Win Tickets to the Scythian CD Release Show at Lincoln Theatre

Dance-inducing Celtic rock and American folk band, Scythian, will once again bring the party to Lincoln Theatre and we're giving away two free tickets to the show.  To enter, head over to our Twitter and Facebook pages to retweet and share for your chance to win.  

Saturday, July 15th at 9pm Scythian will be doing an ALL-AGES CD Release of their new album "Dance All Night." The album is a "best of" but features previously unreleased tunes which will be performed that night. "Named after Ukrainian nomads, Scythian merges Irish, gypsy, and Americana with thunderous energy, technical zest, and soulful songwriting, beckoning crowds into a barn-dance rock concert experience."  

For those of you who are new to Scythian, you can expect a show that has you up on your feet dancing while hoisting glasses. Scythian headlined First Night Raleigh a couple of years ago, has rocked the Bluegrass Fest, and is a perennial favorite at the MerleFest Dance Tent. Head over to the Lincoln Theatre website to get your tickets. Check out the 60-second preview below: 

Galantis and Hook N Sling Release Video for "Love on Me"

It has been 5 years since Hook N Sling smashed the music world unexpectedly with “Take You Higher”, a tune made with fellow producer Goodwill. The very next year, Hook was working alongside Aussie duo Nervo to create “Reason”. Now based in LA, his appetite to create new sounds with friends is still massive. Hook N Sling teams up with international duo Galantis for "Love On Me," their new collaboration out now on Big Beat Records.

“Since remixing ‘Gold Dust’ for Galantis last year, we’ve been talking about collaborating on something. ‘Love On Me’ is here!” – Hook N Sling

"Love On Me" has the makings of yet another bonafide hit for the native Australian to add to his seemingly endless catalogue of successful releases. The bubbly pop single features an irresistible vocal sample, reminiscent of a perfect sun-shining day. Hook's studio chemistry with Galantis is impressively on display throughout the song, featuring a steel drum beat that doubles as the melody, along with hook-laden vocals and a massive drop that’s destined for club play for years to come. 

This release comes at an exciting time for Hook N' Sling aka Anthony Maniscalco. His proven history of releasing chart-topping records that cut through the saturated electronic dance music space show a constant evolution to his sound, staying two steps ahead of the game at every turn. With an ARIA Music Awards nomination, a DMC Buzz Chart #1, a Beatport #1, and a Hypem #1 under his belt, Hook N' Sling continues to make a statement as to the versatile appeal of his music. He's earned tens of millions of spins across Youtube and Spotify, earning support from respected peers like Kaskade, Axwell, Don Diablo, The Chainsmokers, and more.  Check out the colorful new video for "Love on Me" and try not to smile.  

First Listen: Sam Beam and Jesca Hoop's 'Love Letter for Fire'

You can now hear Sam Beam and Jesca Hoop’s Love Letter for Fire, their forthcoming duets record, in it’s entirety via NPR Music’s “First Listen”.

NPR Music says of the album, “Love Letter for Fire was, at least in part, inspired by the pair's desire to make songs that function as conversations rather than soliloquies, and their work backs that up...With the help of producer Tucker Martine and a smart, subtle band, the two achieve a fine balance — of songwriting sensibilities, of time in the spotlight — in the service of songs that feel at once fresh and timeless (see “First Listen” April 7th-15th).”

Sam Beam and Jesca Hoop’s 2016 headlining tour schedule in support of Love Letter for Fire has been extended through September. This includes a North American trek with support from Marlon Williams (May 17th-June 11th) and a European run (August 28th-September 11th). Sam and Jesca will also appear at End of the Road Festival weekender September 2nd-4th. Please find a current list of tour dates below.

Love Letter for Fire will be available on CD / LP / DL / CASS worldwide April 15th through Sub Pop/Black Crickett Recording Co. The thirteen-track album was produced, recorded and mixed by Tucker Martine (Modest Mouse, Decemberists, Neko Case) at Flora Recording & Playback in Portland, and mastered by Richard Dodd in Nashville.

Love Letter for Fire features Beam and Hoop on vocals and guitar along with Robert Burger (keys), Eyvind Kang (violin, viola), Glenn Kotche (drums, percussion), Sebastian Steinberg (bass) and Edward Rankin-Parker (cello).

Sam and Jesca recently released a short film on the making of Love Letter for Fire. The two discuss the process of how their collaborative album came to fruition and how two people not in love wrote an entire album of love songs. The clip also features exclusive performances of the two in a stripped down and intimate setting.

Love Letter for Fire is now available for preorder at Sub Pop Mega Mart, iTunes, Amazon, Google Play, and Bandcamp. LP preorders through megamart.subpop.com will receive the limited Loser edition on Smoke-colored vinyl (while supplies last). 

Sadly, their tour won't roll through North Carolina, but great music is always worth a road trip.  However, you can catch Sam Beam as Iron & Wine on August 13 at the North Carolina Art Museum. 

