Talented musicians from all walks of life call the state home, mostly because the state is filled with fantastic venues and an always eager and attentive crowd.
While Chapel Hill-Carrboro may be credited with putting the state on the map with its flux of college rock acts like Ben Folds and Superchunk in the 1990s, Raleigh has quickly become the hub for some of the state’s most exciting musical happenings.
September marks not only the return of Hopscotch—North Carolina’s claim to fame as a highly touted music festival—but also the first Raleigh installment of the International Bluegrass Music Association.
Both festivals boast awe-inspiring lineups, with internationally acclaimed artists like Steve Martin and Allison Krauss stopping through for the IBMA and swiftly rising acts like Local Natives and Earl Sweatshirt joining iconic artists like John Cale and The Breeders for Hopscotch.
But festivals are only the beginning. Raleigh is home to various venues that consistently host acts from a wide array of genres. Looking for a sleek mixture of talented locals and acclaimed indie acts? Then head to Kings Barcade, a 250-capacity venue that’s seen artists like The Avett Brothers, M83, Kurt Vile and Ty Segall within the past three years. Kings is an excellent place to see larger indie acts in a smaller, more personal setting that makes for a truly special show.
Kings Barcade also hosts a monthly dance party, Discovery, which highlights both local and internationally acclaimed DJs, as well as other quirky events, such as this week’s five dollar contestant entry spelling bee (Aug. 28).
The Lincoln Theatre also serves as an excellent place to check out a wide variety of music. Within the next few months the 800-seat theater will host a slew of well known metal, electronic, country, indie and folk acts from across the country. Lincoln Theatre feels like a huge venue despite its mid-sized capacity, the theatre has fantastic acoustics and a large standing-room floor along with a balcony for when downstairs gets a bit too crowded.
Of course, some shows warrant a packed out arena, filled with people cheering for A-list performers. PNC Arena is home to both the Carolina Hurricanes and N.C. State’s basketball team, as well, so the biggest productions that stop through Raleigh will probably find their way stopping through PNC.
But PNC isn’t the only go-to for large-scale touring artists in the great Oak City. Downtown Raleigh’s Red Hat Amphitheater is a fantastic concert experience, an open-air venue that’s right in the thick of downtown Raleigh. The venue’s backdrop is the gorgeous shimmer wall, an excellent sight to bestow while waiting for acts to take the stage.
