For many years known as the Kinston Winter Bluegrass Festival, the Neuse River Music Fest will be held Friday and Saturday in the Lenoir Community College gym. Jammers and bluegrass lovers from more than a dozen states will set up RVs on the LCC campus for the two-day event. Local “campers” can use the RV facilities as well.
This year’s entertainment will include Rhonda Vincent & the Rage, Gene Watson, IIIrd Tyme Out, Lonesome River Band, James King, Al Batten & the Bluegrass Reunion, and Samantha Casey and the Bluegrass Jam.
Vincent and Watson will be featured at the VIP reception on Saturday night. Tickets range from advance one-day Friday for $30 to advance two-day for $65. An advance VIP ticket (including children 12 years old and younger) for Friday and Saturday costs $125. It includes premier seating, premier parking, backstage access and the private reception with Vincent and Watson on Saturday.
The weekend offers bluegrass and country music fans music, food prepared onsite by Bojangles’, RV parking, VIP tickets, a songwriting contest, drawings and more. Proceeds from the event benefit the LCC Foundation Scholarship Program.
Doors will open at 1 p.m. Friday, with opening ceremonies at 2 p.m., followed by a variety of bluegrass bands performing throughout the evening.
Saturday is a repeat of Friday’s schedule, with other bands performing, and Gene Watson, followed by Rhonda Vincent and the Rage closing out the winter event.
Master of Ceremonies is Tim Woodall and sound is by Doug Crabtree.
For tickets, call 252-233-6865. For RV hook-ups, call 252-233-6802.
Neuse River Music Fest
Friday and Saturday
Lenoir Community College Gym
Highway 70 East
1 p.m. Friday, doors open
2 p.m., Opening Ceremonies
1 p.m. Saturday, doors open
Tickets/info: 252-233-6865 or neuserivermusicfest.com