The International Bluegrass Music Association has announced the stage schedule for their inaugural Wide Open Bluegrass Festival, September 27-28. The festival follows their three-day business conference in Raleigh, NC, and takes the place of what was previously billed as Fan Fest.
Like the business conference, Wide Open Bluegrass is the organization’s primary funding source for their annual operations. Half of the proceeds go into the IBMA coffers, with the other half donated to the Bluegrass Trust Fund which provides anonymous assistance to bluegrass folks in need.
The festival is a separately ticketed event, outside of registration for World of Bluegrass. For the first time, Wide Open Bluegrass will feature two stages of entertainment with morning and early afternoon performances inside the Raleigh Convention Center, and afternoon/evening shows in the adjacent Red Hat outdoor ampitheater.
Another major change for 2013 is that bands will be paid for their time, wherein they had been asked to waive their fees in years past. IBMA Executive Director Nancy Cardwell had told us that the fees they can offer are at a reduced rate, but that they felt the calibre of talent they wanted to attract now that they have moved out of Nashville required it.
Performers at the various music stages in the City of Raleigh’s Wide Open Bluegrass Street Fair will also be remunerated.
Here’s the schedule for 2013.
Friday, September 27
Raleigh Convention Center Stage (doors open at 9:00 AM)
- 10:00 a.m. – Lorraine Jordan & Carolina Road
- 10:40 a.m. – The Spinney Brothers
- 11:20 a.m. – Rob Ickes & Jim Hurst
- 12:00 p.m. – Marty Raybon & Full Circle
- 12:40 p.m. – Frank Solivan & Dirty Kitchen
- 1:20 p.m. – Claire Lynch Band
- 2:00 p.m. – Blue Highway
- 2:40 p.m. – Balsam Range with The Boxcars
Red Hat Amphitheater Stage (doors open at Noon)
- 1:00 p.m. – The Grass Cats
- 2:00 p.m. – Druha Trava
- 3:00 p.m. – The SteelDrivers
- 4:00 p.m. – Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver
- 5:15 p.m. – Greensky Bluegrass
- 6:30 p.m. – The Del McCoury Band
- 7:45 p.m. – Punch Brothers
- 9:30 p.m. – Alison Krauss, Del McCoury, Sam Bush, Bela Fleck, Tony Rice, Jerry Douglas, and Mark Schatz
Saturday, September 28
Raleigh Convention Center Stage (doors open at 9:00 AM)
- 10:00 a.m. – Nu-Blu
- 10:40 a.m. – Audie Blaylock & Redline
- 11:20 a.m. – Dale Ann Bradley
- 12:00 p.m. – Darin & Brooke Aldridge
- 12:40 p.m. – Detour
- 1:20 p.m. – Michael Cleveland & Flamekeeper
- 2:00 p.m. – Travelin’ McCourys
- 2:40 p.m. – Peter Rowan
- 3:20 p.m. – Kruger Brothers with the Kontras Quartet, Appalachian Concerto
Red Hat Amphitheater Stage (doors open at Noon)
- 1:00 p.m. – Kickin’ Grass Band
- 2:00 p.m. – The Gibson Brothers
- 3:00 p.m. – Della Mae
- 4:00 p.m. – Dailey & Vincent featuring Statler Brother Jimmy Fortune
- 5:15 p.m. – Béla Fleck, Danny Paisley, Ronnie McCoury, Jason Carter, and Alan Bartram
- 6:30 p.m. – Seldom Scene
- 7:45 p.m. – The Infamous Stringdusters
- 9:30 p.m. – Steve Martin & The Steep Canyon Rangers featuring Edie Brickell
Further details can be found online.
