Come join us next Friday, April 12th, at 6pm for WKNC’s final installment for the semester of Fridays on the Lawn. It’s going to be a grand ol’ time with two incredible indie rock acts: Lonnie Walker and Oulipo. Fridays on the Lawn is WKNC’s free outside concert series. It will be located on Harris Field in front of the Witherspoon building.

Lonnie Walker, who played for WKNC’s 45th birthday party last year, is returning from some recent time off and we couldn’t be happier. Lonnie Walker started out in Greenville, North Carolina and songwriter Brian Corum later relocated to Raleigh with his band. They have since played a countless number of shows including at Hopscotch Music Festival and have really made a name for themselves in North Carolina’s local music scene.

Lonnie Walker frontman Brian Corum at WKNC’s Double Barrel Benefit 6, Feb. 5, 2009. Photo by Michele Chandler.

Oulipo, a young band from Raleigh, has also played for Hopscotch Music Festival as well as WKNC’s Double Barrel Benefit X. The band is signed to local label DiggUp Tapes and describes themselves as being in the art pop/ rock genre. Oulipo has been compared to Panda Bear with their synthetic vocals and very abstract pop sound.

Oulipo

Bring a blanket and some friends while you enjoy some free food and listen to these great bands. Join the Facebook event for more information as the event approaches!

If you live in the Triangle and don’t already know Jenny Besetzt, it’s about time you did. Jenny Besetzt is a five piece band from Greensboro making a name for themselves spinning dreamy trails of melodic melancholy shoegaze.

Case and point: Jenny Besetzt – Teenage Lions

Jenny Besetzt press photo by Sarah Martin

If you missed Jenny Besetzt’s shining set at Hopscotch 2012, or on tour with No Age and Memoryhouse, bring a blanket at 6 p.m. to Harris Field at NCSU.

Also check out Some Army from Chapel Hill-Carrboro. This band’s first official pop-folky release was featured in Paste Magazine’s “List of 12 North Carolina Bands You Should Listen To Now” and we here at WKNC definitely agree!

I can’t believe it’s free y’all. But it is.

Come out this Friday, October 12th and join all of us here at WKNC for October’s Fridays on the Lawn, an outdoor concert in front of the Witherspoon Student Center on NC State’s campus! This month’s concert features two great local artists: Some Army and Jenny Besetzt, as well as FREE PIZZA provided graciously by Marco’s Pizza on Hillsborough Street.

As always it will be a great deal of fun, so bring a blanket and some friends to enjoy local music, free pizza, and enter in to our giveaway raffle.

A big thank you to Student Government and the Inter-Residence Council for their continued support!

The fall semester is on the brink of starting, and it made me a bit nostalgic as I’m beginning my last semester here at NC State University. I came to Raleigh from a small town in eastern NC so I didn’t know much about what I think is the triangle’s most redeeming quality — its music scene. So, we made a bucket list for all you music lovers out there so you don’t miss out on anything.  It’s in no particular order.

Enjoy — and feel free to add your stories and suggestions in a comment!

1.             DJ at WKNC | You can also help out with promotions, production, web, engineering, sports and public affairs. You’ll be first in the know about anything music. We hold interest meetings each semester (even summer!) for NCSU students. This fall’s interest meetings will be held August 20 at 5:30 p.m. and August 21 at 8 p.m. in 201 Witherspoon Student Center.

2.             Bike to First Friday | You can venture to First Friday, a monthly arts event in downtown Raleigh, by starting at NCSU’s Bell Tower at 7PM with fellow bikers. Be careful not to drink too much free wine if you’re biking back.  ”Go to first friday – there’s usually live music performances outside!!” — DJ Trillian

3.             Go to Hopscotch | Hopscotch Music Festival will be September 6-8 this year. “An annual festival held in downtown Raleigh that showcases some of the finest live acts that the state has to offer.  Put on by Raleigh’s Independent Weekly Magazine, this festival boasts an eclectic lineup of local and touring artists from all walks of music, indie-rock, hip-hop, folk, electronic, and pretty much everything in between.  This year’s lineup features The Roots, The Jesus and Mary Chain, Yo La Tengo, Built To Spill, Danny Brown, The Mountain Goats, and much more!  With free shows starting at noon and lasting until around 5:00 p.m. each day, there’s no reason not to check out this unique festival experience right here in Raleigh!”  -GRZA

