This week on WKNC, we will be giving away a plethora of delightful goodies! In addition to the 2010 Honda Civic Tour with Paramore on July 23, you could win tickets for these shows:

On July 20, we have tickets to Old Habits and The Preservation at The Pour House.

On July 22, we have tickets to  SOJA (Soldiers of Jah Army) at The Lincoln Theatre.

DJ Elly May previews the July 23 performance of the Shen Wei Dance troupe at the Durham Performing Arts Center.

On July 24, we have tickets to the Red Clay Ramblers at The North Carolina Museum of Art.

On July 25, we have tickets to Spencefest, featuring The T’s, Richard Bacchus and The Loners at Slim’s.

Finally, lucky listeners will have a chance to see the movie Inception at Crossroads 20 Regal Cinema in Cary. Call us up at 860-0881 or 515-2400!

I received the privilege of attending a traditional bluegrass show last night.  I watched the Del McCoury Band perform at Lincoln Theatre Friday, June 4. This show reminded of why I enjoy bluegrass:

• The way all of the men in the band dress. The coat and tie get me every time.
• Each musician looks like he is completely enjoying himself.
• Each instrument gets a solo—in every song!
• Simple lyrics get the point across (yep, you’re in love… okay, you’re sad… oh, you’re drunk…) and complex instrumentals make every song into a masterpiece.
• The adoration of fans from every walk of life.  This show was full of older folks who had probably followed Del McCoury since the 60s,  Southern men in camouflage hats,  hip 20-somethings new to the scene, and of course, me (DJ Mollypop) and my bluegrass companion, Rob.

Del McCoury just celebrated 50 years of making music, starting out as a Pennsylvanian banjo player and making it to Nashville decades later with his music-making sons. Del and his band have earned numerous awards from the International Bluegrass Music Association.

Called “the best bluegrass band, period” by fellow musicians, this show epitomizes why I love bluegrass.  They played older originals like “Rain and Snow,” even older bluegrass tunes, such as “Bluegrass Breakdown” and “Get on Your Knees and Pray,” and covered a few famous songs by artists like Willie Nelson and Slim Whitman. Del and his band played songs “Hello Lonely” and “I Remember You” off their new album, Family Circle.

McCoury senior kept up a lively banter with the audience, whether it be to admit that he forgot the lyrics, or to take shouted requests. He introduced the members like a proud father (or father figure): Ronnie McCoury on mandolin, Rob McCoury on banjo, Jason Carter on fiddle, and Alan Bartram on bass.  These boys were all significantly younger than him, but I think even they sometimes had a hard time keeping up with 71 year old Del McCoury.

Inspiring to any musician, Jason Carter worked with a broken string in the last song of their two-song encore; he quickly re-tuned his violin to make up for the lost E string and finished off the song with the rest of the band impeccably.

Maybe it’s the suits, maybe it’s the smiles, maybe it’s just the twang, but the multiple standing ovations the Del McCoury Band received Friday night proves their place in bluegrass.

This week’s EOT covered many topics popping up in the news lately from history education reform to the earthquakes in Chile and Haiti to Ignite Raleigh, and more. Be sure to check out the links for more info.

NEWS
On this week’s newscast, guest newscaster William Lampe and Correspondent Evan Garris gave us the top headlines for the week:
Earthquake/Tsunami
Bosnian wars
Guantanamo detainee case
Apple’s use of child labor
Canada beats U.S.
I-40 wreckage
ABC system in N.C.
Listen to the stories here:

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SPORTS
This week in sports, Correspondents Tommy Anderson and Tyler Everett gave listeners the weekly update:

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VIEWPOINT
This week, Evan spoke on his views about tolerance toward homosexuality. Here is an excerpt: This stigma we’ve created is what’s unacceptable — and oh, did we create it. No god would be so bold as to say one man is worth more than another because of who he happens to love. Homosexuality is about as much of a choice as heterosexuality, but for some reason, we can’t see the writing on the wall; for some reason, two men cannot share a loving relationship equal to that of a man and a woman. I guess it’s just become easier to fear what we don’t know and hate what we refuse to understand.” Listen to the full editorial here and let us know what you think:

