PERFORMERS AND SCHEDULES ANNOUNCED FOR PNC PRESENTS WIDE OPEN BLUEGRASS SEPTEMBER 27-28
More than 100 bands will perform September 27-28
on eight stages, including Red Hat Amphitheater, in downtown Raleigh
Nashville, TN (September 10, 2019) — Organizers of this year’s PNC presents Wide Open Bluegrass, a festival taking place September 27-28 in Raleigh, North Carolina, announced the full list of performers, and performance schedules, for the annual festival.
The free Wide Open Bluegrass festival – part of the International Bluegrass Music Association (IBMA)’s 5-day World of Bluegrass event,sponsored by Chiesi USA – brings bluegrass into the community, and introduces the music to thousands of new fans every year, with more than 100 performers on seven stages along Fayetteville Street in downtown Raleigh. Performers include a broad mix of local, national, and international talent. Stages include the Youth Music Stage – situated on the outdoor plaza at the Convention Center – and the Dance Tent, which features clogging performances, participatory square dances, and late-night open dancing Friday and Saturday nights.
In addition to the seven stages of Wide Open Bluegrass, performances at Raleigh’s Red Hat Amphitheater will be open to the public for free, as well, subject to venue capacity. A limited number of reserved seats in prime sections of the venue are still available for purchase, to ensure admittance for every performance. More details about the festival can be found online at worldofbluegrass.org/wide-open-bluegrass, or on the festival app, available for free download via your app store.
PNC returns, for the seventh year, as the presenting sponsor for the two-day Wide Open Bluegrass festival: “PNC’s support of Wide Open Bluegrass allows festival goers free access to all stages and makes this festival even more special,” said Jim Hansen, PNC regional president of Eastern Carolinas. “As the presenting sponsor for the seven years that Raleigh has hosted Wide Open Bluegrass, we are pleased that this event has become a flagship music festival and adds to our vibrant cultural scene. We at PNC look forward to celebrating a great weekend of bluegrass in downtown Raleigh.”
The list of Wide Open Bluegrass artists – as well as their performance stage and set time – is as follows:
RED HAT AMPHITHEATER
FRIDAY, SEPT. 27
4:00 Gates open
5:00-5:45 Sister Sadie
6:05-6:55 Balsam Range with special guests from NC State Symphony Orchestra
7:15-8:05 Molly Tuttle
8:25-9:25 I’m With Her – Sara Watkins, Sarah Jarosz,
Aoife O’Donovan
9:45-11:00 The Ringers (featuring Jerry Douglas, Ronnie
McCoury, Todd Phillips, Christian Sedelmyer,
And Dan Tyminski
SATURDAY, SEPT. 28
4:00 Gates open
5:00-5:50 “You Gave Me a Song” celebrating Hazel Dickens &
Alice Gerrard; featuring Alice Gerrard, Laurie Lewis,
Allison de Groot & Tatiana Hargreaves, Cathy Fink &
Marcy Marxer, Justin Hiltner, Jon Weisberger,
& Eliza Meyer
6:10-6:55 Frank Solivan & Dirty Kitchen
7:15-8:00 Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver
8:30-11:00 A Delebration with The Del McCoury Band and Travelin’
