Friday, September 26, 2014

Celebrate the Weekend with Local Beer and Music Fests

There are a plenty of options to please music lovers of the Triangle this weekend.  On Saturday, Holly Springs is hosting the beer and music fest, Beericana at Sugg Farm Park.  Sunday offers two options so tempting, it might not be possible to choose just one.  Live and Local presents the Live it Up Bluegrass Festival, while Carrboro offers a full day of music and entertainment with the Carrboro Music Festival.  Continue on for the details:

BEERICANA - Holly Springs, Sugg Farms

 



Holly Springs is joining the beer festival scene with the Beericana Craft Beer and Music Festival.  Samples of beer from local breweries and beyond will be provided for this all day festival from 1:30-6 on Saturday, September 27. 

To make those brews taste even better, live music will be provided by The Honeycutters, Dark Water Rising, Skinny Bag of Sugar, Lynda Dawson and Pattie Hopkins. 

Of course, food trucks will be on site to help balance out the intake of constant brew sampling.  To see ticket information and a complete listing of breweries, head over to the official Beericana website.





 

LIVE IT UP! ON HILLSBOROUGH STREET - Bluegrass Festival

 


Gather the entire family and head over to the Hillsborough Street district in Raleigh this weekend.  This event will take place on Sunday, September 28 from 2-10 and it's free.  The music lineup includes Darin and Brooke Aldridge, Tommy Edwards and the Bluegrass Experience featuring Leroy Savage, and Josh Daniel and Mark Shimick Project. 

Craft beer will be available in The Logan Court Beer Garden with a variety of brews from the Raleigh Brewing Company.  However, this is a very family-friendly event, with performances by the Raleigh Little Theatre and a stage dedicated to youth attendees. 

Find a full lineup and parking information at the Live and Local website



CARRBORO MUSIC FESTIVAL - Carrboro, NC


The Carrboro Music Fest celebrates its 17th year of bringing quality music to this artistic and quaint town on Sunday, September 28.  Over 180 local acts will perform throughout the day on various stages, including Saints Apollo, Rob Nance, Matt Phillips, and the Clockwork Kids. 

A special kick-off performance will be provided by Love Language, Daddy Issues, and Natural Causes at Cat's Cradle on Saturday at 9; this show is also free to the public. 

The lineup is pleasing and detailed, so head over to the Carrboro Music Festival's website for complete details.

Thursday, September 18, 2014

The 4th Annual Apex Jazz and Music Festival Happens this Saturday

The 4th annual Apex Jazz and Music Festival is taking place this Saturday, September 20 with an impressive lineup.  The festival features bands of all different genres from indie rock to classic jazz.  Some returning bands are Saints Apollo and Jamrock Reggae Band, but several new bands have been added to the bill; Secret Chords, Peak City Blues Project, Lowderstill, and Straight 8's are just some of the newly added groups.

Tickets for the event are $10 and can be purchased on the festival's website.  This includes entry to all that the festival has to offer, from the beer and wine garden to each of the venues where music can be heard.  In addition to the eateries located in downtown Apex, seven outdoor vendors will also be on site. Check out the full music lineup:
Beer and Wine Garden Main Stage (3:30-11):
      MikeMickXer - 3:30 – 5:00
      The Soul Psychedelique Orchestra - 5:30 – 7:00
      Heart Brigade - 7:30 – 9:00
      Peak City Sound - 9:30 – 11:00
Pub Venues (6-1):
      Saints Apollo @ Apex Outfitter & Board Co. - 6:00 – 9:00
      Lowderstill @ Salem Street Pub - 6:00 – 9:00
      Secret Chords @ Common Grounds - 7:00 – 10:00
      Alex Gorodezky @ The Beer Dispensary - 7:00 – 10:00
      Victor Haskins and ImproviStory @ Woomer Insurance - 7:00 – 10:00
      Peak City Blues Project @ Empire Cigars/The Vault - 8:00 – 11:00
      Jamrock Reggae Band @ La Rancherita - 8:00 – 11:00
      Will McBride Group @ The Loft at Anna's - 9:00 – 12:00
      Straight 8's @ Salem Street Pub - 10:00 – 1:00
Street Performers (3-9):
      GrayScale Whale
           3PM – 5PM @ Anna’s Pizzeria

      Chris Short
           4PM – 6PM @ All Booked Up
           7PM – 9PM @ Carolina Custom Kitchen & Bath

      Laura Thurston
           3PM – 5PM @ Studio 123 Art Studio
           7PM – 9PM @ All Booked Up

      Savanna Smith
           7PM – 9PM @ Home Video Studio

      Darel Santucci
           4PM – 6PM @ Home Video Studio
           7PM – 9PM @ Studio 123 Art Studio
For more details such as road closures and ticket information, visit the festival's website. Come out for a full day of music, food, and brew starting at 3 this Saturday. 

