WKNC 88.1 FM - North Carolina State University Student RadioPreviews, reviews and coverage from music festivals like Hopscotch and Moogfest
I was lucky enough to have my good friend Anthony Miracola come to Shakori Hills with me this Fall and record some footage for the station. I believe he captured the atmosphere of Shakori Hills Grassroots Festival flawlessly.
Enjoy.
Thanks Anthony!
What is your relationship with the staff and community at Shakori Hills Music Festival?
Oh this sweet family. I currently help with management for parking during the festival as well as help out on kids tent or security shifts when I can. The staff and volunteers are the most amazing community and I wouldn’t want to work beside anyone else.
When did you start coming to Shakori Hills Music Festival?
Spring of 2013 was my first Shakori Hills Grassroots Festival and I haven’t stopped coming back since.
What is your fondest memory, story or moment over the years at Shakori Hills Music Festival?
My favorite memories take place on Sunday nights at Shakori. The majority of the festival-goers leave and go home by mid-morning on Sunday, since it’s the last day of the festival, but the real beauty is Sunday night. All vendors and food close up and everyone meets at one stage for “Donna & friends.” This is where Donna the Buffalo’s band (who helped start grassroots back in Ithaca 27 years ago) and all the friends that have played all weekend do a shared set. All staff and workers are there and truly enjoying themselves with talking backstage, sharing food, and dancing together. It’s a sweet and intimate time every festival to share with those that all made it possible and beautiful.
What is your overall opinion of the community at Shakori Hills Music Festival?
Shakori holds a community sense unique and different from all the other festivals I’ve been to. The land holds the feeling of home and the people exude the warmth of a close family members embrace. Shakori hills is unlike the other grassroots. It is the perfect number of people stretched out on the grounds all tucked away between the trees and earth. It is a family reunion.
Have you seen any shifts in the community atmosphere at Shakori Hills Music Festival over the years?
What a great question. The majority of the shifts and changes that I feel impact the community are the changes in the themed camps scattered all around. Here you have groups of random people that collectively come to together, whether by a camp fire or because you stumble upon music in the trees, and decide to camp together. At Shakori some of the well known ones are: Honey badger, Jetpackers, Camp No Hope, Mudslide, Sparkle, and my small one, Desanka. As the years go on the camp attendees come and go. They are always in our hearts even if they miss a festival or move far away. Big shifts happen to the community as friends begin to get married or have kids. This is when the camps shift to accommodate. Going from once young high schoolers staying out late partying to kicking it back with the family is a transition we all make together.
What are some positive changes to Shakori Hills Music Festival that you have seen take place over the years?
Grassroots has always been about raising awareness and being proactive regarding the injustice that’s going on politically, racially and socially. The continued work towards this as a festival says a lot about the people who put it on and those who stand in support and solidarity. On the grounds we continue to make improvements like our new permanent bathroom structure, having easy access to well water and sustainable resources for example the free showers.
What do you think is the most important thing that Shakori Hills Music Festival has been able to accomplish for the surrounding community?
Creating a safe space for people to truly be themselves is something shakori has done well for all that comes to the festival. Working with locals and small businesses is cherished for the festival and goes a long way. The communities all around Chatham county come together to educate and share what they do, which is such a joy to see since i now live in this sweet community.
What are your favorite bands that you have seen play at Shakori Hills Music Festival?
Oh there are so many! I started coming back when Dr. Bacon was still small and playing on the side of the coffee barn, and now to see them as headliners is always fun. Dishoom, the fabulous Indian DJ that had played late night in the cabaret, makes your whole body move. Rainbow Kitten Surprise made a visit in the spring and this year some amazing ones were Beats Antique, Locos Por Juana, and Lobo Marino, which is hands down my favorite.
If you were convincing a friend to come to Shakori Hills Music Festival, in one or two sentences, what would you say to them?
“Hey come to Shakori. I can’t convince you to come, but it will change your life so I hope to see you there.”
Editors comments:
Jenna, thank you again for this wonderful interview. The work you do at Shakori Hills is a testament to the beautiful community that share these grounds every year.
