News
July 9, 2007
Lineup For Raleigh Wide Open 2 Announced
It's Back! Downtown Raleigh, that is; and to celebrate it, so is Raleigh Wide Open!
Last July, more than 70,000 people turned out to celebrate the return of Fayetteville Street – North Carolina’s Main Street – to vehicular traffic. On July 21, the entire Triangle is invited to downtown Raleigh to celebrate this one-year anniversary and to check out the $1.3 billion in public and private investment that is transforming the Capital City’s center city.
In the past 12 months, 23 private projects, representing more than $874 million, have been planned, begun construction or completed. These projects are headlined by the $100 million RBC Plaza’s 33-story tower featuring offices, condominiums and parking), the $130 million TMC Development project (a 20-story and 14-story mixed-use office, retail and residential complex), and the $70 million Lafayette project (featuring a boutique hotel, condominiums and retail space).
Seven public downtown projects are in various phases. The new convention center and parking facilities are under construction and racing towards a late summer 2008 completion, the State’s Green Square is in the planning stages, as are the Center City plaza and the second phase of Fayetteville Street.
Main stage
Raleigh Wide Open 2(RWO2) is going to fill up Fayetteville Street from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. July 21. It will be music to the max with the following lineup:
- 12:30 to 2:00 -- Mickey Mills & Steel (reggae) Mickey Mills is a steel drums virtuoso bringing the very best of reggae, soca, Calypso and Latin funk from his native Trinidad. Mick Jagger and Johnny Mathis are among the variety of artists with whom Mr. Mills has worked. Known as the “fastest steel drum soloist on Earth,” Mr. Mills has taken the Caribbean culture to New York City’s the Village Gate and Madison Square Garden on numerous occasions;
- 2:20 to 3:05 -- Airiel Down (rock) Airiel Down is a Raleigh band whose powerful guitars, driving rhythms, memorable melodies and insightful lyrics make it distinctive. The band was formed in 2003 by Beaux Foy, the band’s lead singer and rhythm guitarist. Each band member’s unique style and range of influences create a rich blend that has made Airiel Down’s debut album “Vision” a real keeper;
- 3:25 to 4:10 -- Kickin Grass (bluegrass) Kickin Grass’ tight vocal harmony, driving instrumentation and effusive energy puts them in the upper echelon in all types of bluegrass. This Raleigh band nails them all – classic bluegrass, rock and country classics as well as an impressive array of original tunes;
- 4:30 to 5:45 – Bio Ritmo (Latin) Cerebral Salsa is Bio Ritmo, whose offerings move both the synapses and the feet. A raucous fusion of Afro-Cuban beats, Brazilian samba and classic jazz harmonies spiced with electronica, explosive brass and improvised jam session are the works of this Salsa band. “A notorious good time guaranteed” is how the Washington Post describes performances of Richmond’s Bio Ritmo;
- 7:30 to 8:30 -- Dillon Fence (pop rock) This enduring, genial jangle pop band was born of high school jam sessions in Winston-Salem. Dillon Fence has created three full-length albums and several EPs since 1991. This frequent opener for the Black Crowes and Hootie & the Blowfish will be sure to delight fans of the Connells and Guadalcanal Diary; and,
- 9:10 to 10:40-- Eddie Money (pop/classic rock) The headliner of course is rock icon Eddie Money, whose long-beloved tunes such as “Two Tickets to Paradise” and “Baby Hold On” are being joined by hits from his current album “Wanna Go Back,” featuring 12 rock classics.
Acoustic Stage Schedule
If acoustic music is more to your liking, hang out by the acoustic stage to enjoy the following talents:
- 12:00 to 12:45 – Chris Suiter
- 1:00 to 2:15 -- Neal Chapman Trio
- 2:30 to 3:15 – Chris Suiter
- 3:30 to 4:30 – Abdala & Andres
- 4:45 to 6:00 – Adam Pitts
Notice, it’s non-stop music except for 6:00 to 7:00. That’s parade time!
The RWO2 parade will begin at the Capitol and make its way down Fayetteville Street, ending at Davie Street.
If you’re “tuned out” by mid-evening, saunter on down to Moore Square and enjoy a free showing of the movie “Dreamgirls” around 8:15 p.m.
Street festival fun
All four blocks for Fayetteville Street will be alive from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. with street performers such as jugglers and magicians, a flea circus and a New Orleans band.
The Kids Zone will offer:
- Crayon Land Bounce;
- The iron-man competition;
- A two-lane slide;
- Balloon art;
- Exploris/Playspace activities; and,
- The Carolina Hurricanes’ puck shot.
For $10, revelers can enjoy eight sample pours and a souvenir cup at the Microbrewery Beer Tasting Tent.
If the nectar of the vine is more to your liking, visit the Wine Tasting Tent where $10 will purchase four sample pours from nine varietals wines selected from Australia, New Zealand, Chile and the United States.
Raleigh’s southern downtown sky will turn into a pyrotechnic pageant around 10:45 p.m. when the boom and blast of fireworks signal the conclusion of the first anniversary of Raleigh’s downtown revitalization celebration.
The charge for parking downtown will be $3. The City has five convenient parking garages that offer approximately 5,000 parking spaces. The garage locations are as follows:
- Cabarrus Street Parking Lot, 100 E. Cabarrus St.;
- Convention Center Parking Deck, 429 S. Wilmington St.;
- Moore Square Parking Deck, 233 S. Wilmington St.;
- Municipal Parking Deck, Morgan Street entrance, W. Morgan St.; and,
- Wilmington Street Parking Deck, 327 S. Wilmington St.
Street Closings
The 100 to 400 blocks of Fayetteville Street will be closed from 6 p.m.,
Friday, July 20, until 4 a.m., Sunday, July 22. Also to be closed will be sections of Martin, Hargett and Davie Streets where they cross Fayetteville Street. The 00 blocks of Hargett and Martin streets will be closed to traffic from 6 p.m., July 20 until 4 a.m., July 22.
For more information about these closings, click here.
Prepared by:
Jayne Kirkpatrick
Director
Public Affairs Department
For More Information Contact:
Jayne Kirkpatrick
Director
Public Affairs Department
222 West Hargett Street
Raleigh, NC 27602
919-890-3100
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