From Americana to indie to hip hop and more, we’ve got great lineups from the mountains to the sea
by Emmie Brooks, Addie Ladner and David Menconi
Whether you’re looking for chart-topping headliners, rising local talent, or a mix of folk, hip-hop and indie sounds, there’s a festival in the great state of North Carolina for every taste. From Dreamville’s starstudded lineup at Dix Park to the charm of Western NC’s MerleFest and the spirit of Sakori Hills, these upcoming festivals both near and far are worth making plans for.
Dreamville Festival at Dix Park
Founded by North Carolina native J. Cole, the hip-hop music and culture festival Dreamville returns to Dorothea Dix Park for its fifth and final installation. Keep an eye out for this year’s lineup – previous festivals have brought headliners like hip-hop and pop star SZA, R&B legend Chris Brown, trail-blazing rapper Nicki Minaj and Cole himself. While on the grounds, guests can interact with art installations commissioned by Artsplosure as well as enjoy food from local vendors and booths from community organizations.
April 5 & 6 | Various times; from $300; 1030 Richardson Drive; dreamvillefest.com
MerleFest in Wilkesboro
Named after the late, legendary bluegrass musician Eddie Merle Watson, MerleFest is a four-day celebration of music predominately inspired by the Appalachian mountains. Founded in 1988 as a fundraiser for Wilkes Community College, the festival features notable acts like Donna the Buffalo, Bonnie Raitt, The Avett Brothers, Jim Lauderdale, Asleep at the Wheel, Sam Bush, The War And Treaty and The SteelDrivers. Beyond the music, peruse vendors, enjoy nature walks and, if you have young ones with you, swing by the craft tables at the Little Pickers Family Area. Many festivalgoers make it a full-on retreat, rolling in with RVs and settling for a weekend of music under the Carolina sky.
April 24 – 27 | Various times; From $90; 1328 S. Collegiate Drive, Wilkesboro; merlefest.org
Biscuits & Banjos in Durham
Grammy and Pulitzer Prize-winning artist Rhiannon Giddens, known for her work in folk, blues and old-time music, as well as her efforts in preserving and celebrating Black string band traditions, is launching a brand new festival, Biscuits & Banjos, set to take place on April 25-27 in downtown Durham. The three-day festival will span venues like the Durham Performing Arts Center, The Armory and the Carolina Theatre. Biscuits & Banjos is more than just a music festival — it’s a celebration of Black music, art and culture, rooted in North Carolina history. Inspired by the Carolina Chocolate Drops, the group she co-founded, the event will highlight a diverse lineup of artists across folk, jazz, blues, country and Americana. In addition to the music, guests can engage in discussions with chefs, authors, visual artists and more. With overwhelming demand, tickets for this event have already sold out.
April 25 – 27 | Various times; From $132; Various locations, Durham; biscuitsandbanjos.com
Shakori Hills GrassRoots Festival of Music & Dance in Pittsboro
An all-are-welcome, lively weekend-long festival in Pittsboro, the Shakori Hills Grassroots Festival of Music Dance is worth the hour drive from Raleigh. More than just American folk music, this festival has plenty to explore while you connect with other roots music fans. There’s a huge dance tent, a healing arts village, an advocacy area, camping sites and a sustainability pavilion. This year, in addition to festival regulars like Donna the Buffalo, local standouts like Joe Troop’s Truth Machine, Los Lobos, Frute, and the Campbell Brothers are on the bill. And of course, the Paperhand Puppet Intervention will be on parade, which is always a hit with the younger festivalgoers.
May 1-4 | Various times | From $50; 1439 Henderson Tanyard Road, Pittsboro; shakorihillsgrassroots.org
Lovin’ Life Music Fest in Charlotte
Mark your calendars: the Lovin’ Life Music Fest is back, bringing three days of live music, culture and community to Uptown Charlotte. This annual multi-genre festival celebrates the city’s diversity with 50+ artists across three stages, featuring renowned headliners, regional favorites and rising local stars. This year’s lineup is packed with a little something for everyone including Dave Matthews Band, Gwen Stefani, Benson Boone, Teddy Swims, Lola Young, Gigi Perez and The 502S. Beyond the music, attendees can explore local eats or check out art installations. Lovin’ Life Music Fest also incorporates charitable initiatives to support the local community through various organizations.
