes and chords, leaving the other three fingers unused. A banjo technique, it’s also used by acoustic blues guitarists. Her fingers are long and strong – Robert Johnson hands – in jarring contrast to the waif they’re attached to. The walking bass line sounds like a hammer striking piano keys in perfect meter, while the fills are dynamic flurries – like cluster bombs. I haven’t heard a young guitarist this dexterous and ass-kicking in eons.” – Michael Simmons, L.A Weekly
6:30 – 7:15pm
PineCone Stage
Charly Lowry, a musical powerhouse from Pembroke, NC, is proud to be an Indigenous woman belonging to the Lumbee/Tuscarora Tribes. She is passionate about raising awareness around issues that plague underdeveloped, underserved, and marginalized communities.
Since her teenage years, Charly has established a career as a professional singer-songwriter with unique passion and voice.
While she may be familiar to some from her success as a semi-finalist on American Idol, she has maintained close ties to her Native American roots, culture, and music.
6:30 – 8:30pm
Martin Street Stage
Earl White has been a mainstay in the old-time, folk and dance community for more 45 years. An original and founding member of the famed Green Grass Cloggers, Earl is one of few Black Americans preserving and playing Appalachian style old-time music. Old-time music was once an intricate part of Black communities and formed the foundation of American music of today. Earl has played in numerous old-time string bands, and he currently leads the Earl White String Band, which has emerged as a favored dance band for both square and contra dances. The band performs at festivals and instructional music camp throughout the US and abroad.
7:30 – 8:15pm
Davie Street Stage
Acoustic adventurers Stillhouse Junkies explore the worlds between roots, bluegrass, Texas swing, blues, and rock. Their free-flowing musical interplay and improvisation make every show unique as the trio weave through high-energy, intricately composed original songs, never taking the same path twice. Formed in 2017, the band consists of Fred Kosak (guitar, mandolin), Alissa Wolf (fiddle), and Jeanette Adams (bass).
7:45 – 8:30pm
PineCone Stage
Kingdom United Voices is a contemporary gospel ensemble from North Carolina.
PineCone is proud to present this artist in collaboration with the North Carolina Folklife Institute with support from the National Endowment for the Arts.
7:45 – 8:30pm
PineCone Stage
Kingdom United Voices is a contemporary gospel ensemble from North Carolina.
PineCone is proud to present this artist in collaboration with the North Carolina Folklife Institute with support from the National Endowment for the Arts.
8:45 – 9:30pm
City Plaza Stage
Justin Osborne has been performing as ‘Susto’ since 2013, when he formed a collective of fellow musicians and artists in coastal Charleston, South Carolina. Now a bona fide emissary of alt rock and treasure to the indie crowd, a lifelong calling coupled with a cosmic push of serendipitous happenstance led to his latest venture: ‘Susto Stringband’ joined by Americana vocalist Clint Roberts, clawhammer banjoist Helena Rose, and upright bassist Joey Brown (now Holler Choir).
8:45 – 9:30pm
Davie Street Stage
A leading interpreter of the fiddle, banjo, and song traditions from the Appalachian South, Joseph Decosimo has introduced audiences around the world to the beauty and vitality of the region’s music. A student of the last master traditional musicians in his home region of Tennessee, Joseph draws on a deep well of creativity and repertoire to create fresh sounds. His performances are inviting and nourishing, connecting audiences to the music’s transcendent beauty. Joseph performs in a trio with Cleek Schrey and Luke Richardson as well as the Bucking Mules. He also works outside of the traditional music world. His playing can be heard on recordings by fellow Durham, NC artists Hiss Golden Messenger, Wye Oak, Jake Xerxes Fussell, Elephant Micah, and others.
9:00 – 9:45pm
PineCone Stage
Dom Flemons “The American Songster” is a GRAMMY Award Winner with four GRAMMY nominations, Two-Time EMMY Nominee, International Acoustic Music Award Grand Prize Winner, and was a United States Artists Fellow. He is a musician based in the Chicago area and he is famously known as “The American Songster” since his repertoire covers over one hundred years of American roots music; including country, folk, bluegrass, Americana, and the blues. Flemons is a songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, music scholar, historian, actor, narrator, host, slam poet, record collector, podcaster, and the creator, host, and producer of the American Songster Radio Show which was created at WUNC-Chapel Hill and now airs on WSM in Nashville, TN. He is considered an expert player on the banjo, guitar, harmonica, jug, percussion, quills, fife and rhythm bones. He is the Co-Founder of the Carolina Chocolate Drops and the Founder of American Songster Productions.
