Topics Related to Music

The finale in a special series of concerts celebrating North Carolina’s unique story of moonshine and motorsports will take place March 29 at the Museum of the Albemarle in Elizabeth City, N.C.The concert will feature Tar Heel legend of Americana, Jim Lauderdale, the iconic bluegrass combo, the Kruger Brothers with special guest Jonah Horton, along with the Nest of Singing Birds.

The N.C. Department of Natural and Cultural Resources is partnering with Hometown Strong and consultancy firm Sound Diplomacy to develop the North Carolina Music Friendly Communities program. Three North Carolina cities were chosen to participate during the pilot program’s first year — Durham, Shelby and Elizabeth City.

The North Carolina African American Heritage Commission and the North Carolina Arts Council are proud to announce that the 

From Historic Halifax in the east to Horne Creek Farm in the west, numerous state historic sites will provide the backdrops for a new virtual music project highlighting some of North Carolina's treasured landmarks.

Debuting Sept. 30, “Singing on the Land” will celebrate the stories of historic sites across North Carolina through the voices of North Carolina musicians. The nine-week series will offer a new release every week on Wednesdays throughout the fall.

Presented by Come Hear North Carolina, “Under One Roof,” a three-day, three-hour virtual music festival, raised $50,000 to support artists across North Carolina whose work has been disrupted by COVID-19, organizers announced today.The benefit concert which featured virtual performances, interviews, and messages from North Carolina musicians, who participated to help artists across the state, has been viewed 120,000 times to date.  All proceeds from Under One Roof will be distributed to artist relief efforts.

The Hamiltones, a Grammy-nominated gospel group from the Charlotte area, will perform at the Executive Mansion on Wednesday, Feb. 19, kicking off a new season of “Music at the Mansion,” hosted by First Lady Kristin Cooper.First Lady Cooper, Susi H. Hamilton, secretary of the North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources, and Wayne Martin, executive director of the N.C. Arts Council, will welcome The Hamiltones to the Executive Mansion.

Nominations are open for the North Carolina Heritage Award, the state’s highest honor for traditional artists, until Friday, May 1. Artists who are recognized within their communities as keepers of North Carolina’s living traditions may be nominated for the award. Past recipients have included musicians, craftspeople, storytellers, dancers, and practitioners of traditional occupations. The award has honored both professionally acclaimed artists and those who practice their art in family and community settings. 

Chapel Hill musician John Santa may call himself "an accidental bluegrass musician," but he knows the roots of the music in North Carolina.
 
Santa, who says music enriched his life in so many ways, will discuss North Carolina bluegrass history during a free program presented by the N.C. Library for the Blind and Physically Handicapped Wednesday, Dec. 4, 1–2:30 p.m. at the Governor Morehead School Auditorium, Lineberry Building, 303 Ashe Ave., Raleigh. 
 
The program is free. 
 

Friday, Nov. 22 from 6-7 p.m., join the Cherokee Chamber Singers at the N.C. State Capitol! For one hour, these middle and high school students will perform the program “Si Otsedoha,” which translates from the Cherokee language as “We’re Still Here.” 

The National Trust for Historic Preservation and Come Hear North Carolina have released a full concert video from Vanessa Ferguson’s recent performance at the childhood home of Nina Simone in Tryon, N.C.