Category: Blog

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Music News and Interviews

DJ Ones’ Five Music Facts from the past music week

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YN1f1pZqErU&feature=player_embedded

1. At SXSW Jack White unveiled his newest idea, the rolling record store. The record store on wheels, which sells Third Man Record albums, t-shirts, and other paraphernalia. (via Third Man Records)

2. Damon Albarn of Blur and Gorillaz fame, is set to star in a musical that he himself wrote. The play will be performed in London and will be based around a 16th century spy, John Dee. (via BBC)

3. It has been confirmed that there will be a collaboration between Radiohead frontman, Thome Yorke, and Doom. Not much else is currently available about their upcoming project. (via Pitchfork)

4. The Mountain Goats are doing their part to help raise money for Japan following the tsunamis. The band, which is currently auctioning a one track demo on ebay. All proceeds go towards helping Doctors Without Boarders. (via Pitchfork)

5. TV on the Radio have announced that bassist and keyboardist Gerard Smith has been diagnosed with lung cancer and is currently undergoing treatment. (via TV on the Radio)

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Music News and Interviews

SoundOff15 The Strokes/Noah and the Whale

This week we talk a little bit about the trailer for the collaboration between Spike Jonze and Arcade Fire. We talk about the potential that SXSW brings young acts. We finish by reviewing new albums by Noah and the Whale and The Strokes.

Listen to episode 15.

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Concert Preview

Fridays on the Lawn returns yet again!

WKNC has again teamed up with our friends in the Union Activities Board and Student Government to bring some of the finest local bands to campus, totally free and complete with fringe benefits!

Come out Harris Field on  April 8 and catch free live performances from two area favorites: Durham’s happy-folk darlings Midtown Dickens and Chapel Hill’s groovy alt-Americana Butterflies.

Midtown performed at last year’s Double Barrel benefit 7, and have since made stops at Local Beer Local Band, Troika Music Festival, Hopscotch Music Festival, and just about everywhere else in between. And with releases on both 307 Knox Records and Trekky Records, Midtown has quite the rap sheet.

We are also just as thrilled to feature Trekky comrades Butterflies. With only one release to their name, you may be surprised should you be fortunate enough to catch them live–you’d think they have been at it for a while. Well now’s your chance, and for completely free!

The show starts at 6:30 and is FREE and open to the public. There will be limited supplies of free food, ticket giveaways, and more! So come out, bring a couple friends, and  enjoy the weather while supporting some of the finest in local music!

WKNC thanks our fine sponsors at Chubby’s Tacos, Vitamin Water, and Ultimate Entertainment.

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Music News and Interviews

The Decemberists are coming in June…and we have tickets!

The Decemberists have a busy summer ahead of them. Lucky for us, their whirlwind “Popes of Pendarvia World Tour” will bring them straight from Bonnaroo to our fair city for a Saturday, June 11 performance at the Raleigh Ampitheatre. Best Coast will join The Decemberists for this and at least three subsequent shows.

Because WKNC is so awesome, not only do we have five pair of tickets to bestow upon our lucky listeners, we have them well before the tickets actually go on sale. If you aren’t one of the lucky ones, you can pick up your own pair starting Friday, March 18 at 10 a.m. via Live Nation.

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Concert Preview Local Music

Local Beer Local Band, March 10

This Thursday,New Raleigh, WKNC, and Tir Na nOg form into the trinity of awesomeness to bring you The Loners, The Huguenots, and Special Guests.

I have never NEVER been disappointed by a Loners show. Rock Duo. Plain and simple. "The Loners have a unique history in the Raleigh music scene.  They can be considered the diamond in the rough (the rough being the closing of Kings Barcade in downtown Raleigh in the spring of 2007).  After reuniting to play the last show at Kings, the band decided to stay together because of the outpouring of support they receive from the show. “ – B Berry of WKNC

The Huguenots are "invitingly familiar, as warm and fuzzy as your favorite sweater or treasured vinyl crackling underneath a needle’s touch. Part of that familiarity comes from the band’s thirst for short, accessible, guitar-driven gems—the 3.5-minute pop song, naturally. The band’s quick bursts of energy give it plenty of charm. They’ve got tightly coiled energy to offer, too: A little like big city bands The Strokes and The Libertines, The Huguenots’ spring-loaded riffs and artful come-ons translate into well-played, sonic sloppiness that turns those pop sing-alongs into would-be riots.” —Kathy Justice of Independent Weekly

Also at the pub this Thursday is the brewer series. Held every Thursday, the Tir Na nOg Brewer Series features great  North Carolina craft beer, authentic music from the Triangle, and highlights other local businesses that makes Raleigh unique!

This month we’ve got Aviator Brewing Company to join us, along with Crumb Bakeryy, and there will be shirts from Apheele Creations.   Aviator will be releasing their Belgium Saison.  YUM.

WKNC and Tir Na nOg are happy to bring you this FREE, 21 and up event.  Meet the brewers at 9 p.m.  Music starts at 10 p.m.  Grab yourself a tasty local brew (they’re on special!) and enjoy some local live music.

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Concert Preview

Steep Canyon Rangers

Imagine seeing Vassar Clements, John Kahn, Bill Monroe, Earl Scruggs and Tony Rice…. The Steep Canyon Rangers match the virtuosity of said musicians. The Rangers primed their music careers pickin’ and a-grinnin’ on the campus of UNC-Chapel Hill, where they frequently played bars on Franklin Street and fraternity houses. Now… Carnegie Hall!!! This is HUGE!

