Bluegrass in the Symphony Hall

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Hot Rize on stage at Meymandi

Photo courtesy of Rob Laughter, Bluegrassy

Raleigh, NC is blessed with a number of fine performing arts venues, but Meymandi Concert Hall at the Duke Energy Center for the Performing Arts is special.  Opened in 2001, it is designed specifically for musical performances, and is the home of the North Carolina Symphony.  I have attended many performances there…operas, choral and symphony concerts–I have even heard my kid’s choir perform there.  The acoustics are great, the sight lines are excellent.  It’s a great venue, and Raleigh is lucky to have it.  So, when I heard that Hot Rize was performing there last week (11/15/2018) as part of their 40th Anniversary Tour, I thought it would be a good time to go back to Meymandi.  I was glad that I did.

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The Gifts of Bluegrass

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It’s that time of year when we think about gifts–the ones we give to others, the ones we may receive, and the best ones–the gifts we weren’t expecting. I have been thinking about the many gifts we receive from making music. While my previous forays into music were fun and fulfilling, my bluegrass hobby has provided some gifts/rewards that I never expected.

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Engaging With Bluegrass

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I have been thinking about engagement a lot recently.  Engaging with a topic or an issue means thinking about it deeply, exploring the paths that emerge during the learning process, and acting on that newfound knowledge somehow–talking with people who are willing to listen, writing about it, or even learning a new skill.  Engaging with music can take many forms, but let’s start with listening to and learning about the important performances, recordings, and history of a favorite musical genre… bluegrass.

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