Come Hear North Carolina and the Americana Music Association announced today that music showcases at the 20th annual AMERICANAFEST® will highlight North Carolina musicians. Multiple showcases are scheduled Sept. 10 to 15 in Nashville, allowing audiences to experience what North Carolina sounds like.
Come Hear North Carolina is an initiative of the North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources and the North Carolina Arts Council, and the presence at AMERICANAFEST will build awareness about the state’s influence on American music.
Governor Roy Cooper talk about why public funding of the arts matter.
The Americana Music Association® has over 3,000 members from around the world and the organization has strong ties to North Carolina’s music heritage that includes many sounds in the Americana umbrella from folk, country, bluegrass and more. Musicians in this genre include
Emmylou Harris, The Avett Brothers, Jim Lauderdale, Carolina Chocolate Drops & Rhiannon Giddens, Tift Merritt, Dom Flemons and Mandolin Orange, who performed during the event.
North Carolina has an important place in the Americana genre, including being the home state of forefathers like Del McCoury, Earl Scruggs and Doc Watson, as well as 2019 Artist of The Year nominee Rhiannon Giddens, explained Jed Hilly, Executive Director of the Americana Music Association.
Hilly also announced that AMERICANAFEST will feature a regional spotlight on North Carolina via panels on the state's musical history and showcases focused on the state's artists.
North Carolina First Lady Kristin Cooper hosted Chapel Hill's Mandolin Orange for the latest in a series of Music at the Mansion events taking place this year, speaking on the beauty and power that music has in reflecting the state's own diversity and creativity.
Following First Lady Kristin Cooper’s remarks, Governor Roy Cooper made a surprise appearance at the event to applaud his wife for her deep appreciation and love of music and the arts. He then spoke about the importance of music education in the lives of North Carolina’s children, while also discussing the role of public funding of the arts for the state's overall growth – especially in regards to business and industry recruitment.
Mandolin Orange performed songs including “Golden Embers,” “The Wolves” and “Mother Deer” from their new album Tides of A Teardrop, which debuted at #1 on four Billboard charts - Heatseekers, Folk/Americana, Current Country Albums and Bluegrass – after its February release on Hillsborough, N.C.-based Yep Roc Records. They also brought out another surprise guest, fellow North Carolina musician John Teer of Chatham County Line, for their final song “Wildfire.”
Come Hear North Carolina celebrates 2019 as The Year of Music with stages at major music festivals, livestreaming performances, filming concerts in extraordinary community venues and educating citizens about North Carolina’s music by 365 Days of Music stories and educational programs.
More information on Come Hear NC at www.ComeHearNC.com