De La Soul – City Plaza
Wild Fur – Lincoln Theater
Drag Sounds – Pour House Music Hall
Strange Faces – Tir na Nog
Paperhaus – The Hive
The Tills – Pour House Music Hall
Saint Rich – Tir na Nog
Deniro Ferrar – Kennedy Theater
Lunice – Kennedy Theater
Category: Festival Coverage
Previews, reviews and coverage from music festivals like Hopscotch and Moogfest
Categories
WKNC’s Hopscotch Schedule Picks
The chaos that is Hopscotch schedule-making is upon us! For those of you struggling more than most (because I assure you that we are all struggling), below you can see where our DJs took highlighter to paper to map out their idea of a “perfect” schedule.
Virginia Werewoolf:
Trillian:
DJ Digiorno:
Slaughterhome:
Magic Kaanch:
Meggs Benedict:
The Walrus:
Less than 24 hours, y’all.
Categories
The Hopscotch Twittersphere
The time is now, and the place is Raleigh, North Carolina. Hopscotch is upon us, and even at this time it doesn’t quite feel real.
So what have you done to prepare? Have you printed out the PDF of the schedule? Have you scribbled your personal itinerary on it? Have you made sense of the vast incomprehensible network of day parties? Did you remember that you aren’t allowed to have backpacks in City Plaza?
All of those hints will get you somewhere, but you’re going to be completely lost if you aren’t following the right Twitter accounts.
Keeping on your Twitter game can make or break your Hopscotch experience. If there’s rain, it will keep you up to date on whether or not outdoor shows are getting delayed. If an act cancels at the last minute, you’ll know about the replacement before anybody. If Danny Brown is taking selfies with fans at the Sheraton bar (true story), you’ll be prepared to fill your phone with some jpegs you’ll never forget.
So let us guide you through a small taste of the accounts to follow, to bring order to the chaos of Hopscotch.
@hopscotchfest – Obviously. The Hopscotch social media has been on point this year, teasing the acts to come and keeping a steady flow of content. Get this account on your timeline for news straight from the source.
@WKNC881 – Obviously we’re going to be covering the festival from every corner we can work our way to. We’ve got numerous, hardworking tweeters posting pics of the best day parties and
@NewRaleigh – Frequently updated and always informative, NewRaleigh is an excellent resource during Hopscotch. They’ve even been a guest on Carolina Grown in the past! Follow them to keep an eye out for Hopscotch news as it develops.
@currincy – One of the original brains responsible for Hopscotch. While he may be from this particular line of work, he’s probably going to be making lots of jokes. You don’t want to miss these jokes.
@Raleighbathroom – This account brings you the highest quality reviews of Raleigh bathrooms you can find anywhere on the internet. While that may be reason enough, the mysterious minds behind this account have gone all-out for Hopscotch in the past. They let you know which venues you want to take your pit stops at, as well as the ones where you may want to just hold it for a while. Accounts like these are the reason we should be thankful to live in the year 2014.
@Hopscotchpartyz – Probably the most fascinating of them all, Hopscotch Partyzzz is an enigma. The mysterious account appears to be no one, but makes fun of everyone. Their ruthless campaign to make jokes is about to kick into high gear once Hopscotch is full underway, and you probably don’t want to miss it.
This is clearly a tiny taste, but the multimedia climate we inhabit is in a constant state of flux and we must be aware. In other words, never stop keeping an eye out for the good tweets in unexpected places. You might be able to catch wind of a Merzbow day party in someone’s basement, or something like that.
Categories
Artist Profile: The Nervous Ticks (RVA)
The Nervous Ticks are one of the most inventive rock n’ roll bands you’ll find on this coast of the United States. Hailing from Richmond Virginia the three piece consists of guitarist and songwriter Chaz Tick, washtub drummer Kyle Flannagan and backup vocalist/mean maracas/bleep blooping keyboardist Liza Jane.
Originally the bedroom tape project of Chaz the three have created a live band so energetic its frightening–in the best way possible. After growing up in Virginia I had heard about the band a fair amount, seeing the name pop up on social media and fliers occasionally, but had never seen the band until their killer set at last year’s Phuzz Phest (the one of two that wasn’t in the middle of a skate park).
With the ever increasing popularity of the very fluid enigma that is “garage rock” due to quality record labels such as Burger Records and now well known artists such as Ty Segall it can feel like you’ve heard all the variation possible within the limits of the genre. The Nervous Ticks don’t conform to a formulaic approach, unusual rhythm tones and changes as well as interesting keyboard additions make for captivating tunes. Highly recommended.
Catch the Nervous Ticks at 11:00 p.m. at the Hive on Friday.
–Virginia Werewoolf
Categories
Where’s the (Day) Party At?