McCourys featuring special guests Sam
Bush, Jerry Douglas, Preservation Hall Jazz Band, Jon
Fishman (of Phish), Sierra Hull, and others
PLAZA STAGE
FRIDAY, SEPT. 27
12:00-12:45 The Price Sisters
1:15-2:00 David Davis & The Warrior River Boys
2:30-3:15 Bowman, Bowman & Dre
3:45-4:30 Sierra Hull & Justin Moses
5:00-5:45 Fireside Collective
6:15-7:15 The Gibson Brothers
7:45-9:00 The Grascals
9:30-11:00 Frank Solivan & Dirty Kitchen
SATURDAY, SEPT. 28
12:00-12:45 Amanda Cook Band
1:15-2:00 Nefesh Mountain
2:30-3:15 Kids on Bluegrass
3:45-4:30 Missy Raines Band
5:00-5:45 Red Wine
6:15-7:15 Darin & Brooke Aldridge
7:45-9:00 Rob Ickes & Trey Hensley
9:30-11:00 Volume Five
DAVIE STREET
FRIDAY, SEPT. 27
12:15-1:00 Nixon, Blevins & Gage
1:30-2:15 Brandon Lee Adams
2:45-3:30 Larry Stephenson Band
4:00-4:45 ClayBank
5:15-6:00 The Trailblazers
6:30-7:30 Kenny & Amanda Smith
8:00-9:15 Carolina Blue
9:45-11:00 Unspoken Tradition
SATURDAY, SEPT. 28
12:15-1:00 Cane Mill Road
1:30-2:15 Tommy Edwards & The Bluegrass Experience
2:45-3:30 Diamond Creek
4:00-4:45 Kristy Cox
5:15 – 6:00 Lorraine Jordan & Carolina Road
6:30 – 7:30 Terry Baucom’s Dukes of Drive
8:00-9:15 Danny Paisley & Southern Grass
9:45-11:00 Sideline
HARGETT STREET
FRIDAY, SEPT. 27
12:30-1:15 Valerie Smith & Liberty Pike
1:45-2:30 Chatham Rabbits
3:00-3:45 Dave Adkins Band
4:15-5:00 Irene Kelley
5:30-6:15 Hubby Jenkins
6:45-7:45 Hank Pattie & The Current
8:15-9:15 The Burnett Sisters Band
9:45-11:00 Alan Bibey & Grasstowne
SATURDAY, SEPT. 28
12:30-1:15 Zoe & Cloyd
1:45-2:30 Crying Uncle Bluegrass Band
3:00-3:45 Hoot and Holler
4:15-5:00 Tony Williamson & Friends
5:30-6:15 Bill & the Belles
6:45-7:45 ShadowGrass
8:15-9:15 Chris Jones & the Night Drivers
9:55-11:00 Violet Bell
CAPITOL STAGE
FRIDAY, SEPT. 27
12:15-1:00 Tellico
1:30-2:15 Steve Gulley & New Pinnacle
2:45-3:30 Blue Canyon Boys
4:00-4:45 Appalachian Road Show
5:15-6:00 Allison de Groot & Tatiana Hargreaves
6:30-7:30 Darin & Brooke Aldridge
8:00-9:15 Kate Lee & Forrest O’Connor
9:45-11:00 The Steel Wheels
SATURDAY, SEPT. 28
12:15-1:00 Circus No. 9
1:30-2:15 Henhouse Prowlers
2:45-3:30 The Gingersnaps
4:00-4:45 The Lonesome Days
5:15-6:00 Rapidgrass
6:30-7:30 Trout Steak Revival
8:00-9:15 Songs From the Road Band
9:45-11:00 Joe Newberry with Tommy Edwards
DANCE TENT
FRIDAY, SEPT. 27 – SHOUT & SHINE DANCE TENT TAKEOVER
12:00-12:45 Open Dance with Crying Uncle Bluegrass Band
1:15 -2:15 Nic Gareiss & Allison de Groot
2:45-3:30 Open Dance with Hubby Jenkins
4:00-4:45 Open Dance with Cathy Fink & Marcy Marxer
& the Grassabilly Rockets, including Jon Weisberger
& George Jackson
5:15-6:15 Cane Mill Road & Williette Hinton
6:45-7:30 Open Dance with Lakota John Trio
8:00-9:00 Laurie Lewis & the Right Hands –
Tribute to Eileen Carson Schatz
9:30-11:00 Inclusive Square Dance with caller Boo Radley
Music: Jake Blount & Friends
SATURDAY, SEPT. 28
12:00-2:00 Family Square Dance with caller Boo Radley
Music: Jake Blount & Friends
2:30-3:45 Clogging (performance and workshop) with Green
Grass Cloggers, Music: Willow Dillon & Friends
4:15-5:45 Contra Dance with caller Eileen Thorsos
Music: Swang!