Tuesday, September 16, 2014

New Goods - Royal Tongues

Passion Pit and Smallpools just made sweet love and created Royal Tongues.  This indie alt-rock band from Buffalo, NY recently formed and is starting strong with the catchy synth-pop debut single, "The Balance".  Take a listen and prepare to hear more from this promising new duo.


Friday, September 12, 2014

Hopscotch '14 Review

The much anticipated Hopscotch Music Festival is beyond a week behind us and recovery is just now being reached.  This three day musical carnival for fans and artists was full of surprises, fun, and endless music.  It was of course impossible to catch all of the acts, but we have some highlights of the shows that were experienced.

Music from of all different genres were absorbed on Thursday, but there was one performance in particular that really made an impact:  Museum Mouth.  They played at an intensely packed Slim's to a crowd that was excited to get Hopscotch underway. This indie punk rock trio held nothing back as they made their way through their latest album, Alex I Am Nothing, and some of their older fan favorites.  The crowd sang and bounced along to every beat of the drum of this high-energy show.



After some extreme hydrating, it was time to experience all that Hopscotch had to offer on their Friday lineup.  There were so many notable bands on this schedule that it was like choosing between a best friend and significant other.  Ultimately, Sinners and Saints won as our first show of the night, after the stunning sets from St. Vincent and Spoon, of course.  Sinners and Saints is a two-piece from Charlotte, NC.  They bring together folk and bluegrass with genuine lyrics that reach every soul. Couple this singable music with Perry Fowler and Mark Baran who both have a subtle yet remarkable stage presence.  Being a part of their audience was like making two new friends.  Between songs, they'd share stories, interact with the crowd, and partake in whiskey shots purchased by fans.  Sinners and Saints are only getting started in the area, so catch them when you can.  Check out their website for upcoming local shows.




Also playing at Lincoln Theatre Friday night was the Durham band, Loamlands.  I didn't know too much about this group before seeing them, so I was delighted once the sweet sound of the guitar paired with the southern charm of lead singer, Kym Register, started.  The band is comprised of Register and Will Hackney who bring in alternating members to complete the group.  Register's lyrics are purely heartfelt and she delivers them with an intense vulnerability that leaves her emotionally exposed. This is gritty southern rock at its finest.




On Saturday I ventured out to The Pour House for some day partying.  This is where I experienced my absolute favorite performance of the weekend.  Landlady, coming to us from Brooklyn, played a set that took the audience on a mystifying musical journey.  After a highly entertaining and comedic sound check, lead singer, Adam Schatz broke into "Under the Yard", singing of sheep, girls, and tomato seeds, and somehow it all made perfect sense.  The dramatically captivating lyrics meshed with the fierceness of the drums created a show that was mesmerizing.  Few bands have the ability to reach  such an array of emotions, but Landlady exhibits every sentiment from laughter to sorrow to excitement.  Experiencing a Landlady show live is essential, no music bucket list is complete without it.


While the expansive offering of new and unique music was the highlight of Hopscotch 2014, the most memorable aspect was the combined respect of the music community; bands and fans came together nightly to appreciate the hard labor of artists from every background and genre. For us at The Triangle Beat,  it was a surreal moment to stand alongside the same people that we've reviewed and interviewed this past year, and to finally meet photographers and venue owners that we normally only communicate with via social media. Now, we lie in wait with great anticipation for year six of the Hopscotch Music Festival and can only imagine the great memories that experience will provide. Until then, relive Hopscotch '14 through our amazing slideshow provided by our photog in training, Chris Jones. 


Tuesday, September 9, 2014

Smooth Hound Smith Makes Raleigh Debut


We all have guilty pleasures, possibly chocolate, romance novels, or fast food. Personally, I'm guilty of loving mindless, pointless reality TV.  As I lazily sat and absorbed an intense love triangle explosion on MTV's Real World, the most beautiful music traveled to my ears. It was a lovely male and female harmony supported by the soft strum of the guitar. Thankfully, even though MTV rarely plays music videos these days, they do post the song titles and artists featured on each show.  This is when I discovered my latest musical obsession, Smooth Hound Smith.