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VIP
Members of North Carolina’s Department of Public Instruction drafted of a plan that calls for teaching history before 1877 to not be taught in North Carolina high schools in the traditional way but instead for it to be taught in elementary and middle schools. Since this first draft was published, the amount of debate over it has been intense. Some believe students won’t be able to get the history education necessary to excel in college, while others argue that students are given a more specialized look into particular areas of U.S. history. Michael Jones, a history major and EOT correspondent, thought he would set the record straight. He sat down N.C. State Professor Holly Brewer and Superintendent of the Department of Public Instruction June Atkinson, to get a more comprehensive understanding of what’s in the first draft and what the implications of the first draft have on history education reform in North Carolina. And EOT host Saja Hindi did a live phone interview with social studies teacher from Broughton High School Lee Quinn to talk about the plan and teachers’ sentiments. The initial plan was rejected after feedback and a new plan is set to be posted in April. Listen to the full segment:

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COMMUNITY CANVAS

This week on Community Canvas, Jacob Downey talked with Ryan Boyles an event coordinator for Ignite Raleigh. The second Ignite Raleigh event will take place March 3 from 7 to 9 p.m. at the Lincoln Theatre. Fifteen participants will be sharing their ideas about topics ranging from 20 Little-Known Facts about Sex & Pleasure to Mayberry Modernism or Why the Triangle is America’s Hotspot for Way Cool Houses. Boyles tells us how the presenters were chosen, the constraints of the five minute presentations and how audience members can give back to their community at through Doners Choose. We also talked one of the founders of the Ignite series Brady Forrest about the events origin. Listen here:

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WOLFPACKER OF THE WEEK
For this week’s online-esclusive Wolfpacker of the Week, I sat down with Jennifer Halweil, a senior in electrical engineering, to talk about her project with a team of two other students to participate in a world-wide competition hosted by Société Générale, an international bank headquartered in Paris. “We are the only U.S. team that has advanced to the second round of the competition,” Halweil said. To make it to the final round of the competition and potentially win 12,000 euros and the opportunity to implement their idea, the group had 12 days (since the interview) to promote a wikiblog about the project and garner as much feedback and support through the site.  Her team’s idea is “to create a banking network to support women entrepreneurs, with the goal of increasing women’s access to financial capital, as well as creating opportunities for women in poor and rural areas.” Listen to Halweil’s plan here:

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SOUNDBYTES
This week on Soundbytes, Correspondent Chris Cioffi talked to students about how they were helping or hope the University will help to benefit those who suffered from the earthquakes in Haiti and Chili. Here is what people had to say:

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Comments, questions, suggestions? E-mail us at publiaffairs@wknc.org.

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Be sure to tune into 88.1 WKNC for your chance to win tickets to these awesome shows happening the week of November 22:

Tuesday, November 24:

Capelton w/ Anthony B, Cocoa T, and Steve Martinez & The Give Thanks Band @ Lincoln Theatre

Capelton

Thursday, November 26:

NAPS w/ Felix the Drum Machine @ Slim’s

NAPS

Saturday, November 28:

Pico vs. Island Trees w/ Michael Alvarado @ Lincoln Theatre

Pico vs. Island Trees photo by Evan Perigo

Thad Cockrell w/ Civil Wars @ The Pour House

Thack Cockrell photo by Reid Rolls

For a complete list of local shows in your area, check out The Rock Report!

Here are the shows happening this week that WKNC 88.1 is giving tickets away to:

Monday, Nov. 9:

Blind Pilot w/The Low Anthem @ Cat’s Cradle

Blind Pilot

Tuesday, Nov. 10:

Matisyahu w/Moon Taxi @ Lincoln Theatre

Matisyahu

The Get Up Kids w/Kevin Devine and Mansions @ Cat’s Cradle

The Get Up Kids

Thursday, Nov. 12:

RAKIM w/Rhymefest, DJ BRORABB and The Urban Sophisticates @ Lincoln Theatre

Rakim

Friday, Nov. 13:

Minus the Bear w/Twin Tigers and Maple Stave @ Cat’s Cradle

Minus the Beat photo by Ryan Russell

Satuday, Nov 14:

Dan Auerbach w/Justin Townes Earl and Jessica Lea Mayfield @ Cat’s Cradle

Dan Auerbach

Be sure to listen in to 88.1 WKNC for your chance to win tickets!