6:15-7:00 Clogging with Apple Chill Cloggers
Music: Patrick Walsh & Friends
7:30-9:00 Open Dance with Charm City Junction
9:30-11:00 Square Dance with caller Nancy Mamlin
Music: The Smoky Mountaineers
IBMA YOUTH STAGE (RCC plaza)
FRIDAY, SEPT. 27
12:00-12:45 Cane Mill Road
1:00-1:40 Michelle Canning Band
2:00 3:45 Kids on Bluegrass
3:55-4:40 BJUGrass
4:50-5:35 Jubile
5:45-6:30 Burnett Sisters Band
7:00-7:30 Mountain Music Ambassadors – Morehead State University
7:40-8:10 High Lonesome Senate – Walters State Community College
8:20-8:50 Tigertown Roots – Clemson University
9:00-9:30 ETSU Bluegrass Pride Band – East Tennessee State
University
9:40-10:10 Warren Wilson College Bluegrass Band – Warren Wilson
College
10:20-10:50 Colorado College Bluegrass Band – Colorado College
SATURDAY, SEPT. 28
12:00-12:45 Crying Uncle Bluegrass Band
12:55-1:40 Mountain Highway
1:50- 2:35 Shiloh Creek Girls
2:45-3:30 The Family Sowell
3:40-4:35 ShadowGrass
6:00-6:30 Glenville State College Bluegrass Band –
Glenville State College
6:40-7:10 Carolina Bluegrass Band – University of North Carolina
at Chapel Hill
7:20-7:50 Pellissippi State Bluegrass Band – Pellissippi State
Community College
8:00-8:30 The Ruta Beggars – Berklee College of Music
8:40-9:10 Eastern Kentucky University Bluegrass Band – Eastern
Kentucky University
9:20-9:50 Denison University Bluegrass Band – Denison University
10:00-10:30 BJUgrass – Bob Jones University
J.A.M. STAGE @ MARTIN STREET
FRIDAY, SEPT. 27
11:00 – 11:45 Pickin’ Thistles
12:00 – 12:45 Jonah Graves
1:00 – 1:45 One Fret Over
2:00 – 2:45 Liam Purcell & Mallory Blackwood
3:00 – 3:45 Eliza Meyer
4:00 – 4:45 Gate Ten
5:00 – 5:45 Ella & Mary
6:00 – 6:45 ShadowGrass
7:00 – 7:45 Cane Mill Road
SATURDAY, SEPT. 28
11:00 – 11:45 Cheyenne & Wyatt Grantham
12:00 – 12:45 Carson Moore
1:00 – 1:45 Unbranded
2:00 – 2:45 Blackberry Jam
3:00 – 3:45 Fiddlin’ Red and the Bluegrass Harvesters
4:00 – 4:45 Wyld Fern
5:00 – 5:45 New River JAM Band
6:00 – 6:45 Ella & Mary
7:00 – 7:45 Cane Mill Road
MASTERS WORKSHOP STAGE (Raleigh Convention Center)
FRIDAY, SEPT. 27
12:00 Songwriting Workshop with Donna Hughes & Brink Brinkman
1:00 Banjo – Jason Davis, Kristin Scott Benson, Joe Dean,
Matthew Davis
2:00 Fiddle – Jim Van Cleve, Laura Orshaw, Stephen Burwell
3:00 Mandolin – Alan Bibey, Zack Arnold, Danny Roberts, Jesse
Brock
4:00 Bass – Zak McLamb, Edgar Loudermilk, Beth Lawrence
5:00 Bluegrass Karaoke with Alan Bibey & Grasstowne –
Want to sing a song with Grasstowne as your backup
band? Sign up, pick a song, name the key, and be
ready!
