This page, which will expand over time, currently links you to the following:

North Carolina Travel Information
Music Organizations in  Region and State

 
NORTH CAROLINA TRAVEL INFORMATION

North Carolina Arts Council 
Based in Raleigh, the North Carolina Arts Council’s Cultural Tourism Division provides information on a variety of North Carolina music, craft, theater, dance, and agricultural travel experiences statewide.

Blue Ridge Music Trails
This cultural tourism web site includes traditional music events and venues in counties along the Blue Ridge Parkway in North Carolina and Virginia. Genres included are old-time stringband, bluegrass, gospel, shape note, as well as Appalachian traditional dance.

North Carolina Division of Tourism, Film & Sport Development
Based in Raleigh, this organization provides extensive information on a wide range of travel opportunities in North Carolina. (For specific travel and lodging information for the counties on the Carolina Music Ways web site, visit the individual “Counties’ pages on this web site.)

MUSIC ORGANIZATIONS

The information below links you to organizations that are involved with one or more of the heritage music genres represented on this web site.

IN OUR REGION (the six counties covered by this web site):

Fiddle & Bow Folk Music Society
Based in Winston-Salem, this organization presents weekly concerts by national touring  artists and an annual FolkFest.  F&B presents mostly singer-songwriter folk music, but also includes occasional bluegrass, old-time stringband, and Celtic.

Moravian Music Foundation
The MMF in Winston-Salem preserves, studies, and produces modern editions of music from its collections, which range from the 16th century to the present. The music includes hymns, as well as secular music. The Moravians were among the first European settlers in the Winston-Salem area and were known throughout colonial America for their music.

Triad Old Time Music Group
This group provides a web and e-mail listing of old time music events in Forsyth (Winston-Salem) and Guilford (Greensboro, Highpoint) counties.

For other music organizations in our region, click here.

IN NORTH CAROLINA

Banjo in the Hollow
Based in Raleigh, BITH preserves and promotes bluegrass and old-time music through jam sessions, workshop, and other events.

Cape Fear Blues Society

Located in Wilmington, the CFBS is a dynamic, nonprofit blues music organization that endows and supports projects like the Cape Fear Blues Festival, a variety of electric and acoustic blues jams, and the Cape Fear Blues Challenge Talent Competition. The Society welcomes blues enthusiasts from all walks of life and encourages the participation of both listeners and musicians.

Charlotte Blues Society
CBS presents concerts, forums, workshops, and educational programs in Charlotte and surrounding areas.

Charlotte Folk Society
Based in Charlotte, this organization presents traditional and contemporary folk, including old-time, bluegrass, and blues. CFS presents concerts throughout the year and cosponsors an annual multicultural folk festival.

Eastern North Carolina Bluegrass Network
Based in Kinston, ENCBA hosts monthly concerts, which include jam sessions, as well as an annual dinner.

High Lonesome Strings
Based in Greensboro, this bluegrass organization hosts monthly jams and an annual festival, provides educational outreach to schools, and serves as a resource on bluegrass events in North Carolina.

Jazz Foundation of North Carolina
Based in Durham, this organization sponsors and operates the North Carolina Jazz Repertory Orchestra.  The NCJRO performs classic jazz and big band music all over the state and provides clinics and educational programs to schools

Lumber River Regional Bluegrass Association
Based in Lumberton, the LRRBA presents monthly concerts and weekly jam sessions.

Music Maker Relief Foundation
Based in Durham, MMRF is dedicated to helping older Southern blues artists gain recognition and meet their daily needs. The organization presents concerts around the country and world and produces CDs, as well as a documentary film.

North Carolina Bluegrass Network
This bluegrass information network presents information on North Carolina bluegrass concerts, festivals, competitions, jams, workshops, and lessons.

North Carolina Mountain Acoustic Music Association
Based in Asheville, NC MAMA covers bluegrass, old-time, Celtic, Carolina country blues, and folk, as well as related dance. NCMAMA sponsors a monthly concert series and its “Roots Music in the Schools” program.

Piedmont Blues Preservation Society
Based in Greensboro, PBPS presents a Blues Week and festival, a regional talent contest, and periodic blues concerts, and also serves as a referral agency for blues artists in the area.

Pinecone
Based in Raleigh, the Piedmont Council of Traditional Music presents concerts throughout the year, hosts a radio show, and offers monthly participatory sessions. Music styles covered include fiddle tunes, ballads, bluegrass, blues, gospel, swing, and folk.

Rowan Jazz and Blue Society   

Based in Salisbury, this organization is dedicated to preserving and promoting music performed by musicians from North Carolina's Piedmont region. It presents an annual fall festival, smaller events, and workshops for youth.

Triangle Folk Music Society
Based in Durham, the TRMS presents bluegrass, singer-songwriter, blues, old-time, deep country, gospel, Cajun, Celtic, Latina, Tex Mex and other ethnic and regional traditional music.  Events include concerts, workshops, and lecture/performances.

Wilkes Acoustic/Folk Society
Based in North Wilkesboro, WAFS offers free workshops, open mic sessions, a CD, music outreach programs for underprivileged children and hosts jam sessions at “MerleFest”.

Wilkes County Community College (MerleFest)
Located in Wilkesboro, not far from Winston-Salem, WCC presents "MerleFest" starting the last Thursday in April. Considered the premier Americana music festival in the US, "MerleFest" honors the memory of Merle Watson, son of area native Doc Watson. Drawing fans from around the country, "MerleFest" features the biggest names in Americana music and includes educational outreach.