The Rangers played February 26 at the Lincoln Theatre in downtown Raleigh. Having attended this show and previous shows of theirs, one interesting observation to point out while attending a Rangers concert is the crowd dynamics. Ages range from 21 all the way up to 65. There are fraternity brothers and middle age women. Finally you have static dancers (people who wish to do the dancing in their heads) and full out flat footers!! So, if one were not to enjoy bluegrass music (God forbid), a Rangers concert is a great venue for people watching. Once again, the band proved to provide another entertaining show, picking fast songs, huddling round a central mic, and getting the crowd to make bird calls! The Steep Canyon Rangers will return to the Triangle area on May 21 with Steve Martin. This tour is promoting the album, “The Rare Bird Alert” that awaits release on March 15! It is a collaborative album created by the Rangers and Martin. So keep your ears and eyes open for this, and keep on ‘a pickin’ and a grinnin’, y’all!

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Concert Review

Thursday is the New Friday – Future Islands Night 1

“Thursday is the new Friday,” proclaimed front man Sam Herring as he watched the sea of hands surge upward. The first night of Future Islands’ Raleigh performances had begun. The hype was building earlier as the shirtless front man and drummer of Ed Schrader’s Music Beat screamed into the microphone as he rapped his drum. A ghoulish low angle light illuminated his body, yet the tactic seemed appropriate and fitting. Islands’ entrance was quick, but their deliverance was timely.

Dressed in more formal attire (which Herring seemed to slowly rid himself of as the night progressed), they delivered crowd favorites like  “Tin Man” and “Long Flight” which were played back to back. Both tracks are off of Future Islands’ sophomore release “In Evening Air.” The Baltimore band also showcased some new tracks which I suspect are part of a rapidly approaching album release.  Herring’s usual stage facial expressions seemed surprising less theatrical Thursday night. I did, however, have a sneaking suspicion that the band was holding back for their second night. Fellow WKNC DJ The Mensch commented on the evening’s performance:  “Having never heard Future Islands in concert I wasn’t entirely sure of what to except.  Through, hearsay I knew they were amazing live from the chitchat around the studio… It’s safe to say that this was one of the best, if not the best concert I have ever seen in the Triangle.”

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Music News and Interviews

DJ Elly May interviews Delta Rae!

East Coast touring mavens Delta Rae stopped by the WKNC studio on the morning of Tuesday, March 1 to chat with DJ Elly May.  They talked about what it’s like to be on the road, their “GRAET Mondays” campaign, upcoming shows and the story behind their song “Ooh, Caroline."  Delta Rae also performed "Ooh, Caroline” and “Bottom of the River."  Listen to the full interview and performance below.

Delta Rae Interview

Categories
Non-Music News

EOT56 NeighborWoods 3/1/11

This week features a conversation with Sherry Graham of Raleigh’s NeighborWoods program about planting trees in public areas across the city. EOT also watches the movie Grease with members of Out! Raleigh and Mark talks with a member of the NCSU Cross Country team.

Listen to episode 56.

Categories
Festival Coverage

Shakori Hills is back for Spring!

Press release from Shakori Hills GrassRoots Festival of Music & Dance:

9th Annual Spring Shakori Hills GrassRoots Festival of Music & Dance

Silk Hope, NC –  The Shakori Hills GrassRoots Festival of Music & Dance will hold its annual spring festival from Thursday, April 21 to Sunday, April 24, 2011. The festival will feature more than 50 bands and performers on two big outdoor stages, a large Dance Tent, and an intimate Cabaret Tent. Located on 72 beautiful farmland acres at 1439 Henderson Tanyard Road in Silk Hope, North Carolina, just down the road from Chapel Hill, Raleigh, Durham, Burlington, and Greensboro. The festival also features local crafts, delicious food, various children’s activities, environmental sustainability workshops, and much more in a family-friendly environment.

Featured acts include: The Travelin’ McCourys, Arrested Development, The Lee Boys, Donna the Buffalo, Tift Merritt, Umalali, Holy Ghost Tent Revival, Langhorne Slim, Scythian, Preston Frank & His Zydeco Family Band, Sarah Lee Guthrie & Johnny Irion, Orquesta GarDel, and Joy Kills Sorrow.

Other local favorites include: The Beast, Diali Cissokho & Kairaba!, Midtown Dickens, Greg Humphreys, Birds & Arrows, Lizzy Ross Band, John Howie Jr. & The Sweethearts, Mount Moriah, Cool John Ferguson, Gray Young, Kooley High, Big Fat Gap, Jack Maverick & His Wild Rebels, Penny Prophets, The Music Maker Revue, Bluegrass Experience, Dark Water Rising, Big Al Hall & Marching Rams, Skeedaddle, Sarah Shook & The Devil, Paperhand Puppet Intervention, Trilogy, Apple Chill Cloggers, HoopDrum, and Elikem African Dance

Other great acts on the bill: Pura Fe, Keith Secola & His Wild Band of Indians, Taj Weekes, Thousands of One, The Deer Clan Singers, Ayurveda, Hudost, Old Man Luedecke, Jason Ringenberg, Do It to Julia, Big Daddy Love, Nikki Talley, Farmer Jason, Spirit Family Reunion, Louise Omoto Kessel, Aaron Burdett, Old Sledge, Double E, Michael Jacobs, Daygot Leeyos, Stuart McNair, Possum Creek, and more.

Festival tickets are on sale now. Four day passes are $90 in advance and $100 at the gate. Kids 12 and under are FREE! Day passes are $25 (Thurs), $35 (Fri), $45 (Sat), and $25 (Sun). Youth prices (13-15) are $12, $17, $20, and $12. Tent camping is $10 per tent and vehicle camping is $50 in advance and $60 at the gate.

Stay tuned to WKNC for ticket giveaways and more updates!