-Christian
Last weekend I experience Durham’s ultimate jam-packed Hip-Hop festival: Beats N Bars!!! In its 2nd installment, the Bull City was blessed with an even more expansive and super-crazy–fire line-up than last years (which was also super-crazy–fire).
My personal favorite acts I caught include (but are not limited to): G Yamazawa, Jooselord Magnus, the DeeepEnd, Shame, Free the Optimus, Cayenne the Lion King, OC from NC, Nitty Scott, and of course, the legendary Cyhi the Prynce.
In fact, the festival provided so many dope acts, that there was never a dull moment. And the plentiful supply of food and beer made for a hot Friday and Saturday in the sun to be quite the comfortable experience. And in my opinion, the best part was the option of an indoor venue or an outdoor venue, giving the attendee the choice of which environment that they want to experience dope Hip-Hop in.
Additionally, it would be foolish not to mention the incredible B-boy group, the Raleigh Rockers who graced the place with a display of Hip-Hop dances, as well as an interactive lesson where bystanders were able to step in and participate. Throwing in the fact that a number of DJ’s showed their chops on the 1’s and 2’s, the festival did a great job of staying true to their mission, and that was the celebration of Hip-Hop, as Crystal stated: “not as something you do, but as something you live.”
On behalf of the Underground Department at WKNC, we would like to congratulate Beats n Bars for throwing another fantastic festival for Durham, North Carolina!
DJ Rhythm
WKNC Promotions Director Katelyn Auger captures the sights and sounds of the 2017 Hopscotch Music Festival in Raleigh, N.C. Background music by Blois used by permission.
If you live in Raleigh, North Carolina, then you know that the one and only Hopscotch Music Festival took place over the weekend! It’s four fun days jam packed with all the music and beer you can get your hands on. On Friday, I stopped by to check out Cardigan Records’ Day party, hosted at Deep South downtown.
Cardigan Records arranged a fantastic lineup of local artists, including Bruxes, Basement Life and Psycho Sonic Cindi. I dropped by just in time to see two of my favorite local artists: propersleep and Youth League!
Propersleep, who just recently signed to Cardigan, is a three-piece alternative/emo rock band coming straight from Raleigh. Ben (guitar/vocals), Andrew (bass/vocals) and Scott (drums) have excellent stage presence that will get any crowd going. Not to mention, they are all incredibly friendly individuals who share a strong passion for creating the great music that they do. After their set, I asked if I could get a picture of them, which they kindly agreed to.
propersleep members, pictured above (left to right): Scott Jackson, Benjamin Young, and Andrew McGinn.
Then, the founder of Cardigan Records, Shane, decided to jump in!
After we took pictures together, I headed back inside to watch Youth League perform, another fantastic emo-rock/math rock band from North Carolina. I have watched them perform several times prior to this show and highly recommend giving them a listen, as they are great! Unfortunately, I didn’t have time to take a picture of them.
These are two amazing bands signed to Cardigan Records, but there are plenty more on the label. If you find yourself wanting to explore some new local music, head over to the Cardigan site to browse through some more truly talented artists!
Thanks for reading,
DJ Carnage
Note: You can also catch Propersleep at WKNC’s Radio Ride to Kick Off Raleigh Beer Week on Sunday, Sept. 17.
Where are your fave WKNC DJ’s going to be chilling during Hopsctoch? Check out their schedules below!
Going to be a Kings Friday night for Sand Pact? Say hi to Double Duchess! You can also catch her DJing live from Wristband City today from 3-4 p.m.
The Fuzz plans to close out Thursday and Saturday at Lincoln Theatre. You can also catch her and DJ Yalla live at Wristband City Friday at 4 p.m. for NO DUDES PWR HR Hopscotch edition.
DJ sPaRr0vV is spending Sunday at Red Hat Ampitheatre! You can also catch her DJing live from Wristband City with Whatsherface on Saturday from 1-2 p.m. and with wolfware Saturday from 2-3 p.m.
You’ll find our local music director Whatsherface at lots of local acts this weekend. She’ll also be live at Wristband City with DJ Mac on Saturday at noon and with Whatsherface Saturday at 1 p.m.