Check out these awesome shows going on this week that WKNC is giving away tickets to:

Tuesday, October 27:

Pinback w/ Bellini @ Cat’s Cradle

Pinback

Thursday, October 29:
Calico Haunts w/ Mt. Moriah and Filthybird @ Nightlight

Calico Haunts photo by Anna Lee Harkins

Junior Boys w/ Woodhands @ Cat’s Cradle

Junior Boys

Friday, October 30:

Polynya w/ Veelee and Actual Persons Living or Dead @ Nightlight

Polynya

Why? w/ Au and Serengeti & Polyphonic @ Cat’s Cradle

Why? photo by Sarah Cass

Saturday, October 31:

Toubab Krewe w/ Floating Action @ Cat’s Cradle

Toubab Krewe photo by Dave Vann

Yo Mama’s Big Fat Booty Band w/Funkuponya and Eymarel @ Lincoln Theatre

Yo Mama's Big Fat Booty Band photo by Katie

Be sure to tune into 88.1 WKNC for your chance to win tickets! Also, check out the Rock Report for a complete listing of local shows near you!

Here are the shows happening this week that WKNC is giving tickets away to:

Monday, October 19:
Art Brut w/ Princeton and Ben Davis & The Jetts @ Cat’s Cradle

Art Brut

Wednesday October 21:
Sea Wolf w/ Port O’ Brien and Sarah Lov @ Nightlight – Presented by Cat’s Cradle

Sea Wolf

Dr. Dog and Jeffery Lewis @ Cat’s Cradle

Dr. Dog

Thursday, October 22:
Cartel w/ This Providence, The Summer Set and The Bigger Lights @ Lincoln Theatre

Cartel

Friday ,October 23:
NAPS (side project of Lonnie Walker) with  Tavo Carbone and Trevor Wilson @ Nightlight

The Mars Volta @ Disco Rodeo – Presented by Live Nation

The Mars Volta

Saturday October 24th:
Blount Harvey w/ Waylandsphere @ The Pour House

Electric Six w/ The Gay Blades and Millions of Brazilians @ Cat’s Cradle

Electric Six photo by Alicia Gbur

The Moaners w/ The Toddlers and Weatherkings @ Nightlight

The Moaners photo by Michael Triplett

Thursday w/ Fall of Troy, The Dear Hunter, and Midnight Masses @ Lincoln Theatre

Thursday

Be sure to listen in to 88.1 WKNC for your chance to win tickets!!

Listen in to 88.1 WKNC for your chance to win tickets to the following shows happening this week:

Tuesday October 13:

Pnuma Trio w/Speakerdevil @ Lincoln Theatre

Pnuma Trio

Spider Bags w/ Pinche Gringo and Harlem @ Nightlight

Spider Bags

Thursday October 15:

Bassnectar w/Heavyweight Dub Champion @ Cat’s Cradle

Bassnectar photo by Amy Whitehouse

Friday October 16:

Megafaun w/Black Twig Pickers and Charlie Parr @ Nightlight

Megafaun photo by Derek Anderson

Om w/ Six Organs of Admittance and Lichens @ Cat’s Cradle

Om

Saturday October 17:

Jay Love Reggae Festival @ Lincoln Theatre

Polvo w/My Dad is Dead and Savage Knights @ Cat’s Cradle

Polvo

Be sure to check out more local shows on The Rock Report and listen in for your chance to win tickets to shows this week!

WKNC is giving away tickets to a glorious amount of local shows happening this week! Here are all the shows that are happening this week that WKNC is giving away tickets to:

Tuesday Oct 6th:

Carbon Leaf w/ Stephen Kellogg & The Sixers and Dawn Landes @ Cat’s Cradle

Carbon Leaf

Wednesday Oct 7th:

Valient Thorr w/Early Man and White Tiger and The Bed of Roses @ The Pour House

Valient Thorr

Thursday Oct 8th:

Everclear w/ Paper Tongues and  Tracy Lyons @ Lincoln Theatre

Everclear

The Revolutionary Sweethearts w/Pink Flag and Proof @ The Pour House

The Revolutionary Sweethearts

Friday Oct 9th:

Blizten Trapper w/ Wye Oak @ Cat’s Cradle

Blitzen Trapper photo by Jade Harris

Cowboy Junkies @ The Arts Center (Presented by Cat’s Cradle)

Cowboy Junkies

Saturday Oct 10th:

I Was Totally Destroying It CD Release Party w/ Lonnie Walker, Des Ark, Rat Jackson, Lake Inferior, and Magic Mike Casey@ Cat’s Cradle

I Was Totally Destroying It photo by Jason Arthurs

Listen in for your chance to win tickets to these great shows! And don’t forget to check out the Rock Report for more local shows in your area!

