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Music News and Interviews

Ray LaMontagne along with special guest The Belle Brigade will be coming to the Red Hat Amphitheater Saturday, July 26 and WKNC has free tickets for you to win! Just be the correct caller when the DJ asks for it and you could win yourself a fantastic night of live music! Ray LaMontagne’s sound is a good variety of rock, folk, psychedelic, and funk AKA never a dull moment performing live. LaMontagne recently released his new album, Supernova, just this past April. The album shows LaMontagne’s exponential songwriting skills and proves why he deserves to be called one of the best. So, be on the listen for WKNC DJs giving away these tickets, have 919-515-0881 on your speed dial, stay up unreasonable hours listening to 88.1 deep into the depths of the night, and be prepared to run like Charlie with a golden ticket after you win!

Good Luck!

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Music News and Interviews

On Wednesday, July 23, Beck will be coming to the Red Hat Amphitheater in downtown Raleigh! Along with special guest The Ghost of a Saber Tooth Tiger. Tickets are on sale now, but you could get them for free by listening to WKNC. Just be the correct caller when the DJ asks for it and you could win yourself a trip to see Beck and The Ghost of a Saber Tooth Tiger live! Beck has been rocking out for a little over 2 decades now with his hit songs like Loser and Where It’s At. Recently, Beck released a new album, Morning Phase, which has received fairly positive reviews. The latest album shows a more mature songwriter, but it definitely differs from Beck’s older music; less alt. rock/electro more rock/folk. So whether you’ve got a Devil’s Haircut or are just a Sun-Eyed Girl, Be on the listen for KNC DJs giving away these tickets!

For more info on Beck and Morning Phase visit: http://www.beck.com 

For more info on The Ghost of a Saber Tooth Tiger visit: http://www.thegoastt.com

Good Luck!

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Music News and Interviews

On July 14th, The Fray will be coming to the Red Hat Amphitheater in downtown Raleigh, and WKNC has tickets for you to claim! All you have to do is call in once the DJ asks, and these tickets could be yours to cherish forever and ever. Opening bands include Barcelona and Oh Honey (links below). The lines are 919-515-0881 & 919-515-2400, so be on the lookout (or listen-out) for the DJ’s giveaways and win yourself some free tickets! To find out more about The Fray’s Helios Tour and their new album Helios visit their website.

Good luck!

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Non-Music News

WKNC will be broadcasting the #SaveWRAS Simulcast at 1pm tomorrow!

Tune in after Local Lunch on Thursday, June 26th as we broadcast WRAS’s programming for one hour to unite with WRAS and over 40 other college stations fighting to keep college radio student-run. For the full rundown, or how to get involved and help out, scope out WRCT’s post about the event.

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Concert Review

Angel Olsen at Cats Cradle

Angel Olsen performs live at Cat’s Cradle in Carrboro. Photo by dJ/dx.

Friday night brought indie folk-rock artist Angel Olsen back to her home state for a performance at Cat’s Cradle in Carrboro.  The openers, Nashville’s Promised Land Sound, kicked off the night with great energy, backing southern-style harmonies with their country-rock sound.  They even brought Olsen and her percussionist on stage for a song that they claimed to have only played together once before.

Olsen and her crew carried the night onward and upward with a shuffled setlist of new and old, alternating between songs from her most recent release Burn Your Fire For No Witness and tracks from older discography.  It was difficult to resist swaying along to the Missouri native’s enchanting vocals as the outlined the emotionally charged lyrics that I’ve been humming along to for months.  To the crowd’s delight (as indicated by the girly screeches erupting from the house), Angel surprised the crowd with a rendition of Rhiannon by the WKNC-beloved Fleetwood Mac.  Closing out the set with a solo performance of White Fire and Iota, Angel continued to hypnotize the audience without the assistance of her bandmates, leaving the crowd with a simple “thanks” and high hopes for an encore.  She returned to the stage with her bandmates to close out the night with the high-energy of Forgiven/Forgotten.  Overall, it was an impressive performance by a wonderful artist.  While many of her shows are selling out around the country, I’m glad I had the chance to see Olsen perform in the Triangle for the first time since last year’s Hopscotch Music Festival.  It’s always nice to see talented artists getting the attention they deserve.  For more information on Angel Olsen, including tour dates, merch, and news, you can visit her website at angelolsen.com.

– dJ/dx

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Festival Coverage

PHUZZ PHEST NIGHT 1 HIGHLIGHTS

Mount Moriah, Ex-Cult, The Tills, Skullcollector, and Dark Prophet Tongueless Monk.

Categories
Band/Artist Profile Local Music

Estrangers

Estrangers is a five-piece hailing from Winston-Salem, NC consisting of Philip Pledger on vocals and guitar, Mike Wallace on Guitar, David-Todd Murray on keyboards, Nathan H. Bedsole on bass, and Drew Braden on drums.  The fuzz-pop quintet formed in the summer of 2011.  By November, they had released their debut effort Black Ballroom and had opened for Unknown Mortal Orchestra and Titus Andronicus.  Their bright, washed-out pop was reminiscent of older days.  After a period of indecision and a few lineup changes, they were back with their follow-up Sunmelt EP.  This effort found them exploring more into a psychedelic side of their lo-fi pop sound.

Their latest LP, Season of 1000 Colors, was released last summer as their first release of their newly founded label Phuzz Records.  This album really finds Estrangers nailing down their sound.  Season features more polished production then their last two outings, but still maintains their earnest, fuzzy pysch-pop tunes.  The album is a melodic wash of bright pop comprised of huge melodies, complimented by fuzzy guitars and synths grounded by thundering drums and bass.  Through and through, their first full-length is a brilliant album that picks you up on the first listen and has enough layers to keep bringing you back.

Philip Pledger not only serves as the singer and guitarist of Estrangers but also as the founder and co-director of Phuzz Phest.  Phuzz Phest is an annual music festival that is now in its 4th year that takes place in downtown Winston-Salem.  The festival works to bring some of the best local acts as well as some great local acts in for a weekend long festival.  This year during the first weekend in April, Phuzz Phest brings No Age, Kool Keith, Jessica Lea Mayfield, White Fence, Diarrhea Planet, Mount Moriah, Ex Hex, The Love Language and over 40 more incredible acts to Winston-Salem for an insane weekend that will now also feature a coffee conference and afterparties. Check out their website for the full schedule and more information.

With Phuzz Phest right around the corner, Estrangers is hitting the road again with some new songs before they return home to play Phuzz Phest.  Tune in to WKNC at 7pm on Wednesday March 12th to hear an interview with the band before their show at Kings that night!

Check out their video for “Cape Fear" here!

3/12 Kings Barcade (Raleigh) with Eston & The Outs, Flash Car

3/13 The Gold Bar (Baltimore) with Infinite Honey, Joy Classic

3/14 The Gutter (Brooklyn) with IYEZ

4/04 Phuzz Phest (Winston-Salem)

Categories
Concert Preview

DBB 11 Lineup Announced

The FULL lineup is now announced for WKNC’s Double Barrel Benefit 11. Join us this Friday, Feb. 7 at Cat’s Cradle for The Love Language with Hammer No More The Fingers, Tow3rs and GHOSTT BLLONDE. Then stop by Lincoln Theatre on Friday, Feb.14 for Mount Moriah, Bombadil, Lomalands and Daniel Bachman! Tickets at wknc.org/dbb11.