May 2 – 4 | 1 – 11 p.m.; From $345; 418 N. College Street, Charlotte; lovinlifemusicfest.com
Mountain Dance and Folk Festival in Asheville
Reputedly the first event in America to be called a “folk festival,” Asheville’s Mountain Dance and Folk Festival was founded in 1928 by the folk-music legend Bascom Lamar Lunsford. It remains the longest continuously running folk festival in the country, and it’s as much about the folk-dance traditions of Western North Carolina as it is about the music. Check here to stay up to date on this year’s performers.
July 31 – Aug. 2 | 7 – 9 p.m.; from $20; 701 Warren Wilson Road, Swannanoa; folkheritage.org
Earl Scruggs Music Festival in Mill Spring
A relative newcomer to the North Carolina festival circuit, the Earl Scruggs Music Festival debuted in 2022 at the Tryon International Equestrian Center in Mill Spring. As you’d expect for a festival named after the man who invented the three-finger style of bluegrass banjo, the lineup trends toward classic bluegrass and Americana. This year that means acts like local duo Larry & Joe, bluegrass legends Old Crow Medicine Show, Might Poplar (Watchouse frontman Andrew Marlin’s pure bluegrass group), Tanya Tucker and more.
August 29 – 31 | From $150; 25 International Boulevard, Mill Spring; earlscruggsmusicfest.com
The John Coltrane International Jazz and Blues Festival in High Point
Although he made his mark as an artist elsewhere, John Coltrane was born and raised in Hamlet, North Carolina. He was one of the towering figures of 20th century jazz, a key collaborator with Miles Davis, Duke Ellington and his fellow North Carolina native Thelonious Monk. The John Coltrane International Jazz and Blues Festival has been paying tribute to his legacy every Labor Day weekend since 2011 with solid lineups: 2022 featured trumpeter Chris Botti, singer Patti LaBelle and saxophonist Kirk Whalum, among others.
August 30 – 31 | From $120; Oak Hallow Park; 1841 Eastchester Drive, High Point; coltranejazzfest.com
North Carolina Folk Festival in Greensboro
In 2015, the National Council for the Traditional Arts brought the long-running National Folk Festival (which has been around since 1934) to Greensboro for a three-year run. It was such a success that, after the national festival’s Greensboro run ended, the city opted to keep it going as the rebranded North Carolina Folk Festival. Last year’s lineup was typically eclectic, featuring everything from Los Lonely Boys to NCA&T Coldsteel Drummers. Expect more of the same in 2025. Stay tuned for updates here.
September 12 – 14 | Greensboro; ncfolkfestival.com
Hopscotch Music Festival in Raleigh
Downtown Raleigh has a well-earned reputation for doing music festivals right, and one of the events that helped pave the way is the alternative-slanted Hopscotch. Originally started in 2010 under the auspices of the Indy Week newspaper, it showed off Raleigh’s walkable grid of downtown nightclubs and outdoor stages to fantastic effect. Past headliners have included Flaming Lips, The Roots, Solange Knowles and St. Vincent. The homegrown celebration typically has main stages at City Plaza and Moore Square, plus shows at various downtown venues. Alongside the stages, dozens of bars and restaurants will host day parties showcasing local talent. Check here for lineup updates, not yet announced.
Sept. 4 – 6 | Various times; From $135 for early bird pricing; Downtown Raleigh; hopscotchmusicfest.com
Forthcoming! Raleigh Wide Open
Replacing the long running IBMA Bluegrass LIVE! Fest will be Raleigh Wide Open, hosted by PineCone. Expect square dancing, art markets, live roots music galore and everything you loved about Bluegrass LIVE!, but with a more of a North Carolina feel.
Oct. 3 – 4 | Various times; Downtown Raleigh; follow raleighwideopen.com for more updates
A version of this article original appeared in the March 2023 issue of WALTER magazine and was updated on March, 18 2025 online.
