WKNC 88.1 FM - North Carolina State University Student RadioPreviews, reviews and coverage from music festivals like Hopscotch and Moogfest
Must Be The Holy Ghost – Kings Barcade
If you are a student going to Hopscotch without any means of transportation (like me), you’re probably wondering how you can get back to campus after a full day of music.
Luckily the NC State Wolfline has it covered!
The Wolfprowl runs from 9:30PM until 3 AM and makes several stops downtown. This bus stops at both W. Edenton St. and W. Morgan St., only a few blocks from City Plaza!
This bus only operates for STUDENTS ONLY, so remember to bring your NC State Student ID in order to ride it back to campus!
You can find the stops for the Wolfprowl by using the Transloc app.
When you’re downtown enjoying Hopscotch, the Raleigh R-Line is a FREE downtown circulator that will quickly take you from venue to venue!
Stops R15 through R20 specifically take you close to City Plaza and venues such as King’s Barcade, Neptunes, Tir Na Nog, and more!
WKNC wants everyone to stay safe out there during Hopscotch!
Hopscotch is upon us ladies and gentleman. This is that wonderful time of year where music lovers from across the country come to our wonderful city and pack the streets to the point of insanity. Fun insanity of course, but insanity nonetheless. All that moshing and head-banging is going to get to you eventually. I don’t care how much of a hardcore festival goer you are, you’re going to need to lie low at some point and enjoy a nice cold one to get the edge off. Granted, even the chillest of watering holes in the downtown area will be busier than usual this weekend; but these picks are your best bet for doing it right when you decide to take a break.
Flying Saucer
328 West Morgan Street
Remember when every hipster with an ironic taste for Das Racist was still so obsessed with PBR that craft beer didn’t even register for them? Well that’s how long Flying Saucer has been a champ on the scene. Now yea, it’s a franchise, so maybe some of you might think it’s not indie enough, but this place had 200 beers on tap before it was a thing around here. That makes it an OG; and attractive servers in mini-skirts and a bangin’ menu gives it tripel status (see what I did there). Try the Rocket Tots and the brats. You’re welcome.
The Foundation
213 Fayetteville Street
Craft cocktails are king these days. Thank God, because L.I. Teas and Royal Flush shots taste just as bad coming back up later in the night. The Foundation is a dimly lit subterranean take on a speak-easy, and it hosts some of the most knowledgeable mixologists in the area. These guys make everything correctly, key word correctly, because there are too many bartenders that can’t even make a proper Manhattan in this town. Specializing in whiskey, this place is rumored to have the coveted Pappy Van Winkle on sale, even though I’ve never seen it. But if you like all craft everything, down to the ice, along with a chill atmosphere minus the pretence, this is the place you’ll want to grab a stool at.
Raleigh Times
14 East Hargett Street
Chances are, if you’re from Raleigh and in your twenties to early thirties, you’ve asked a future ex if they wanted to “grab a beer” at this place. Seriously, I don’t know what it is, but it’s a first date staple for millennials around here. This makes great people watching, which is why I put it on my top list for downtown drinking spots, along with the fish tacos. They specialize in local craft beer here, and if you order a Miller Lite, the bartender will ironically snip at you that they don’t serve any domestics (they probably loved Das Racist back in the day too). It’s a good balance of busy and chill. You can get in the mix at the bar area, or slide into a booth in the candle lit dining area for a calmer vibe.
The Architect
108 East Hargett Street
The Architect is an interesting place. Part night club, part lounge, part social club; this place always has something interesting happening. Dip into here on Thursday night for a calm atmosphere, and explore its secret rooms (don’t bring a drink from the main bar) and admire its modern yet rustic design. Come in on Friday and Saturday to wild out to the best late 90s/early 00s party tracks. Come with a date or get crazy with your friends, this place is one of the livest spots in the Fayetteville St. area.
Stressing about who to see at Hopscotch this weekend? Here are some of our DJs’ itineraries!
One great feature of Hopscotch Music Festival are their free shows throughout the week or “Day Parties.” Anyone can attend these day parties even if you don’t have a wristband for the actual festival. Figuring out which day parties you want to attend can be difficult, but WKNC has put together this guide to make the task a little easier! Set times are not exact! If you notice an error, email design@wknc.org
Day parties are kicking off RIGHT NOW outside of CAM Raleigh with Hopscotch’s Design Festival’s Block Party. Be sure to check out WKNC’s Day Party with WXDU and WXYC Friday from 12-5 at Kings Barcade and Neptunes!
Check back for Saturday and Sunday’s Day Parties coming soon!
WKNC’s unofficial Hopscotch Day Parties Guide
Hopscotch is approaching… and you certainly don’t wanna miss our day party extravaganza with fellow Triangle college radio stations WXYC and WXDU! There will be free food and FREE MUSIC! Kings is all ages and Neptunes is 18+ for this special event. Come hang out and mend college radio rivalry Friday, September 11th!
With Hopscotch right around the corner, it’s time to start thinking about how your weekend will pan out. Though you’ll have a ton of fun regardless, just a bit of planning can take your Hopscotch to the next level. I’m here to give you a few things to think about as you take a look at this year’s schedule. Though this will be my first Hopscotch, I have been to Bonnaroo the last two years as well as the BUKU festival in New Orleans earlier this year. Hopefully you can learn a little from my past music festival successes and mistakes.
There’s probably a few names that jump out at you on the schedule as shows that you need to see. Make these shows must-sees. Then, make a list of other shows that you would like to see. It’s good to have these tiers in case one of your friends wants to see a different show at the same time. You can see how much each person really cares about seeing that band and make a decision based off of that.
2. Don’t follow your schedule too closely
Though it’s good to have a basic schedule of shows you want to see, don’t be afraid to branch out. Some of my favorite festival shows were spur-of-the-moment decisions inspired by the musical tastes of new friends. It’s also a great way to discover new music. Even if you don’t know the band now, they could be your favorite band in a year based off of a fantastic show.
3. Don’t get too drunk early in the day
There’s nothing wrong with having a few drinks at shows if you’re of age. Just be sure you’re not wasted at 7 o’clock. By 12 you’ll be in no state to go to any shows, let alone enjoy them. If you’re going to drink, start later in the night or pace yourself. You don’t want to be the guy passed out in an alley outside the venue.
4. Fight through the pain
At some point in the festival, it’ll be late at night and you and all of your friends will be dead tired. Someone will suggest you skip this one show and go back to the hotel or apartment because “Do we really need to see this band?” I know it’s tough but try to resist! When you think back to your weekend, are you going to remember that killer show or that extra hour of sleep? You can sleep when you’re dead. Hopscotch only comes around once a year. Make the most of it.
5. Enjoy yourself!
You’re at a music festival! Your job for the next few days is to have fun and see a lot of cool live music. Regardless of what happens, you’re going to have an unforgettable time. You’ll grow closer to old friends and meet new friends from across the state and country. You’ll see some of your favorite bands and discover some new ones. There’s nothing like it. Have a blast.