Skaggs, Hornsby, McCoury, Fleck, Douglas & more slated for Wide Open Bluegrass 2014

As we mentioned last week, the International Bluegrass Music Association will be sticking with Raleigh through 2018. But moving on to more pressing matters, the initial acts for the big Wide Open Bluegrass Festival on October 3 and 4 have been announced and feature a smorgasbord of bluegrass all stars.

Ricky Skaggs & Kentucky Thunder with Bruce Hornsby, the Del McCoury Band with special guests, Hot Rize (who have their first new studio album in 24 years due out this year), Gibson Brothers, local stars Steep Canyon Rangers, and Sierra Hull will play the big event. There will also be the Wide Open Jam featuring Sam Bush, Bela Fleck, Jerry Douglas, Edgar Meyer, Bryan Sutton, and Stuart Duncan.

Tickets for the festival are on sale now via Etix.

Carolina Theatre rolls out 2011-12 season, Buckingham, Thile, Hornsby & more

 Durham's Carolina Theatre has rolled out its 2011-12 Star Series, and it's one of their most musically ambitious seasons in recent memory.

The theater closes for major renovations on June 13, which will include new carpeting, new windows and doors and the opening of the six boxes that flank each side of the stage.

The theater will reopen with a bang in October. The first concert of the new season is none other than Lindsey Buckingham of Fleetwood Mac on Saturday, October 1.