There are always lots of awesome shows going on in the Triangle, but October seems to be just stuffed full of them. Below is a limited preview of some of the hippest, hottest acts to catch this month.

WKNC gets a lot of praise for our weekly Local Beer Local Band series at Tir Na Nog, but a good chunk of the credit belongs to Chris Tamplin. Help thank Chris for putting up with us Thursday, Oct. 1 as Local Beer Local Band doubles as Chris’s Birthday Local Band Bash. Prabir and The Substitutes and Goner are on the bill and rumor has it there may be a magician.

The much anticipated Hear Here finale show is Saturday, Oct. 3 at The Pour House. Motorskills opens, followed by Inflowential and The Love Language. Tickets are not available in advance so be sure to get there when doors open at 8 p.m. Once inside $5 will get you a copy of the Hear Here CD; there are less than 90 shopping days before Christmas so feel free to stock up.

St. Vincent was one of the hottest groups on 88.1 this summer. They open for Andrew Bird Wednesday, Oct. 7 and Thursday, Oct. 8. at the Cat’s Cradle. Both nights are sold out. If you aren’t one of the lucky ticket holders, personal favorites Everclear play Oct. 8 at the Lincoln Theatre.

Saturday, Oct. 10 is I Was Totally Destroying It’s release party for Horror Vacui at the Cat’s Cradle. The $7 advance and $10 door prices include a copy of the CD. If that isn’t enough to get you there, how about supporting bands Lonnie Walker, Des Ark, Rat Jackson and Lake Inferior?

Baltimore-based J. Roddy Walston and the Business is one of those bands you love as though they were native sons. Mike Roy joins them for their CD release party Wednesday, Oct. 14 at The Pour House.

Berkley Café hosts Lonnie Walker, Goner and Gray Young on Friday, Oct. 16. Try not to rock so hard you miss Luego’s CD release party Saturday, Oct. 17 at the Local 506. The Tomahawks and The Huguenots will be there too.

Raleigh’s Cherry Bounce Music Festival starts Sunday, Oct. 18 and runs throughout the week at various local venues. I’ve been sworn to secrecy about the line-up, but I can tell you to tune in to Local Lunch on Thursday to find out more.

Experimental prog rockers The Mars Volta invade the Disco Rodeo on Friday, Oct. 23. They’ll be in Charlotte the day before if you’re a really big fan.

A bunch of KNC staff saw Charlotte’s Benji Hughes in April and they’re still talking about it. See him for yourself as he performs with The Light Pines Saturday, Oct. 24 at the Local 506.

Fridays on the Lawn continue Friday, Oct. 30 with Max Indian and Schooner. It’s a totally free show on Harris Field, right in front of our radio home in the Witherspoon Student Center (corner of Cates Ave and Dan Allen Drive) at N.C. State. WKNC and the Union Activities Board put on the show with support from Student Government and the Inter-residence Council.

Check out WKNC’s Rock Report for more shows and feel free to leave comments about who’s on your to see list for October.

Listen in for your chance to win tickets to these awesome local shows happening this week:

Tuesday, September 15th
Missing Cats @ Presented by Cat’s Cradle at Arts Center

Trail of Dead and Secret Machines @ Cat’s Cradle

Trail of Dead

Cowboy Mouth w/ Simplified @ Lincoln Theatre

Cowboy Mouth photo by Sandra O'Claire

Keegan Dewitt with Parachute Musical and Wakey Wakey @ Nightlight

Keegan Dewitt

Old Habits

Old Ceremony with Sunfold @ The Pour House

The Old Ceremony photo by Derek L Anderson

Zoso with Van Heaven @ Lincoln Theatre

Zoso

Who’s Bad with Barbarella @ Cat’s Cradle

Who's Bad

They Might Be Giants

Be sure to listen in to WKNC 88.1 this week for your chance to win  tickets to these up-coming shows:

Hot Tuna Electric

Hot Tuna Electric @ Cat’s Cradle Tuesday Sept 1st

Bad Fish

Badfish @ Lincoln Theatre Sept 2nd

Jack Rose

Jack Ross Show @ Nightlight Sept 4th

Yo Mama's Big Fat Booty Band

Yo Mama’s Big Fat Booty Band @ Cat’s Cradle  Sept 4th

Carolina Chocolate Drops www.julierobertsphoto.com

Carolina Chocolate Drops @ Cat’s Cradle  Sept 5th

The Melvins

Down with The Melvins @ The Fillmore in Charlotte  Sept 5th

Check out these local shows and other shows in your area on The Rock Report and listen in for your chance to win tickets!

