Come Hear North Carolina

08/24/2026

Today’s the day many North Carolina students go back to school! To celebrate, consider putting on the Come Hear NC Music Office’s back to school playlist:

https://open.spotify.com/playlist/7iQUM3LbXlm7dyfWxWhzl5


North Carolina Arts Council NC Department of Natural & Cultural Resources

Playlist · Come Hear NC Music Office · 14 items

08/20/2026

"Her name’s Caroline Shaw — she’s incredible. And she really sings like her voice is an instrument. And she does this crazy microtonal thing throughout this track that I love — it's one of my favorite parts of the album."
-- Phoebe Bridgers

Phoebe Bridgers’ Lost Weekend is the album of the moment – with fans and critics saying it’s been worth the six-year wait since the singer-songwriter released her last solo LP. And much of the unique texture of Lost Weekend comes down to Greenville NC native Caroline Shaw’s many contributions to 11 of its tracks as vocal arrangers and performer on vocals and viola.

A few years back, Come Hear NC profiled Shaw as she prepared to preform her work Partida. In the clip, Shaw talks about the North Carolinian influences behind her musical practice with particular reference to a passage in Partida inspired by Albermarle Sound.

North Carolina Arts Council Phoebe Bridgers NC Department of Natural & Cultural Resources

08/20/2026

An Evening with Authors Tim Tyson and Mary D. Williams

Join us on August 27, 2026, from 6:00 to 7:30 PM in downtown Raleigh for a powerful celebration of Mahalia Jackson, the legendary gospel singer and civil rights pioneer whose voice helped shape a movement.

Acclaimed gospel artist Mary D. Williams and best‑selling author Tim Tyson will share stories, insights, and moments of live performance from their new book "Mahalia Jackson, Moving On Up a Little Higher."

Following their presentation, Dr. Darin Waters, Deputy Secretary for DNCR’s Office of Archives and History, will join the authors for a conversation exploring Jackson’s enduring impact on music, social justice, and American history, with time for audience questions.

📍 Auditorium, 109 E Jones St, Raleigh
🎟️ This event is free and open to the public

Presented by DNCR’s Office of K‑12 Education and the Come Hear North Carolina, a program of the North Carolina Arts Council.

Register and view details via the link in the comments. Don’t miss out!

08/12/2026

Come hear this! Subscribe now for the new Come Hear NC Music Office newsletter. CHNCMO celebrates our state's rich musical legacy and ensures its survival into a robust future. Link in bio to sign up to all of our newsletters. https://bit.ly/subscribe-NCAC-news

A+ Schools - North Carolina

08/12/2026

Recently, NC Arts Council staff gathered for a potluck lunch to celebrate Vicki Vitiello and recognize her impactful 30-year career at the NCAC. Thank you, Vicki, for your service to North Carolina!

Photo courtesy of NCAC
Come Hear North Carolina A+ Schools - North Carolina
Vicki Ashby Vitiello

08/11/2026

North Carolina’s music birthdays for August include the usual embarrassment of musical riches: a “cowpunk psychobilly” legend, a stone-cold legendary session bassist, a NC Music Hall of Fame songsmith, a groundbreaking country singer, the man who coined the term “country music,” a singer-songwriting piano genius, a vaudeville star, and a talented rapper still on the rise. We’re talking about Mojo Nixon, Willie Weeks, David Childers, Rissi Palmer, Connie Gay, Tori Amos, Gertrude Saunder, and Cordae. Happy birthday!

North Carolina Arts Council NC Department of Natural & Cultural Resources

08/06/2026

The NC Heritage Awards are the highest honor for folk and traditional artists in our state. Administered by the NC Arts Council, the Awards were established in 1989. Given out biennially, the NC Heritage Award comes with a cash award and public celebration in downtown Raleigh. To prepare for the upcoming announcement of 2027’s awardees, the Come Hear NC Music Office will be taking a look back at the musicians who’ve previously won this prestigious honor.

We’re beginning at the beginning with the award’s inaugural year, 1989. Four Tarheel musicians were honored: blues guitar giant (and sometime banjoist) Etta Baker, Durham guitarist and banjoist Thomas Burt, fiddler Thomas Hunter, and ballad singer Doug Wallin. In the run-up to 2027’s awards, we’ll be looking back at the meaning of the work of past awardees in order to better situate the newest ones in historical and aesthetic context. Follow the link in bio for a look back a all the 1989 North Carolina Heritage Award Recipients.

Image 1: Etta Baker (📸: Cedric N. Chatterley), Image 2: Thomas Burt (📸: Glenn Hinson), Image 3: Thomas Hunter (📸: Rob Amberg), Image 4: Doug and Jack Wallin (Rob Amberg)

https://www.ncarts.org/blog/1989/01/18/1989-north-carolina-heritage-award-recipients

08/05/2026

Calling all North Carolina artists! Check out fresh opportunities to share your art with the updated Artist Opportunities page at
bit.ly/NCArtistOpportunities
📋 New grant applications
🎭 Open calls for proposals
📚 Professional development programs
➡️ bit.ly/NCArtistOpportunities

Alt text: North Carolina Heritage Award honoree Cornelio Campos with yellow background and text, Artist Opportunities.
Image credit: Zoe van Buren

08/05/2026

08/05/2026

August’s here and North Carolina pupils, teachers, and parents will soon be returning to school. To celebrate, we’ve made a playlist of our favorite NC songs touching on all things learning and education! With selections ranging from tracks on Doc Watson’s Songs for Little Pickers to Superchunk’s “Art Class” and Nina Simone’s “Young Gifted and Black,” this mix might just help ease your transition back from summer fun to classroom achievement. 🔗 Link in comments to listen, 🎵track list below:

“Art Class,” Superchunk
“Townies,” Wednesday
“Berlitz,” Seam
“When I’m Called,” Jake Fussell
“Juvenile Delinquent,” Flat Duo Jets
“Freight Train,” Elizabeth Cotton
“To Be Young, Gifted & Black,” Nina Simone
“Froggy Went a Courtin’,” Doc Watson
“Orientation,” Max Roach Septet
“Follow the Leader,” Don Reno
“Children’s Song,” Thelonious Monk
“Future Children, Future Hopes,” Blackbyrds
“This Year,” The Mountain Goats
“The North Carolina State Toast and Breakdown,” Red Clay Ramblers

NC Department of Natural & Cultural Resources North Carolina Arts Council