Note: Authored by David Menconi, this piece has been produced in partnership with Raleigh Arts. Menconi's latest book, "Oh, Didn't They Ramble: Rounder Records and the Transformation of American Roots Music," was published in the fall of 2023 by University of North Carolina Press. His podcast, Carolina Calling, explores the history of the Tar Heel State through music.

The 2025 Dreamville Festival is coming and the lineup has just been released, with this year’s model once again bringing some of the biggest names in hip-hop to Raleigh’s Dorothea Dix Park the weekend of April 5-6, 2025. Along with Grammy-winning Dreamville mastermind J. Cole in his customary role as closing headliner, this year’s festival also features Lil Wayne, 21 Savage, Erykah Badu, Tems, Glorilla and more.

Tickets start at $299.99 for two-day general admission at dreamvillefest.com/tickets; numerous VIP packages are also available. At that same link is information about parking, which costs $50 per day. For information about what you can and can’t bring in with you through the festival gate, see the FAQ link at dreamvillefest.com.

This will be the fifth and final Dreamville taking place at the 300-acre Dix Park in Raleigh. Billed as “the world’s largest artist-led music fest,” Dreamville has had an enormously successful history in Raleigh, generating a reported total economic impact of more than $145 million for greater Wake County.

That success is all the more remarkable given some of the elements Dreamville has had to contend with over the years. The first edition was postponed from September 2018 until the following April due to Hurricane Florence. Then came the Coronavirus pandemic, which canceled both the 2020 and 2021 events.

But it’s drawn big crowds every time, starting with 2019’s 40,000-person sellout. The festival went from one day to two starting in 2022 and has continued to sell out, drawing more than 104,000 concert-goers across two days in 2024.

As with prior Dreamville editions, this year’s model will feature arts, crafts, murals and cuisine from an army of food trucks in addition to music. There will also be the Dreamville Ferris wheel, offering views of the downtown skyline; and Dreamville Foundation’s “Nonprofit Row,” spotlighting some of Dreamville’s philanthropic work.

Saturday, April 5

• Lil Wayne with Hot Boys, Juvenile, Turk, B.G.; & Big Tymers, Mannie Fresh, Birdman
• 21 Savage
• PARTYNEXTDOOR
• Ludacris
• Ari Lennox
• Chief Keef
• Keyshia Cole
• Bas
• Young Nudy
• Ab-Soul
• Lute
• Omen
• Kai Ca$h
• Niko Brim

 

 

 

 

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Sunday, April 6

• J. Cole
• Erykah Badu
• Tems
• Glorilla
• J.I.D.
• Wale
• Coco Jones
• BigXthaPlug
• EARTHGANG
• Anycia
• Cozz
• Akia

Dreamville Fest takes place in Raleigh, April 5-6, at Dorothea Dix Park. For full details on tickets, parking, hotels and related events, see dreamvillefest.com.

^{Photos courtesy of Dreamville Fest/Parallel Agency}