The International Bluegrass Music Association (IBMA) has made its first announcement of talent for the newly-named Wide Open Bluegrass festival, to be held at the Raleigh, N.C. Convention Center and Amphitheater on Sept. 27 and 28.
The initial slate of artists scheduled to perform at the Wide Open Bluegrass festival includes a special collaboration between bluegrass giants Sam Bush, Jerry Douglas, Béla Fleck, Alison Krauss, Del McCoury and Tony Rice, a performance from one of the most anticipated tours of the summer, Steve Martin and the Steep Canyon Rangers featuring Edie Brickell, and the Punch Brothers, who will make their first appearance at the IBMA festival. Serving as onstage “mistress of ceremonies” for the Wide Open Bluegrass festival is celebrated banjo player/songwriter Abigail Washburn.
Tickets for the Wide Open Bluegrass festival will go on sale May 15 for IBMA members and May 29 for the general public. Bluegrass fans can join IBMA in order to take advantage of early ticket availability and member discount rates, by calling 1-888-GET-IBMA or going to www.ibma.org.
Additional ticket information for the Wide Open Bluegrass festival–as well as the full slate of performers–will be announced in the coming weeks.
