Booking Music Isn’t Just a Vibe. It’s a Responsibility.
In one of my earlier posts, I mentioned that I help run a music festival. I figured it’s time to tell you a little more.
The Punch Brothers On Stage at the 40th Annual Huck Finn Jubilee. According to Chris Thile (mandolin), the Jubilee was the first festival he attended as a child and the first one he played as a professional musician. Also shown, Noam Pikelny (banjo), Gabe Witcher (fiddle), Chris Eldridge (guitar), Paul Kowert (bass).
It’s called the Huck Finn Jubilee, and it’s a bluegrass and roots music festival that’s been going strong for over 45 years in Southern California. My family and I took it over in 2017 after the city that ran it decided to shut it down. We couldn’t let that happen. Not just because it had history, but because we believe in the power of live music and the community it creates.
Every year, we carefully select the artists who play our stage. And yes, we’ve been lucky enough to book big names who’ve played the Grand Ole Opry, won Grammys, or gone on to national tours. But you want to know what we’re proudest of? Spotting the ones on their way up. The young bands still sleeping in vans, who take the stage and leave your jaw on the floor. Booking those acts before they blow up? That’s the good stuff.
And here’s the thing: booking music for a bar, club, or restaurant? It’s no different. Whether you’re programming a full weekend lineup or just looking for the right solo act for Thursday nights, the entertainment you book becomes part of your brand. It tells your customers what kind of experience to expect. And it can be the difference between a packed house and a quiet room.
We’ve all seen it happen. A band gets up that isn’t quite ready…off-key, out of sync, just not in the pocket…and the energy in the room vanishes. People finish their drinks, make polite faces, and don’t come back. That’s not just a bad night. That’s a missed opportunity to build loyalty and buzz.
On the flip side, the right music? It elevates everything.
It could be something as simple and elegant as a solo piano player at a high-end lounge, creating ambiance without overpowering conversation. Or it could be a high-energy pop cover band that gets your crowd clapping, singing, and tagging your venue all over social media. Either way, it's about matching the music to the mood you want to create—and then curating that experience like it matters. Because it does.
There’s enough great music in this area that no one needs to settle. From singer-songwriters and jazz duos to string quartets and full-throttle bluegrass bands, Raleigh and its surrounding towns are filled with talent. And as both a resident and a working musician, I want to help make sure we keep delivering top-tier live entertainment to this community.
Because when a local music scene thrives, it doesn’t just sound good. It lifts spirits. It builds culture. And yes, it helps the economy too.
So whether you're looking for a solo act to set the mood or a showstopper to headline your Friday night, choose with care. Book with intention. Your audience can tell the difference, and they’ll thank you for it.
