Carolina Music Festivals is a comprehensive calendar and guide to multi-act, daylong or multiple-day music festivals in North Carolina.
Dates and other details may be estimated based on last year's festival until confirmed by festival organizers.
April 5 - 6 Dreamville Festival - Raleigh
The festival organized by platinum-selling rapper J. Cole has quickly become the state's largest music festival and a major event drawing more than 100,000 people and generating an economic impact worth more than $145 million. It has been a two-stage show with acts from Cole's Dreamville label, other national acts and up-and-comers. There will also be more than 50 food and drink vendors (including alcoholic beverages) and art to celebrate local culture. The 2024 festival was streamed live on the Amazon Music channel on Twitch and Prime Video. Proceeds benefit the Dorothea Dix Park Conservancy and Cole's Dreamville Foundation. 2025 is the festival's fifth year.
Artists
TBA. 2024 lineup included J. Cole, Nicki Minaj, Sza, 50 Cent, and 22 more.
Festival site: Dorothea Dix Park
Gates open at 12:30 p.m.
General Admission: $225.
General Admission+: $400.
Three levels of VIP Packages (special viewing area, bar, restrooms and more): $600, $650, $1,500.
Children age 6 and younger admitted free with paying adult.
No children under the age of 14 allowed in without the supervision of an adult, the website says.
April 10 - 12 Big Lick Bluegrass Festival - Oakboro
Like several other bluegrass festivals, most bands play afternoon and evening sets. Thursday is an open mic show. The festival is in its 21st year in 2025.
Artists
TBA. 2024 lineup included Sideline, Lonesome River Band, Grascals and seven more.
Festival site: Big Lick Festival Park
6 to 10:30 p.m. Thursday, noon to 10:30 p.m. Friday, noon to 11 p.m. Saturday.
Three-day pass: $75 before April 1, $95 afterward.
Thursday: $20, ages 12 to 16 $5, younger free.
Friday: $35, ages 12 to 16 $10, younger free.
Saturday: $40, ages 12 to 16 $10, younger free.
Camping on-site with limited hookups.
No alcoholic beverages.
April 11 - 13 Moo, Brew and 'Que Music Fest - Charlotte
The festival features craft beer from 25-plus local, regional and national breweries, as well as barbecue and burgers, "various games and entertainment," and a lineup of local, regional and national music artists. A portion of proceeds go to Second Harvest Food Bank. The festival expanded from two to three days for 2024.
Artists
TBA. 2024 lineup included The Revivalists, Hippo Campus, Lee Brice and six more.
Festival site: AvidXchange Music Factory Festival Grounds
Gates open 2 p.m. daily.
Three-day general admission: $79.
Three-day Main Stage VIP (reserved VIP area with cocktail bar): $129.
Three-day Super VIP (complimentary beer, cocktails, soda, water; reserved Super VIP area with cocktail bar): $249.
Daily admission: $39.
Daily VIP: $69.
Daily Super VIP: $99 Friday and Sunday, $129 Saturday.
April 12 Strange Fruit Festival - Greensboro
The festival celebrates "Black cultural music" and is put on by the Strange Fruit Foundation, nonprofit organization committed to creating opportunities of value to BIPOC musicians, artists, and entertainment professionals. In addition to live music, the festival will present vendors and food trucks. The festival is in its fourth year in 2025.
Artists
TBA. 2024 lineup included NuBeing Collective, Destiny Stone, Alter Egos Band and two more.
Festival site: LeBauer Park
Time TBA Friday, 2 to 8 p.m. Saturday.
Two-day admission (includes admission to Elm Street Lounge Friday night and Flat Iron Saturday night): $25.
Friday (admission to Elm Street Lounge): $15 early bird, later prices TBA.
Saturday (shows in park and admission to Flat Iron): $15 early bird, later prices TBA.
April 12 Luck Now Music Festival - Dunn
The festival presented by the Downtown Dunn Development Corporation is to celebrate the deep and diverse musical roots of Harnett County and surrounding areas through music, dance and fellowship while promoting Downtown Dunn as a destination for fun and entertainment. The festival is in its third year in 2025.
Artists
TBA. 2024 lineup included Landsharks (Jimmy Buffett tribute), Clint Alphin, Julia Golden and five more.
Festival site: Downtown Dunn
1 to 9 p.m.
Free admission.
VIP (access to VIP tent): $35.
