2010 Dates
    July 3, 10, 17, 31
    Aug. 14, 21, 28

This mountain tradition features an always-enjoyable variety of Big Circle Mountain Dancers, Clog Dancers, Bluegrass and Old Time String Bands, Ballad Singers, and Storytellers. Shindig on the Green gets underway “along about sundown,” or for those using a watch- 7:00 p.m., and usually runs until 10:00 p.m.

Since 1928, mountain fiddlers, banjo pickers, dulcimer sweepers, dancers, balladeers and others have come to enjoy themselves “along about sundown” the first weekend in August at the Mountain Dance and Folk Festival. In 2007, performers at the Mountain Dance and Folk Festival will take to the stage for the 80th time at Diana Wortham Theatre at Pack Place in downtown Asheville on Thursday through Saturday at 7 p.m.

Ashe County Bluegrass and Old Time Fiddlers Convention in Jefferson, NC. is celebrating there 40th year. With over $3,600 in prize money, the focus continues to be musician-centered as they honor the Old Time and Bluegrass music of the mountains and the musicians who make it.

Bands include Balsam Range, Doyle Lawson & QuickSilver, The Dillards, Carolina Sonshine, The Crowe Brothers, Darrell Webb Band, Darin & Brooke Aldridge, Frances Mooney & Fontanna Sunset, and more!

The Ola Belle Reed Music Festival is three days of Americana, Bluegrass, Old-time, Country music and camping, celebrating the life and music of this remarkable woman in the locale where her life's journey began, the small community of Lansing in Ashe County, along the New River in the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina. This year's lineup includes The Mosier Brothers, Big Daddy Love, Aaron Lee Tasjan, Curley Maple and many more. Admission is free, but donations are welcome.

Bring your own chairs - Chairs may be set out on a first come first served basis after the tent is set up on Tuesday.

This festival, hosted by A&A had been scheduled to be held in Cherokee, NC when I checked in the Spring. It is the same dates as that event - but in a new location - Marion, NC.

The Fines Creek Bluegrass Jam is held on the grounds of the old Fines Creek School, 192 Fines Creek Road, Clyde, NC. The performance stage is outdoors, giving the audience a wonderful view of the mountains. Bring a lawn chair and position yourself for some wonderful mountain music. Tents are available for the audience in case of rain but the music goes on. Food and drink are available on the school grounds and in the old cafeteria. Limited chairs are available for rent. Atmosphere is informal and family-centered.

The Jam runs for two nights. On Friday, August 27, 2010 music begins at 5:00 pm and lasts until midnight. On Saturday, August 28, 2010 events begin at 4:00 pm until midnight. Ticket prices are $ 15 for adults for one night or $ 25 for both nights. Tickets for teens (ages 12-15) are $ 7 per night. Children under age 12 are free.

Map

The 4th Annual Mountain Song Festival is expanding its offerings. We're starting off this years event September 11, 2009 with a Friday Night Mountain Song Pre-Party hosted by the Steep Canyon Rangers and featuring Town Mountain and Moon Shine Babies. Doors at 6:30, Showtime 7:00 pm.

Hosted by the Great Smokies Craft Brewers Association and benefiting Big Brothers & Big Sisters of Western North Carolina, the Brewgrass Festival has quickly become one of the most popular beer and bluegrass events in the Southeast.

Tickets for 2010 will go on sale the first Saturday in March.

The festival brings out the region's finest musicians and dancers. Numerous stages, jam circles, and workshops will occur throughout the day. At night there will be a concert featuring more than 20 different performances by ballad singers, dancers, and string bands.

You can call and reserve tickets at the Liston B. Ramsey Center for Regional Studies at Mars Hill College at (828) 689-1571.

The lineup of performers for 2010 Bluegrass First Class is unbeatable. Tickets go on sale now.

Friday: Rhonda Vincent & The Rage, Russell Moore & IIIrd Tyme Out, The Grascals, Next Best Thing, Snyder Family Band and many more!

Saturday: Steep Canyon Rangers, Dailey & Vincent, Almost Original Tony Rice Unit with Josh Williams on lead vocals, Lonesome River Band, Darin & Brooke Aldridge, Dillon and many more!

Hotel reservations are availabe NOW by calling the Crowne Plaza Resort in Asheville, NC 800-733-3211

MerleFest began in the spring of 1988 and has grown from two flat-bed trailers and 4,000 attendees to 13 stages with more than 81,500 festival participants.

Unbelievable lineup (like usual). You have to go to at least one MerleFest!

The festival is FREE to the public and features some of the region's best Traditional and Bluegrass Music followed by an evening Square Dance until dark! Bring the family and the lawn chairs to enjoy a day full of music under the shade trees!

Great lineup. No Parking Fee. Bring your own chairs. Chairs may be set out on Tuesday after the tent is set up.

Previously A&A had two bluegrass festivals in North Carolina at Cherokee. The festival was on at the start of Spring. Since then A&A have taken down their page. This festival takes the time slot and location of the first A&A festival at Cherokee.

The festival will include a bluegrass camp for kids, wagon rides, 4 days of bluegrass music, tent sales of bluegrass instruments, music and other bluegrass related materials, food and drink sale, special July 4th Celebration of old-time activities and the largest fireworks show in western North Carolina.

For our second year, the Cashiers Mountain Music Festival will enjoy the return of Lizzy Long and Little Roy Lewis as well as performing acts High Windy, Corduory Road and Katelyn Marks, Ralph Roddenberry, and the Rye Holler Boys. Other local acts will also take the bandstand with the final show of the day featuring one of the hottest acts in bluegrass, The Steep Canyon Rangers.

Music to remember on the cool banks of Cove Creek in Sugar Grove North Carolina, preserving our mountain musical heritage and celebrating the diversity it has inspired!

Balsam Range, Curtis Blackwell, Mark Templeton, Mountain Faith, Mountaintop Bluegrass, Heart Strings, HIMS, Short Notice.

$10 per person. Children under 12 FREE.
BRING YOUR OWN CHAIR.

Held at the Boone Fairgrounds in Boone, NC. from 10am to 11pm.

Line up includes John Cowan, Balsam Range, Terry Baucom, Alan Johnson, The Harris Brothers, Southern Accent, Diana & Sarvis Ridge