9:00 – 11:00pm
Martin Street Stage
Big Fat Gap is a Chapel Hill based bluegrass band that’s as much a group of friends as it is a formal band. They have what’s been described as a “revolving door” policy for band members who come and go as life allows. No mater the membership they’re energetic and fun.
10:00 – 11:00pm
Davie Street Stage
A “nest of singing birds” was the name Cecil Sharp gave to the Sodom Laurel Community of Madison County, NC when he visited the area in 1916 to collect the ancient ballads that had survived there, being gently passed from hand to hand and knee to knee. Singers featured in this set are carrying on this rich tradition that goes back at least nine generations.
10:15 – 11:00pm
PineCone Stage
The Gravy Boys hail from Raleigh/Durham, North Carolina and perform Acoustic Americana music that draws deep from the well of our country’s diverse musical heritage. Their high energy shows feature heartfelt vocal harmonies, boot-stomping rhythms, lively stage banter, and honest musicianship.
The Gravy Boys are story tellers who spin their tales through tight, brother-duet vocals over a vintage acoustic backdrop. They take classic American themes and bring them into the present day, with an authentic passion that resonates with all who listen.
Susto Stringband
Justin Osborne has been performing as ‘Susto’ since 2013, when he formed a collective of fellow musicians and artists in coastal Charleston, South Carolina. Now a bona fide emissary of alt rock and treasure to the indie crowd, a lifelong calling coupled with a cosmic push of serendipitous happenstance led to his latest venture: ‘Susto Stringband’ joined by Americana vocalist Clint Roberts, clawhammer banjoist Helena Rose, and upright bassist Joey Brown (now Holler Choir).
A Nest of Singing Birds
A “nest of singing birds” was the name Cecil Sharp gave to the Sodom Laurel Community of Madison County, NC when he visited the area in 1916 to collect the ancient ballads that had survived there, being gently passed from hand to hand and knee to knee. Singers featured in this set are carrying on this rich tradition that goes back at least nine generations.
Kingdom Voices United
Kingdom Voices United was established in spring 2023 by visionary minister La'Wanda Leggett. This community choir is comprised of members from diverse denominations within Harnett County. Throughout 2023 and into 2025, the choir actively ministered at various community events, consistently maintaining a membership of at least 25 singers whose mission is to unite and uplift the community through music.
PineCone is proud to present this artist in collaboration with the North Carolina Folklife Institute with support from the National Endowment for the Arts.
Jalessa Cade
Jalessa Cade is a passionate vocalist from Dunn, NC, known for her heartfelt delivery and strong roots in gospel music. She draws inspiration from her faith and community to uplift and connect through song.
PineCone is proud to present this artist in collaboration with the North Carolina Folklife Institute with support from the National Endowment for the Arts.
Jared Payton & The Legacy Chorale
The Legacy Chorale is led by its founder, Jared L. Payton. Based in the Fayetteville area its members draw from a wide range of North Carolina gospel traditions in creating the ensemble's choral arrangements.
PineCone is proud to present this artist in collaboration with the North Carolina Folklife Institute with support from the National Endowment for the Arts.
Big Fat Gap
Big Fat Gap is a Chapel Hill based bluegrass band that's as much a group of friends as it is a formal band. They have what's been described as a "revolving door" policy for band members who come and go as life allows. No mater the membership they're energetic and fun.
Chris Johnson & Freedom
Chris Johnson & Freedom is a traditional Gospel band from Eastern North Carolina.
PineCone is proud to present this artist in collaboration with the North Carolina Folklife Institute with support from the National Endowment for the Arts.
Eliza Meyer & New Carolina Tar Heels
Eliza Meyer is an “old soul,” singing and playing traditional string band, old time and classic country music reminiscent of Hazel and Alice, The Carter Family, and Tommy Jarrell. Influenced by traditional ballads of Madison County and the round peak music of Surry County, Eliza plays fiddle, banjo, guitar and autoharp.
