Come Hear North Carolina

Come Hear North Carolina Come Hear NC -- powered by the North Carolina Music Office, celebrating the state's music and musicians across the genres.

06/18/2026

Skylar Gudasz’s is correct about many things in this video — June 21st is and you should send us a video on IG of you doing so in order for us to repost it, it’s so the solstice so you will have a lot of daylight to play with, and… North Carolina is a great music state and you should add your voice to the mix!

06/18/2026

This Independence Day, downtown Raleigh will come alive with a celebration of the best of North Carolina. In this month’s Art Matters, explore Capitol 250: North Carolina Freedom Fest—a free, all-day festival hosted by the NC Department of Natural and Cultural Resources. Read more: https://www.ncarts.org/blog/2026/06/03/nc-musicians-set-play-capitol-250-july-4
dncr North Carolina Historic Sites

06/18/2026

MerleFest 2026 rolled through Wilkesboro at the end of April, and the Come Hear NC Music Office was there to witness all the North Carolinian musical talent on display. Follow the link in bio to read see pictures of the event and hear our first-hand impressions from this year's installment of the long-running "traditional plus" festival! In the reel here, Billy Jackson, Madison and McKenzie Casteel, and Arthur Grimes dance at the OPRY 100 Late Night Jam at Merlefest.

06/17/2026

Make Music Day is June 21, and in this month’s Art Matters newsletter, we explore the history of this global celebration and highlight how communities across North Carolina will be making music this year. From local performances to statewide participation, discover how you can join in and help fill the day with sound. Check it out: https://www.ncarts.org/blog/2026/06/03/celebrate-make-music-day-2026-north-carolina

06/17/2026

June 21st is Make Music Day NC! North Carolinians -- send a clip of you playing music to us and we'll share it on our Insta! You can join the chorus of musicians in our state making a joyful noise -- but don't take our word for it -- listen to singer-songwriter Dawn Landes!

Use the hashtag and you're good to go!

.dncr

06/16/2026

On June 13, 1905, old-time musician Lesley Riddle was born in the Silvers Gap community north of Burnsville. Riddle learned to play blues and gospel songs on the guitar after losing most of a leg in an accident at a cement plant. He had to adjust his picking techniques to use only his thumb, index finger, and little finger after losing two fingers in a shotgun accident.

A.P. Carter, patriarch of the famous Carter family, first heard Riddle play and sing in Kingsport, Tennessee, in 1927 and quickly recruited him to help advance the Carter family’s fame. Carter and Riddle visited African American communities and churches throughout Appalachian Tennessee, Virginia, and North Carolina to find new songs for the Carter Family band. Riddle would memorize the tunes and words before returning to teach the songs to Sara and Maybelle Carter.

“Mother Maybelle” learned her trademark guitar techniques from Riddle, including using a pocketknife for slide guitar work.

Riddle never made a living at music, working as a shine boy, presser, and school crossing guard. In the 1960s, he accompanied Mike Seeger and the New Lost City
Ramblers on the folk festival circuit.

Riddle is celebrated by an annual festival, Riddlefest.

Marker located in Yancey County, NC: https://www.dncr.nc.gov/blog/2024/01/18/lesley-riddle-1905-1979-n-14

June has been declared Pride Month in North Carolina by Governor Josh Stein. We honor the history and contributions of L...
06/16/2026

June has been declared Pride Month in North Carolina by Governor Josh Stein. We honor the history and contributions of LGBTQ+ individuals across the state and recognize the challenges this community has overcome. We are grateful for the lasting, positive impact that LGBTQ+ artists and arts supporters have had on North Carolina’s cultural landscape. To celebrate, we're bumping our NC Pride mix from last year -- it's still a banger filled with music from NC's many talented LGBTQ+ musicians:
https://open.spotify.com/playlist/0AEBLDNpunb0zKpS8Fxlwy

“French Lessons,” Mykki Blanco (Raleigh)
“Not My Fault,” Renee Rapp (Huntersville)
“Delight,” Shirlette Ammons (Durham)
“She’s So Lovely,” The Butchies (Durham)
“Live, Laugh, Lead,” The Muslims (Durham)
“Aerobicide,” The Julie Ruin (Durham)
“Poison,” Hex Files (Carrboro)
“Windshield Spider,” Riggings (Raleigh)
“No Reply,” Bellafea (Durham)
“Blind Yourself,” Babe Haven (Durham)
“Panic in Paradise,” Ashnikko (Oak Ridge/Greensboro)
“Electric Energy,” Ariana DeBose (Wilmington/Raleigh)
“Macho Man,” Village People (Randy Jones: Raleigh)
“Precita,” Mount Moriah (Chapel Hill)
“Plastic Doll,” Lady Gaga (Ashnikko remix)
“Free Ride,” Mykki Blanco
“Snow Angel,” Renee Rapp
“Meltdown Rodeo,” Kym Register and Meltdown Rodeo
(Durham)
“Good as Gold,” Sarah Shook & the Disarmers
(Chatham County)
“I Wasn’t That Thought,” DUNUMS (Durham)
“Local Honey,” Amelia Riggs

Image: “Rainbow flag made of ribbons on display in
downtown Raleigh for Pride Month,” photo by
Zimmytws, extended license

North Carolina Arts Council NC Department of Natural & Cultural Resources

06/15/2026

Calling all NC musicians! The Come Hear NC Music Office and the NC Arts Council are gearing up to celebrate Make Music Day 2026 across the state on June 21st. Make Music Day’s a global celebration of everyday music making, started in France in 1982 – and every year we post North Carolinians playing music together on our social feeds. So on June 21st, record yourself playing (alone or with friends), tag and use the hashtag . We’ll make sure you’re video gets shared as part of the official celebration of Make Music Day!

PS – if you’d like to prerecord a vid and send it to us early, nothing’s stopping you from doing that today...

North Carolina Arts Council NC Department of Natural & Cultural Resources

06/14/2026

Calling all NC musicians! The Come Hear NC Music Office and the NC Arts Council are gearing up to celebrate Make Music Day 2026 across the state on June 21st. Make Music Day’s a global celebration of everyday music making, started in France in 1982 – and every year we post North Carolinians playing music together on our social feeds. So on June 21st, film yourself playing (alone or with friends), tag and use the hashtag . We’ll make sure you’re video gets shared as part of the official celebration of Make Music Day!

PS – if you’d like to prerecord a vid and send it to us early, nothing’s stopping you from doing that today...

Calling all NC musicians! The Come Hear NC Music Office and the NC Arts Council are gearing up to celebrate Make Music D...
06/12/2026

Calling all NC musicians! The Come Hear NC Music Office and the NC Arts Council are gearing up to celebrate Make Music Day 2026 across the state on June 21st. Make Music Day’s a global celebration of everyday music making, started in France in 1982 – and every year we post North Carolinians playing music together on our social feeds. So on June 21st, film yourself playing (alone or with friends), tag and use the hashtag . We’ll make sure you’re video gets shared as part of the official celebration of Make Music Day!

PS – if you’d like to prerecord a vid and send it to us early, nothing’s stopping you from doing that today...

NC Department of Natural & Cultural Resources North Carolina Arts Council

Address

109 East Jones Street
Raleigh, NC
27699

Website

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Come Hear North Carolina posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Shortcuts

Share

Category