Caitlin Doyle and Zack Smith met in LA and established Smooth Hound Smith in 2012.  After releasing their self-titled debut album in 2013, they've since settled in Nashville, but have spent nearly seven months of the last two years touring.  Zack started out as a one man band, but he quickly realized how much Caitlin added to the music, "She has such a rare and valuable skill set; she conceptualized a great deal of the harmonies, and we did the arrangements together."


Smooth Hound Smith is one of those bands that's difficult to describe due to their wide array of sounds.  The softer songs such as "Crazy Over You" and "California Sway" carry a  romantic rhythm supported by the gentle picking of the guitar matched with lyric-driven harmonies.  In the more bluesy-rock songs, "30 Days" and "Blue Dress", the foot percussion, harmonica, and grungy guitar induce instant foot stomping. 

The Triangle Beat is pleased to introduce Smooth Hound Smith to Raleigh this Friday at Deep South.  A  night of Americana-Folk is planned with Rob Nance and The Midatlantic also performing.  Join us for our first official show presentation and memorable night of music with friends for a mere $7.  The doors open at 7 and the fun begins at 9.


Wednesday, September 3, 2014

World of Bluegrass StreetFest Performers Announced


Nashville, Tenn. (September 3, 2014) — The full schedule of artists and performances for Wide Open Bluegrass StreetFest, the free street festival portion of Wide Open Bluegrass, has just been announced. The roster of artists performing at Wide Open Bluegrass StreetFest, held October 3 and 4 in Raleigh, North Carolina, includes a broad mix of local, national and international bluegrass talent.
 
The full schedule of artists and performance times for various stages at the free Wide Open Bluegrass StreetFest is listed below. For any schedule adjustments or additions, check www.wideopenbluegrass.com.

The PNC-presented free Wide Open Bluegrass StreetFest, held in downtown Raleigh along Fayetteville Street, will feature more than 80 bands, four music stages, a dance tent, vendors, concessions and a special youth stage near the Convention Center that will feature performances and activities from the future stars of bluegrass - including programming set up by IBMA’s Youth Council. Additionally, StreetFest will contain a Bluegrass Expo Hall and a Masters Workshop Stage in the Raleigh Convention Center.


 FRIDAY, OCTOBER 3

*CITY PLAZA STAGE  
12:00-12:45 pm             Joe Mullins & The Radio Ramblers
1:15-2:00 pm                 Michael Cleveland & Flamekeeper
2:30-3:15 pm                 Frank Solivan & Dirty Kitchen
3:45-4:30 pm                 Scythian
5:00-5:45 pm                 Sierra Hull
6:15-7:15 pm                 Adkins & Loudermilk
7:45-9:00 pm                 The Gibson Brothers
9:30-11:00 pm               Chatham County Line

*DAVIE STREET STAGE  
12:15-1:00 pm               Al Batten & The Bluegrass Reunion
1:30-2:15 pm                 Tommy Edwards & The Bluegrass Experience
2:45-3:30 pm                 The Outliers
4:00-4:45 pm                 The Grass Cats
5:15-6:00 pm                 Missy Raines & The New Hip
6:30-7:30 pm                 Compton & Newberry
8:00-9:15 pm                 Carl Johnson & Jim Lloyd
9:45-11:00 pm               Steve Dilling & Sideline

*MARTIN STREET STAGE  
12:30-1:15 pm               Nixon, Blevins & Gage
1:45-2:30 pm                 Bill Evans
3:00-3:45 pm                 The Bankesters
4:15-5:00 pm                 The Barefoot Movement
5:30-6:15 pm                 Terry Baucom & The Dukes of Drive
6:45-7:45 pm                 Donna Ulisse
8:15-9:15 pm                 The Boxcars
9:45-11:00 pm                Blue Highway

*HARGETT STREET STAGE  
12:15-1:00 pm               Moore Brothers Band
1:30-2:15 pm                 Foghorn Stringband
2:45-3:30 pm                 New Country Rehab
4:00-4:45 pm                 The Duhks
5:15-6:00 pm                 I Draw Slow
6:30-7:30 pm                 Floodwood
8:00-9:15 pm                 Balsam Range
9:45-11:00 pm               The Deadly Gentlemen

*YOUTH STAGE  
12:00-12:45 pm             Cup O’Joe
1:00-1:45 pm                 Maybe April
2:00-2:45 pm                 The Burie Family
3:00-3:45 pm                 Gold Heart
4:00-4:45 pm                 Breaking Grass
5:00-5:45 pm                 Kids on Bluegrass