The Loblollies
The Loblollies are a youth band that formed out of PineCone’s summer bluegrass camps and monthly youth jams. The Raleigh area band features Alanabeth Duncan (banjo), August Sanchez (guitar), Hattie Casper (guitar), Isabelle Parker (fiddle) and Jorja Cornwell (mandolin). The band is mentored by bass player Jef Walter and fiddler Sam Stage. The band plays traditional and contemporary bluegrass and are sought after as performers at local events.
Greensky Bluegrass
A string band with a big, expansive sound, Michigan's Greensky Bluegrass rode their regional D.I.Y. roots to national success in the late 2000s after years of hard touring and a succession of finely crafted independent releases. Approaching classic Americana styles with an exploratory, progressive spirit, the group's members claim to have come to bluegrass through the back door, citing rock influences as their gateway into more traditional acoustic styles. Through releases like 2014's bluegrass chart-topping breakout If Sorrows Swim and 2016's Shouted, Written Down & Quoted, Greensky Bluegrass have continued to fuse the energy of rock with the earthy spirit of string music. Following an outpouring of archival live releases, the group returned in early 2022 with the eclectic Stress Dreams.
JJ Grey & Mofro
From his early days playing cover music behind chicken wire at a west side Jacksonville juke joint while still working at a lumberyard, to playing sold-out shows at some of the largest venues and music festivals in the world, JJ Grey has always delivered his soul-honest truths. Since his first album, Blackwater, back in 2001, Grey has been releasing deeply moving, masterfully written, funkified rock and front porch Southern soul music.
Now, with Olustee – his tenth album and first in eight years, and the first he has self-produced – Grey is back, singing his personal stories with universal themes of redemption, rebirth,
hard luck, and inner peace. With his music, Grey also celebrates good times with friends, oftentimes mixing the carnal with the cerebral in the very same song. Fueled by his vividly detailed, timeless original songs spun from his life experiences, Grey’s gritty baritone drips with honest passion and testifies with a preacher’s foot-pounding fervor. With Olustee, JJ Grey has once again pushed the boundaries of his own creative musical, lyrical and vocal talents, delivering an instant classic. Many of the songs are steeped in the mythical Southern stories of his ancestral Florida home and filled with people from JJ’s life. The songs are told through the eyes of a poet and sung with pure, unvarnished soul. Grey’s message is simple and strong – respect the natural world and always try to live in the moment. And never forget the importance of having a good time!
Unspoken Tradition
Mountain Home Recording Artist Unspoken Tradition is about new, original Bluegrass. Inspired by their own influences and the roots of traditional and newgrass music, this North Carolina based quintet brings a sound that is both impassioned and nostalgic, hard-driving and sincere.
Sunny War
“…her right thumb plunks the bass part while her forefinger upstrokes notes and chords, leaving the other three fingers unused. A banjo technique, it’s also used by acoustic blues guitarists. Her fingers are long and strong – Robert Johnson hands – in jarring contrast to the waif they’re attached to. The walking bass line sounds like a hammer striking piano keys in perfect meter, while the fills are dynamic flurries – like cluster bombs. I haven’t heard a young guitarist this dexterous and ass-kicking in eons.” - Michael Simmons, L.A Weekly
Town Mountain
Hailing from Asheville, North Carolina, Town Mountain is the sum of all its vast and intricate influences — this bastion of alt-country rebellion and honky-tonk attitude pushed through the hardscrabble Southern Appalachian lens of its origin. “For us, it’s all about the interaction between the audience and the band — doing whatever we can onstage to facilitate that two-way street of energy and emotion,” says mandolinist Phil Barker. “Whether it’s a danceable groove or a particular lyric in a song, we’re projecting what we’re going through in our daily lives, and we feel that other people can attest to that, as well — it’s all about making that connection.” Amid a renewed sense of self is the group’s latest album, Lines in the Levee, a collage of sound and scope running the gamut of the musical spectrum in the same template of freedom and focus found in the round-robin fashion of the musical institution that is The Band — a solidarity also found in the incendiary live shows Town Mountain is now revered for from coast-to-coast, this devil-may-care gang of strings and swagger. “This is the sound we’ve been working towards since the inception of the band,” says guitarist Robert Greer. “We realized we needed to do what’s best for us. We’re being true to ourselves. It isn’t a departure, it’s an evolution — the gate is wide open right now.”
