World of Bluegrass to remain in Raleigh through 2021

The International Bluegrass Music Association's Wide Open Bluegrass festival will remain in downtown Raleigh through 2021.

Organizers made the announcement Thursday during a press conference in front of the Sir Walter Raleigh statue at the Raleigh Convention Center.

Since the festival moved to Raleigh in 2013, Mayor Nancy McFarlane said the festival has attracted nearly 860,000 attendees and generated a $48 million economic impact in the city.

"Raleigh has fallen in love with bluegrass and it's safe to say bluegrass has fallen in love with Raleigh," McFarlane said.

IBMA also announced some of the performers coming to the festival. The Red Hat Amphitheater stage, which requires tickets, will feature performances from Ricky Skaggs and Kentucky Thunder with a guest appearance by Patty Loveless, The Earls of Leicester presented by Jerry Douglas, and "The Trust" featuring Doyle Lawson and Quicksilver, Balsam Range, Lonesome River Band, Donna Ulisse, Sideline, Love Canon and Chris Jones and the Night Drivers.

The Red Hat Amphitheater stage will also host a special collaboration with Alison Brown, Becky Buller, Sierra Hull, Missy Raines and Molly Tuttle - the first women to receive IBMA Awards on their instruments.

There will also be a Wide Open Jam featuring a special host and a superstar artist to be announced in July.

More festival performers will be announced over the summer.

World of Bluegrass encompasses four events over Sept. 25-29: the IBMA Business Conference, the Bluegrass Ramble, an innovative series of showcases, the International Bluegrass Music Awards and Wide Open Bluegrass, which includes a free street festival, and ticketed events at the Red Hat Amphitheater.

WRAL is a proud media sponsor of the World of Bluegrass events.