IBMA Announces First Round of Wide Open Bluegrass Festival Main Stage Performers

The International Bluegrass Music Association (IBMA) released an initial list of performers for PNC presents Wide Open Bluegrass, which takes place Sept. 30-Oct. 1 in Raleigh, North Carolina. This year’s lineup showcases an array of bluegrass styles, from traditional to progressive and from emerging artists to IBMA Hall of Famers.

Wide Open Bluegrass is an urban bluegrass event that includes both ticketed main stage performances at Raleigh’s Red Hat Amphitheater and free stages. A portion of proceeds from the ticket sales of Red Hat Amphitheater go to the IBMA-operated Bluegrass Trust Fund, a 501(c) 3 non-profit organization that provides financial assistance to individuals in the bluegrass music community in times of emergency need.

The festival is part of IBMA’s World of Bluegrass events, which begin at the Raleigh Convention Center Tuesday, September 27. A second round of performers and special collaborations for Wide Open Bluegrass will be announced in the coming months.

The lineup for Wide Open Bluegrass, as announced so far:

    Friday, September 30: 

• Dailey & Vincent
• Jerry Douglas presents Earls of Leicester
• Laurie Lewis & the Right Hands
• Marty Stuart & His Fabulous Superlatives
• Nitty Gritty Dirt Band 
• Peter Rowan Band
• Soggy Bottom Boys

   Saturday, October 1:

• Becky Buller Band
• Greensky Bluegrass
• John Cowan with Darin & Brooke Aldridge
• Larry Sparks & The Lonesome Ramblers
• Russell Moore & IIIrd Tyme Out
• Steep Canyon Rangers
• The Del McCoury Band
• The Kruger Brothers 

IBMA’s World of Bluegrass event, a five-day annual bluegrass music homecoming and convention, consists of four parts: the IBMA Business Conference, September 27 – 29 ; the 27thAnnual International Bluegrass Music Awards, scheduled for Thursday, September 29; PNC presents Wide Open Bluegrass, September 30 – October 1 (which includes both free stages and ticketed festival performances) and the Bluegrass Ramble, an innovative series of showcases, taking place September 27 – 29 in downtown Raleigh and the Raleigh Convention Center.

Single day general admission for performances at Red Hat Amphitheater during Wide Open Bluegrass starts as low as $60 for the general public and $50 for IBMA members. Additional details and pricing information - including member discounts – for Red Hat Amphitheater performances, Bluegrass Ramble Showcase passes, IBMA Business Conference registration, IBMA Award Show tickets and hotel reservations are available at IBMA’s website, ibma.org. Tickets for all events are on sale now and may be purchased at www.ibma.org or 1-800-514-3849.