As Hopscotch draws closer so do all the awesome free day parties. This year there are over 40 official day parties (I counted 45 one time and 46 another so I have no idea how many there actually are).
With so much happening in such a small amount of time it can be a little intimidating trying to figure out which parties to hit. Lucky for you I sat down with my good friend google maps and plotted where the parties are each day and what the walking times are between venues!
WEDNESDAY
There are only three day parities on Wednesday, and they are all about a five minute walk from one another. This will make it super to chill at all of them!
- Lincolin Theatre: 126 E Cabarrus St, Raleigh, NC 27601
- Kings: 14 W Martin St, Raleigh, NC 27601
- The Pour House: 224 S Blount St, Raleigh, NC 27601
THURSDAY
The number of shows doubles on Thursday. Five of the shows are within a five minute walk from each other yet again. The outlier party is at school kids records which is a 55 minute walk from downtown… I would suggest using a car.
- The Hive: 225 S Wilmington St, Raleigh, NC 27601
- Kings: 14 W Martin St, Raleigh, NC 27601
- Pour House: 224 S Blount St, Raleigh, NC 27601
- Slim’s: 227 S Wilmington St, Raleigh, NC 27601
- School Kids: 2237 Avent Ferry Rd #101, Raleigh, NC 27606
- Tir na nog: 218 S Blount St, Raleigh, NC 27601
FRIDAY
The number of day parties ramps up again Friday. As far as I can tell there are two main routes to take on Friday. The first with a car will include 7 minutes of transit time. This route hits the WKNC party at nice price and will be a nice change of pace from all the other Raleigh venues in downtown.
- Raleigh Little Theatre: 301 Pogue Street, Raleigh, NC 27607-7267
- Nice Price Books: 3106 Hillsborough St, Raleigh, NC 27607
- Schoolkids Records: 2237 Avent Ferry Rd #101, Raleigh, NC 27606
The second route is a total of 19 minutes walking around downtown. Here’s the map!
- Deep South the Bar: 430 S Dawson St, Raleigh, NC 27601
- Crank Arm Brewing Company: 319 W Davie St, Raleigh, NC 27601
- CAM Raleigh: 409 W Martin St, Raleigh, NC 27603
- Kings: 14 W Martin St, Raleigh, NC 27601
- Neptune’s Parlour: 14 W Martin St, Raleigh, NC 27601
- The Hive: 225 S Wilmington St, Raleigh, NC 27601
- Slim’s: 227 S Wilmington St, Raleigh, NC 27601
- The Pour House Music Hall: 224 S Blount St, Raleigh, NC 27601
SATURDAY
Saturday features the most day parties. Not included in the map is the Schoolkids party.
- Prisma Video: 804 N West St, Raleigh, NC
- The Architect Bar & Social House: 108 ½ E Hargett St, Raleigh, NC 27601
- Deep South the Bar: 430 S Dawson St, Raleigh, NC 27601
- The Hive: 225 S Wilmington St, Raleigh, NC 27601
- Humble Pie: 317 S Harrington St, Raleigh, NC 27603
- Kings: 14 W Martin St, Raleigh, NC 27601
- Legends Nightclub: 330 W Hargett St, Raleigh, NC 27601
- Pearson street plaza lot
- The Pour House Music Hall: 224 S Blount St, Raleigh, NC 27601
- Slim’s: 227 S Wilmington St, Raleigh, NC 27601
- Tír na nÓg Irish Pub: 218 S Blount St, Raleigh, NC 27601
- Warehouse district
- Favetteville and Davie street
- Schoolkids Records: 2237 Avent Ferry Rd #101, Raleigh, NC 27606
SUNDAY
Two day parties are happening on Sunday and it’ll only take you 3 minutes to walk from one to the other.
- Slim’s: 227 S Wilmington St, Raleigh, NC 27601
- The Pour House Music Hall: 224 S Blount St, Raleigh, NC 27601
Categories
WKNC’s Hopscotch Schedule
You said you would listen to every band playing Hopscotch back in April when the lineup was released, but now the festival is a week away and you still have no idea what shows you’re hitting up. Not to worry though, WKNC has you covered!
Download our color coded schedule and key to determine what shows best suit your music taste. Although the bands are organized by genre, the key is designed to help you explore a wider range of music. An important part of Hopscotch is branching out from your typical music taste and discovering new artists that you may not have thought you would enjoy.
Each genre of music playing the festival (Electronic, Hip Hop, Experimental, Punk/Garage, Folk/Alt-Country, Metal, Indie/Rock) is divided up into two subgenres in our schedule, with three songs each that represent their overall style of music. Read the short description and listen to the three songs to determine if you would enjoy seeing shows from that specific list. We encourage you not to skip out on any of the genres you typically glance over because Hopscotch is known for drawing in the best of the best underground music. Once you’ve sampled them all, print out the schedule and start planning your route.
