Steep Canyon Rangers

Imagine seeing Vassar Clements, John Kahn, Bill Monroe, Earl Scruggs and Tony Rice.... The Steep Canyon Rangers match the virtuosity of said musicians. The Rangers primed their music careers pickin' and a-grinnin' on the campus of UNC-Chapel Hill, where they frequently played bars on Franklin Street and fraternity houses. Now... Carnegie Hall!!! This is HUGE!

The Rangers played February 26 at the Lincoln Theatre in downtown Raleigh. Having attended this show and previous shows of theirs, one interesting observation to point out while attending a Rangers concert is the crowd dynamics. Ages range from 21 all the way up to 65. There are fraternity brothers and middle age women. Finally you have static dancers (people who wish to do the dancing in their heads) and full out flat footers!! So, if one were not to enjoy bluegrass music (God forbid), a Rangers concert is a great venue for people watching. Once again, the band proved to provide another entertaining show, picking fast songs, huddling round a central mic, and getting the crowd to make bird calls! The Steep Canyon Rangers will return to the Triangle area on May 21 with Steve Martin. This tour is promoting the album, "The Rare Bird Alert" that awaits release on March 15! It is a collaborative album created by the Rangers and Martin. So keep your ears and eyes open for this, and keep on 'a pickin' and a grinnin', y'all!

Thursday is the New Friday - Future Islands Night 1

"Thursday is the new Friday," proclaimed front man Sam Herring as he watched the sea of hands surge upward. The first night of Future Islands' Raleigh performances had begun. The hype was building earlier as the shirtless front man and drummer of Ed Schrader's Music Beat screamed into the microphone as he rapped his drum. A ghoulish low angle light illuminated his body, yet the tactic seemed appropriate and fitting. Islands' entrance was quick, but their deliverance was timely.



Dressed in more formal attire (which Herring seemed to slowly rid himself of as the night progressed), they delivered crowd favorites like  "Tin Man" and "Long Flight" which were played back to back. Both tracks are off of Future Islands' sophomore release "In Evening Air." The Baltimore band also showcased some new tracks which I suspect are part of a rapidly approaching album release.  Herring's usual stage facial expressions seemed surprising less theatrical Thursday night. I did, however, have a sneaking suspicion that the band was holding back for their second night. Fellow WKNC DJ The Mensch commented on the evening's performance:  "Having never heard Future Islands in concert I wasn't entirely sure of what to except.  Through, hearsay I knew they were amazing live from the chitchat around the studio... It's safe to say that this was one of the best, if not the best concert I have ever seen in the Triangle."

DJ Elly May interviews Delta Rae!

East Coast touring mavens Delta Rae stopped by the WKNC studio on the morning of Tuesday, March 1 to chat with DJ Elly May.  They talked about what it's like to be on the road, their "GRAET Mondays" campaign, upcoming shows and the story behind their song "Ooh, Caroline."  Delta Rae also performed "Ooh, Caroline" and "Bottom of the River."  Listen to the full interview and performance below.

Delta Rae Interview

EOT56 NeighborWoods 3/1/11

This week features a conversation with Sherry Graham of Raleigh's NeighborWoods program about planting trees in public areas across the city. EOT also watches the movie Grease with members of Out! Raleigh and Mark talks with a member of the NCSU Cross Country team.

http://interviews.wknc.org/eot/EOT56_030111.mp3

Shakori Hills is back for Spring!

Press release from Shakori Hills GrassRoots Festival of Music & Dance:

9th Annual Spring Shakori Hills GrassRoots Festival of Music & Dance

Silk Hope, NC -  The Shakori Hills GrassRoots Festival of Music & Dance will hold its annual spring festival from Thursday, April 21 to Sunday, April 24, 2011. The festival will feature more than 50 bands and performers on two big outdoor stages, a large Dance Tent, and an intimate Cabaret Tent. Located on 72 beautiful farmland acres at 1439 Henderson Tanyard Road in Silk Hope, North Carolina, just down the road from Chapel Hill, Raleigh, Durham, Burlington, and Greensboro. The festival also features local crafts, delicious food, various children's activities, environmental sustainability workshops, and much more in a family-friendly environment.

Featured acts include: The Travelin' McCourys, Arrested Development, The Lee Boys, Donna the Buffalo, Tift Merritt, Umalali, Holy Ghost Tent Revival, Langhorne Slim, Scythian, Preston Frank & His Zydeco Family Band, Sarah Lee Guthrie & Johnny Irion, Orquesta GarDel, and Joy Kills Sorrow.

Other local favorites include: The Beast, Diali Cissokho & Kairaba!, Midtown Dickens, Greg Humphreys, Birds & Arrows, Lizzy Ross Band, John Howie Jr. & The Sweethearts, Mount Moriah, Cool John Ferguson, Gray Young, Kooley High, Big Fat Gap, Jack Maverick & His Wild Rebels, Penny Prophets, The Music Maker Revue, Bluegrass Experience, Dark Water Rising, Big Al Hall & Marching Rams, Skeedaddle, Sarah Shook & The Devil, Paperhand Puppet Intervention, Trilogy, Apple Chill Cloggers, HoopDrum, and Elikem African Dance

Other great acts on the bill: Pura Fe, Keith Secola & His Wild Band of Indians, Taj Weekes, Thousands of One, The Deer Clan Singers, Ayurveda, Hudost, Old Man Luedecke, Jason Ringenberg, Do It to Julia, Big Daddy Love, Nikki Talley, Farmer Jason, Spirit Family Reunion, Louise Omoto Kessel, Aaron Burdett, Old Sledge, Double E, Michael Jacobs, Daygot Leeyos, Stuart McNair, Possum Creek, and more.

Festival tickets are on sale now and available by phone and at http://www.shakorihills.org/tickets-info. Four day passes are $90 in advance and $100 at the gate. Kids 12 and under are FREE! Day passes are $25 (Thurs), $35 (Fri), $45 (Sat), and $25 (Sun). Youth prices (13-15) are $12, $17, $20, and $12. Tent camping is $10 per tent and vehicle camping is $50 in advance and $60 at the gate.

Stay tuned to WKNC for ticket giveaways and more updates!

LBLB Photos Feb. 24

Eddy B and Tim Gunter on Afterhours

On Feb. 2, Spoons had the opportunity to talk with North Carolina duo Eddy B and Tim Gunter. The debut mixtape from the rapper and producer is "Dear North Carolina, Welcome Back."

Afterhours Interview with Eddy B and Tim Gunter