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.

Raleigh Celebrates America with The 'Works Event

Thousands of people from around the Triangle will gather to celebrate America with local brew, great eats, contests, music and fireworks.  Join in on the fun at City Plaza and Fayetteville Street; the party starts at noon and will last until about midnight. 

Of course for us at The Triangle Beat, music is the most important part of any celebration, so let's check out the details on the music scene. There will be three stages covering music from every genre:

Red Hat Amphitheater

      5:00 Doors Open
      5:30 – 6:30  Matt Phillips and The Philharmonic  (Blues/Folk)
      7:15 – 8:30  US Army Ground Forces Band – Loose Cannons (Bluegrass)
      9:50 – 11:00 Toubab Krewe (Headliner – World)

Morgan Street Stage

      1:00 – 1:45 Slinger Francisco (Indie Rock)
      2:15 – 3:00 Youma (Indie Hard Rock/Hip Hop)       

      3:30 – 4:15 Apples and Airplanes (High Energy Alternative)
      4:45 – 5:30 Nuclear Honey (Indie Jam)     

      6:00 – 6:45 Monika Jaymes (Female Rock)
      7:15 – 8:00 Milagro Saints (Poetic Roots Rock Americana)      

      8:30 – 9:15 Outside Soul (New Funk)
      10:00 – 11:00 Young Cardinals (Grunge Rock)

City Plaza Stage

      12:00 – 1:00 Clockwork Kids (Neo-Psychedelic Rock)
      1:30 – 2:15 Ed Stephenson (Nuevo Flamenco)      

      2:45 – 3:30 Acoustic Manner (Up Beat Bluegrass)
      4:00 – 4:45 Amanda Daughtry (Country Pop)      

      5:15 – 6:00 Archbishops of Blount St (Ska/Pop)
      6:30 – 7:15 Four Founders (Easy Listening across Multiple Genres)       

      7:45 – 8:45 Crucial Fiya (Reggae)
      9:15 – 11:00 Kaira Ba (Headliner – World)

If music isn't the highlight of your life like it is ours, no worries, there are plenty of other things to keep you entertained.  Let's talk food.  Several food trucks will be on hand, ready to serve up delicious treats from sweet,  to exotic,  to good ol' American.  Raleigh's favorite spots such as The Oxford, Busy Bee, and Raleigh Times will also be serving food, tailgating games, and live music.  

If it's competition that you crave, downtown Raleigh has you covered.  Show your talents in any of the food-eating contests; choose from watermelon seed spitting, ice cream eating from Lumpy's, and the hotdog challenge. Also, see performances by Gouge wrestlers and King's BMX bike stunt performers.

Fireworks will be presented in two different locations:  Red Hat Amphitheater will have a 9:30 display as well as the south end of Fayetteville Street in front of the Progress Energy Center for the Performing Arts. 

Just like the beer and wine provided in the beverage tent, the festivities flow endlessly.  Check out the full list of events and map here.