Stillhouse Junkies
Acoustic adventurers Stillhouse Junkies explore the worlds between roots, bluegrass, Texas swing, blues, and rock. Their free-flowing musical interplay and improvisation make every show unique as the trio weave through high-energy, intricately composed original songs, never taking the same path twice. Formed in 2017, the band consists of Fred Kosak (guitar, mandolin), Alissa Wolf (fiddle), and Jeanette Adams (bass).
Slippery Hill Bluegrass
Slippery Hill featuring Fiddlin' Al McCanless specializes in Bluegrass and Folk music, performed by Chapel Hill, NC's own Charles Pettee (guitar, mandolin, vocals) with his son Jackson Pettee (guitar, vocals), along with guests such as Al McCanless. Their repertoire is enhanced by original pieces composed by Charles during his tenure as a member of The Shady Grove Band and across his 30-year career as a professional musician. Charles has logged over 6,000 performances throughout the US, Canada, and Europe, and currently performs as a teaching artist in schools throughout the southeastern US,
Joseph Decosimo
A leading interpreter of the fiddle, banjo, and song traditions from the Appalachian South, Joseph Decosimo has introduced audiences around the world to the beauty and vitality of the region’s music. A student of the last master traditional musicians in his home region of Tennessee, Joseph draws on a deep well of creativity and repertoire to create fresh sounds. His performances are inviting and nourishing, connecting audiences to the music’s transcendent beauty. Joseph performs in a trio with Cleek Schrey and Luke Richardson as well as the Bucking Mules. He also works outside of the traditional music world. His playing can be heard on recordings by fellow Durham, NC artists Hiss Golden Messenger, Wye Oak, Jake Xerxes Fussell, Elephant Micah, and others.
Palmyra
Established in Virginia’s Shenandoah Valley, Palmyra captures the collective spirit of three Virginia natives: Teddy Chipouras, Mānoa Bell, and Sasha Landon.
Palmyra straddles at least two musical worlds. They are, on one hand, a band from the South that plays traditional instruments and indeed once lived in the old-time locus of Floyd, Virginia. Comparisons to and a kinship with The Avett Brothers and even Old Crow Medicine Show are inevitable. On the other hand, Palmyra writes about grief, gender dysphoria and identity, and coming of age in songs that flirt with soul, post-rock, and even emo; the South, too, is the place of My Morning Jacket, Band of Horses, Cat Power, and now, Palmyra.
Omar Ruiz-Lopez
Omar Ruiz-Lopez (he/him) is a distinguished musician and educator currently based in Durham, NC, with a remarkable command over multiple instruments, including violin, viola, guitar, and mandolin. His roots lie in North Carolina, having been a part of the burgeoning Triangle music scene for 13 years until his move to Nashville in 2023 and back in 2025.
Since his time in Nashville, Omar has played and recorded with artists such as the GRAMMY-nominated band War and Treaty, Franklin Jonas, Lizzie No, Harper Grace and Langhorne Slim, and cowritten with songwriters such as Rachel Baiman and GRAMMY-nominated Melody Walker (Sierra Ferrell, American Dreaming). He is currently working on an EP with Willa Frank (Paper Wings) and a full-length album with Rachel Baiman producing.
Born in Panama and raised in Puerto Rico, Omar's early exposure to traditional Caribbean folk songs, courtesy of his father, laid the foundation for his deep appreciation for music. Spanish is his first language, and it remains an integral part of his cultural identity.
Jason Carter
In Lloyd, Kentucky, on U.S. 23, there’s a sign on the Country Music Highway dedicated to renowned fiddler Jason Carter. It was placed there because of his other accomplishments—the Grammy awards, the worldwide tours, and the many other accolades he’s earned through his music. But for Carter, joining the legendary names honored on that stretch of highway just might mean the most. "There's a certain sound that's up there that you just don't hear anywhere else," he says. "I think that played a big part in how I sound today."