4.             Heck, hit all the venues. | Let’s be honest, we’re lucky to live here. In Raleigh you have Kings Barcade, The Pour House, Lincoln Theatre, Slim’s, Berkeley Café, Tir Na Nog Irish Pub, Dive Bar, NC Museum of Art, Southland Ballroom, Deep South, Disco Rodeo, Five Star, Raleigh Amphitheatre and concert halls. Chapel Hill/Carrboro area has Cat’s Cradle, Local 506, Nightlight and The Cave. Durham is home to Motorco, Pinhook, Casbah, American Tobacco Campus and DPAC. And of course, the “other” schools’ concert halls and auditoriums. They’re all great. “Attend any and every Future Islands show.” –May Day

5.             Attend Fridays on the Lawn | This is WKNC’s bi-semester free concert event. It’ll always feature local music, food and swag. Usually on Harris Field (rain locations are necessary sometimes), you’re encouraged to bring some friends and a blanket. This is open to the public, and dogs are welcome, too!

6.             There’s also Music on the Lawn at American Tobacco in Durham | Grab a beer from Tyler’s and enjoy some live music. There’s also dance, movies and jazz events that take place here.

7.             Explore SparkCon | This year, SparkCon will take place September 13-16 in downtown Raleigh. In its 7th year, it will encompass everything from music and film to fire dancers and bartending competitions.

8.             Camp out at Shakori Hills | Located in Pittsboro, Shakori Hills Grassroots Festival happens twice a year, fall and spring. The fall festival will be October 4-7. Camp out with your friends in the woods, make new friends, and wake up to the sound of banjos. Paint your face, dance, cook over a fire…..also, get a Veggie Thing. It’s amazing. “A stellar 4-day music festival in Pittsboro, NC that boasts everything from bluegrass to soul to funk.  Filled with good vibes and good times, this family friendly festival is loaded with diverse music, yoga, and dance workshops that take up the few minutes of the day that don’t have wonderful tunes permeating throughout the farmlands.  A guaranteed beautiful weekend that rolls around twice a year.”     -GRZA

9.             Dance at Rowdy, Rowdy Square dances | “This is a good way to experience square dancing with young folks, and hear some good ol’ music! Be on the lookout for these dances!” -Cosmic Cowboy

 10.          See a band in the Brickyard | The past few years during Shack-a-thon (fundraiser for Habitat for Humanity), WKNC has hosted acoustic performances from local artists. You can also catch the occasional student strumming a guitar, playing accordion or one of NCSU’s a capella groups performing. 

 11.          Picnic for a show at Duke Gardens | Beautiful, serene, and BYOB. Share a blanket and dinner with some friends while watching local bands perform into the sunset. Make a friend at Duke so your tickets are cheaper.

 12.          Listen to a pianist in Caldwell Lounge | If you’re a student in CHASS (College of Humanities and Social Sciences), you’ve probably already done this. There’s a piano set up in Caldwell Lounge that is frequented by talented students. So while you’re between classes, cramming for a test or taking a lunch break, it’s nice to spare a second to listen.

 13.          Grab a beer at Local Band Local Beer | Local NC brewskis on tap and local bands on stage. This 21+ free event happens every Thursday night at 10PM at Tir Na Nog. 

 14.          Read The Independent Weekly | It’s an alternative weekly (free) newspaper that has all the best music, arts and political news. It also keeps you up to date with what events are going on around the county.

 15.          Join a drum circle at Pullen Park | Channel your inner hippy.

 16.          Celebrate Christmas with Trekky Records | Trekky Christmas puts a new spin on classic songs by featuring their bands and mix-matched members.

 17.          Rock out at Bull City Metal Fest | If you’re a metal head, it’s a must. Two days of heavy metal in downtown Durham, pulling national and local acts.

 18.          Enjoy a performance at DPAC | It’s nice and classy. See ballet, theatre or music here. The last one I went to was BB King. Badass.

 19.          Go to a concert at Memorial Hall | Another very nice venue that will get various acts. It’s can be a bit pricy, but it’s worth it.

