Even rainy weather couldn’t silence the sweet sounds of bluegrass this weekend at the Wide Open Bluegrass Festival, hosted in downtown Raleigh after moving from Nashville in 2013.

Warnings of hurricane weather led organizers to move the festival from its original venues of the streets of downtown Raleigh and Red Hat Amphitheater to the Raleigh Convention Center. The festival was a hit despite last-minute changes, though the inclement weather and indoor venue led to smaller crowds than the festival experienced in previous years of good weather. 

With appearances and performances from over 50 bands, accompanied by the North Carolina Whole Hog Barbecue Championship, the event was both musical and mouthwatering, drawing hundreds of spectators to the Raleigh area for two days of bluegrass and barbeque. The festival lasted Friday through Saturday, capping off the International Bluegrass Music Association’s World of Bluegrass events, which started Tuesday. 

Half of the net proceeds from the ticketed events went to support the Bluegrass Trust Fund, which is dedicated to the preservation of bluegrass music worldwide. 

Headliners such as the Harris Brothers, the Steel Wheels and the Carmonas made highly anticipated appearances, and played on various stages in downtown Raleigh. 

The IBMA also held its 26th Annual Bluegrass Music Awards this weekend alongside the festival. 

“It’s a great way to get musicians and fans together,” said Caroline Chappell, a spectator at the festival and Raleigh native. “Bluegrass music is an important American tradition, and these kinds of festivals help preserve that tradition and allow people to come together and enjoy the music.”

In May the IBMA and the city of Raleigh announced a contract extension, keeping the World of Bluegrass convention in Raleigh until at least 2018. The original contract lasted from 2013-2015.