Tour Dates
May 17 - Ann Arbor, MI - The Ark*
May 18 - Toronto, ON - The Danforth Music Hall*
May 20 - New York, NY - The Town Hall*
May 21 - Washington, DC - The Lincoln Theatre*
May 22 - Boston, MA - The Wilbur Theatre*
May 24 - Philadelphia, PA - Union Transfer*
May 26 - Atlanta, GA - The Buckhead Theatre*
May 27 - New Orleans, LA - The Civic Theatre*
May 28 - Dallas, TX - The Kessler Theater*
May 30 - Tucson, AZ - The Rialto Theatre*
May 31 - Los Angeles, CA - The Fonda Theatre*
Jun. 02 - San Francisco, CA - Great American Music Hall*
Jun. 03 - Portland, OR - Aladdin Theater*
Jun. 04 - Seattle, WA - Neptune Theatre*
Jun. 05 - Boise, ID - The Egyptian Theatre*
Jun. 07 - Boulder, CO - Boulder Theater*
Jun. 08 - Omaha, NE - Slowdown*
Jun. 09 - Minneapolis, MN - Varsity Theater*
Jun. 10 - Milwaukee, WI - Turner Hall Ballroom*
Jun. 11 - Chicago, IL - Thalia Hall*
Aug. 28 - Edinburgh, UK - Edinburgh International Festival
Aug. 29 - Bangor, UK - Marine Court
Aug. 30 - Dublin, Ireland - Olympia Theatre
Aug 31 - Manchester, UK - Royal Northern College of Music
Sep. 01 - London, UK - Union Chapel
Sep. 02-04 - Salisbury, Larmer Tree Gardens, UK - End of the Road Festival
Sep. 07 - Berlin, DE - Passionskirche
Sep. 08 - Cologne, DE - Kulturkirche
Sep. 09 - Brussels, BE - Botanique-Orangerie
Sep. 10 - Groningen, NL - Take Root Festival
Sep. 11 - Amsterdam, NL - De Duif
* w/ Marlon Williams

Local Spotlight: Animalweapon

Now that we've almost survived all of the fun that October has to offer (Bluegrass Fest, anyone?), it's time to start making the music schedule for November.  Mark your calendar for November 7 for Animalweapon's EP Release Show with Youma and Frank Kastle Bin Savage. The party's going down at Kings starting at 9.

Patrick Cortes is Animalweapon, an electronic artist who's preparing to release his new EP, Flares and Signal Fires.  The EP contains five original tracks complete with wistful lyrics. Cortes stated that he doesn't always have a direct muse when creating his music, but some tough times in recent months have unintentionally inspired much of this EP, "It wound up being a much more personal record than anything else I've done until now."

In addition to life being a strong influence, Cortes is also inspired by a large array of musicians.  Top on his list are Trent Reznor and Radiohead, but he tends to collect bits and pieces from all types of artists and a variety of genres, "I feel like I wear my influences on my sleeve and I'm kind of alright with that."

Cortes sees this EP release as only the beginning as he looks brightly into the future. He's interested in branching out and not only staying in one musical world, "I'm also playing around with some of my rapper and producer friends for a hip hop project, which I anticipate will be the most fun I'll ever have making music." Cortes is planning several regional shows as well as a tour next year, which he finds both terrifying and exciting, understandably.



Take a listen to "Turn the Lights Down" and see it live at Kings on November 7.  The always entertaining Youma and Frank Kastle Bin Savage will be supporting the show, making it one memorable Saturday night.



*cover art and photography credit:  Kristen Abigail and Blake T. Brady 

Bronze Radio Return Premiere New Album

Bronze Radio Return has premiered their anticipated new album Light Me Up via Paste, ahead of its release on October 16^th via DigSin. The 10-track LP is the band's best work yet, featuring songs jam-packed with memorable choruses, tender moments, a cinematic soundscape and the band's own undeniable spirit. Lead single and rousing title track "Light Me Up," recently premiered on KCRW.com. Be sure to catch the band illuminate the stage on their U.S. headlining tour, which kicks off on October 14^th in Pittsburgh, PA, and wraps on December 13^th at New York City's Bowery Ballroom. 

Produced by Chad Copelin [Ben Rector, BRONCHO, Sufjan Stevens] and mixed by F. Reid Shippen (Lady Antebellum, Ingrid Michaelson) and Mark Needham (The Killers, Imagine Dragons), Light Me Up begins a new chapter for the Hartford, CT six-piece. They have already become festival darlings at Bonnaroo, Lollapalooza, Hangout, and Firefly, racked up 29 million Spotify/YouTube streams, sold 100,000 singles and have notched nearly 100 high profile syncs, ranging from the 2014 film St. Vincent to national commercials for the likes of Coca-Cola, Starbucks and Nissan to numerous TV shows.

Light Me Up demands to be listened to at full blast, infusing you with that undeniable urge to sing along. Bronze Radio Return is about to become your new favorite band...that is, if they aren't already.  

Bronze Radio Return Upcoming Tour Dates:

October 14                         Pittsburgh, PA @ Rex Theater

October 15                         Grand Rapids, MI @ The Stache

October 16                         Chicago, IL @ Lincoln Hall

October 17                         Minneapolis, MN @ Turf Club

October 18                         Madison, WI @ The Frequency

October 21                         Columbus, OH @ Rumba Café

October 22                         Newport, KY @ Southgate House

October 23                         Chattanooga, TN @ Camp House

October 24                         Milledgeville, GA @ Deep Roots Festival

October 27                         Tampa, FL @ Crowbar

October 28                         Orlando, FL @ The Social

October 29                         Atlanta, GA @ Vinyl

October 30                         Charlotte, NC @ Visulite Theatre

November 1                      Asheville, NC @ The Grey Eagle

November 11                   Boston, MA @ The Sinclair

November 13                   Burlington, VT @ Higher Ground

November 14                   Portland, ME @ Port City Music Hall

December 9                       Washington, DC @ The Hamilton

December 11                    Philadelphia, PA @ World Café Live

December 12                    Brooklyn, NY @ Rough Trade

December 13                    New York, NY @ Bowery Ballroom

January 26-31                  The Rock Boat 16 - with Gavin Degraw, Needtobreathe and many more

*Photo Credit: Zackery Michael