SATURDAY, SEPT. 28
12:00 Performing as a family band – The Family Sowell
1:00 Guitar – Jacob Greer, Jeff Autry, John Lowell, Kenny Smith
2:00 Clawhammer Banjo – Joe Newberry, Liam Purcell, Laura
Boosinger
3:00 Vocal Workshop – Johnny and Jeanette Williams
4:00 Love Canon – Transforming Music: One Genre to Another
WIDE OPEN WORKSHOPS (Raleigh Convention Center)
FRIDAY, SEPT. 27
10:00 – 12:00 Bluegrass Jam Class – Bring Your Instrument
With Pete Wernick, Gilbert Nelson & Leigh Nelson
(takes place in Main Lobby)
10:30 – 11:30 Bluegrass College Info Session
Fred Bartenstein
(takes place in Room 304)
11:00 – 12:30 The Life of a Professional Songwriter: A Career Path
David Morris, Donna Ulisse, Jerry Salley, Irene Kelley
(takes place in Room 306A)
12:30 – 1:45 A Bluegrass Ambassadors Workshop – Kyrgyzstan
Jon Goldfine, Chris Dollar, Kyle O’Brien, with artists
Henhouse Prowlers
(takes place in Main Lobby)
2:00 – 3:30 Vintage Instrument Tasting
Terry Baucom’s Dukes of Drive, Tom Gray, Will Jones,
Tony Williamson
(takes place in Main Lobby)
2:00 – 3:30 Evolution of Bourbon
Jason Bradley
(takes place in Room 305AB)
SATURDAY, SEPT. 28
10:00 – 12:00 Bluegrass Jam Class – Bring Your Instrument
With Pete Wernick, Gilbert Nelson & Leigh Nelson
(takes place in Main Lobby)
11:00 – 12:30 “Stealing Fire” from 1st Generation Songwriters
Mark Simos, Laurie Lewis, Joe Newberry
(takes place in Room 306A)
12:30 – 1:45 Dynamics of Banjo Sound
Tom Nechville, Gilbert Nelson
(takes place in Main Lobby)
2:00 – 3:30 Fiddle & Banjo: The Roots and Branches of American Music
Tom Nechville, Gilbert Nelson
(takes place in Main Lobby)
2:00 – 3:30 Evolution of Bourbon
Jason Bradley
(takes place in Room 305AB)
The Shout & Shine Dance Tent Takeover, presented by The Bluegrass Situation and PineCone, is the fourth year that the group will host an event to celebrate the diversity of bluegrass. Shout & Shine’s mission includes highlighting and reincorporating the voices and perspectives of underrepresented and marginalized artists, musicians, and performers — not only at the event, but throughout the week-long convention and festival. This year’s Dance Tent Takeover on Friday will include sets of music from bands and artists from a variety of backgrounds, traditional step dance and buckdancing performance, and a queer and gender-inclusive square dance.
“This is an especially exciting year for our festival. We celebrate the first of our three-year extension in Raleigh; we have made every stage free to the public, including the Main Stage in the Red Hat Amphitheater (with limited reserve seating); and we have another stellar lineup on every stage throughout downtown Raleigh,” said Paul Schiminger, Executive Director of IBMA. “We are highlighting Hall of Famers, IBMA award winners, one-of-a-kind collaborations, and fantastic youth performers. And, we continue to shine a bright spotlight on a vital resource, the IBMA Trust Fund that helps so many bluegrass professionals during times of emergency need.”
Single day preferred seating for performances at Red Hat Amphitheater during Wide Open Bluegrass are still available, and start as low as $60 for the general public and $50 for IBMA members. Wide Open Bluegrass is the principal fundraiser for the IBMA Trust Fund, which provides direct financial assistance to bluegrass artists and other industry professionals in times of emergency need. To date, the Trust Fund has given more than $800,000 in direct aid.
Information about Red Hat Amphitheater limited reserved seating, Bluegrass Ramble Showcase passes, IBMA Business Conference registration, IBMA Award Show tickets and hotel reservations are available at IBMA’s World of Bluegrass website, WorldofBluegrass.org.
Some Wide Open Bluegrass highlights include:
Youth Stages: Bands chosen through a juried process by IBMA’s Youth Council will perform in front of the Convention Center, followed by college program ensembles; additional youth bands affiliated with the Junior Appalachian Musicians program will perform on the Junior Appalachian Musicians Stage on Martin Street. Don’t miss these future stars of bluegrass!
