WKNC 88.1 FM - North Carolina State University Student RadioGet excited about upcoming shows
The Post Rock Block is presenting Goodbye, Titan with No Eyes and The Revolutionary Sweethearts on Saturday, Sept. 8 at DIVEbar at 10PM. This event will not require a Hopscotch wristband, but it’s still close to all the action of downtown being located on Glenwood South – and free.
Goodbye, Titan will also drop by the studio during The Post Rock Block 7-8PM this Sunday, Sept. 2, to speak more on their upcoming show, new songs and Hopscotch festivities.
The beginning of the 2012-2013 school year means the beginning of great outdoor concerts, starting with WKNC’s Concert on the Lawn! It will take place Monday, August 13 from 5:30-8:00 pm and will feature FREE FOOD from Marco’s Pizza, FREE PRIZES, and two spectacular local acts from Actual Proof and Tab-One with Sunshine J.
Actual Proof is a Funk/Fusion/Jazz quartet based in the RDU area, and they have played countless local shows. Their music is fantastically funky and always brings in the best qualities of electric jazz and rock. This band has one crazy fun set that will get you grooving.
Tab-One with Sunshine J is the awesome collaboration of both Kooley High member Tab-One and Sunshine J, two great Hip Hop artists from right here in Raleigh. They are considered by many to be one of the greatest local Hip hop artists and you will not want to miss out on seeing them for free.
A big thank you to Inter-Residence Council, Student Government, and the Union Activities Board for their help in setting up this event! There will be many other campus organizations at the event, as well as representatives from companies such as Vitamin Water.
It’s going to be an exciting concert, so bring friends, a blanket, and have fun!
Being from Florida, summertime is my favorite time. I love it when it gets so hot and muggy that even the mosquitoes can’t fly and your only refuge is a piece of watermelon, an ice-cold beverage and the music in front of you.
My three favorite outdoor venues in the Triangle allow picnics and sell all of the best local brews. Read on for summer shows to look out for at The North Carolina Museum of Art (NCMA), Sarah P. Duke Gardens, and American Tobacco.
Located on Blue Ridge Road in Raleigh, NCMA has the largest concert arena of any art museum in the country and as such can bring brings some of the best acts around. I had the opportunity to see Bela Fleck and the Flecktones, Lucinda Williams, and Gillian Welch there last summer.
Summer 2012, NCMA brings us:
AfroCubism: June 10
If you like Buena Vista Social Club, Malain music, and awesome beats, check this show out.
Doc Watson and Deep River Rising: June 30
At 89, Doc Watson can still tear up a guitar. If you haven’t heard of Doc Watson but love old-timey music and all things bluegrassy and folk, don’t miss this chance to see one of the trailblazers of this genre.
Andrew Bird w/ Mavis Staples: July 10
Through a collaboration with Cat’s Cradle, indie folk master Andrew Bird will whistle the night away with rhythm and blues goddess Mavis Staples.
Neko Case: July 14
I’ve never seen this woman perform solo, but I had the chance to see her with The New Pornographers a few summers ago. Her voice is everything female vocals should be.
More shows listed later in the summer and further information is available here. Be sure to listen to WKNC all summer, as we usually do a considerable amount of giveaways for these shows. Tickets for these shows range from $15-35, with a discount for children and a prime seating location for members. Parking can be tough: I suggest either arriving early or parking in one of the administrative buildings slightly up Blue Ridge. Get to these shows early so you can spread out your picnic blanket, grab a bottle of wine (sold at the venue) and enjoy the evening.
Located in the heart of Duke’s West Campus, Duke Gardens is a spectacle in itself. 55-acres of native and non-native plants provide the perfect backdrop (and aroma) for the summer concert series. Doors (gates?) open at 6:30, so be sure to set up early behind the Visitor’s Center. I’ve never had the chance to come to one of these shows, but as I’ll be living less than 3 miles away this summer, they’ll have to pry me away. All of the artists presented here are local indie acts.
The Beast + Big Band: June 6
Local hip-hop infused with jazz.
The Old Ceremony: June 13
Indie rock bordering “dad rock,” but in a good way.
Dex Romweber and the New Romans: June 21
I love this description from Independently Weekly, “noir-tinged Americana”
Bombadil: June 27
Rolling indie rock infused with folk, teddy bears, and a bit of sorrow
Mandolin Orange: July 11
One of the best duos around, keeping traditional folk alive with modern inspiration
Midtown Dickens: July 18
Playful and thoughtful, their music makes you literally sing along “this is the best summer ever”
Megafaun: July 25
Do I need to describe these guys? Experimental folk with deep themes and beards.
More information about the shows and tickets is available here. Tickets are $12, with a $5 discounted price for Duke employees and students. There is a cafe on site selling full meals, snacks, wine, and beer. You’ll find me sneaking in some watermelon slices and lemonade. Parking is available after 5 p.m. for free in the Garden Lots. Be careful with parking outside of the garden; Campus Police will get ya!
Located next to WUNC in the American Tobacco Campus, this venue is secluded with restaurants and shops on all sides and arranged perfectly for concerts. The audience is separated from the band by a moat, which keeps the ravenous fan girls like me off banjo players like Chatham County Line’s Chandler Holt. It also sets the stage, literally, with the babbling of water and a home-town feel as the band plays under the water tower. Like the other venues presented here, they are very family friendly and allow for picnics and serve all of the best beverages.
Music Maker Relief Foundation Blues Revue: May 11
I saw these guys at Shakori Hills and it was like watching the history of Blues before your eyes.
Tony Rice Unit: May 18
Traditional bluegrass, performed immaculately.
