Archives for category: Music Maniac

If you’re traveling into Greater Raleigh to attend a concert and don’t want to deal with the hassle of driving home afterwards, then you’re in luck.  Many hotels in the area offer deals specifically tailored for visitors who are in town to rock out. 

If you’re attending a Live Nation concert, then you can continue the party at the downtown Sheraton Raleigh Hotel at a discounted rate.  For only $99 a night on the weekend and $129 a night during the week, you can also have access to hundreds of restaurants, bars and entertainment options within a five-mile radius of this convenient hotel.

If you plan on tailgating at the concert, then why not buy a hotel package tailored for the experience?  You’ll receive deluxe overnight accommodations, a $25 gas card, and a cooler filled with water and snacks for only $149 a night at participating Cambria Suites hotels and $119 a night at participating Residence Inn by Marriott hotels. Residence Inn even throws in a custom Koozie.

If tailgating isn’t your thing, then Cambria Suites also offers a Concerts Rock discounted rate for concert-goers.  Enjoy wonderful accommodations located within convenient reach of several concert venues and a full, hot breakfast for only $84 a night on weekdays and $89 a night on weekends. (Note: all of these deals are subject to change or expire, so check visitRaleigh.com for the latest deals and details when planning your trip.)

Make your next Greater Raleigh concert experience even better by taking advantage of these awesome hotel deals for Music Maniacs like you!

As the weather warms up and you start looking for ways to become reacquainted with the sun, outdoor festivals are much-anticipated.  On April 16th, the 3rd Annual North Carolina Cuegrass Festival will get kickin’ for a fun-filled day of delicious barbecue, great local brews and toe-tappin’ bluegrass. And it’s all outdoors.

Hosted by Pit Master Ed Mitchell’s award-winning restaurant, The Pit, the Cuegrass Festival takes its dedication to great food and good fun seriously.  The Pit will close down the streets surrounding it to make a block party like you’ve never seen before. 

The pig-cookers will be roaring so everyone can have plenty of North Carolina-style barbecue.  On stage, you’ll see bluegrass favorites American Aquarium, Yarn, Big Daddy Love, Tres Chicas, and The Thompson Brothers.  Tickets for this unique local event are only $5, and proceeds go to North Carolina farmers via Animal Welfare Approved (AWA).  Find out more about the Cuegrass Festival and see why you should definitely be there.

For almost three decades, they’ve been rock ‘n’ rollin’ all over the globe, performing for more than 34 million fans.  Bon Jovi has produced some of the greatest hits of our time, and you won’t have a hard time finding tons of loyal fans in the area.  Now, the iconic band will ring their 2011 tour with a February 21st performance at Raleigh’s RBC Center.

Watch Bon Jovi perform some of their greatest hits such as It’s My Life, Livin’ on a Prayer, and You Give Love a Bad Name with thousands of diehard fans at one of the best venues in the area.  Whether you’re traveling in from a nearby town or trekking across the country, this concert will be worth the trip.

Tickets for this performance start as low as $19.50 and rise up to $129 for the ultimate Bon Jovi concert experience.  While you’re at it, find awesome local hotels and eateries to complement your rock ‘n’ roll experience in the area.  Enjoy the greatest hits, eats, experiences and more in Greater Raleigh.

Do you love swaying to the chill tunes of the Blues?  Are you looking for something fun and festive to do this February?  Then why not check out the Raleigh Blues Festival, returning to the RBC Center on February 20th.

The Raleigh Blues Festival is a fantastic celebration that delivers the dynamics of music and entertainment with love, happiness and nostalgia – all in the name of the Blues.  Performing artists include Mel Waiters, Shirley Brown, Roy C, Theodis Ealey and Manhattans with Gerald Alston and Blue Lovette.  With all of these accomplished Blues artists on one stage, you’re sure to get a well-rounded, wonderful Blues experience.

Tickets for this event are only $39 to $49 and can be found here. Whether you love the Blues already or are a newbie to the genre, head out to hear this fantastic round-up of artists and have a great time.

The Lincoln Theatre is an iconic music venue in downtown Raleigh that features some of the best regional and touring acts along with great tribute bands and local artists.  A constant stream of concert-goers flows through the theater for rock indie bands, soulful singers, heavy metal and everything in between.  If you’ve been looking for a great place to enjoy an awesome mid-sized concert experience, then this is the place for you.

For the ultimate Led Zeppelin experience, go see Zoso play albums one through three, with an opening act by The Stone Chiefs.  Zoso will perform Jan. 21st to 22nd and tickets are only $12 in advance and $15 at the door.

Do you love Journey?  Would you love to hear their popular tunes live?  Then you’ll enjoy the Journey tribute, Frontiers on Jan. 28th.  Or, if you’d like to get energized and dance to the music, go see DJ Lil’e and her critically acclaimed visual and music mash-up dance party the following night.

In the months ahead, you’ll also have the chance to see Joshua Radin, Gaelic Storm, Appetite for Destruction, David Allan Coe, and so many more performers live on stage at one of the best mid-sized music venues in Greater Raleigh.

If you know classic hits such as Stop! In the Name of Love and You Can’t Hurry Love, then you’re more than likely familiar with the most famous female trio in music history, The Supremes.  While this dazzling trio is no longer together, Mary Wilson continues to perform and is coming to Raleigh for a night you won’t forget

On January 21st and 22nd, Mary will join the North Carolina Symphony for an evening of soulful numbers from Motown’s golden era.  These performances are a part of the Fidelity Pops Series at the Progress Energy Center for the Performing Arts Meymandi Concert Hall.

Tickets are available online for $47 to $69.  Enjoy a blast from the past as you listen to the voice of one of the 1960s’ greatest artists, paired with a profound performance of the NC Symphony.

If you’re into the unique genre of bluegrass, finding a great live performance can be a little tricky.  This is exactly why you shouldn’t miss the rare opportunity to hear Tim O’Brien and Bryan Sutton perform together this winter at the Progress Energy Center for the Performing Arts in downtown Raleigh.

Both musicians have ties to Hot Rize, a bluegrass band that has made frequent appearances on A Prairie Home Companion and has been in bluegrass for more than 30 years.  O’Brien is one of the original members, known for incorporating his Irish roots for a traditional tune, and Sutton just recently joined the band as a stellar guitarist.  His amazing work with Ricky Skaggs, Bela Fleck and Chris Thile has given Sutton a reputation as today’s premier bluegrass guitarist.

The show starts at 8 p.m. on Jan. 7th, with tickets priced between $20 and $27.  Gather up your fellow bluegrass enthusiasts, find tickets here, and get ready for a performance you won’t soon forget.

We all have a genre of music that we love, but there are those who tend to love it all and be extremely passionate about all kinds of tunes.  If you’ve been to at least a 100 concerts in your life, and your main requirement for a good restaurant is that they have a band playing, then you just might be a Music Maniac.  These types of visitors can find plenty of awesome concerts, events and more to enjoy while in Greater Raleigh.

Whether you’re at a hotel, a bed and breakfast, or staying at a friend’s, set your alarm clock to the radio or a CD so you can rise and shine with your favorite music.  If it’s Sunday, then head off to brunch at Bogart’s American Grill in downtown Raleigh, where they feature a delightful weekly jazz brunch.  Then, let the kids make their own music at Marbles Kids Museum where there are all kinds of instruments and hands-on opportunities for creativity.

Next, it’s time to investigate and see what festivals and events are going on in the area.  If you’re lucky, one of Greater Raleigh’s popular festivals such as Hopscotch or musicSPARK will be going on.  Earlier this year, the inaugural Hopscotch festival brought more than 120 bands to the area for a few nights of amazing music mania.

There is no shortage of music venues for you to choose from during your stay.  The Time Warner Cable Music Pavilion hosts national touring acts, and Cary’s Koka Booth Amphitheatre often has these, too, plus other festivities.  Visit the downtown Raleigh Amphitheater for a wonderful outdoor music experience and then wander around downtown to hear the hottest DJ’s spinning, talented bands rocking out and classical soloists soothing you into the night.

There will be music in the air from Sept. 9th – 11th, during Independent Weekly’s homegrown event, Hopscotch Music Festival.  With more than 120 bands performing at 10 venues over three nights, this music festival is unrivaled as the largest as its kind in the area.

As you venture around downtown Raleigh, you’ll find that you can listen to just about every genre imaginable, from rock, metal, punk and dance to alternative country, classical, folk and drone.  You’ll find bands that are local, national and international.  Whether your musical tastes are mainstream or a little off the beaten path, Hopscotch has got a band that will suit you.

While the bands will keep everyone entertained at night, the days will be filled with parties thrown by local labels, a free cultural series at Raleigh City Museum and plenty of other fun activities.  You can purchase tickets for all of the shows, for just the club shows, or for one-day passes to the Friday or Saturday City Plaza shows.  Purchase tickets here.

The month of August kicks off an amazing line-up of concerts in Greater Raleigh.  You’ll be able to find a live performance by a celebrity artist or band almost every day of the month at one of the area’s world-class live music venues.

Some of the concerts you can enjoy this month include Goo Goo Dolls with Switchfoot on Aug. 9th, Sheryl Crow with special guest Colbie Caillat on Aug. 15th, Jack Johnson on Aug. 21st and Brad Paisley on Aug. 28th.  For a comprehensive list of all the concerts of August, visit this website.

The venues of these awesome concerts range from the smaller size of the Lincoln Theatre to the grandiose of the Raleigh Amphitheater, Time Warner Cable Music Pavilion at Walnut Creek and the Koka Booth Amphitheatre in Cary.  With so many artists to choose from, there’s no excuse not to head out to Greater Raleigh for a concert or two this month.

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