Category: Concert Review

Missed a show? WKNC 88.1 FM HD-1/HD-2 has you covered

WKNC Raises $4k From DBB22

Post author By qweyman
Post date March 11, 2026

WKNC 88.1 FM raised over $4,000 through its Double Barrel Benefit 22 event, an annual two-night concert that serves as one of the station’s primary fundraisers. Revenue from Double Barrel Benefit accounts for approximately 4% of WKNC’s annual operating budget and directly supports local radio and student media initiatives.

Double Barrel Benefit 22 was held Feb. 6 and Feb. 7 at Kings in Raleigh, bringing together the local music community for a two-night celebration. More than 300 tickets were sold across both nights, with additional revenue generated through event merchandise sales.

This year’s lineup featured performances from Roxby, Survival Tactics, Khalil Nasim, Girl Brutal, CJ Monét, Sunshower, Petrov and Ajena, showcasing a diverse range of artists connected to North Carolina’s independent music scene.

“Events like Double Barrel Benefit are what WKNC 88.1 works so hard to keep alive. Local music is so important and I am so grateful to have played a role in putting on Double Barrel Benefit 22,” stated Giuliana Baucom, WKNC events director.

Tags DBB22, Double Barrel Benefit

Concert Review

A Review of “Arts NOW Series: Opera! Andrea Cheeseman, Clarinet”

Post author By dj dragonfly
Post date March 9, 2026

Dr. Andrea Cheeseman. Image provided by Dr. Andrea Cheeseman, image by Matthew Wood

Once again, I attended the Arts NOW Series for one of my classes. Instead of a lecture recital, Dr. Andrea Cheeseman performed a one-act opera from a three part series of one-act pieces. This show was different than one might expect from this description, but it did not disappoint.

The concentration of the show was on computer music. First, let’s cover what computer music is. From the title, you can assume that it is music made with a computer which would be correct. That being said, it’s more complicated than using a computer program to make a song like Logic Pro of Ableton. It’s more akin to using various synthesis and algorithmic techniques to make music with a computer. A recognizable example of this would be “Daisy Bell” programmed by Max Matthews at Bell Labs in 1961, originally written by Harry Dacre in 1892.

Tags andrea cheeseman, arts NOW clarinet, computer music, concert review, dj dragonfly, local, NC State, opera, WKNC, WKNC 88.1

Concert Review Local Music

Double Barrel Benefit 22 in Photos

Post author By slacker
Post date February 23, 2026

All photos taken and edited by slacker.

Ajena had the crowd stomping with their riotous 90s-influenced set, with the lead singer leaping into the pit for their last song.

CJ Monét set the tone for night two with odes to her energy and a hopeful message about the current state of the world.

Girl Brutal’s powerful, energetic performance during night one sent audience members running towards the pit.

Petrov closed Double Barrel with a performance that showed off catchy riffs and powerhouse vocals.

Tags college radio, concert photos, concert review, Double Barrel Benefit, double barrel benefit 22, Electronic, Kings, local, Raleigh, rock, WKNC, WKNC 88.1

Concert Review

A Review of “Arts NOW Series: Joshua Brinkman, Saxophone”

Post author By dj dragonfly
Post date February 18, 2026

Joshua Brinkman, Ph.D. on the Saxophone. Image provided by Dr. Brinkman, image by Spirit Nyx Photography

The Arts NOW Series lecture recital on Joshua Brinkman was one I attended for a class but ended up enjoying a lot more than I had expected. I know very little about the saxophone and the music genres that evolved alongside it. Dr. Brinkman’s lecture recital was a presentation on the technological and cultural backgrounds and evolutions of the saxophone. This presentation included slides on the origins of the saxophone, the differences between different saxophones, the historical significance of the saxophone in different genres and even live performances of two different saxophones and a clarinet, all performed by Dr. Brinkman himself.

Tags Arts NOW Series, dj dragonfly, saxophone, WKNC

Concert Review

Snow Strippers: Under Their Spell

Post author By Lylan Bui
Post date February 9, 2026

Photo by Lylan Bui

Between the winter snowfall, Snow Strippers arrived at The Fillmore Charlotte to play a sold-out show on Thursday, Jan. 29. The cold did not stop the long line of fans wrapped around the venue before doors opened. Everyone was dressed in their coolest outfits, excited and ready for the night to begin.

