North Carolina Brewers and Music Festival Brings Together Craft Beer and Roots Music May 8th and 9th

If there are two things I love, it's beer and roots music, so needless to say the North Carolina Brewers and Music Festival is right up my alley. Over 50 North Carolina brewers, food trucks, and vendors will be on hand for the festival, held May 8 and 9 in historic Rural Hill, just outside of Huntersville, in addition to eight of Americana's hottest bands, headlined by North Carolina's own progressive bluegrass standouts, Steep Canyon Rangers.

The advantage to having only eight bands perform during the fest is that there won't be any of those skimpy 30 minute sets you see at the “big three” festivals. Every band will get at least an hour long set, with many getting 75 to 90 minutes.

This year, the festival is opening up their annual Friday Night Jam to everyone. Previously, it was only open to Friday campers but this year, it can be added on to the festival for an additional $15. Performing at the Friday Night Jam will be 2016 Merlefest band contest winners and Asheville natives Fireside Collective, along with Friday headliners Acoustic Syndicate. Defying simple genre labels, Acoustic Syndicate has been winning fans with their tight harmonies and virtuoso musicianship, performing at festivals like Bonnaroo and Farm Aid.

Saturday is when the music truly kicks into gear. In addition to Steep Canyon Rangers, who will close things down with a 90 minute headlining set, North Carolina Brewers and Music Festival will also feature full length sets from Texas troubadour and long time Americana favorite Hayes Carll and Nashville resident Jill Andrews, who began her career in the mid-2000s with The Everybodyfields and has since pivoted to a successful solo career. Her newest album, Thirties, drops 3/27, so the tracks will still be fresh when she hits the stage. Rounding out the Saturday lineup are Sol Driven Train, Sierra Ferrell, and Big Daddy Love.

But, of course, you can't have a brewer's festival without plenty of beer and some of the state's best are going to be on hand with free tastings for all who buy a tasting ticket. Among the breweries participating are Bhramari, Wooden Robot, Legion, Bird Song, Devil's Logic, and Resident Culture.

Want to check out the North Carolina Brewers and Music Festival? You can buy tickets here. There's even a discounted “designated driver” ticket to encourage responsible drinking and a safe highway.