The International Bluegrass Music Association has made Raleigh its home since 2013 for its annual conference, awards ceremony and massive street festival, complete with plenty of live music.
The World of Bluegrass has brought a who’s who in the genre to downtown Raleigh for concerts both organized and impromptu. Every year in the last week of September, those wandering downtown are sure to hear the plucks of a guitar or banjo in the halls of the Raleigh Convention Center and nearby hotels as people celebrate and honor bluegrass music and its roots.
The festival and conference have become one of the city’s signature events, attracting as many as 223,000 people. This year, however, will be the last year the IBMA holds its event in Raleigh after it and the city didn’t renew their agreement…