The above picture features the band “the Wind” on the City Plaza stage during the 2024 Hopscotch Music Festival. All photos courtesy of Kyle Marie McMahon.
The city’s annual underground music festival features diverse music and eclectic experiences
BY KYLE MARIE MCMAHON
The Hopscotch Music Festival celebrated its 14th year in downtown Raleigh last weekend. The festival features a diverse lineup ranging from indie folk and punk to electronic reggae and hip hop, plus stand-up comedy. This year, over 100 artists performed across several stages and club shows from September 5–7 with bonus day parties on September 4 and 8. Many of the artists and bands who performed call the Triangle home, such as Alycia Yang, Fust, Babe Haven and Jooselord.
Hopscotch had two main outdoor stages at City Plaza and Moore Square, which featured shows starting in the early afternoon and going into the evening. This year, the featured headliners were St. Vincent (indie rock), Faye Webster (folk), Waxahatchee (lo-fi acoustic), The Jesus Lizard (noise rock), BADBADNOTGOOD (electronic/jazz) and JPEGMAFIA (hip hop/rap).
The two stages had vastly different styles. Moore Square had a festival feel: a large, open lawn with attendees relaxing on the grass. City Plaza felt more like a traditional concert: standing room only and a fantastic light show. The sets at each were spaced close enough to one another that it was possible to move back and forth and catch all the shows. But we recommend attendees wear comfortable shoes next year, as it’s a 10-minute walk each time.
While single-day tickets weren’t offered this year, the three-day pass (starting at $159) came with a wristband—picked up at Wristband City—that allowed attendees to pop in and out of shows as often as they wanted, bouncing around venues or just taking a break for something to eat and being able to return easily. Attendees could find free music sessions, called “day parties,” all around the area, many at the same club venues, but some also places like the basement of the Moore Square parking deck, Crank Arm Brewing Company and Berkeley Café.
If you want to get the most out of your ticket, prepare for more walking. When the outdoor shows end around 9 p.m., the house shows start and continue until the early morning hours. These are held at venues throughout downtown Raleigh, such as Lincoln Theater, Slims, The Pour House and Transfer Co. Ballroom. The shows here are intimate (sometimes too crowded), and some have age restrictions. While these club shows often appealed to the older crowd, overall, the festival’s spectators varied as much as the music, including young families.
Kids ages 12 and under were able to attend events for free, and this year marked the first-ever Totscotch. The festival partnered with Marbles Children’s Museum to provide a free event with activities, music and food trucks on September 9 near the Moore Square stage.
The Hopscotch Music Festival is not just a celebration of music but also community. It is not only a great way to discover new artists and genres, but it is also a great way to explore downtown Raleigh. With all the amenities the area has to offer, it’s easy to spend the entire day there, grabbing a bite to eat or shopping between shows. The multiple venues and walkability between them means discovering new places and meeting new people who are there for the same reason you are: the love of music.