DJ Casserole better have good walking shoes! You can also catch them DJing live at Wristband City today from 1:30-3 p.m.
This year we will be putting our rivalries aside and teaming up with UNCCH’s WXYC for a Hopscotch day party! This year’s day party will be occurring on Friday, Sept. 8 at Legends Nightclub in downtown Raleigh starting at 12pm.
For those who may be new to the festival or unfamiliar, day parties are free and open to the public concerts which occur every day before the festival and generally start at noon.
They are the perfect opportunity for those who don’t have a ticket to see some music and participate in the Hopscotch festivities or for those who do have tickets to get their pre-game on and see additional artists not featured on the official lineup.
If you decide to go out to day parties, ours is one not to miss. Legends, which is located at the corner of W Hargett St and Harrington st is a great place to escape the hustle and bustle of the rest of downtown with its large outdoor bar, generous seating in its lounge, and large stage it’s the perfect venue and hang out space. In addition this party is put on by college radio stations so naturally the artists chosen to play will be amazing, but for those who would like to know more here’s a brief description of what to expect:
Oxidant: Raleigh based powerviolence/hardcore. The perfect early set to get your blood pumping for the day. https://oxidant.bandcamp.com/
Chucha: https://soundcloud.com/chu_laura Electronic project of Laura Munoz. Her music can be noizey, dancey, and make you the feel like floating through space any way it will impress you.
Jock Gang: Experimental/artful indy rock music from Atlanta Georgia
https://jock-gang.bandcamp.com/album/cool
Ami Dang: Baltimore based electronic music project sets itself apart with heavy eastern music influences, raga melodies laced with electro-pop.
https://soundcloud.com/ami-dang
Das Drip: Brand new Raleigh hardcore.
The Muslims: Durham based politically charged punk music. Queer and muslim band members use the power of musical activism to fight racial profiling in the age of Trump. https://youtu.be/wrz2Euscpzc
The schedule will be as follows:
12:00 – Oxidant
1:00 – Chucha
2:00 – Jock Gang
3:00 – Ami Dang
4:00 – Das Drip
5:00 – The Muslims
Come out enjoy some music and maybe meet some of your favorite radio DJs!
If you are anything like me, there is a good chance you will be balling on a budget during Hopscotch. Here is the ultimate guide to getting your pennies worth at the festival!
TICKETS
The cheapest ticket option is to buy a general admission ticket ASAP. I highly suggest signing up for Hopscotch’s emails too, so you can know when tickets first go on sale and so that you can get an early bird special. The first early bird special is $125, the second is $149, and the third is $175. Unfortunately, all of those have sold out, so you can either buy a general admission wristband for $199 or buy a day wristband. Thursday’s wristband costs $85, Friday and Saturday’s cost $99, and Sunday’s cost $45. Who needs a VIP wristband anyway? You’ll be too busy running around downtown Raleigh trying to find the next act to enjoy the perks of an expensive VIP wristband.
SLEEPING ARRANGEMENTS
Hopscotch has partnered with the Sheraton in downtown Raleigh to provide discounted housing during Hopscotch. The Sheraton overlooks the City Plaza, so if you’re not feeling the crowds, you could easily go back to your room and open your window to listen to the bands playing below you! Cheaper housing options would be to stay at a friend’s house in Raleigh or stay in an Airbnb. Airbnb has a deal similar to Uber; if you refer a friend, you and the friend get $40 off any Airbnb! Grab a friend and stay at a hip, trendy place in downtown for a low cost and a convenient location.
PARKING
Parking prices, especially during Hopscotch, tend to be a bit outrageous downtown. To avoid high parking costs, you can take the completely free, open to the public, Wolfprowl bus if you are staying near NC State. You can even park your car around NC State (we have free parking after 5pm!) and take the Wolfprowl from there! The Wolfprowl runs Friday and Saturday nights during the fall and spring semesters from 10pm-3am. It is a continuous loop with service approximately every 35 mins. You could also take a Lyft. Use WKNC’s Lyft code, WKNC50, to get a free $50 in rides. If you are up to the challenge, you could also walk or bike downtown. There are plenty of bike racks downtown, and it could actually be super convenient to have a bike with you to get from venue to venue quicker. I saw a lot of people doing this last year and thought the idea was brilliant.
