 2011 Schedule | 2011 Volunteer Application | 2011 Pictures 
In 2011, nearly 50% of the bands are new, or new incarnations. From Native-American flute by the Neuse River Flute Circle at Balanced Movement at 304 West Weaver, to a mixture of music & spoken word by Mahogany Door Project at Cat's Cradle, this year promises to be great!Favorites such as Tim Smith Band, Great Big Gone and Saludos Compay return, along with many others, in a day that features nearly 175 bands, all over town! The NC Saxaphone Ensemble features 15 saxaphonists at the Century Center. World jazz is featured at the ArtsCenter, along with an eclectic mix from electronica to hip hop to fusion. 
Frank Cole Building’s front porch will return as a venue at 101 Center Street, with Balloon & Tunes/Framers Corner at 208 West Main as a new venue. The Fitch Lumber lot at 309 North Greensboro is once again the teen stage. Town Hall at 301 West Main has inflatables for the kids, Kidzu Children's Museum with hands-on activities, food and crafts from local vendors and artists, and music ranging from West-Africian dance music to Bluegrass. There is something for everyone at the Carrboro Music Festival. Download the complete schedule here.The FREE Shuttle bus runs noon-8pm from Carrboro Plaza to the ArtsCenter.   
In The BeginningThe Carrboro Music Festival started out in 1998 with a handful of dedicated volunteers who insisted they could pull off a music festival with no money and not much more than great expectations. They had a lot of confidence in the giving nature of the local music community. There were those who attempted to dissuade them, warning of the perils that go along with a project of this proportion. The committee was undeterred. Through the generosity of countless musicians, the support and encouragement of Carrboro Mayor Mike Nelson (who was on the original committee) and the Board of Aldermen, a small amount of funding from the Town, and many donations from Carrboro businesses and individuals, the Carrboro Music Festival was born. Through the efforts and contributions of Elizabeth and Cyril Boisson, the festival started out as part of the French celebration known as Fête de la Musique, a free festival of music celebrated worldwide on the summer solstice. From 1998 through 2001, Carrboro was one of only a few United States Fête de la Musique venues officially recognized by the Ministry of France, receiving posters each year as a goodwill gesture. Other cities included New York City and San Francisco. We were honored to be a part of it. The Fête brought together musicians of every persuasion who played for free at stages from one end of town to the other. In Carrboro we moved the Fête to the closest Sunday to June 21st, celebrating Father's Day at the same time. This initiated a great annual event to bring Dad to that was free and fun for the whole family. In 2000, the 20th anniversary of the international Fête de la Musique was celebrated in more than 100 countries all over the world. In 2001, Carrboro was an official venue for the last time. A cooler month needed to be chosen for Carrboro's music festival, when more folks were around to volunteer. Changes In 2002 When the members of the Fête de la Musique Committee met on a Wednesday night in February, 2002, we made a decision that was a long time coming. The annual celebration of music, which was entering into a fifth year, would still be "The Fête" to all who participated, and in that tradition be a day filled with music all over Carrboro, it would just fall a few months later. The committee had several reasons for reaching this decision. 
Summer WoesThere were a lot of difficulties with planning an event of this magnitude on the summer solstice. Many folks were vacationing, so the volunteer pool was small. The day of the event was usually hot, making it uncomfortable, and at times unbearable, in a town that can be sweltering come mid-June. Add to that Carrboro Day, which falls in May, and the Carrboro Family Fourth of July Celebration, and planning such a huge event started to get sticky. Unlike other town sponsored events, until 2004 the Carrboro Music Festival was planned primarily by volunteers. Some of these volunteers were also involved in planning the other events. Event planning burnout was on the rise. Fête de la Musique, wedged between the other events, was always the biggest draw, bringing in thousands of folks to our little town on a day divine with music. It needed to happen later in the year. A Better Date The new fall date, the last Sunday in September, brought cooler temperatures and more volunteers. With local high schools and the colleges all in session at this later date, volunteer numbers have grown as word spreads about our festival. After moving the date of the festival to September in 2002, Committee members agreed the right decision had been made. The Beat Goes On This year the date is September 25th, 2011. We will have hundreds of performers all over Carrboro, bringing thousands of people together to enjoy a beautiful day filled with free music, as we celebrate our fourteenth year. Original Carrboro Music Festival Committee members were Elizabeth Boisson, Janet Callahan, Berkeley Grimball, Catherine DeVine, James Harris, Jackie Helvey, Mike Nelson, Janet Place, Joy Preslar, Samia Serageldin, Richard Taylor and Gerry Williams. Current members DeVine, Helvey, Place, and Williams - who is the festival coordinator for the 10th. year in 2011 - have kept the festival alive and thriving, this year with the help of Charlie Berry, Tony Galiani, Michael Gowan, Meg McGurk and Carrboro Recreation and Parks Recreation Supervisor Kim Andrews, all working together to make the Carrboro Music Festival the best it can be in 2011. Written by Jackie Helvey - the "day of" photographer, a founder and a current member of the Carrboro Music Festival Committee. Read a funny story written the first year of Fête de la Musique by Berkeley Grimball - Fête Anxiety.
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