April’s Music Showers

With spring in full swing, April music festivals are showering the state with sweet tunes. 

North Carolina Azalea Festival, April 1-6

Down at the coast, the North Carolina Azalea Festival is blooming throughout downtown Wilmington the first weekend in April. Justin Moore and Flo Rida are the main acts at Live Oak Bank Pavilion (April 3 and 4), but I’d rather be honky tonkin’ downtown on Friday at the Eagle’s Dare for their annual “Poor Man’s Garden Party” azalea spin-off. Featured artists this year include: Matthew Sexton, the Macelyn Batten Duo, and the Bootstrap Boys.

Dreamville, April 5-6

In arguably the largest upset fests news, the fifth and final Dreamville Festival descends on Dorothea Dix Park in Raleigh, April 5-6. J. Cole headlines the finale set of his festival’s last installment on Sunday with Erykah Badu, Lil Wayne, Ludacris, Ari Lennox, Chief Keef, Keyshia Cole, and more.

Brickside, April 5

Over in Durham, the Brickside Music Festival returns to Duke Coffeehouse on April 5. Presented by the student-operated music venue and radio station, WXDU, the festival boasts free food trucks and art-making activities; along with the best in “fuzzy guitars, experimental electronic to pastoral post-rock and free jazz” from artists like: Astrid Sonne, Hour, Friendship, Ballister, Edsel Axle, The Smashing Times, Linda Smith, and Hotline TNT. 

The People’s Market 10th Anniversary, April 5

And on the edge of Glenwood, the People’s Market will celebrate their tenth anniversary with a special afternoon concert at Oden Brewing on April 5; with music from Colin Cutler, Anjimile, Katie Blvd, and Glenwood Choppers. The market itself returns to 1417 Glenwood Ave. on April 10; and runs Thursday evening through August. 

Lakebed Fest, April 11

Moving into the mid-month, Lakebed Fest will “showcase a sampling of North Carolina’s most exciting musical voices,” in a one-day mini-music festival with Ghost Trees, Okapi, Jphono1, Kadey Ballard, Phaze Gawd, and Justin Aswell, at Petra’s in Charlotte on April 11. 

So Much Fest, April 11-12

The 5th annual So Much Fest will shine a light on social justice while honoring the memory of Soheil Mojarrad, April 11-12 at Ole Gilliam Mill Park in Sanford. Dedicated to commemorating Mojarrad’s life, along with other victims of police violence, organizers “strive to prevent further tragedies at the hands of those entrusted to protect us” through a commitment to “raise awareness and foster community unity, all while honoring Soheil’s memory through music and dance.” Scheduled artists include: Dr. Bacon, Crystal Bright & the Silver Hands, Noah Proudfoot, Tambem, JANDR, Bedroom Division, Diali Cissokho Koratet, Texas Pine, Son de Carolina, Story Charlemagne, Outcon, Lake Chamberlain, Alex Weiss & Steve Fishman, Sam Fanthorpe, and Mean Habit.

April 19 Battle Royale: 

SlutFest, ‘Cuegrass, the Hoodoo Bash, StrangeFruit, 420 Weekend and Cannabis Crawls

Floodgates open and gloves come off as NC concerts present something of a battle Royale, where we’re all winners. There are festivals at every turn and some wildly wonderful concert programming: John Howie & the Rosewood Bluff will celebrate their new album at Ramkat; there’s a banjo bonanza Crossroads concert with Dom Flemons and Colin Cutler at NCMA Winston-Salem; and  Zack Mexico, RIBS, and Clear Spots will rule Kings. 

Getting to the fests, in the Triangle, freaks gather for a Half Baked SlutFest, a sleazy, heavy music festival at Chapel of Bones in Raleigh; featuring dag matches, blood wrestling, pole work, and slut-positive performances from Mean Habit, Survival Tactics Geeked, and Döltz.  Moving downtown: the 15th annual ‘Cuegrass Festival adds some tang and twang to Raleigh’s Fayetteville Street; with music from Duck, Fancy Gap, Charly Lowry, Holler Choir, Christian James, Alexa Rose, Old Habits, and Arielle Bryant.

