The Charlie Poole Festival is held the second weekend each June, on the beautiful campus of Rockingham Community College in Wentworth, NC. Our event features performances by the top names in Americana music today, and thrilling contests with the top prize – Grand Champion Old Time 3-Finger Banjo, awarding $1,000 in cash. Boondock camping is available, jam sessions abound, food trucks are on site, and fun awaits you!
Symposium
Thursday, June 12, 2025
12:00 – 5:00 pm
Symposium – To commemorate the 100th anniversary of Charlie Poole’s recording, a symposium will be held, featuring discussion panels, a concert, and a dinner. Additional tickets are required. For more information, please visit the website.
Performances
Check out the performance schedule for the Charlie Poole Festival, a meticulously crafted lineup that celebrates the legacy of Charlie Poole. From sun-up melodies to starlit harmonies, our Rockingham County, NC, festival brings together the best of American music.
Friday, June 13, 2025
4:00 pm – 9:00 pm* (Gates open at 3:00 pm)
6 pm: New North Carolina Ramblers
7 pm: Thomm Jutz
8 pm: Presentation of Charlie Poole Festival Lifetime Achievement Award to Wayne Henderson and Helen White and performance by Wayne Henderson
9 pm: Lonesome River Band
Saturday, June 14, 2025
1:00 pm – 10:00 pm*
2:00 pm: Jesse Smathers
3:00 pm: Payday at the Mill
4:00 pm: Tray Wellington Band
5:00 pm: Amythyst Kiah
6:00 pm: Lonesome River Band
7:15 pm: Presentation of Tony Rice Music Scholarship
7:30 pm: John McEuen & the Circle Band
8:45 pm: Presentation of the Charlie Poole Festival Lifetime Achievement Award to Sammy Shelor and Riley Baugus
9:00 pm: Africa to Appalachia with Riley Baugus and Cheick Hamala Diabate
Contests
The Charlie Poole Festival contests are the beating heart of our festival, where tradition meets talent in a celebration of music. Every year, we open the stage to artists from all walks of life, inviting them to share their passion, showcase their skills, and perhaps even write their own chapter in the rich history of American music. Whether you’re a seasoned musician or have never performed outside your living room, the Charlie Poole Festival contests offer a platform to shine.
Registration for contests is on-site. Learn more here: https://charlie-poole.com/competitions/
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