 20.          End August with Stars in the Round at Shakori | “Great if you don’t have 4 days to devote to camping. Usually 3rd weekend in August” – Mollypop

 21.          Catch the Diggup Tapes show series | It’s a free show series at Kings each month. This is 18+.

 22.          Go to both nights of Double Barrel Benefit | “For people new to the triangle there is no better time than right now to clear your calendar for the next Double Barrel Benefit. It’s going to be the 10th anniversary, and it’s going to be all kinds of awesome.” -DJ Ones

 23.          Party with the triangle’s finest at Indy Week’s “Best of” Party | Each year, Indy has its readers vote on the best in the triangle. In June, they throw a party to celebrate the winners and finalists. In other words, hear the best music, eat the best food, drink the best drinks and get acupuncture.

 24.          Run in the Krispy Kreme Challenge | This annual charity events challenges its participants to eat a dozen donuts mid-race.

 25.          Drink a PBR during PBart | I’m sure you’ll drink one regardless. But PBart has bands and PBR-themed art on showcase, as well as the occasional ropes performers.

 26.          Buy records on Record Store Day  | Internationally celebrated, it’s the third Saturday in April. Labels put out special limited edition releases and stores have in-store performances, swag and discounts. There’s usually a line so go early.

 27.          Compete in the pants off dance off at TRKfest | Okay, so you don’t actually have to take your pants off. Trekky Records has a day set aside each summer to share its music with the triangle. Not to mention this also means local beer, food trucks and local arts vendors.

 28.          Drive to Haw River Ballroom | “Beautiful venue.  if you have time before the show, go to the Haw River General Store before hand for the best gourmet food you’ll find at a convenience store. Seriously.” – Mollypop

 29.          Dance at Discovery and Dirty Mega | Lights, glow sticks, photo booths and dancing until the lights come on. Then a little more of each.

 30.          Give the saxophonists on the corner of Martin/Fayetteville St. money to play “Careless Whisper“ | His rendition is on point. It’ll get stuck it your head, but I’m not sure that’s a bad thing. 

It is with a heavy heart that I relinquish my title as general manager of  WKNC on May 20. My tenure as general manager would not have been made possible without the advice, positive reinforcement, and generosity of my fellow staff members, advisors, and the community at large.  I am certain that DJ Ones, the next general manager at WKNC, will continue to make WKNC the best radio station in the world.

I want to take the last local lunch shift of my time here at WKNC to thank all of the amazing local bands who have helped me and WKNC out throughout this past year.

These are the bands that played shows like Double Barrel Benefit and related Day Party, Fridays on the Lawn, small concerts that may or may not have been successful, and the birthday party. These amazing members of our community donated their time and their talent to WKNC and deserve to be recognized.

This local music scene and related community has made my job worthwhile. There will be airbreaks full of reminiscing, shout outs, and gratitude.

Tune in for the grateful local lunch, Friday May 18 starting early at 11:30 a.m. and going until 1 p.m.

Birds and Arrows play the first night of DBB9

It’s time for our first spring Fridays on the Lawn this year! It will take place Friday, March 30, on Harris Field from 6-8 p.m. Besides FREE food, raffles, and prizes, two awesome local bands will be performing.

Mipso Trio is a folk rock band made up of three UNC students. The band recently sold out Cat’s Cradle and is making a name for themselves in our community.

Clay Pigeons is a four-piece out of Raleigh. You may have heard them play outside Raleigh Times this past First Friday, playing good country music and a few covers.

Also, HeadCount will have a table set up where you can register to vote!

Bring a blanket and a friend, see you there!

Photography by Student Media Photographer John Kovalchik

Created with Admarket’s flickrSLiDR.

It’s that wonderful time of year again. The leaves are changing, the temperature is dropping, and FREE music is played on Harris Field. That’s right, Fridays on the Lawn has returned.  WKNC has again teamed up with our friends in the Union Activities Board and Student Government to bring some of the finest local bands to campus, totally free and complete with fringe benefits!

This year’s show, like the dozen or so before it, will be held on Nov. 4 at 6:30 p.m. featuring none other than Skylar Gudasz and the Ugly Girls as well as Lizzy Ross Band. You may know Lizzy from her recent interview on The Local Beat.  Skylar and those ugly girls may seem familiar after the Arbor Ridge Studios Hopscotch Day Party.  If you missed those two awesome chances to hear them, you definitely shouldn’t miss Fridays on the Lawn!