WKNC has some new and exciting tickets to giveawathis coming week! Check out the shows going on July 19 to 25 for which WKNC will give away tickets:

Sunday, July 19:
Lost In The Trees playing @ Cat’s Cradle

Scream The Prayer Tour @ Lincoln Theatre

Wednesday, July 22:
Roger Clyne and The Peacemakers @ Lincoln Theatre

Roger Clyne and The Peacemakers

Dark Party (Eliot Lipp & Leo 123 w/Mux Mool) @ The Pour House

Eliot Lipp

Saturday, July 25:
Annuals & The Old Ceremony @ NC Museum of Art

Annuals

The Bleeding Hearts with The Dielectrics & Stonefox @ The Pour House

The Bleeding Hearts

In addition to these great shows, WKNC is also giving away tickets to following shows:

Robert Cray Band July 23 @ Koka Booth

Robert Cray

The Big Surprise Tour w/ Old Crow Medicine Show August 10 @ Koka Booth

Old Crow Medicine Show

Coldplay August 6 @ Time Warner Cable Music Pavilion

Coldplay

Be sure to listen in to WKNC 88.1 for your chance to win some of these great tickets! Also, be sure to check out The Rock Report for a complete list of local shows near you!

As someone who has worked more than a dozen on-air fundraisers, practically begging for the telephone to ring, I wholeheartedly agree that the best way to raise money is through a rocking concert. WKNC does it through our annual Double Barrel Benefit and so does Band Together NC, a local non-profit whose mission is “to raise funds and awareness for select charities through events that showcase and support musical talent.” Since its formation in 2001, Band Together has raised more than $635,000 for Triangle charities.

Band Together’s latest effort took place Saturday, June 6 with Chatham County Line, The Rosebuds and Rusted Root performing on the Lincoln Theatre Street Stage. Band Together alumni HOBEX closed out the evening with a set inside the Lincoln. MyNC.com reports the Band Together committee presented a $108,000 check to the Lucy Daniels Center for Early Childhood just before Rusted Root took the stage.

Chatham County Line took the stage at 6 p.m. I could hear the beginning notes of “The Carolinian” as I rushed to the blocked off area of Cabarrus Street between Blount and Wilmington in downtown Raleigh. The Lincoln Theatre street stage was against the Wilmington Street side, with the Silent Auction area, requisite Budweiser beer line and Southern Season Catering trailer leading to Blount.

With the banjo, mandolin and guitar players crowded around the microphone and the bassist two steps behind, the mic stand could have just as easily read WSM as Chatham Co Line. The Raleigh-based quartet makes appearances on Americana, Blues and Co. as well as during our daytime format, with their album IV. The set list included newer tunes “Chip of a Star” and “Whipping Boy” and older ones like “Route 23.” The crowd was a little thin when the band began, but filled in as the set wore on, prompting one of the band members to compliment the crowd for being much better than the one there 15 minutes prior.

Indie pop rockers The Rosebuds were the evening’s second act. Guitarist Ivan Howard led the crowd in a sing-a-long on “Nice Fox,” encouraging the crowd to yell so loud they could be heard in Fuquay. The decibel level didn’t get quite that high, but the crowd seemed genuinely engaged, swaying as they repeated “and it don’t mean nothing at all.” The Raleigh duo has a sparse performance schedule this summer, but will be at the Duke Gardens this Wednesday, June 10th.

WKNC has more tickets this week to giveaway. Check out what the deejays will be distributing during the daytime rock formats:

Left Outlet playing @ The Pour House Thursday April 23rd

American Aquarium playing @ The Pour House Saturday April 25th

Toubab Krewe playing @ Lincoln Theatre Saturday April 25th

Listen on 88.1 or streaming online

Sneak Peek for next weeks giveaways:

Dinosaur Jr – Mon, Apr 27 @ Cat’s
The Kills – Tues, Apr 28 @ Cat’s
Reverend Horton Heat – Fri, May 1 @ Cat’s