Local Spins has the scoop on weekend music festival action in Trufant and Charlotte, with a photo gallery from Darius Rucker’s Acrisure Amphitheater debut.
SCROLL DOWN FOR PHOTO GALLERIES, RECAP OF SMILING ACRES DAY 1
It was a poorly kept secret to be sure.
After revving up the cozy Charlotte Bluegrass Festival with his band in 2025, guitarist Billy Strings was rumored to return as a “surprise” guest this year, considering he’s pals with 2026 headliners in the Del McCoury Band and Travelin’ McCourys — and it’s just a hop, skip and a jump from his hometown.
And sure enough on Friday — during the venerable event’s second day — there was the superstar picker on stage with the Travelin’ McCourys and then the iconic Del McCoury, delighting fans at Eaton County Fairgrounds by singing and jamming at the festival where he first honed his bluegrass chops as a young lad…