Inside the Raleigh Convention Center, you’ll find the Masters’ Workshop Stage; the Main Lobby Stage; the World of Bluegrass Expo Hall; a room dedicated to youth activities, including jams and songwriting workshops led by well-known bluegrass artists; and more!
Accessibility: People who are blind or low vision can request to be accompanied through the festival by trained volunteer guides – contact PineCone at 919-664-8333 x4. Scooters and wheelchairs will also be available to rent at the festival, and quiet spaces will be available to those who need a low-sensory break from all the activity. New this year: Recovery Communities of North Carolina will host a Wide Open for Recovery tent on the festival footprint! Learn more about all of the accessibility efforts underway: worldofbluegrass.org/accessibility/
On Saturday, be sure to check out the North Carolina Pork Council’s Whole Hog Barbecue Championship, where the best whole hog barbecue cooks in North Carolina square off to become state champion. At lunch, grab your stretchy pants and buy a wristband to sample directly from 28 competitors and vote for the pig you think deserves the People’s Choice Award! The Whole Hog Barbecue Championship is the culmination of a qualifying series that includes more than 25 N.C. Pork Council-sanctioned whole hog barbecue competitions statewide. Proceeds from the wristband sales will be donated to the InterFaith Food Shuttle and the IBMA Bluegrass Trust Fund, a non-profit organization that provides assistance to bluegrass professionals experiencing financial emergencies. For advance tickets and more information: wholehogbarbecue.com.
For the fifth year, Chiesi USA, Inc. — the Cary, North Carolina-based specialty pharmaceutical company — is the presenting sponsor of the World of Bluegrass event.
WRAL-TV, an NBC affiliate that serves the Raleigh, Chapel Hill and Durham region, is the official media sponsor for the Main Stage performances at Red Hat Amphitheater, as well as for the Wide Open Bluegrass festival.
This project is supported by Come Hear North Carolina, a program of the North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources and the North Carolina Arts Council. www.comehearnc.com
More info about World of Bluegrass and Wide Open Bluegrass
IBMA’s World of Bluegrass, whose Principal Sponsor is Chiesi USA, is a five-day annual bluegrass music homecoming and convention. World of Bluegrass encompasses four events: the IBMA Business Conference, September 24-26; the Bluegrass Ramble, an innovative series of showcases, taking place September 24-26 in downtown Raleigh and at the Raleigh Convention Center; the 30th Annual International Bluegrass Music Awards, scheduled for Thursday evening, September 26; and PNC presents Wide Open Bluegrass, September 27-28, a two-day festival. Wide Open Bluegrass features the best of the best in bluegrass today, benefiting the IBMA Bluegrass Trust Fund—a 501(c)(3) charitable organization that assists bluegrass professionals during financial emergencies—and introducing the music to thousands of new fans every year.
As in years past, events during World of Bluegrass will take place at the Raleigh Convention Center, the Duke Energy Center for the Performing Arts, the Red Hat Amphitheater and at various venues in town.
Volunteer for Wide Open Bluegrass and other World of Bluegrass events: https://worldofbluegrass.org/participate/volunteer/
Learn more about accessibility efforts that are part of the whole World of Bluegrass, including Wide Open Bluegrass: https://worldofbluegrass.org/accessibility/
The Greater Raleigh Convention and Visitors Bureau reported that last year’s World of Bluegrass events generated $12.7 million in direct visitor spending for that region, with total attendance for the week’s activities estimated to be a record-breaking 223,000 people. Over 220 acts performed throughout the entire week of World of Bluegrass.
