Show Review: Holy Ghost Tent Revival with Annuals at Cat's Cradle

Raleigh's Annuals started off the night. With three different kinds of percussion going on all at once, it was immediately an interesting show. They played some new songs and old, each loved just as much by their fans. The coolest part was when the lights would dim almost to blackness and the main drum kit, clear under normal lights, would glow with a green laser pointer. It would go in unison with the beat and created a really awesome effect. The left wall of the Cradle lit up with spirals and the band was illuminated by the main source of sound at this point. Kudos.

Photo by Julie Whelan

I'd only ever seen Holy Ghost Tent Revival at Shakori. Each time they'd been incredible, inviting people up on stage to dance and just looking like they were having in the world. I wondered if playing indoors - away from the mud, grass, .."grass".., and hula hoopers - would affect the performance any. Of course, it didn't.

A guitar string broke during the first song. Instead of having to endure an awkward lull until the guitarist fixed this, the band started to jam and told the crowd to dance until they had it under control. This little jam session was funky - all I could think was how fun their band practices must be. Once the string was replaced, the guitarist just joined back in and started singing "There ain't no party like a Holy Ghost Tent Revival party cause aHoly Ghost Tent Revival party don't stop!"  That themed continued through the entire show. The band was excited and happy to be there, and that was mirrored by the crowd.

This show was in support of their upcoming release "Sweat Like The Old Days," out Sept. 4th. The new tracks that they played definitely won't disappoint. I'm looking forward to hearing the album as a whole. If you did miss this show, the band will play Grey Eagle in Asheville on Aug. 31 and The Whiskey in Wilmington on Sept. 20.

Photo by Julie Whelan

Photo by Julie Whelan

WUNC sets schedule for Music on the Lawn concert series

Our neighbors to the west at WUNC North Carolina Public Radio have announced the line up for their annual Back Porch Music on the Lawn concert series. Starting April 29, the station hosts 10 free Friday concerts running through September. The series mixes national acts like Robin & Linda Williams & Their Fine Group and Loudon Wainwright III with local talent including Chatham County Line and Holy Ghost Tent Revival, but all the performers have some kind of connection to the state.

They aren't every Friday, so be sure to check the schedule. All shows start at 6 p.m. at the American Tobacco Campus in Durham.

Fri 4/29 - The Small Ponds
Fri 5/27 - The Freighthoppers
Fri 6/10 - TBD
Fri6/17 - The New North Carolina Ramblers
Fri 7/1 - Robin & Linda Williams
Fri 8/19 - Holy Ghost Tent Revival
Fri 9/2 - Craicdown
Fri 9/9 - Shady Grove Band
Fri 9/16 - Loudon Wainwright III
Fri 9/30 - Chatham County Line

Happy Thanks-Giveaway.

I hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving holiday. I'll tell you one thing I'm thankful for—living in the Triangle! There are so many great things to see, hear, do, and overall, enjoy.

We here at WKNC like to provide you with as many opportunities to enjoy your community. So, here are the giveaways for this week.

12/3: Small Ponds @ King's

12/3: Steep Canyon Rangers w/ Mandolin Orange @ Cat's Cradle



12/4: American Aquarium @ The Pour House

12/4: Gray Young @ King's

12/4: Holy Ghost Tent Revival @ Lincoln Theatre



12/9: Dance Revolution @ Lincoln Theatre

Remember, you have to listen to win!

The Revival returns to Raleigh

This past Thursday, two amazing bands teamed up for a night of sheer entertainment in downtown Raleigh.

Sol Driven Train, a band from South Carolina opened up the evening on a rather unexpected tone -- it appeared to be ska.  Yes, there was a trombone and a baritone sax, and both had very talented musicians attached to them!  I had wondered where ska had disappeared to in the past decade or so and was pleased to hear something familiar, but then the next song came and then the next...  It was ska, then blues, then Johny Carter-esque country, then something with a Latin feel, and the set finished with a near-ten-minute percussion finale in which every member of the band took to a drum for an all out battle of the beats.  I was utterly blown away.   How could the night have possibly gotten any better?