Pickers and grinners roll into Chapel Hill’s Jubilee Baptist Church for the Hoodoo Bash, a spring string extravaganza presented the Nightlightl and featuring folks like: Peter Stampfel with Eli Smith; Jim Watson with Alice Gerrard; Chloe & the Country Crawdads; Mike Gangloff, Isak Howell, & Kaily Schenker; and Devon Flaherty & his Railroad Ramblers. 

Strange Fruit blooms in the Triad, with the return of the Strange Fruit Festival at LeBauer Park in Greensboro; hosted by Virginia Holmes, musical acts include: the Nubeing Collective, D.J. J Lone, Demeanor, and No Quarter! Brass Band.

Meanwhile, it’s also a 420 weekend around Greensboro, with a special “Cannabis Crawl” starting at Lawn Service, followed by a menu of cannabis cocktails at Chandler’s, stoner food at Natty Greene’s, and music by Loose Connection at Little Brother. Things are lit all weekend over at Boxcar’s CHRONICally fun 4/20 Festival. Swag and sounds from DJ Dlinkwent kick things off for “Five Flowers Friday,” a joint rolling contest and the Premium Sound Band smoke out “Wicked Weed Saturday,” and a blazin’ Sunday brunch crowd can enjoy the chill sounds from William Nesmith.

Battle continues the weekend of April 24: Tribute to the King, Blood Sugar Fest Magic, Tuck Fest, The Green Wave, MerleFest, Biscuits & Banjos, and ACE Spirit Week

Elvis lives in the hearts of his fervent fanbase who’ll gather for the 4th annual N.C. Tribute to the King festival in Lexington, April 24-27; with concerts, competitions, and a special Sunday Elvis Gospel Celebration.

Heading to the Queen City, Bob Fleming will host the third annual Blood Sugar Magic Fest, benefitting the Keystone Diabetic Kids Camp, April 25-27 at the Milestone in Charlotte. Fleming’s Cambria Iron Company will perform along with almost two dozen artists like Dylan Gilbert, Ryan Lockhart, Late Bloomer, Bog Loaf, Solemn Shapes, and Ross Adams. And Tuck Fest continues at the U.S Whitewater Center, April 25-27, with adventure expos and a musical lineup including: Yola, St. Paul & The Broken Bones, Tanner Usrey, The Band Loula, Alex Lambert, The Last Revel, and Joslyn & The Sweet Compression.

Heading east, the Green Wave hits Greenville, April 25-27 for those Spazzfest mourners out there, with a hometeam of talent including: MISSBLISS!, Johnny and the Sirens, process//sleep, Louis the Rapper, Amberjack, and Lawn Enforcement. 

In the west, Merlefest returns to Wilkesboro April 24-27, showcasing major pickers in the roots music game. For 2025, the Avett Brothers join artists like Bonnie Raitt, Watchhouse, Leftover Salmon, The War And Treaty, and Sam Bush in the top billing; with a few dozen powerhouse acts filling out the weekend. 

Down in Durham, Rhiannon Giddens is cooking up a powerhouse of her own with the inaugural Biscuits & Banjos Festival launching April 24-26. “Dedicated to the reclamation and exploration of Black music, art, and culture in her home state of North Carolina,” Giddens’ festival combines two North Carolina delicacies. An avid biscuit baker herself, there’ll be a biscuit bake-off on top of a stacked musical lineup — including the Carolina Chocolate Drops reunion–along with folks from the Piedmont Blues Preservation Society, Taj Mahal, Leyla McCalla, Rissi Palmer, Joy Clark, Shirlette Ammons, Demeanor, Pierce Freelon’s Black to the Future, Charly Lowry, and many more.

In Greensboro, April 25 will usher in the ACE (A Collective of Excellence) Spirit Week Festival, with a UNITY mixer for creative networking at the Van Dyke Performance Space, featuring DJ Lacy, DJ Xotic, Flex Ariani; CultureCon kicks off at the Cultural Center on April 26; COLORS: Music & Arts Day takes over Center City Park on April 27, with TY G, Kay Marion, DJ Xotic, and SparxENT; all leading to the ACEx Awards show honoring “ leaders, artists, and changemakers in the community,” at the Van Dyke on May 3. With a 2025 “Lead with Love” theme, organizers boast a “week-long celebration of music, culture, arts, and education — where creativity meets community!” 

You don’t need an umbrella to enjoy the showering of festivals hitting the state this April — though you might need a nap before what’s in store come May. Happy Spring, Triad music lovers!