True to those Kentucky roots, Carter continues to pour all he has back into bluegrass. For thirty years, he has been the fiddle player for the Del McCoury Band—the most awarded group in bluegrass history. He’s won three Grammy awards, including 2018’s “Best Bluegrass Album” with the Travelin’ McCourys, of which he is a founding member. And he’s taken home five IBMAs for “Fiddle Player of the Year,” a staggering number that isn’t quite so crazy once you realize just how many bluegrass greats have turned to Carter for collaboration.
Holler Choir
Led by the lyrical craftsmanship of singer, guitarist, and songwriter Clint Roberts, the distinctly Appalachian, old-time sound of Asheville’s Holler Choir combines haunting harmonies, stirring string compositions, and heart-wrenching ballads, yet hardly conforms to a stereotypical genre. Call it a confluence of old-time, Americana, and bluegrass, but, by its own exceptional design, the sound and atmosphere of Holler Choir are singular. Robert’s wordcraft and explosive vocal range is met with the dulcet clawhammer banjo plucking of long-time collaborator Helena Rose and the sturdy timekeeping of upright bassist Norbert McGettigan. With a rotating cast of gifted musicians featured on Holler Choir’s recordings and electrifying live performances, it’s no wonder they are the band to watch in 2023.
Gravy Boys
The Gravy Boys hail from Raleigh/Durham, North Carolina and perform Acoustic Americana music that draws deep from the well of our country’s diverse musical heritage. Their high energy shows feature heartfelt vocal harmonies, boot-stomping rhythms, lively stage banter, and honest musicianship.
The Gravy Boys are story tellers who spin their tales through tight, brother-duet vocals over a vintage acoustic backdrop. They take classic American themes and bring them into the present day, with an authentic passion that resonates with all who listen.
Gospel Jubilators
This Piedmont area a cappella group has been singing together since 1972. The group sings in the traditional jubilee style which dates back to the 19th century. Groups like the Fisk University Jubilee Singers brought the style to a broader audience.
The Gospel Jubilators opened PineCone’s 2024 Down Home Concert Season at the AJ Fletcher Theater. Chester Mayfield, Danny Massenburg, Don Adair, Fred Tyson and Fulton Waddell received a standing ovation from the sold out audience. “The guys enjoy what they do,” said bass singer Fred Tyson. “It’s been a rewarding experience.”
Dom Flemons
Dr. Dom Flemons “The American Songster" received an Honorary Doctorate from Northern Arizona University and he's a GRAMMY Award Winner with four GRAMMY nominations, Two-Time EMMY Nominee, International Acoustic Music Award Grand Prize Winner, and was a United States Artists Fellow. He is a musician based in the Chicago area and he is famously known as "The American Songster®" since his repertoire covers over one hundred years of American roots music; including country, folk, bluegrass, Americana, and the blues. Flemons is a songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, music scholar, historian, actor, narrator, host, slam poet, record collector, podcaster, and the creator, host, and producer of the American Songster Radio Show on WSM in Nashville, TN. He is considered an expert player on the banjo, guitar, harmonica, jug, percussion, quills, fife and rhythm bones. He is the Co-Founder of the Carolina Chocolate Drops and the Founder of American Songster Productions.
Charly Lowry
Charly Lowry, a musical powerhouse from Pembroke, NC, is proud to be an Indigenous woman belonging to the Lumbee/Tuscarora Tribes. She is passionate about raising awareness around issues that plague underdeveloped, underserved, and marginalized communities.
Since her teenage years, Charly has established a career as a professional singer-songwriter with unique passion and voice.
While she may be familiar to some from her success as a semi-finalist on American Idol, she has maintained close ties to her Native American roots, culture, and music.
Cabin Creature
Cabin Creature, a folk duo from Raleigh comprised of Reese Mayfield and Silas Mann, focuses on traditional southeastern folk music with some modern influence.
Shinyribs
Shinyribs defies genres as a sonic melting pot of Texas Blues, New Orleans R&B funk, horn- driven Memphis Soul, country twang, border music, big band swing, and roots-rock. The Austin-based nine-piece (sometimes 10-piece) supergroup is led by Kevin Russell, the charismatic frontman with colorful suits and extravagant shoes who continuously swaps out an electric guitar for a ukulele and never falls short of creating a cinematic experience with on- stage antics that often include him donning a light-up cloak or leading a conga line through the crowd.