Support Us Button Widget
City

New bluegrass festival to replace IBMA World of Bluegrass in Raleigh

Following IBMA Bluegrass Live!'s announced departure from Oak City, a new bluegrass festival from PineCone will pluck its way into Raleigh in 2025.

July 30, 2024 • 
Allie Remhof
Attendees watch a concert at Red Hat Amphitheater.

Raleigh was the fourth home of IBMA World of Bluegrass with shows at Red Hat and throughout downtown.

Photo provided by IBMA and PineCone

Piedmont-based music nonprofit PineCone announced a new bluegrass festival called Raleigh Wide Open which will replace IBMA World of Bluegrass + Bluegrass Live! in 2025.

Raleigh Wide Open will take center stage Oct. 3-4, 2025 and is named in honor of the original Oak City bluegrass festival. IBMA Bluegrass Live! will rock Raleigh one last time Sept. 27-28 with acts like Sierra Ferrell + Steep Canyon Rangers. IBMA’s festival amassed 223,000 attendees from 2017 to 2023.

During the festival’s 10th year in the City of Oaks in 2023, IBMA announced that World of Bluegrass + Bluegrass Live! would leave Raleigh — the festival will head to Chattanooga, Tennessee starting in 2025.

“The festival will certainly include bluegrass but will be much more culturally expansive,” said David Brower, PineCone’s executive director, in a 2023 press release. “Gospel, funk, blues, and old time are deeply rooted in this community and a whole lot of fun. We want to make sure this new festival both looks and sounds like Raleigh.”

More from RALtoday
A black and white photo of Martin Luther King Jr. at Shaw University in April 1960.
City
MLK in Raleigh + MLK Day events
Learn about Martin Luther King Jr.'s presence in the City of Oaks and how to commemorate his life and legacy on MLK Day.
January 17, 2025
 · 
Trevor Peters
RALtoday book club carousal
Arts
Read along with Raleigh book lovers with the RALtoday book club
Let’s get together + bond as a community over a good book with the RALtoday Book Club. Each quarter, we’ll vote on a book and discuss.
January 15, 2025
 · 
Danyale Daniels
RALtoday Raleigh Times Bar
Food
Our top picks for Triangle Restaurant Week 2025
Find out which Raleigh spots are all-in for Triangle Restaurant Week, what deals they’re offering, and when it’s happening.
January 15, 2025
 · 
Danyale Daniels
Downtown Raleigh
City
Raleigh scores No. 1 for economic growth according to Milken Institute
According to the Milken Institute, Raleigh is the No. 1 city for economic growth in the US. Raleigh has climbed the ranks from No. 3 in 2023 and No. 2 in 2024.
January 14, 2025
 · 
Allie Remhof
RALtoday Six Triple Eight
History
Post office renamed for Six Triple Eight Raleighite
The legacy of Millie Dunn Veasey, a Raleigh native and WWII veteran served in the famous 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion is commemorated with a post office in her name.
January 13, 2025
 · 
Danyale Daniels
syboulders-62.jpg
Live
Get your sweat on at 27 gyms around Raleigh
From lifting weights, indoor rock climbing, personal training, dance fitness, boxing classes, and martial arts programs — we’ve rounded up 27 fitness offerings and gyms around Raleigh.
January 10, 2025
 · 
Allie Remhof
A carousel of photos of 1801 Oatlands Ct. in Wake Forest, NC, that includes a lit, heated saltwater pool, plenty of space for entertaining, luxury appliances, and a sprawling 1.84 acres.
Real Estate
Mansion Monday: Meet this dreamy home for entertaining in Wake Forest
This home at 1801 Oatlands Ct. in Wake Forest is complete with a saltwater pool, five bedrooms, and six full baths. Take a peek with us.
January 10, 2025
 · 
Allie Remhof
RALtoday ins and outs carousel 2025
City
Local 2025 ins and outs, Raleigh style
If one of your new year goals is to shop + support locally owned and operated businesses, bookmark these ins and outs to follow throughout the year.
January 9, 2025
 · 
Danyale Daniels
RALtoday_RIW
City
Raleigh Iron Works is booming with new businesses
Over the past few months, Raleigh Iron Works has welcomed new businesses, filling the mixed-use development with eateries and other retail + lifestyle spots.
January 9, 2025
 · 
Danyale Daniels
A yellow car-shaped bike rack.
City
Raleigh’s traffic was up 19% in 2024, and more local traffic stats
Raleigh ranks as just the No. 228 most congested city in the world, and locals lost an average of 31 hours to traffic in 2024. Read up on more of Raleigh’s 2024 traffic stats from INRIX’s Global Traffic Scorecard.
January 8, 2025
 · 
Allie Remhof