This article was originally published Aug. 28, 2018. It has been updated.
Once again, the N.C. State Fair is going homegrown.
The 151st edition of the fair runs Oct. 11-21 at the State Fairgrounds, and the fourth annual Homegrown Music Fest will present more than 60 North Carolina acts on three stages.
All shows are free with paid fair admission.
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Rising Raleigh rock band American Aquarium was one of the primary attractions on the Dorton Arena mainstage. After Hurricane Michael canceled opening day, and subsequently their opening night show, the band announced on Twitter it would still play Thursday night. But instead, it will a free show at The Pour House in downtown Raleigh. Doors open at 6 p.m. The show begins at 7 p.m. The Pour House is at 224 S. Blount St.
“Our show tomorrow night at the @NCStateFair has been cancelled due to Hurricane Michael... so we will be playing a FREE show at @ThePourHouse tomorrow night to make up for it. Doors at 6pm. We play at 7pm. It’s early. It’s free. No excuses. See you tomorrow night Raleigh!!!” the group tweeted.
Later on, Dorton Arena will feature Rhett and Link, (Oct. 12), YouTube stars from Buies Creek; Sanford’s Britton Buchanan (Oct. 17), “The Voice” runner-up; Rockingham’s Bucky Covington (Oct. 15), one of several North Carolina stars from the 2006 class of “American Idol”; and the Raleigh metal band Between the Buried & Me.
Outdoor stages at Heritage Circle and the Waterfall will have music ranging from various kinds of folk to rock to military music, R&B, country, Christian and reggae. The complete lineup is below.
Fair tickets for early admission prices are on sale now through Oct. 11 at ncstatefair.org.
Dorton Arena
All shows are at 7:30 p.m.
Oct. 11 — American Aquarium (Raleigh, Americana)
Oct. 12 — Rhett and Link Live! (Buies Creek, comedy)
Oct. 13 — An Evening of Worship with Faith Baptist Church (Youngsville, Christian)
Oct. 14 — Mr. Potato Head (Raleigh, covers)
Oct. 15 — RaeLynn (Fayetteville, country), Bucky Covington (Rockingham, country)
Oct. 16 — Noche Latina (Raleigh, Latin)
Oct. 17 — Summer Brooke & the Mountain Faith Band (Sylva, Christian bluegrass), Britton Buchanan (Sanford, pop)
Oct. 18 — The War & Treaty (New Bern, roots/soul/gospel), New Reveille (Raleigh, Americana)
Oct. 19 — Between the Buried and Me (Raleigh, metal)
Oct. 20 — The Catalinas (Charlotte, beach)
Oct. 21 — Who’s Bad: The Ultimate Michael Jackson Experience (Raleigh, pop/R&B)
Heritage Circle Stage
The following are 45-minute sets.
Oct. 11 — Honey Magpie (Chapel Hill, folk); 3:30 and 5:30 p.m.
Oct. 12 — Sweet Potato Pie (Cary-Seagrove-Albemarle-Linwood-Monroe, bluegrass/gospel); 9:30 a.m., 3:30, 5:30 and 7 p.m.
Oct. 13 — David Childers (Mount Holly, folk); 9:30 and 11:30 a.m., 1:30, 3:30 and 5:30 p.m.
Oct. 14 — Jonah Riddle & Carolina Express (Foothills of Western North Carolina, bluegrass); 9:30 and 11:30 a.m., 1:30, 3:30 and 5:30 p.m.
Oct. 15 — Carolina Line Bluegrass Band (Oak Island/Southport, bluegrass); 9:30 and 11:30 a.m., 2, 4 and 6 p.m.
Oct. 16 — Clint Alphin (Dunn, Americana); 9:30 and 11:30 a.m., 1:30, 3:30 and 5:30 p.m.
Oct. 17 — Graham’s Number (Raleigh, bluegrass); 9:30 and 11:30 a.m., 1:30, 3:30 and 5:30 p.m.
Oct. 18 — Big Fat Gap (Chapel Hill, bluegrass); 9:30 and 11:30 a.m., 1:30, 3:30 and 5:30 p.m.
Oct. 19 — Brad Hudson Band (Raleigh, country/bluegrass); 9:30 and 11:30 a.m., 1:30, 3:30, 5:30 and 7 p.m.
Oct. 20 — Shannon Baker & the Classic Stepbacks (Wilson, bluegrass); 9:30 and 11:30 a.m., 1:30, 3:30 and 5:30 p.m.
Oct. 21 — Cuttin Grass (Raleigh-Durham, bluegrass); 9:30 and 11:30 a.m., 1:30, 3:30 and 5:30 p.m.
Waterfall Stage
The following are about 45-minute sets.
Oct. 11 — The Sunday Special (Raleigh, soul); 3:30 and 5:30 p.m.
Oct. 12 — Porch Light Apothecary (Raleigh, Americana), 10 and 11:30 a.m.; Katie Basden (Durham, country), 1 and 2:30 p.m.; Frontside (Durham, emo), 4 p.m.; 6 String Drag (Raleigh, Americana), 5:30 p.m.
Oct. 13 — The Pinkerton Raid (Durham, folk), 10 and 11:30 a.m.; S.E. Ward (Chapel Hill, indie), 1 and 2:30 p.m.; Madison Jay and Friends (Raleigh, hip-hop), 4 p.m.; Anne-Claire (Greensboro, indie), 5:30 p.m.
Oct. 14 — Jump Mountain (Raleigh, Americana), 10 and 11:30 a.m.; Caroline Dare (Greenville, country), 1 and 2:30 p.m; Shark Quest (Chapel Hill, instrumental), 4 p.m.; DownTown Abby & The Echoes (Charlotte, soul), 5:30 p.m.
Oct. 15 — Los Acoustic Guys (Winston-Salem, Latin), 11 a.m. and 12:30 p.m; Mountain Top Polka Band (Asheville, polka), 2 and 3:30 p.m.; Jack The Radio (Raleigh, rock), 5 p.m.
Oct. 16 — The Band Sorelle (Raleigh, folk), 11 a.m. and 12:30 p.m.; Flor Y Canto (Raleigh, Mexican folk), 2 and 3:30 p.m.; Moonshine (Windsor, country), 5 p.m.
Oct. 17 — Military Appreciation Day program with 440th Army Band (Morrisville), 12:15, 4 and 6 p.m.
Oct. 18 — Lowderstill (Durham, jazz), 11 a.m. and 12:30 p.m.; The Hot at Nights (Raleigh, jazz), 2 and 3:30 p.m.; LaureNicole (Raleigh, rock), 5 p.m.
Oct. 19 — The Dapper Conspiracy (Raleigh, Southern gothic), 10 and 11:30 a.m.; XOXOK (Chapel Hill, soul), 1 and 2:30 p.m.; Bat Fangs (Carrboro, rock), 4 p.m.; Super Grit Cowboy Band (Kinston, country), 5:30 p.m.
Oct. 20 — Coby James (Louisburg, Christian pop), 10 and 11:30 a.m.; Sons of Paradise (Raleigh, reggae), 1 and 2:30 p.m.; Earther (Raleigh, punk), 4 p.m.; The Veldt (Raleigh, shoegaze), 5:30 p.m.
Oct. 21 — Reese McHenry (Durham, rock), 10 and 11:30 a.m.; Aaron Hamm & the Big River Band (Selma, country), 1 and 2:30 p.m.; Vaughn (Raleigh, hip-hop), 4 p.m.; Eric Gales (Greensboro, blues), 5:30 p.m.
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