Now Playing: NC's Iconic Lineup of Musical Festivals and Venues

North Carolina might claim bluegrass as its iconic musical style, but jazz, blues, folk and rock all lend notes to the state’s soundtrack. Find your jam at music festivals or in the incredible places musicians play.

Fab Festivals  

Music has the power to unite people, especially through festivals that draw folks from all over to share a common passion.

1 Dreamville

Aerial of outdoor music festival in large park with Raleigh skyline in distance.
photo credit: Summer Walker/Dreamville Festival/The Parallel Agency

1 Dreamville

RaleighSee on mapSee on map

Hip-hop superstar J. Cole invites some of his favorite artists to Dreamville Festival, a Black-owned music celebration held each April with a global playlist of artists in Raleigh’s Dorothea Dix Park. The 2024 edition featured SZA, 50 Cent and Nicki Minaj.

2 John Coltrane International Jazz and Blues Festival

John Coltrane sign and statue outside High Point Theatre at dusk.

2 John Coltrane International Jazz and Blues Festival

High PointSee on mapSee on map

Jazz legend John Coltrane learned to play saxophone while growing up in High Point. Every Labor Day weekend, the town celebrates his legacy by hosting the John Coltrane International Jazz and Blues Festival. The lineup fuses jazz with blues and funk.

3 Lovin’ Life Music Fest

Artist performing on stage at outdoor music festival with Charlotte skyline in background.
photo credit: Instagram/@filmxcaro

3 Lovin’ Life Music Fest

CharlotteSee on mapSee on map

The first Lovin’ Life Music Fest took place in May 2024 at Charlotte’s First Ward Park, with Post Malone, Stevie Nicks and The Avett Brothers among more than 40 performers spanning genres and generations. An encore is planned for May 2025.

4 MerleFest

Performers on lit-up stage with trees in background and full crowd in foreground during nighttime

4 MerleFest

WilkesboroSee on mapSee on map

Since 1988, April’s MerleFest has honored the memory of Eddy Merle Watson, son of beloved folk musician Doc Watson. The music coming from a dozen stages is “traditional plus” – Appalachian roots sounds seasoned with country, blues, bluegrass and more.

5 Shakori Hills Grassroots Festival of Music and Dance

5 Shakori Hills Grassroots Festival of Music and Dance

PittsboroSee on mapSee on map

A family-friendly spirit pervades the Shakori Hills Grassroots Festival of Music and Dance, held each May and October. Besides hearing a variety of live music, adults and kids can play games, take dance and yoga lessons, and learn about sustainability.

Storied Venues 

Magic happens when artists, audiences and atmosphere vibrate on the same frequency. Each of these memorable spaces offers a distinct feel.

6 Throwback Music Hall

Exterior of Earle Theater lit up at dusk with cars driving in forefront.

6 Throwback Music Hall

Mount AirySee on mapSee on map

Built in 1920, the Historic Earle Theatre houses the Old-Time Music Heritage Hall and the nation’s second-longest-running live radio show – WPAQ’s Merry-Go-Round, broadcast live every Saturday. Visit Thursday afternoons for free traditional dance, fiddle, banjo, mandolin and guitar classes.

7 Play That Funky Dive Bar 

7 Play That Funky Dive Bar 

BeaufortSee on mapSee on map

Named one of the South’s best dive bars, The Backstreet Pub has occupied a century-old converted bakery for decades, and the cozy brick building with patio seating rolls out live music every week with rock, funk and blues bands. The clientele is as varied as the performers, and it’s always a friendly crowd.

8 The Freshest Beats

8 The Freshest Beats

DurhamSee on mapSee on map

Once a produce warehouse where fruits and veggies arrived by train, The Fruit is now a cool place to see the fruits of human creativity. It’s a museum by day and dance venue by night, curating photography exhibitions, electronic music performances and festival-like parties in one vibrant space. 

9 Rock The Cradle Of Bands

Person performing on stage with colorful lights in background and crowd in front
photo credit: Zack Allen

9 Rock The Cradle Of Bands

CarrboroSee on mapSee on map

Nirvana, Public Enemy, John Mayer, Joan Baez and Iggy Pop have all played at Cat’s Cradle in downtown Carrboro, less than a mile from UNC-Chapel Hill. Though its address has changed a few times, the 750-person venue has brought established bands and up-and-comers to The Triangle for more than 50 years.

Legends Of Shelby

Country music lightning struck twice in the Shelby area, where two artists became giants of the business – and their influence remains.

Don Gibson

Couple taking selfie in front of Don Gibson mural in Shelby.
photo credit: Visit Cleveland County

Don Gibson

Shelby native Don Gibson wrote three country music standards: “Sweet Dreams,” “Oh, Lonesome Me” and “I Can’t Stop Loving You.” That feat, along with 80 chart recordings and a role in popularizing the Nashville Sound, earned him a spot in the Country Music Hall of Fame. The town of Shelby can’t stop loving Gibson â€“ it named a music venue for him: The 400-seat Don Gibson Theatre welcomes nationally touring acts and rising stars in country circles and beyond. Along Uptown Shelby streets, local artists painted 3-foot-diameter “records” representing Gibson’s songs. Gibson is also honored in a building-size mural (on Miss Molly’s Boutique) by NC artist Scott Nurkin.

 

Earl Scruggs

People sitting at tables under umbrellas and string lights with Earl Scruggs mural on side of building in background
photo credit: Visit Cleveland County

Earl Scruggs

So is another country music icon from Cleveland County, Earl Scruggs. The 30×40-foot mural of Scruggs, covering the exterior of Newgrass Brewing Company, takes inspiration from a photo Scruggs’ son shared with Nurkin. It depicts the five-string banjo virtuoso picking with the three-finger technique later known as Scruggs style. Shelby’s Earl Scruggs Center further celebrates the influential musician’s life and career. On a tour, see instruments belonging to Scruggs family performers, including the banjo on which Earl mastered his three finger pickin’ style. In spring and summer, the Center Stage Concert Series spotlights musicians inspired by the Scruggs legacy.

 

More NC Icons

Nina Simone

Closeup of bronze Nina Simone statue with green trees in background during daytime
photo credit: First Peak Visitor Center

Nina Simone

Nina Simone was a child musical prodigy born in Tryon in 1933, and she would later become recognized worldwide as an artist and activist, transcending genres and generations. Her life is featured in several places around town, including a statue and mural.

 

The Avett Brothers

The Avett Brothers

No hard feelings if you haven’t yet seen the mural honoring folk-rock band The Avett Brothers in their hometown of Concord. North Carolina artist Caswell Turner created the colorful piece, which covers the exterior of Hawthorne’s NY Pizza and Bar on Union Street North downtown. Titled Bloom, the work incorporates the group’s lyrics.

 

Tune in to more magical musical adventures with The Official 2025 North Carolina Travel Guide.

Updated January 22, 2025
About the Author

Gary Thompson

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