Wide Open Bluegrass to move indoors this weekend

Due to the impending severe weather associated with Hurricane Joaquin, this weekend's big outdoor Wide Open Bluegrass Festival shows set to take place at the Red Hat Amphitheater on October 2 and 3 will now be moved indoors.

The shows will now take place in Halls A and B of the Raleigh Convention Center, right across South McDowell Street from the amphitheater. Friday night's show headlined by Alison Krauss and Union Station is sold out, but tickets are still available for Saturday night's show headlined by Jerry Douglas presents Earls of Leicester and the Sam Bush Band. Ticket are available via Etix.

Alison Krauss & Union Station, Sam Bush Band & Jerry Douglas to headline Wide Open Bluegrass 2015

Earlier today the International Bluegrass Music Association unveiled more performers for the 2015 Wide Open Bluegrass festivities returning to downtown Raleigh this fall, including the two headliners for the big shows at Red Hat Amphitheater.

Alison Krauss and Union Station will headline the amphitheater on Friday, October 2, with Steep Canyon Rangers, Balsam Range, The Gibson Brothers, Claire Lynch Band, Frank Solivan & Dirty Kitchen Orthophonic Joy and Blue Highway rounding out the lineup.

The Sam Bush Band and Jerry Douglas presents Earls of Leicester will headline on Saturday, October 3, with Infamous Stringdusters, The Wailin' Jennys, Kruger Brothers with special guests, Band of Ruhks, O’Connor Family Band and Flatt Lonesomewill rounding out the lineup that day.

Willie Nelson & Alison Krauss & Union Station announce big 2014 tour

Country legend Willie Nelson and superstar bluegrass group Alison Krauss and Union Station are teaming up for a big spring/summer tour that will bring them to both the Triangle and the Triad.

They'll play the Koka Booth Amphitheatre in Cary on Monday, May 19. The Devil Makes Three will open. Ticket information is not available yet. Tickets will go on sale at 10 a.m. on Friday, February 28, via Etix for $49.50 to $59.50.

[UPDATE: This show was originally scheduled for Sunday, May 4, but postponed "due to an unforeseen and urgent health concern that requires immediate attention," according to a press release. All tickets for the original May 4 concert date will be honored at the May 19 performance. A full refund will be offered at the original point of purchase, etix.com, by phone 1-800-514-3849, or the amphitheatre box office, to anyone unable to attend the rescheduled date.]

Alison Krauss & Union Station pack Booth Amphitheatre; Dawes adds a little rock

All photos by Kevin Norris

Fans turned up in droves at Cary's Koka Booth Amphitheatre Thursday night to welcome back the venerable country bluegrass band Alison Krauss and Union Station.

The band took the stage and launched into a few songs from their latest album Paper Airplane, starting with the title track. The band sprinkled five new songs into the 28-song set, but they were some of the highlights, including "Sinking Stone" and "Miles to Go."

The hits were scattered throughout the set and sounded as good as ever including "Let Me Touch You For a While," "Baby, Now That I've Found You," "Every Time We Say Goodbye" and "Stay."

Alison Krauss & Union Station announce hefty tour, coming to Cary

Bluegrass superstars Alison Krauss & Union Station are back with their first new album since 2004's Lonely Runs Both Ways. They'll release the the album titled Paper Airplane on April 12 and will hit the road from June to September on a hefty U.S. tour to support it.

They'll return to Koka Booth Amphitheatre in Cary on August 11. The group last played the venue in 2007. Tickets will go on sale on Friday, April 29 at 10 a.m. via the box office and Ticketmaster for $39.50 or $54.50.

[UPDATE: Dawes is not slated to open the show, making this a show you certainly don't want to miss.]