April 19 North Carolina 'Cuegrass Festival - Raleigh
The daylong show put on by The Pit restaurant in downtown Raleigh's Warehouse District typically presents bluegrass and roots music on two stages, barbecue and a beer tent, a silent auction of goods from downtown merchants, and kids' activities. In 2024, there was also an "after party" at a nearby bar/restaurant. Proceeds benefit local child abuse prevention agency SAFEchild, and the Junior League of Raleigh's BackPack Buddies, which is a food program for school kids.
Artists
TBA. 2024 lineup included Old Habits, Boone and Church, Courtney Lynn and Quinn and six more.
Festival site: Fayetteville Street (After party: Raleigh Times)
Noon to 6 p.m.
Free admission.
April 19 Earth Day Jam - Salisbury
Earth Day Jam is a music and environmental awareness festival that benefits local nonprofit organization Happy Roots. The festival typically presents about a dozen national and regional touring acts, as well as local acts. Visual artists, food and drink vendors and environmental educators will also be on hand, and there will be children's activities.
Artists
TBA. 2024 lineup included Devon Gilfillian, Falllift, Austin McNeill and five more.
Festival site: Bell Tower Green
11 a.m. to 10 p.m.; pre-party 6 p.m.
Free admission.
RockyFest - Hiddenite
RockyFest is mostly a day of climbing and rappelling, but among the other festivities is a slate of live music performances and a picking tent. There will also be children's activities and food and arts and craft vendors. RockyFest is in its 11th year in 2025.
Artists
TBA. 2024 lineup included Kelley and the Cowboys, Whitetop Mountain Band, Twin Creeks Stringband and three more.
Festival site: Rocky Face Mountain Recreation Area
Music begins at 10 a.m.
Free admission.
April 24 - 27 MerleFest - Wilkesboro
MerleFest, one of the country's best music festivals, features about 80 Americana, bluegrass, country, folk and rock acts on more than a dozen stages. The weekend also includes a well-regarded songwriters' competition, and there's a kids' stage and play area, a large, quality vendors area and a variety of food and drink vendors. The festival honors the late Merle Watson and the Doc Watson family, and is a fundraiser for Wilkes Community College. MerleFest is in its 37th year in 2025. Click on the photo for more information.
Artists
Bonnie Raitt,
Asleep at the Wheel,
The Avett Brothers,
The Dead South,
Watchhouse,
Wyatt Flores,
The War And Treaty,
The SteelDrivers,
Sam Bush,
The Lil Smokies,
Brent Cobb,
Tony Trischka's Earl Jam,
Alison Brown,
Della Mae,
Peter Rowan,
Scythian,
Donna the Buffalo,
Jim Lauderdale,
Kruger Brothers,
TopHouse,
Big Richard,
John R. Miller,
Woody Platt and the Bluegrass Gentlemen,
John McEuen and The Circle Band,
The Waybacks,
Andy May,
B Townes,
Banknotes,
The Barefoot Movement,
Carol Mallett Rifkin,
Cathy Fink and Marcy Marxer with Chao Tian From China To Appalachia,
Charles Welch,
Damn Tall Buildings,
East Nash Grass,
The InterACTive Theater of Jef,
Jack Lawrence,
Jeff Little Trio,
Joe Smothers,
Josh Goforth,
Ken Crouse,
Laura Boosinger,
The Local Boys,
Mark Bumgarner,
Mattie Schell,
Mitch Greenhill and Mitch's Kitchen,
Muireann Bradley,
Paul McDonald,
Pete and Joan Wernick,
Presley Barker,
Rev. Robert Jones,
Roy Book Binder,
T. Michael Coleman,
Todd Albright,
Tony Williamson,
Wayne Henderson.
Festival site: Wilkes Community College
Gates open 2:30 p.m. Thursday, 9 a.m. Friday-Sunday; band competition is 11 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Saturday on the Plaza Stage.
13 stages; some in tents, three indoors.
Four-Day Watson Stage reserved seat: row 1-35 $325, $345 at gate; row 36-51 $300, $320 at gate.
Four-day covered patio seating (includes snacks and beverages): $525.
Four-day general admission: $245, $265 at gate.
Friday-Sunday general admission: $220, $240 at gate.
Daily: Thursday $90, $105 at gate; Friday, Saturday $105, $120 at gate; Sunday $90, $105 at gate.
Late-Night Jam with Sam Bush and Friends (Friday): $60.
Patron Packages at the Gold ($3,303), Platinum ($3,623) and Club ($6,038) levels for groups of four include Late-Night Jam tickets, access to VIP area seating with complimentary drinks and snacks, meals, reserved seats, side-stage seating, backstage access, on-campus parking, more.