Design for the Trucker Hats (design by Julie Alvarez)

And how could we call it one of the best events on campus without FREE STUFF? Thanks to our super duper awesome sponsors at Chubby’s Tacos and Ultimate Entertainment, free tacos and trucker hats will be available for the reaping. Various other prizes like CDs, concert tickets, T-shirts, and more will also be up for grabs.

Any and all are welcome to this Friday of fun — so grab your jacket, a quilt, and some friends and get your buttocks out to Friday on the Lawn!

WKNC has again teamed up with our friends in the Union Activities Board and Student Government to bring some of the finest local bands to campus, totally free and complete with fringe benefits!

Come out Harris Field on  April 8 and catch free live performances from two area favorites: Durham’s happy-folk darlings Midtown Dickens and Chapel Hill’s groovy alt-Americana Butterflies.

Midtown performed at last year’s Double Barrel benefit 7, and have since made stops at Local Beer Local Band, Troika Music Festival, Hopscotch Music Festival, and just about everywhere else in between. And with releases on both 307 Knox Records and Trekky Records, Midtown has quite the rap sheet.

We are also just as thrilled to feature Trekky comrades Butterflies. With only one release to their name, you may be surprised should you be fortunate enough to catch them live–you’d think they have been at it for a while. Well now’s your chance, and for completely free!

The show starts at 6:30 and is FREE and open to the public. There will be limited supplies of free food, ticket giveaways, and more! So come out, bring a couple friends, and  enjoy the weather while supporting some of the finest in local music!

WKNC thanks our fine sponsors at Chubby’s Tacos, Vitamin Water, and Ultimate Entertainment.

This past Friday (November 19) was a great day for local music in Raleigh. Hopefully most of you dropped by after work or class and came out to the Harris Field lawn to check out our November installment of Fridays on the Lawn featuring The Tender Fruit and The Tomahawks.  Despite the chillier weather, we experienced a great turnout as people came out with blankets and snuggies to enjoy the free pizza and music.

The Tender Fruit was represented solely by Christy Smith, an N.C. State graduate in English, who managed to hold her own as she worked the kick drum and strummed her guitar. Smith’s voice is really something to admire. On the band’s recent album, Flotsam & Krill, I was blown away by her vocal dynamics, especially on track “Get Out of the Car.” Performing live, she was equally as powerful and her set proved to be calming but also a pleasant juxtaposition against the grittier headliners, The Tomahawks. This past August, Indy Week covered an interesting story on Smith, her past relationship with Justin Vernon of Bon Iver, and how Flotsam& Krill is a response to Vernon’s hit album For Emma, Forever Ago. You can check out the article here.

Future Islands

Although the concert was over before 9 p.m., local music fans were in luck as Future Islands were headlining at Kings Barcade in downtown Raleigh that night as well. Well, that is, if they had bought a ticket in advance as the show was sold out. Although I missed the opener NAPS, I was greeted by the familiar and pleasant sounds of Veelee upon walking into Kings. Matt and Ginger focused their set on their newer songs off their latest album The Future Sight. Veelee recently opened for Merge Record‘s powerhouse, Caribou, on Halloween, which is a sign there are bigger and better things awaiting them.

Lonnie Walker was the last band to perform before the headliners came on stage. The bands are well known friends as Walker and Future Islands recently put out a split 7″ together. The crowd at this point of the night were getting into a frenzy. The front part of the stage where I had posted myself had become a dance floor. My head was particularly swaying to many of the tracks on Island’s recent album, In Evening Air. The night was everything to be expected of Future Islands: funny antics from lead singer Sam Herring, stage dancing, and great music.

It may be a chilly one, but this year’s final installment of the Fridays on the Lawn on-campus concert series will be sure to impress.

This Friday, November 19th, will feature headliners The Tomahawks, out of Chapel Hill with the Carrboro-based Tender Fruit starting the evening off at 6:30. (This iteration of The Tender Fruit will be Christy Smith performing solo. “Solo” does this lady no justice, though. Her voice packs the punch of a full orchestra.)

As usual, the show will start at 6:30 on Harris Field at NC State, and is completely free and open to the public.

There will be a limited supply of free pizza thanks to our friends at Ruckus Pizza, and, since the autumn weather is in full swing, there will be hot cocoa as well.  There will also be giveaways! Hurra.

Hope to see you out there!

Created with Admarket’s flickrSLiDR.

Created with Admarket’s flickrSLiDR.