Yeah, that is too bad. I also hoped it would become a Raleigh institution/tradition. It wasn’t really my thing, but felt like a great addition to the city’s culture.
I’m a little surprised because it was obviously popular, but I’m sure it was a lot of work to put together. I’d be curious to know what the finances looked like.
Another rumor going around for some time is that Cole is interested in retiring, so in that case, it’d make sense why this would be the last Dreamville.
What is this thing called retirement? I am not familiar with such a term.
Really sucks. Was growing to one of the best city festivals in the country. On the positive side he showed how viable and profitable a festival like this is in Raleigh/Dix Park. I’d be very surprised if someone doesn’t try and jump in with this opening.
I can see multiple reasons for making this one the last one - but the most obvious to me would be that after next Spring when the Play area section is mostly completed and opened, they’ll be moving on to the next phase of redeveloping the park - which might’ve been in competition with a future festival for at least the next couple of years. I can see something of this caliber being proposed again once the future development/construction timeline of Dix is more clear.
Maybe this will be like the Rolling Stones’ Farewell Tour, 2012
Stay tuned!.…… 
You have our utmost attention with those emojis
Or better yet, Cher. LOL
No, this has nothing to do with the park development. If you went last year, J Cole eluded to this. He’s winding down and it’s hard to draw huge names for a huge festival. It’s not a surprise nor a disappointment. And it allows Raleigh to work on something to replace it. The big field is still a great location for a music festival of some sort.
When things like this are announced, it doesn’t mean the city is failing. But that’s the first conclusion from this group, somehow and always.
I don’t think anyone said the city is failing. It’s just a disappointment to not have a big popular draw each year. I couldn’t care less because I knew virtually none of the artists, but I liked what it did for the city. If we get a replacement of equal prominence and effect, then it’s not even an issue.
It seems to me that these large festivals and events come and go. They run their course. We had the bluegrass. We had the grand balloon festival (out in Fuquay and then somewhere else). And now Dreamville. It is all billed as the greatest thing since sliced bread and poof it is gone. And then something new and more magical appears. I am honestly not in the least worried. Something will fill the void. This was just a Fever Dream. A new something will emerge.
Yes, these are coming in going in Raleigh, but I think the disappointment here is that this one didn’t develop into a permanent thing that could outlive a particular person.
There are many examples of music festivals that stick around for decades and become part of the fabric of the city. For example, the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival has been around since 1970 and attracts about a half-million people every year. It is a huge deal for New Orleans. Austin has Austin City Limits and South by Southwest. Milwaukee has Summerfest.
IMO Raleigh doesn’t have as much cultural identity as a lot of places, and when a festival comes and is successful, then leaves, it is disappointing. Especially since the city just lost the IBMA World of Bluegrass. IBMA was obviously started by an outside organization and it was held somewhere else before it came to Raleigh, so maybe no surprise they wanted to move on. Dreamville was homegrown, so I think it stings a little more to lose it.