*DANCE TENT  
12:00-1:15 pm               Square dance w/Southern String Band
1:30-2:30 pm                 Cane Creek Cloggers w/Southern String Band
3:00-4:00 pm                 Footworks Percussive Dance Ensemble
4:30-5:15 pm                 Carolina Heartland Cloggers & Little River Cloggers, w/Patrick Walsh                                       & Friends
6:00-7:00 pm                 Square dance – Caller Aaron Ratcliffe w/Yer Crooked Cousins
7:30-9:00 pm                 The Duhks
9:30-11:00 pm               Scythian

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 4

*CITY PLAZA STAGE  
12:00-12:45 pm             Clay Hess Band
1:15-2:00 pm                 Hubby Jenkins
2:30-3:15 pm                 Special Consensus
3:45-4:30 pm                 Kids on Bluegrass
5:00-5:45 pm                 Billy Strings & Don Julin
6:15-7:15 pm                 The Kruger Brothers
7:45-9:00 pm                 Claire Lynch Band
9:30-11:00 pm                Jim Lauderdale

*DAVIE STREET STAGE  
12:15-1:00 pm               Gravy Boys
1:30-2:15 pm                 Mountain Faith
2:45-3:30 pm                 Jeff Little Trio
4:00-4:45 pm                 David Holt & Josh Goforth
5:15-6:00 pm                 Bobby Hicks, Tony Williamson, Ron Shuffler and Friends
6:30-7:30 pm                 Snyder Family Band
8:00-9:15 pm                 Mark Johnson & Emory Lester
9:45-11:00 pm               Laney Jones

*MARTIN STREET STAGE  
12:30-1:15 pm                Lorraine Jordan & Carolina Road
1:45-2:30 pm                  Darin & Brooke Aldridge
3:00-3:45 pm                  Donna Hughes
4:15-5:00 pm                  Audie Blaylock & Redline
5:30-6:15 pm                  Lynda Dawson & Pattie Hopkins
6:45-7:45 pm                  Dale Ann Bradley
8:15-9:15 pm                  Danny Paisley & Southern Grass
9:45-11:00 pm                The Ramblin Rooks
 
*HARGETT STREET STAGE  
12:15-1:00 pm               Malpass Brothers
1:30-2:15 pm                 Kristy Cox
2:45-3:30 pm                 Flatt Lonesome
4:00-4:45 pm                 MIPSO
5:15-6:00 pm                 Front Country
6:30-7:30 pm                 Rebecca Frazier and Hit & Run
8:00-9:15 pm                 Wood & Wire
9:45-11:00 pm                Della Mae

*YOUTH STAGE
12:00-12:45 pm             TBA
1:00-1:45 pm                 Ash Breeze
2:00-2:45 pm                 The Lindsey Family
3:00-3:45 pm                 Meyerband
4:30-4:45 pm                 The Willis Clan

*DANCE TENT  
12:00-2:00 pm               Family Square Dance - Connie Carringer w/Carolina Catbirds
2:30-3:30 pm                 Green Grass Cloggers w/Epps Pepsteppers
4:00-5:30 pm                 Swing Dance - Huzzah the Band with introductory swing lesson by                                        Jason Sager
6:00-7:00 pm                 The Stuart Brothers
7:30-9:00 pm                 Front Country
9:30-11:00 pm               The Revelers

*Information courtesy of IBMA

Monday, September 1, 2014

Hopscotch Spotlight: Friday Edition


In an effort to continue our coverage of Hopscotch '14, The Triangle Beat highlights some of Friday's most anticipated bands taking the stage in downtown Raleigh.  Be sure to add these sets to your evening schedule and head on over to www.hopscotchmusicfest.com for a complete lineup of bands performing on day 2 of the festival.

LONNIE WALKER - City Plaza Stage (5:45pm)

It seems fitting that Friday gets under way with a bit of local flare as Lonnie Walker takes the center stage at City Plaza.  If you've been fortunate to catch this Raleigh based band in recent years, you are well aware of the energy that Brian Corum and friends bring to the stage.  What was once a solo project, Corum later added Eric Hill, Justin Flythe, Raymond Finn, and Josh Bridges to generate a sound that is founded in a steady blend of punk rock and folk Americana.  Lonnie Walker is set to take the stage on Fayetteville St. at 5:45pm.



ST. VINCENT - City Plaza Stage (6:50pm)

Perhaps no other artist performing at Hopscotch '14 has been able to generate as much publicity in the past year as St. Vincent.  Known for her intriguing and complex musical arrangements, St. Vincent has been featured on SNL in recent months and will later join The Black Keys for their tour in late 2014. Much of the buzz about St. Vincent can be credited to the release of her new self titled album, St. Vincent.  As highlighted by Rolling Stone, "St. Vincent is her tightest, tensest, best set of songs to date, with wry, twisty beats pushing her lovable ornery melodies toward grueling revelations."  Be sure to make your way to the city center in time to be a part of what will be nothing short of a unique musical experience.  St. Vincent is also performing on the City Plaza Stage following Lonnie Walker at 6:50pm.