Several campgrounds are located nearby and are served by continuous bus shuttles, including Rivers Edge and YMCA camping (primitive camping; YMCA provides access to its facilities).
On-campus parking: $130, $225, $275 depending on lot.
On-campus and Orange Parking Lot RVs, four days: $775.
April 25 - 26 BrightFire Music and Arts Festival - Concord
Organizers call the festival a kaleidoscope of music, art, fire, dance, and nature with regional artists playing rock, funk, jazz, blues, world/folk and more. A highlight of the weekend is to be "all-new immersive and captivating performances of original music and fire" presented each evening. There is also to be community dancing and drumming, visual art market, beer and wine, food trucks (with vegetarian options) and "adventures and activities" for all ages. It is presented by Charlotte New Music, which provides space for creation, performance, access, and education in contemporary and original music.
Artists
TBA. 2024 lineup included Dixon's Violin, Tuatha Dea, Citron and 14 more.
Festival site: GreenLife Family Farm
Gates open 4 p.m. Friday, 10 a.m. Saturday.
Two-day pass: $130 general admission, $79 "accessible" price (i.e., can't afford full price), $20 "kids" ticket.
Friday: $65 general admission, $44 "accessible" price, $10 "kids" ticket.
Saturday: $70 general admission, $49 "accessible" price, $10 "kids" ticket.
VIP (onsite host, camping, premium parking, complimentary food and drink, reserved Adirondak chair, souvenirs): $240.
Camping: primitive car camping $38 per night; multiple glamping packages.
April 25 - 27 Tuck Fest - Charlotte
The festival mainly celebrates the outdoor lifestyle through competitions, exhibitions and demos at the U.S. National Whitewater Center, but also offers live music interspersed with other activities Friday evening and Saturday and Sunday. There is also a vendors' village and the complex has several places to eat and drink. Competitions include trail running, kayaking, biking, climbing, stand-up paddle boarding, obstacle course and adventure racing. The name “Tuck Fest” comes from the Tuckaseegee Ford and Trail, a historical landmark located at the center. The festival is in its seventh year in 2025.
Artists
TBA. 2024 lineup included Molly Tuttle and Golden Highway, Margo Price, Courtney Barnett and three more.
Festival site: U.S. National Whitewater Center
Music starts 7 p.m. Friday, 1 p.m. Saturday and Sunday; activities start 10 a.m.
Free attendance.
Race registration: $45 age 10 and older, $35 age 9 and younger; $5 more day of the event.
Timing chip for races: $10.
Parking: $6 daily per standard car, $18 per larger vehicle.
April 25 - 27 Biscuits & Banjos - Durham
Rhiannon Giddens, the Pulitzer Prize-winning founder of the Carolina Chocolate Drops, has created a three-day, multi-venue festival dedicated to Black music, art and culture in her home state of North Carolina. In addition to musical performances, secondary programming is to include a community square dance; workshops; lectures and readings from authors, chefs and visual artists; a biscuit bake-off and more. Indoor programming will be ticketed and outdoor programming will be free to the public.
Artists
Rhiannon Giddens, Carolina Chocolate Drops Reunion, Taj Mahal, Christian McBride, Leyla McCalla, The Legendary Ingramettes, Dom Flemons, Rissi Palmer, New Dangerfield, more TBA.
Festival site: Durham Performing Arts Center (map), The Armory, Carolina Theater, more downtown venues
Times TBA.
Three-day pass (Friday and Saturday shows, and Sunday gospel set): $218.
Saturday only: $132.
Ticket prices include service fees; a lower price will be displayed when you check out at Ticketmaster.
The Butter Club (two weekend passes; private biscuit baking session and breakfast hang with Rhiannon and other Club members; five Saturday-only passes to be donated to nonprofit partners serving historically under-resourced communities; merch swag bag with embroidered apron, biscuit cutter, local honey, golden banjo pin, B&B tote; name in all print and online recognition as a Butter Club member): $5,000 tax-deductible donation.
April 26 Beach Fest - Selma
The Farm, a special events venue just off of I95, puts on a day of top-line beach music each spring. There will also be food trucks on site. The festival is in its 12th year in 2025.
Artists
TBA. 2024 lineup was Band of Oz, The Embers feat. Craig Woolard, Jim Quick and Coastline.
Festival site: The Farm at 95
Gates open 10 a.m., music starts at noon.
$20 through February 15, TBA advance, $50 day of show.
Younger than 6 free.
Premier parking $20, free parking farther away.
Tent space for 10'x10' or smaller $20-$50 based on site selected.
"NO glass is allowed anywhere on the property, including parking lots."
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