This week at WKNC, it’s a veritable giveaway-a-palooza:

Barenaked Ladies w/Ben Kweller @ Raleigh Amphitheater on 7/31

Phoenix @ The Koka Booth Amphitheater on 6/11

Passion Pit @ The Fillmore in Charlotte on 6/11

Martha Ann Motel @ Slim’s on 6/11

The Light Pines @ Pour House on 6/11

Dirty Dozen Brass Band @ Cat’s Cradle on 6/12

Max Indian @ Pour House on 6/12

We’re also still giving away passes to Robin Hood, Sex and the City 2, and Killers at Crossroads 20,

as well as The Karate Kid advance screening at North Hills 14 Thursday night at 7 p.m.

Keep Listening to WKNC, and ya might just win something!!!!!

Friday night I had the pleasure, nay the privilege, of seeing My Morning Jacket in concert at Cary’s Koka Booth Amphitheatre.  I had never been to the amphitheater before and had heard mixed reviews about the acoustics and general atmosphere of the place, but upon arrival I found the woodsy setting to be quite appropriate for the show.  It was hot, and it didn’t get any cooler when the sun went down since the lawn was completely amass with people.  Fortunately, I had a spot saved for me by some people who had gotten there earlier and was able to grab a seat at the very front of the lawn seating, stage left.

The hush and then the screams when the band took the stage were reminiscent of so many major concerts I had been to, and unfortunately, so was the performance.  Everything seemed sort of quiet and lacking energy.  I kept waiting for the emotionally electrifying display of musicianship I had seen on a DVD of My Morning Jacket performances, but it didn’t arrive — at least not until about three or four songs from the end of their set.  Finally, things seemed to blow up but I was so tired and hot by that point that it was difficult to enjoy.  Don’t get me wrong.  I had a great time and the music was good.  Maybe next time I’ll try to catch the boys from Kentucky in a smaller venue.

Whether your first experience with Phoenix has been hearing their 1901 track on the Cadillac Crossover commercial or if you’ve stuck with the band since their debut album United, it is undeniable that the French band has set their mark with their eclectic and synthesized sound. Formed in 1999, the group got their start touring in French bars doing Hank Williams and Prince covers and has since released four albums. Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix was released in 2009 and received recognition on the Billboard Alternative Songs chart in January 2010 and won Best Alternative Album at the 52nd Annual GRAMMY Awards.

This week WKNC will be giving away tickets to their show on June 11th at the Koka Booth Amphitheater in Cary before they go on sale! When the deejay announces it, be the correct caller to win a pair of tickets to the show. Listen only on 88.1FM or streaming online.

And don’t fret if you don’t win this week, because daytime deejays will also be giving away pairs of tickets next week too!

WKNC listeners and supporters,

We hope you have already bought your Double Barrel Benefit tickets; we’ve sold a bunch already. Physical 2-day passes are available at Schoolkids Records on Hillsborough Street here in Raleigh, and you can order your tickets online here.

We have a few exciting announcements as we get closer to the exciting two-night event.

1) Double Barrel Benefit 7 shirts are in, and they are awesome! Kudos to Kirsten Southwell for the design and Aardvark Screenprinting for making it work on a shirt.  You can get yours for $12 at the shows.  But, of course, supplies are limited!

2) We’re happy to report that the one and only Magic Mike Casey will be on hand for both nights, doing a little magic on stage and working the crowd.  If you didn’t know, he is truly a wizard and will perform the kind of up-close wonders that will absolutely convince you he’s performing magic rather than tricks.  He will take the stage before the first act of each night and be on hand, so be sure to look for him.

3)  We’re very grateful to both Holly Aiken and Aardvark Screenprinting for their help with some special items: WKNC Stitch bags.  You’ve probably seen the storefront on the corner of Wilmington and Hargett Streets in downtown Raleigh, or you’ve seen someone around with one of her stylish vinyl bags.  We’re lucky enough to have a limited run of WKNC clutches and tote bags with a design relevant to the 7th annual Double Barrel Benefit.  We’ll be holding a silent auction for these items each of the two nights, so you need to get in the door to see these for yourself. (Below are the bag types we will be auctioning, but you’ll have to be there to see them in person!)

4) We have a stockpile of really awesome swag that we’re dying to give away, so we’ll be conducting a raffle each night to give some of it away.  Our raffle tickets will be ($1 apiece) numbered PBR temporary tattoos!  Here are the items we’ll be be giving away for each night:

FRIDAY:

SATURDAY:

We hope you’re as excited about these developments as we are. Rain, sleet, snow, shine, whatever: the show will go on, and we hope we’ll see you at The Pour House Friday and Saturday night.  Remember: doors at 8, show at 9!

That’s right, the four piece band from Kentucky, My Morning Jacket, will be making an appearance in Cary at the Koka Booth Amphitheatre on Friday April 30 for their Southeastern  Tickets aren’t available until February 5  at noon, however WKNC has the hookup. Over the new few weeks we’ll be giving away pairs of tickets to the show.

Birthed from a discarded coat lead singer Jim James saw while walking through the remains of his favorite bar the morning after it burned down, My Morning Jacket got it’s beginnings in 1998 and has since then put out five albums.  Since performing for a New Year’s show in 2009 at Madison Square Garden, the band has been on a short hiatus. Jim James spent this time to release a George Harrison cover album under the alias Yim Yames. Luckily, the boys are now back on tour performing various shows in the south with the Performance Hall Jazz Band.

Listen only on 88.1 F.M. or streaming online for your chances to win!