SPOON - City Plaza Stage (8:30pm)


Long time Merge Records artist, Spoon, returns to Raleigh as the Friday night headliner and will close out the evening on the City Plaza main stage.  Since the creation of the band in the late 1990's, Spoon has been a mainstay on the Billboard 200 with each and every album.  It should come as no surprise then that their most recent album, They Want My Soul, has Spoon right back on the charts once again.  Popular tracks such as "Do You" on the newest album highlights the evolution in sound the band has endured, while maintaining the elements that have provided them with continued success over the years.  Rounding out what is an excellant lineup for Friday evening on the City Plaza main stage, don't miss out on Spoon's performance before heading off into the night to catch one of the shows at various venues around Raleigh.  Spoon will also be on the main stage around 8:30pm in the heart of downtown Raleigh.

SINNERS AND SAINTS - Lincoln Theatre (9:30pm)

After the lights have dimmed on the main stage Friday evening, be sure to make your way over to Lincoln Theatre.  Sinners and Saints out of Charlotte will bring an element to Hopscotch '14 that music lovers and folk fanatics are certain to enjoy.

While Perry Fowler and Mark Baran have only been working together since 2011, the two musicians have grown increasingly popular thanks in part to the release of their first full length album, Love and Misery.  Released in early 2014, Love and Misery combines Fowler and Baran's instrumental talents to produce an album that embodies a traditional folk sound while capitalizing on lyrics that all listeners can resonate with.  Making their debut at Hopscotch '14, the folk based duo will be getting things started around 9:30pm for what is sure to be another solid night of music at Lincoln Theatre.



Hopscotch Spotlight: Thursday Edition


Life is filled with tough decisions and if you're headed to Raleigh's Hopscotch Music Festival this weekend, the struggle is real.  Hopscotch is celebrating their 5th anniversary by offering a variety of tempting musical options from Thursday through Saturday.  Aside from the obvious headliner shows, below are our top picks for Thursday. 


Saint Rich 

Saint Rich recently released their debut album, Beyond the Drone.  The collection carries a sense of nostalgia and reflection with smooth guitar sounds and varying melodies.  The lyrics possess thought and meaning with pure purpose behind them.  This is the type of album that continues to surprise and offer hidden details each time it's heard. 

This side project from Delicate Steve band mates, Steven Marion and Christian Peslak, comes from ten years of playing together Due to the pair's synergy, Beyond the Drone was created with ease and confidence over a rainy weekend in New Jersey. The two met in high school and have been developing their musical genius ever since.

Catch this Merge Records band at Tir Na Nog    Thursday from 11-12.


The War on Drugs 

This indie rock band will be performing at the Lincoln Theatre on Thursday from 12:30-1:30.  The group formed in 2005 in Philadelphia, PA and found their place on the map with their second album, Slave Ambient.  Their most recent album, Lost in a Dream, was released in March of this year.

The band is led by frontman Adam Granduciel.  While all members contributed to the new album, it's Granduciel's vision and knowledge of studio recording that helped create such an impressive finished product.  Though Granduciel is typcially seen as a guitar player, he often begins his writing process at the piano.  This is where he layers and weaves rhythms and beats into a finished product.

The War on Drugs is sure to deliver an unforgettable live set that will be worth staying up late to hear.



 

American Aquarium

This local Raleigh band proves that hard work pays off.  With the release of six albums and endless touring through the U.S. and Europe, American Aquarium has gained an extensive following.

Their most recent album, Burn. Flicker. Die., explores the result of writing, touring, and playing constantly for six years.  The album was developed in eight short days with the production help of Jason Isbell.

Don't miss these hometown favorites as they play from 10:30-11:30 at Lincoln Theatre.   







 

Wild Fur

This relatively new two-piece from Durham, NC has just recently launched their live show.  The group consists of Wylie Hunter and Nick Jaegar who have been a part of various other local bands such as The Tomahawks and Roman Candle.

Wild Fur came about after creating songs that didn't fit into the repertoire of the existing bands.  Hunter and Jaegar write Americana songs and mix them with drum machines and synths, creating new sounds out of traditional music.

Wild Fur will perform on Thursday at Lincoln Theatre from 8:30-9:30.