Tags concert, concert review, snow strippers, The Fillmore Charlotte, WKNC, WKNC 88.1

Band/Artist Profile Concert Review Local Music

Anti-Sapien: Noctomb, Hitachi Torture, and Dunmharu Fill Chapel of Bones with Fresh Bodies

Post author By Killian Le
Post date February 7, 2026

All photos by Killian Le.

“You have more in common with the neighbor that you hate than a f—ing billionaire!”

The lead singer of Noctomb is grinning at the audience as he snatches the microphone from the stand, shirtless in 30 degree weather.

It’s another Thursday at Chapel of Bones.

Tags chapel of bones, concert review, Death Metal, dunmharu, hitachi torture, local, metal bands, NC State, noctomb, Raleigh, sludge metal, WKNC, WKNC 88.1

Concert Review

The Front Bottoms: Ten Years On Top Tour

Post author By blvester
Post date January 31, 2026

Photo by Lachlan Vester

Photos by Lachlan Vester.

The Front Bottoms kicked off their Back On Top: Ten Years Tour at the Ritz in Raleigh on the twelfth of December 2025. Before getting any further into this post I must confide in the reader that I am a huge fan of The Front Bottoms and have seen them several times. Despite this, I will do my best to keep an unbiased view of this show.

The show kicked off with NOBRO, an all-female outfit of hard rockers who had the crowd eating out of the palm of their hands for their whole set. NOBRO absolutely killed their set and set the bar high for the rest of the night.

Tags concert review, NOBRO, The Front Bottoms, WKNC, WKNC 88.1

Concert Review

Chasing The Chimera with Del Water Gap

Post author By Lylan Bui
Post date January 18, 2026

Photo by Lylan Bui

S. Holden Jaffe, better known as Del Water Gap, kicked off his worldwide “Chasing The Chimera” tour with a sold-out show at The Ritz Raleigh on Thursday night, Jan. 15. As the first of 42 stops, the crowd eagerly waited to experience the never-before-seen set.

Tags concert, concert review, del water gap, Hannah Jadagu, the ritz raleigh

Concert Review Short Stories

Misadventures in Journalism

Post author By DJ Sharkbite
Post date January 9, 2026

Microphone. Image by Studio 7042, licensed CC0 1.0 Universal.

It was Saturday night in November and I was getting ready to go to a concert and write a review. I spent way too long picking out an outfit and doing my hair and makeup. It took forever, but eventually I was able to make it out of my apartment and into a Lyft. I had to take a Lyft even though I did not plan on drinking because I do not drive and I was going alone. Both of these are facts that will become relevant all too quickly.

The drive was decent but pretty long. About five minutes away from the venue I wondered to myself if there was an opening act. I couldn’t remember seeing that there was one, but I am a forgetful sort of person. I pulled out my phone to check. I was already on the venue website from checking their bag policy earlier that evening. I clicked on the event listing the concert I was trying to see to get a closer look. That is the moment I spotted it.

Underneath the details for the show was a small location icon. Next to it? The name of an entirely different venue. It was being sponsored by the venue whose website I was on at an entirely different location forty minutes drive back the way I came.

Tags concert review, concerts, WKNC, WKNC 88.1

Concert Review

Concert Review: Rozey and Quadeca

Post author By WKNC Admin
Post date November 22, 2025

Motorco sign, photo by Lachlan Vester

On October 24th, I had the opportunity to visit the Motorco Music Hall in Durham, North Carolina, to see artists Rozey and Quadeca. Before this show, I was only really familiar with Quadeca (although I wouldn’t call myself a fan at that stage yet). The whole reason I went was because a friend had asked me to go.

As we got to the show, there was a line forming an hour early at the doors, not just VItickets, but regular general admission ticket holders as well. We got in line by a large tour bus out front of the venue and began our hour-long wait.

Tags concert review, quadeca, rozey, WKNC, WKNC 88.1