Three ways to enjoy bluegrass in the Triangle
31 Jul
I’ve always enjoyed Bluegrass, but I’ve really been getting into this banjo picking, fiddle wielding music lately. It’s probably because my weekend at the Shakori Hills Grassroots Festival was so lovely, that every time I hear Bluegrass now my mind wanders back to the music-filled campgrounds.
1. It’s easy to enjoy Bluegrass music in the Triangle. I recently discovered the Pinecone Bluegrass Show, which airs at 6 p.m. every Sunday on 94.7 WQDR. The three hour show is celebrating its 20th anniversary this year and provides a relaxing soundtrack to Sunday chores.
Pinecone is a local nonprofit dedicated to preserving, presenting and promoting traditional music. From their website:
Traditional music includes fiddle tunes, ballads, bluegrass, blues, gospel, swing, folk, and all the variations and derivations that our culture has nurtured. It is the folk product of community heritage and spirit. it is the musical spice that gives North Carolina its own taste. It is music that increases the attractivenes of our community and contributes a cohesive cultural identity. Its performers learned from their families or community or deliberately sought teachers from a traditional musical heritage.
2. PineCone presents several concert series around the Triangle. The next concert is scheduled from 5 to 7 p.m. Sunday at Joyner Park in Wake Forest. Big Fat Gap, a back porch bluegrass band, will christen the new town park.
Joyner Park sounds like a pretty cool spot for Wake Forest residents. The 117-acre park includes a 1,000 lawn seat amphitheatre, three miles of walking trails, and more. Big Fat Gap’s show will be the first concert in the park.
3. And I’m also looking forward to the Hoppin’ John Old Time and Bluegrass Fiddlers’ Convention on Sept. 18 and 19 in Chatham County.
Let me know if you have any other suggestions of how I can get my Bluegrass on in the Triangle.
Your post just made my Friday! Thank you so much for promoting both the radio show and the Big Fat Gap concert!
For more bluegrass tidbits, PineCone’s Down Home Series tickets go on sale this Monday, Aug. 3 for PineCone members, and it’s the organization’s 25th Anniversary season. Joining is easy (online or over the phone), inexpensive ($15-$40), tax deductible, and in addition to having access to the member pre-sale, members receive discounts on tickets! Shows of particular interest to the bluegrass lovers include The Travelin’ McCourys on Nov. 13 and the second day of PineCone’s Winter Music Festival – Jan. 31 we have four bluegrass acts on the lineup, including Ricky Skaggs & Kentucky Thunder (headliner), Dale Ann Bradley, Michael Cleveland & Flamekeeper (Michael is a six-time IBMA fiddle player of the year, and he happens to be blind), and Danny Paisley & the Southern Grass. (Here’s the link if anyone wants to join online: http://www.pinecone.org/memberform.html). PineCone is also on Facebook – http://www.facebook.com/PineConeNC.
Glad you had a fun time at Shakori Hills! I need to carve out that weekend one of these years and go experience that festival myself…
Have a great weekend, and thank you again!
Jamie Katz
Program Associate
PineCone
Don’t forget the Americana Blues & Co. show every Saturday Morning from 10am-Noon on 88.1 WKNC. Its a secret gem around here!
A ‘mostly’ bluegrass show is Back Porch Music on WUNC. Hear it online and on the radio Fri/Sat/Sun nights starting at 8. You can sign up for a weekly newsletter containing up-coming concerts and special events at: http://wunc.org/programs/backporchmusic/newsletter-sign-up
Great music several hours a week.
Another venue in the Triangle to look out for is The Clayton Center, located just 15 minutes from downtown Raleigh.
The Clayton Center will host Ricky Skaggs and Kentucky Thunder on Saturday, October 17 for two shows: 4pm and 8pm.
In the past, The Clayton Center has presented Chris Thile, Cherryholmes, Doc Watson and many others. http://www.theclaytoncenter.com or on facebook.