Adam Hurt, Stephanie Coleman, and Beth Williams Hartness
Bluegrass trio, with bits of loose mountain music
Pops for Pops: June 17
What better way to celebrate Father’s day than with jazz of all kinds. Durham Jazz Orchestra and Durham Community Concert Band will play all night.
Lizzy Ross Band: June 22
This girl can sing. She is a cute, young musician who can belt out some of jazziest, smoothest music out there. Her band provides a full Americana, folk rock inspired set.
John Brown and the Groove Shop Band: July 4
A 13-piece band full of funk, rhythm, and blues.
Justin Robinson and the Mary Annettes: July 27
Don’t expect Carolina Chocolate Drops sound. Former Drop, Robinson, is experimenting with his musical style with this ethereal genre-break band.
John Howie Jr. and the Rosewood Bluff: August 10
Honky-tonk Americana with an occasional rock-kick.outdoor
For show listings after August 10 and more information, go here. Sponsored in part of by Back Porch Music, all of these shows are family friendly acts with their mind to roots music. All of these shows, unless otherwise noted, are free. There are great restaurants surround the venue and Whole Foods usually sets up a table selling fresh dinners. I usually end up bringing my own snacks, but end up buying a locopop.
Phew. There is a lot going on this summer and I hope that this has helped you formulate a plan of action for shows to see. Did I miss any awesome outdoor venues? Comment with your favorites and maybe I’ll blog about those shows as well!
My Morning Jacket will team up with Band of Horses this summer for a month-long tour culminating with a Sunday, Aug. 26 performance at the downtown Raleigh Amphitheater. Thanks to our friends at Live Nation, lucky WKNC listeners have a chance to win tickets before they go on sale this Saturday, May 5 at 10 a.m.
For those without fast fingers or who don’t have 860-0881 and 515-2400 on speed dial (remember to add the 919!), lawn tickets will run $36.50 each (fees included), while reserved seating tops out at $57.85 a ticket (again, fees included). A dollar of the ticket price will be donated to the Neuse Riverkeeper Foundation. My Morning Jacket and Band of Horses will also perform Saturday, Aug. 25 at the Time Warner Cable Uptown Amphitheatre in Charlotte. The Charlotte Public Tree Fund will receive a $1 for each ticket sold to the Charlotte show.
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!
With the success of the previous 8 Double Barrel Benefits, WKNC is broadening its emphasis on all things local. This year, DBB will include a day party and market Saturday, February 4 from NOON to 5 p.m. at Tir na nOg Irish Pub, just two doors down from The Pour House. The event is free and all ages!
Raffles will be held for WKNC merch, concert tickets, and VIP passes to Hopscotch 2012! There is also a fantastic list of Triangle charities, artists, and businesses important to WKNC. Check out the following artists
David Thompson is an N.C. State basketball legend. He led the Wolfpack to its first NCAA championship in 1974, and he graces the cover of Raleigh-based Kooley High’s newest album, Kooley High Presents… David Thompson. This Saturday, Dec. 10, hip-hop enthusiasts will celebrate the release of this new album with a CD release party at The Pour House in downtown Raleigh featuring Kooley High, King Mez, Actual Proof, and Lazurus. The show is 21+ and doors open at 9 p.m.
I’m what you might call a hip-hop novice. I set my Pandora to Mos Def and I’m good for hours. Kooley High Presents… David Thompson is definitely helping me branch out into the genre. The group of former NCSU students layers funky beats and clever rhymes to create a sound that I’m not quite used to, but I’m definitely into. I’m especially a fan of track six, a special anthem titled “Dear Raleigh” that actually makes me feel attached to the red-brick ocean that is NCSU. New Raleigh blog agrees that Kooley High does Raleigh justice.
Adam Kincaid will host the group on The Local Beat tonight from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. I’m hoping to get a glimpse into Kooley High’s inspiration, their reasoning behind the iconic album cover, and hear more about their upcoming show.
Luckily for you (and me), I will be attending Saturday’s show and reporting back on Monday, Dec. 12. Come back to the blog to read about my experience with four of Raleigh’s best hip hop artists.
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!
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!
It’s finally time for round two of Hopscotch Music Festival, coming up this weekend, September 8-10 in downtown Raleigh.
This year offers a special free day party sponsored by Port Merch – College Radio Showcase, presented by WUAG, WKNC, WXYC and WXDU. The four college radio stations are part of UNC-Greensboro, N.C. State University, UNC-Chapel Hill and Duke University, respectively. The stations have collaborated to create an awesome lineup of local music from the Triangle (and slightly beyond) by each choosing one band to represent them: Nests (WKNC), Whatever Brains (WXYC), Free Electric State (WXDU) and The Bronzed Chorus (WUAG). These bands cover the genres of post-country, shoegaze, punk, experimental and indie rock.
The day party will be at White Collar Crime on Saturday, September 10, noon until five.
All Hopscotch day parties are free and require no ticket for entry. For a full list of Hopscotch’s day parties, refer to their day party schedule.
Live Nation’s Skullcandy Identity Festival kicked off its American tour on August 11, which has electronica lovers nationwide all hyped up. With three stages and numerous acts, it promises to be a rowdy dance party. It might be overwhelming for some, but it will definitely be a great end to your summer (which ever date you make it to).
The festival is hitting North Carolina on Tuesday, August 16, and Charlotte’s Verizon Wireless Ampitheatre is set for an amazing lineup! The quality and amount of artists booked for the show has me incredibly excited about an adventure to the Queen City. I’m most excited about Rusko, Nero, and Steve Aoki, but the rest of it will be great as well. Datsik, Chuckie, and DJ Shadow are also at the top of my to-do list.
As far as safety & fun goes: