PineCone names new leader ahead of its Raleigh Wide Open festival
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Photos: Courtesy of PineCone and Visit Raleigh
PineCone, the Raleigh nonprofit dedicated to preserving North Carolina's traditional music like bluegrass and Piedmont-style blues, has named a familiar face as its new executive director.
Why it matters: Courtney Wheeler takes over just weeks before PineCone stages the second Raleigh Wide Open, its free roots music festival.
Between the lines: Raleigh Wide Open is the much-anticipated replacement for the former World of Bluegrass Festival, which was in downtown Raleigh for a decade before moving to Tennessee.
- In addition to running both festivals, PineCone also hosts concerts at the Martin Marietta Center for the Performing Arts, music workshops and camps for kids.
Axios chatted with Wheeler about PineCone and the upcoming Raleigh Wide Open festival. This Q&A has been edited for length and clarity.
How has live music changed after the pandemic?
It's definitely been an evolution, but there's not a one-size-fits-all answer to that question because it varies from region to region. I think people see festivals ending their runs and think that means something about the music industry as a whole.
But I don't see it that way. PineCone works in traditional music, which has a different place, I feel, in the presenting world than a lot of other genres. It has a staying power because of the traditions that it's carrying on.
Why is traditional music important?
I don't know about you, but there's nothing more captivating than watching these pickers showing off their skills and learning knee-to-knee from their neighbors. Gosh, I get goosebumps just talking about it, honestly, and I'm not even a player. Everybody feels included in this music.
What does it take to keep PineCone's festivals sustainable for years to come?
One of PineCone's main missions is to keep the programming accessible. Ninety-five percent of our programming is completely free, including the Raleigh Wide Open festival. We can't do that without without grants, donors and sponsors.