Additional sponsors of PNC presents Wide Open Bluegrass include: Chiesi USA; Come Hear NC, a program of the North Carolina Arts Council and the State of North Carolina; WRAL-TV and Fox 50; Lunazul Tequila; Deep Eddy Vodka; Larceny Bourbon; the State of Virginia; Martin Guitar Company; D’Addario Strings; WakeMed; Devil’s Backbone Brewing Company; Golden Road Brewing; Stella Artois; Elysian Brewing; Patagonia Cerveza; Ron and Nancy McFarlane; Geico; Central Carolina Chevrolet Dealers; Boone ℅ Clean Design; North Carolina Education Lottery; Parker Poe; Carolina Hurricanes; Lowes Foods; Conservation Trust for North Carolina; Pepsi Bottling Ventures, LLC; Bubly Sparkling Water; Cheerwine; R&D Brewing; North Carolina Department of Transportation; Earl Scruggs Festival; UNC Healthcare; The Recording Academy; East Tennessee State University; North Carolnia 4-H; Campbell University Law School; The Bluegrass Situation; Knee Deep in Bluegrass; SE Systems; Merlefest; State Farm; Our State Magazine; Kane Realty Corporation; Stanley Martin Homes; Leaf Filter; Camp Gladiator; BABE Wine.
Hotel partners include: Marriott Raleigh City Center; Sheraton Raleigh; Residence Inn by Marriott downtown Raleigh; and Holiday Inn Downtown Raleigh.
PNC presents Wide Open Bluegrass is brought to you by collaboration among the International Bluegrass Music Association (IBMA); PineCone-the Piedmont Council of Traditional Music; , the Greater Raleigh Convention and Visitors Bureau; the Raleigh Convention Center; the City of Raleigh; Office of Raleigh Arts; the North Carolina Arts Council; and a local organizing committee.
About Chiesi USA
Chiesi USA, Inc. is a specialty pharmaceutical company committed to research, development, and commercialization of innovative products in the areas of cardiovascular, neonatology, respiratory, rare disease and special care therapeutics. Our primary focus is on people: the people we serve in the healthcare community; the people whose lives are touched by our products and services; and the people who work at Chiesi USA, as they strive to build their company, their family and their community. Chiesi USA, Inc. is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Chiesi Farmaceutici S.p.A.
About PNC Bank
PNC Bank, National Association, is a member of The PNC Financial Services Group, Inc. (NYSE: PNC). PNC is one of the largest diversified financial services institutions in the United States, organized around its customers and communities for strong relationships and local delivery of retail and business banking including a full range of lending products; specialized services for corporations and government entities, including corporate banking, real estate finance and asset-based lending; wealth management and asset management. For information about PNC, visit www.pnc.com.
About WRAL-TV
WRAL is Raleigh’s go-to station for up to the second breaking news, critical weather updates, and in-depth information every morning, day, and night. Members of WRAL’s News and Weather teams are dedicated to the viewers, who’ve come to depend on them for outstanding journalism and point of difference weather coverage. WRAL’s news is on 10.5 hours every weekday, covering significant stories and community events across Central North Carolina.
Capitol Broadcasting Company, Inc. is a diversified communications company which owns and/or operates WRAL-TV, WRAL Digital, WRAZ-TV, WRAZ Digital, WRAL-FM, WRAL-HD2, WCMC-FM, WCMC-HD1, WDNC-AM, WCMC-HD2, WCMC-HD3, WCLY-AM, WCMC-HD4, Microspace, CBC New Media Group and Wolfpack Sports Properties (a joint venture with Learfield) in Raleigh, NC; WILM-TV, WILT-LD and Sunrise Broadcasting in Wilmington, NC; The Durham Bulls Baseball Club, Bull City Hospitality, and the American Underground startup hub in Durham, NC; and real estate interests including the American Tobacco Historic District in Durham, NC, and Rocky Mount Mills in Rocky Mount, NC; and Professional Builders Supply (an equity partnership) in Morrisville, NC.
About IBMA
IBMA – the International Bluegrass Music Association – is the nonprofit professional organization for the global bluegrass music community. The organization’s successful run in Raleigh is the product of their partnership with The Greater Raleigh Convention and Visitors Bureau, The Raleigh Convention Center, PineCone—The Piedmont Council of Traditional Music, the City of Raleigh and a local organizing committee.
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Press Info: Judy McDonough, JEMMedia
[email protected], (615) 243-5994
General Info: Abby Lee Hood, IBMA
[email protected] (615) 256-3222