Good luck!
WKNC Hopscotch Schedule
WKNC Hopscotch Key
Thursday:
I’m ready to kick off Thursday evening with the grooves and rhythms of Professor Toon & the Real Laww and then De La Soul at City Plaza. I may duck out a bit early to catch some contemporary Americana sounds from Wild Fur at Lincoln Theater. Later, I’ll make my way to one of my favorite spots in Raleigh, Tir na nOg Irish pub, to see what quirky complexities Blanko Basnet has in store for the Hopscotch crowd. I’ll do my best to catch some of Marley Carroll’s electronic set at Kennedy Theater, then finish off my exhausting first night with the Vermonty free folk of MV & EE at the Hive.
Friday:
My Hopscotch night number two will be just as incredibly packed, starting with the stellar City Plaza line up of NC-natives Lonnie Walker, the ever-immaculate St. Vincent, and forever-rockin’ Spoon. This City Plaza line up is my most anticipated of the festival. From there, I’ll make my way to CAM Raleigh to see local music heroes GHOSTT BLLONDE.Next up is more of the complex rhythms I crave with Celestial Shore at Fletcher Opera Theater. Finally, I’ll make my way back to Tir na nOg to see Mapei, who is coming all the way from wonderful Sweden to rock Raleigh.
Saturday:
With any and all energy I have remaining, I’ll be back out in full force on Saturday night. I’m anticipating the later shows Saturday, but will still check out City Plaza for Valient Thorr, Death, and Mastodon. I am eager for sassy girl pop from See Gulls at Deep South Bar followed by cool folk from Weyes Blood and then fun jams from Ava Luna as I camp out at Tir na nOg for a while. Closing out a fantastic three days, I’ll be at CAM Raleigh for soothing electronic melodies from How to Dress Well and Jamie XX.
Note: In between all these shows, you’re sure to spot me on a bicycle of sorts, since the most fun distance between two points is a bike ride.
See you there, Hopscotch’ers!
We’ve all made mistakes. Sometimes you can laugh about them later, or they become a thing you try to keep on the DL forever. Sometimes they keep you working hard but not smart. Sometimes they fill you with regret. At best, you can even learn from them.
Ideally, you want to learn from other people’s mistakes. Take mine, for example: in these last few days of self-reflection as I try my darndest to make this Hopscotch weekend the best one ever, it’s not hard to pinpoint a few instances where some decisions may not have been the most conducive to an enjoyable and/or festival experience.
I’ll try to outline some of the basics to consider, lest they are not obvious for some people. Just take it from me, don’t learn the hard way.
1. Wear well-worn, comfortable shoes. I mean, we all know Hopscotch is kind of like fashion week for Raleigh, but don’t wear shoes you’ve recently acquired (even if they’re awesome and you really want to show them off) because who knows, maybe they’ll start giving you blisters after two hours of being on your feet. You do not want to spend any day/night of Hopscotch limping around while the back of your ankles are being rubbed raw by your cute new loafers. Don’t take the gamble, it’s not worth it. Your shoes will end up a mess by the end of the night anyways.
2. Moisture+Friction=Blisters. This might be a handy equation to keep in mind this weekend. Also, socks absorb moisture (this is good).
3. Do not stay up all night (unless it’s the last night, but still). You know what is not fun? Nodding at the bar. Dozing off at a show. Wishing you were in bed when you’re at an event you’ve anticipated for months.
4. The Buddy System. Okay, so this one isn’t based on one of my own experiences, but it has happened to someone I know (who will remain anonymous). People get drunk and things get lost. Don’t end up incapacitated without any resources! Stick with your buddies if you’ve been drinking a lot. Also friends don’t let friends walk home alone when everything is spinning.
5. Stay hydrated. Even if you’re not drinking, chances are if you’re Hopscotching you’ll be sweating. A lot. Dehydration can cause headaches, fatigue, irritability, and vomiting, all which make show-going and celebrating a lot less fun. Try to carry a water bottle. Do not hesitate to ask for water at the bar. I personally think that bars and restaurants should be required to provide free tap water (while this is not a law, I think most establishments already do this for liability reasons).
6. Visualize how far apart venues are from each other relative to performance times. I’ve missed a few shows in the past because I had neglected to consider something as lame (but evidently crucial) as travel time. For example, it takes about 15 minutes to walk from the Duke Energy Center for Performing Arts all the way to CAM, and that’s if you’re on a mission. Consider that their shows start at the same time all night.
7. Let your transactions be quick and dirty. Closing out when you want to leave is a bummer, especially at a packed venue. Carry cash and you can bounce whenever you feel like it, not 10 minutes later. Most merch is also cash only!
8. Wear a book bag. Maybe this is just me, But having a book bag makes it easier to carry a water bottle, merchandise, and even a jacket or umbrella. They’re also harder to lose than a purse. Just don’t stuff it to the extent that it’s a burden on your shoulders.