I have four words for you --  Holy Ghost Tent Revival.  Imagine if you can for a moment ragtime, bluegrass, and indie rock having a private party in a French Quarter hotel while your grandma’s gospel choir watched in horror through the keyhole.  The music makes you want to dance and sing, hands over your head, heels kicked up, shoes off without caring who sees.  Actually, if you were there, you might’ve seen me, but that’s beside the point -- It seemed as if the walls actually pulsed with the banging rhythms of the banjo and the wailing combination of the horns and the harmonized vocals made the glass in the windows tremble.  New songs were on hand, and it's clear that not only is the Greensboro-based group gaining melodic momentum, their writing is more interesting and creative than ever.



I was already a fan of Holy Ghost Tent Revival, and I think I become an even bigger fan each time I see them.  They're certainly an act not to be missed, and I was fortunate enough this time to catch them with an opening act who certainly held their own.

New Month, New Giveaways, More Chances to Win!

A new month means new ticket giveaways and that's exactly what WKNC 88.1 FM has for you! Be sure to tune in or listen online for your chances to win tickets to these great shows coming up this week:

Wednesday, February 10
Holy Ghost Tent Revival w/ The Woes & The Moneynotes @ The Pour House



Thursday, February 11
House of Fools w/ Ryan Gustafson & Medusa Stone @ The Pour House



Also, be sure to check out the Rock Report for a complete list of local shows happening in your area!

Holy Ghost Tent Revival on WKNC Today!

Getting geared up for Shakori Hills? Yeah, us too.



Well, today we're either whetting your appetite or tantalizing you...it's up to you to decide which one.  Holy Ghost Tent Revival, who is playing more than one show at the Shakori Hill Grassroots Festival this fall, will be stopping by the station today (Wednesday 9/23) at 11am for an interview with yours truly, DJ Mick.

We'll be talking all things Shakori, and a little bit about their show at the Pour House tonight with fellow Greensboro-based band House of Fools.

Be sure to tune in at 88.1 FM or at wknc.org/listen!

The Mars Volta and more ticket giveaways this week (Sept. 21-25)

It’s Shack-a-thon on the NCSU Brickyard, so be sure to stop by and visit WKNC’s radio shack. You’ll also want to keep an ear on 88.1 for these freebies.

Sometimes we get cool giveaways from Live Nation and sometimes we get REALLY cool giveaways. Consider The Mars Volta in the second category. It’s a win-it-before-you-can-buy-it deal to see the experimental/progressive band Oct. 23 at the Disco Rodeo. Tickets go on sale this Friday, Sept. 25 at 10 a.m. exclusively at LiveNation.com if you don’t happen to be one of our lucky winners.

Other cool giveaways on tap this week include:

• Holy Ghost Tent Revival with House of Fools Sept. 23 at The Pour House


• Mae Sept. 24 at Cat’s Cradle

And you don’t need tickets to see The Future Kings of Nowhere this Thursday for WKNC’s Local Beer Local Band night at Tir Na Nog or I Was Totally Destroying It and Luego as we kick off Fridays on the Lawn.

Shakori Hills: Band Interviews & Ticket Giveaways (all this week)

Break out your chain belts, leather vests, and peace symbols and join WKNC at the Shakori Hills Grassroots music festival on Saturday April 18th. We'll be broadcasting live all day and to celebrate, we're giving away 5 pairs of day passes for the festival this week. Make sure to tune in for your chances to win and don't forget to check out the live interviews with some of the performing bands.

The Line Up:

Wednesday April 8th, DJ Chuck will be kickin' it with Holy Ghost Tent Revivial from 1-3pm

Monday April 13th, DJ Special K will be hanging with the guys from Butterflies from 4-5pm

Interviews with Lost in the Trees, New Familars, and The Old Ceremony are TBA