With humble beginnings performing in a basement of a barbershop in 1996, Dropkick Murphys soon catapulted into the punk world. Known for their vehement Irish and Boston pride, the band has become internationally known and quite accustomed to playing sold out shows.

Luckily for you, WKNC has your chance to see Dropkick Murphys at the Fillmore Charlotte on March 8 before they head home for their legendary St. Patrick’s Day weekend shows in Boston. When the deejay asks for it, be the correct caller to score a pair of tickets to the show. Tickets are also available for purchase at Livenation. Click the banner above for more details.

Listen only on 88.1FM or streaming online.

It’s hard to believe that two months ago we were setting up for the first ever Fridays on the Lawn concert with I Was Totally Destroying It and Luego. From conception, Fridays of the Lawn was designed to expose students to the thriving, yet largely unnoticed music scene of the Triangle. Carl Licata, a senior in computer science, said, “the past show was a great way to experience good, local music first-hand, and it didn’t cost a thing.”

Now with two concerts down, WKNC turns to promote its final installment featuring a hip-hop based show with The Beast and Kooley High.

WKNC staff will be posted out at the Free Expression Tunnel at NC State tomorrow and Friday to hand out fliers for the show from 11am-1pm. WKNC merch and Hear Here Compilation CDs will be available for purchase.

Due to weather conditions, Friday’s show will take place at the Wolves Den in the basement of Talley Student Center. This show is also free and open to the public. Free food and free t-shirts will be available, however they are limited, so don’t forget to come early! Let’s make the last Fridays on the Lawn the best one yet!

This Friday, October 23, indie trio Simple will release their new EP titled “WKNC Sessions Live.”  This is by no means a coincidence; we here at sessions@KNC recorded this very EP in the Caldwell Lounge back in May.

You should be pumped for a few reasons:

1. This thing rocks.

2. The show and CD are both FREE (but you’ll probably get a little nod toward a donation fund).

3. The songs on the CD are slightly different from what you heard online; they’ve been mastered and sound even better!

The show is at the Local 506 in Chapel Hill Friday at 10 p.m.  You’ll also see guest groups Nathan Oliver and Wild Wild Geese; two more bands with totally unique, cool sounds!

Also, Simple will be interviewed during The Local Beat on the same day at 5 p.m. on WKNC 88.1 FM.  Listen in!

This week’s shoegaze edition of Local Beer Local Band Night features Citified and Gray Young. Show starts around 10 at Tir Na Nog and it’s free to get in! Fresh with a new EP “Absence”, the Greensboro collective Citified will be headlining.  Make sure you get to Tir Na Nog in time to see Raleigh based Gray Young perform or you’ll miss one of the Triangle’s best.  Come out and support the community!

Also, tune in at 5pm today (Thursday) as I will be interviewing Gray Young.

As most of you all know, WKNC and Tir Na Nog do this thing called Local Beer Local Band Night.  Each Thursday at Tir Na Nog we have a free show with great local bands and great local brews.  This week’s line up is Regina Hexaphone and the Stars Explode.  Also, tune in to 88.1 at 5pm on Thursday, as I will be interviewing Regina Hexaphone.

Here’s a qoute from the Independent Weekly about Regina Hexaphone:

“The rustling sun-kissed beauty and easy charm of Regina Hexaphone’s folky pop echo the sweet, generous vibe of frontwoman Sara Bell. Just as a wayward smile from someone attractive can brighten your day, nothing feels quite as welcoming as Hexaphone’s soothing sonic embrace. A preview of their forthcoming album, Into Your Sleeping Heart, is impressive, indeed, from the nomadic surf-inflected pop of “Waiting for the Wind” to the Dresden-bound gypsy bounce of “The Fortyniner.” Elsewhere, they work in a hazy, pillowy drift of receding detail, like a watercolor pulling away and over the horizon.” –Chris Parker, Independent Weekly

“The Stars Explode is the new rock band led by Doug Edmunds, co-founding member/songwriter/drummer/vocalist for 90s rockpop underground wonders, Gladhands, and most recently the drummer for Violet Vector and the Lovely Lovelies. The Stars Explode builds on Edmunds’ musical legacy while looking squarely to the future. With influences ranging from the rugged British rock of Paul Weller to the loud guitar pop of the Posies to latter-day singer-songwriters like Grant-Lee Phillips, Jon Brion, and Rhett Miller, Edmunds’ new band offers up a delicious blend of musical offerings.”–the Stars Explode’s Myspace

Here’s a video of Regina Hexaphone playing live in Chapel Hill:

So come out and support your community!

So we’re officially back up and running, with one new session under our belt.

On Sunday, May 3, Mikey P, Mike Gray, and Eric (myself) met up with Simple, the aptly named minimalist band from Carrboro, NC, outside Caldwell Hall on campus.  Although it took a while to reason our way into the building, the superior sonic characteristics of Caldwell Lounge would help make this session a fun one. We set up a bunch of microphones and hit the big red button as the band hammered out a short, simple and solid set.

I recently got word from Chip, the band’s guitarist and lead vocalist, that they plan on releasing five of the tracks late this summer as a live limited-release EP with fancy hand-painted covers or something artsy like that. Sounds awesome to me! So, if you’re lucky enough to catch Simple at a show late this summer, look out for their release of these songs.  Their next performance is at Nightlight in Chapel Hill on June 5th at 10 PM.

Below you can check out one of my favorite songs from the session: “The Conversation.”  It has a unique, ambitious, and more rockin’ feel; you’ll see what I mean if you’ve heard the rest of Simple’s music.

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And lastly, here are the five tracks for FREE download!  Each song is zipped.

The Conversation

Signs in the Sky

Puppet

Take My Hand

Soldier

Embarrassing Fruits and Prabir and The Substitutes will be rocking out at WKNC’s and Tir Na Nog’s Local Beer Local Band Night this Thursday night (5/7).  It is FREEEEEE to get in, and Tir Na Nog has local brew specials.  Mmm I can’t wait for some Aviator in my belly! Tir Na Nog is located at 218 S. Blount Street in Downtown Raleigh!

Come out and support your community!

The Proclivities and Becca Stevens will be playing at our weekly event, Local Beer Local Band Night, at Tir Na Nog this Thursday 4/23.  It’s free to get in and Tir Na Nog has local brew specials. Come out and support your community!  See ya there!

Also, the Proclivities will be in the WKNC studio on Thursday for the 5 o’clock shadow!  DJ Spaceman Spiff and DJ May Day will be talking to the band and showcasing some of their tunes!  Tune in at 5pm.