9. Use *real* Ear plugs. One Hopscotch a few years ago I ran into a friend (whose anonymity I keep as a courtesy) on the street during the day. At a day party, he had improvised ear plugs with toilet paper, which got stuck too deep in his ear. Everything we tried to do to get it out made it worse. CVS was closed and no where else sold tweezers. Thankfully an insider at Jimmy Johns got access to their First-Aid kit and he was able to pull out the tissue. While I’m not saying sticking toilet paper in your ears is better than nothing, you’ve got to protect your sense of hearing. If you’re perpetually unprepared like me, shamelessly try to bum a pair off of anyone else you see wearing some.
10. Check the weather. I’m looking at you, 2012.
-DJ Acorn
Categories
Artist Profile: Priests
If you’ve been to Hopscotch before, you know that sometimes the best shows are the ones you weren’t planning to go to. The bands whose names your eyes skipped over when perusing the schedule, simply due to unfamiliarity.
Washington DC’s Priests probably don’t care if you have no idea who they are. In the 80’s, DC gave rise to a legendary punk scene – but that doesn’t matter because Priests’ members (vocalist Katie Alice Greer and hip-name band mates Daniele Daniele and G. L. Jaguar) weren’t born yet.
Priests are a relatively new band, with only a few releases since 2012, most notably a full length release this summer, ominously titled Bodies and Control and Money and Power. While punk bands are a dime a dozen these days, and at times the genre can seem played out, Priests have gained some well-deserved attention for their energetic live shows and their politically charged lyrics.
Bodies clocks in at less than 20 minutes but it doesn’t let up once. That’s the same kind of overt energy and in-your-face attitude that you can expect from a Priests live show. Greer takes the stage like a woman possessed (is there an exorcism joke in here somewhere?) while her band mates contort and exhort their respective instruments with an eerily focused intensity. Punk done well is a visceral, raw, crazy experience, and Priests will surely deliver when they play at Deep South on Friday.
-Meggs Benedict
Categories
Places to Eat During Hopscotch
Hopscotch Music Festival happening next week (Sept. 4th-6th) is about bringing you music that’s good and not mainstream. So yes, there’s a Subway next to King’s Barcade and a McDonalds between Lincoln and Kennedy Theaters, but why settle for mainstream chains when you can find great food locally?
Running around to catch all of your favorite bands around Raleigh is sure to leave us all hungry. So we’ve put together a list of a few local favorites that are on the way to the venues of Hopscotch. Late-night eats (open later than midnight) are marked with two asterisks (**)!
Calavela** – An empanada and tequila bar that’s quick and delicious. Tasty $3 empanadas all night long. Close to: Lincoln Theater, City Plaza, Pour House, Tir Na Nog. (Open until 2am every night)
Berkeley Cafe** – Burger joint and bar on the edge of Nash Square. Its chill atmosphere is a great place for a quick bite to eat. Close to: King’s Barcade, CAM Raleigh. (Open until 2am, Fri/Sat!)
Bida Manda – Sandwiched right between Pour House and Tir na nOg, this Loatian restaurant is a little more pricey than the rest, but it’s well worth it. It’s a place of incredible authentic food, genuinely kind service, and a great story. Close to: Tir na nOg, Pour House, Vintage 21. (Open until midnight, Fri/Sat)
buku – Looking for something a bit less American? This worldly restaurant serves street food from all over the globe. Close to: City Plaza, Lincoln Theater. (Open until midnight, Fri/Sat)
Mecca** – While this place is often mistaken for a Mediterranean/Middle Eastern place, they’ve got great food from all over. Close to: King’s Barcade, Slim’s, The Hive. (Open until 1:00 am Th-Sat!)
Raleigh Times** – Local hotspot bar, central to Downtown Raleigh. Besides drinks, you can grab sandwiches, tacos, and more as well as your typical “bar food." Close to: Slim’s, The Hive, King’s Barcade. (Open until 2:00 am!)
Remedy Diner – Looking for veggie options? This is a go-to spot for meat-eaters, vegetarians, and vegans alike. Remedy has incredible dishes for all kinds dietary lifestyles, including their "Tempeh Tantrum” that won PETA’s Top 5 Vegan Sandwiches in the USA. Close to: Pour House, Tir na nOg, Vintage 21, The Hive, Slim’s. (Open until midnight, Fri/Sat)
While we could never create a fully comprehensive list (because there are just so many incredible restaurants downtown), we wanted to get you guys started so you don’t get caught at McDonalds. But just because something isn’t listed here, doesn’t mean it’s not good. Don’t be afraid to just walk in to a hole-in-the-wall joint, or anything that looks good! You might just find your new favorite restaurant.
Happy eating!