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Music News and Interviews

Skylar Gudasz is arguably one of the Triangle’s most overlooked songwriters. Whether she’s churning out haunting folk rock with Spooky Woods, catchy hooks with Skylar Gudasz & The Ugly Girls, or most recently crooning somber songs of love with her solo project, you’ll always find yourself fixated on Gudasz’ enchanting voice. But one of the reasons she’s so overlooked may be due to the fact that she’s just so damn busy that it’s hard to focus on any single project.

Lately Gudasz has been touring along with a wide array of musicians in support of Big Star tribute shows, where she performs some of the iconic act’s most influential tracks with some of the band’s original members. A few weeks ago Gudasz joined Grant Golden in the studio for Carolina Grown in advance of the Big Star tribute that took place at Cat’s Cradle. Speaking of how she came to love the legendary indie act, what brought her into this group of highly esteemed musicians, and what we can expect from her solo endeavors, Skylar filled the hour with engaging conversation and a breathtaking performance of Neil Young’s “Needle and the Damage Done.” Listen to her full conversation and in-studio performance.

Categories
Music News and Interviews

Transfigurations II Giveaways

Will you be in western NC this weekend?  WKNC’s got four Saturday day-passes to Harvest Record’s Transfigurations II Fest this Saturday, August 30th in Marshall, NC!!

Bands on the bill for Saturday include The Clean, Hiss Golden Messenger, Angel Olsen, Mount Eerie, Lee Fields & the Expressions, Reigning Sound, and many many more.

To win, all you have to do is tweet at us @wknc881 and tell us which artist you would be most stoked to see!  One entry per person, please.  Winners will be chosen at random at 7pm tonight!  We’ll contact you via direct message.

This contest is run through WKNC 88.1 FM and is not associated with Tumblr.

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Local Music Music News and Interviews

Phian interviewed Eric and Erica last Thursday before they played Local Band Local Beer at Tir Na Nog Irish Pub in Raleigh.

You can hear four of their songs during the interview: Side Pony, Wild Holiday, What a Fine Day and Silver Trampoline.

You can hear more of Eric and Erica’s music on their website, Bandcamp, and like them on Facebook.

Listen here.

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Local Music Music News and Interviews

Phian Interviewed Star Studies last Thursday before Local Band Local Beer at Tir Na Nog Irish Pub in Raleigh.

Five of their songs were played during the interview: Earthbound, Little Mama, Lover Lay Down, Deep Sea Blues and Peace of Mind.

You can check Star Studies out on their website, listen to more music on Reverb Nation, and like them on Facebook.

Listen here.

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Local Music Music News and Interviews

Phian interviewed Coytah before they played Local Band Local Beer night at Tir Na Nog Irish Pub in Raleigh.

Three of their songs were played during the interview: On My Way, My Design and Summer In Paris.

You can listen to more of Coytah’s music on Reverb Nation and like them on Facebook.

Listen here.

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Music News and Interviews

Grant Golden of “Carolina Grown” sat down with members of Dark Water Rising on Aug. 8. Listen back to their conversation.

Categories
Music News and Interviews

Greg and Nathan from Hopscotch Music Fest LLC stopped by the station last week to chat with me about the state of the festival, its future, the triangle community, and music in general. You can listen to the extensive interview here. 

Our conversation had me thinking on some of the highlights from my experiences at past years attending the festival. Many of the most fun times I’ve had at Hopscotch or in Raleigh, or at live concerts in general have been sparked by the somewhat spontaneous nature of Hopscotch’s design. By so excellently pairing such interesting and unknown artists together with local acts or more established groups the festival creates an atmosphere that breeds discovery.

But while there are great sets at single venues at the same time the range of diversity and general quality of the festival brings always brings up conflicts and scavenger hunt style show attendance hopping. 

I remember at last year’s festival I went to CAM to see Horse Lords on a completely blind suggestion from a friend. Horse Lords have been described as “polyrhythmic krautrockers” that use intonation and repeating tropes in an entrancing psychedelic rock and roll kind of way. It doesn’t sound like the kind of thing that could be catchy or fun but IT WAS. The live performance had multitudes of energy and on top of that I got to have a conversation with Wye Oak’s Jenn Wasner in the crowd. 

Its that kind of liberating feeling that any show you could walk into could be your next favorite band that has kept me coming to Hopscotch year after year and I hope you consider making some spontaneous choices this year as well. 

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Music News and Interviews

Old Crow Medicine Show along with special guests, Shovels & Rope, will be coming to the Red Hat Amphitheatre on August 20th. WKNC will be giving away tickets for the show until Tuesday, August 19th. All you have to do is be the correct caller when the DJ asks for it and you could win yourself a night of great music. So don’t miss this golden opportunity! All of your friends will think you are so cool once you tell them you won free tickets from WKNC. That girl/guy will be highly impressed by your resourcefulness and finally agree to go out on a date with you. Basically, these tickets will change your life.

Old Crow Medicine Show is a bluegrass/americana band from Harrisonburg Virginia. They were discovered by bluegrass legend Doc Watson while the band was performing out on the streets of Boone, North Carolina. The band brings a classic, folk rock sound to the table that warms your heart and makes ya’ feel rightcha at home in ol’e North Caka-Laka. Old Crow Medicine Show makes me think of what southern country music should sound like. Plenty of harmonica solos, lots of banjo pickin’, a big upright bass, and overall great tunes. Even if you don’t like americana music, it’s hard not to like Old Crow Medicine Show’s sound. And with songs like “Down Home Girl” and “Caroline” you can’t help but admire the musical talent behind the music. But you know what they say, “Americana sound’s best when heard live”. I think that’s an ancient chinese proverb. Maybe not. But who knows, right? What is for certain is that you won’t regret a night with Old Crow Medicine Show!

(P.S. If you’ve gone to any NC State sponsored/related event you’ve probably heard Old Crow Medicine Show’s song Wagon Wheel “heeeeeeeeey mama rock me”)

Shovels & Rope is an Americana duo from Charleston, South Carolina. Their music is filled with mellifluous vocal harmonies, palpitating drums, and dulcet acoustic guitars. A little less bluegrass than Old Crow Medicine Show but still an excellent example of southern americana rock. Check out their song Birmingham to hear a great example of my (fancily worded) description for the band.

So be on the listen for DJs giving away these tickets all week!

Good luck!

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Local Music Music News and Interviews

dJ/dx and Me interviewed Oulipo last Thursday before they played Local Band Local Beer at Tir Na Nog Irish Pub in Raleigh.

They played three songs during the interview: Night Legs, Shine On You Crazy Bastard and Hanging Hook. 

You can follow Oulipo on Twitter and Facebook, and buy their music on Bandcamp.

Listen here.

Categories
Local Music Music News and Interviews

dJ/dx and Me interviewed Sarah from Vannevar last Thursday before they played Local Band Local Beer at Tir Na Nog Irish Pub in Raleigh.

You can hear two songs during the interview: Soul Mates and Texas Ranger.

Check out Vannevar’s music on their website and Bandcamp, and like them on Facebook.