FOOD
Honestly, the best option is to eat before you come. Carb-load on all your favorite foods to fuel up for the night, and get at least a little protein so you can maintain your stamina. If you get hungry during the night, you can always buy a snack or something small to tide you over. Purchasing little snacks is going to be a lot cheaper than a full meal in busy downtown. At the end of the night, there may even be some free food on Hillsborough Street; last year it was pizza.
There you have it, I hope these tips and tricks make your Hopscotch experience as cost-efficient as possible, and remove a little financial worry so you can have the time of your life rocking to some incredible artists!
After a brief hiatus, Moogfest found a new home in Durham, North Carolina, a growing, progressive, artistic oasis in the middle of North Carolina nicely complemented by Raleigh and Chapel Hill/Carrboro. Returning for its second year, Moogfest is sure to bring an abundance of festival-goers this upcoming weekend to enjoy the many sights, sounds, and tastes the city has to offer. There is something for just about everybody at this year’s iteration of Moogfest; here are a few that WKNC is especially looking forward to.
The Music
As a college radio station, the first thing that is undoubtedly going to draw our eyes to any festival will be the music. Moogfest has delivered a solid lineup with the big names of Flying Lotus and Animal Collective, but what lies beneath those names is equally as impressive. Hailing from Brooklyn as a resident DJ at Red Bull Music Academy, electronic producer Octo Octa will be bringing her eloquent take on house music to a dance-ridden Armory, Saturday night at 8pm. Experimental artist Pharmakon takes the stage at Motorco on Saturday night at 10:15 with her devastating composition of noise instrumentals mixed with her harshly terrifying, yet beautifully anguished yells. This is an act that is sure to confound, but also amaze, those that are new to Pharmakon’s music.
Moor Mother is quite the decorated artist, having her work featured at many museums and touring around the world. Her first album, Sacred Bones, released in 2016 via Don Giovanni Records, has received many accolades. With her eclectic sound ranging from harsh noise with spoken word over top to more hip-hop focused tracks, Moor Mother is one of the most intriguing acts this festival has to offer, which is even amplified more by the vagueness of her performance at the festival. Listed as a Durational Sound Installation at the American Underground Storefront on Thursday from 3-7pm, she is a definite must see as Moor Mother will definitely be bringing something to Durham worth every second of your time. For a downright good time, Moogfest has brought some great hip-hop this year. New York’s Princess Nokia and Raleigh and WKNC favorite ZenSoFly are destined to lead some of the most fun shows at this year’s Moogfest with their bouncy, relaxed take on hip-hop.
The Many Other Things
With all the exceptional music, it is hard to forget that Moogfest offers exceptional day programming that features many guest talkers, from famous musicians such as Michael Stipe of REM fame, to pioneers of electronic, to local scholars from the myriad of universities surrounding Durham. These programs easily enhance the experience of Moogfest tenfold as it adds a completely new dimension to the festival that other festivals just don’t have. One of the coolest aspects to being held in Durham is Moogfest’s access to Carolina Theatre; they use it quite well by showing films that are live soundtracked. This year, Hopscotch alum Suzi Analogue will be doing this for her film No Moon No Man with fellow artist VHVL. Amongst other talks is the aforementioned artist Octo Octa, who will be doing a talk and meet and greet at the LGBTQ Center in Durham on Sunday at 12. There are many other installations worth checking out that are open and free to the public such as one about Star Wars on Saturday afternoon, then there is the Moog Market, which gives everyone an opportunity to play around with the namesake of the festival, Moog synthesizers.
Food and Other Things
If you are of age and enjoy alcohol, Oskar Blues Brewing and Bulliet Bourbon will be holding cheap tastings and free samples of their product at Moogfest. There is a record fair hosted by Merge Records at Fullsteam Brewing on Saturday. There are endless great restaurant options throughout Durham for everyone, including vegans and vegetarians. We are definitely looking forward to spending a fun-filled, music exploratory weekend in Durham. Make sure you follow our social media accounts for updates.