It’s been 15 years since Raleigh alt-country icons The Backsliders released new material. But earlier this month, the streak ended with a new five-song EP, Raleighwood; on Saturday night, the group roared into The Pour House to celebrate the release with renewed urgency. Every song was tight. Each member played with electrifying energy, as if […]
Dan Schram
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Video: NC Heritage Awards honor contributions to state culture
Last month, at Raleigh’s Fletcher Opera Theater, the North Carolina Arts Council awarded North Carolina Heritage Awards to five traditional artists for a lifetime of contributions to the arts. Last held in 2007, the ceremony recognized recipients who have mastered their craft and contributed to the enrichment of North Carolina. The honorees were: • Sid […]
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Video: A reenergized Sarah Borges returns to Raleigh
In the four years since Sarah Borges‘ last visit to Raleigh, she’s started a family and dissolved her former backing band, The Broken Singles. On her previous trips through the Triangle, Borges would typically play early week gigs, often roadworn from a constant touring schedule. Her shows would be wild, but her voice just as […]
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Video: New Reveille takes the stage at Oak City 7
Brushing back the threat of rain on Thursday night, Americana upstarts New Reveille brought their 7-piece band to the Oak City 7 concert series in the Raleigh City Plaza. The band flows well blending fiddle, banjo, electric guitar, cello, bass, drums along with powerful female lead and back-up vocals. The outdoor stage wasn’t very well-suited […]
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Video: Drivin’ N’ Cryin’ weave old and new in Raleigh
Over Memorial Day weekend, Southern rock stalwarts Drivin’ N’ Cryin’ returned to Raleigh’s Lincoln Theatre. The group mixed in a handful of new material from recent EPs; it worked well with material from their classic albums like Mystery Road and Fly Me Courageous. For two hours, the rock riffs of new lead guitarist Aaron Lee […]
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Video: Double Fridays at Slim’s
The Debonzo Brothers have stayed busy, playing behind their new release, Carolina Stars. On May 23rd, the brothers teamed up with Charlotte-based group Amigo for a show at the boisterous bar Slim’s. The week before, also at Slim’s, Aim North, which features several member from Jack the Radio, offered a preview of their new material. […]
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The Monroe Reels: Marshall Wyatt and Chatham County Line explore The Father of Bluegrass’ Raleigh Ties
Nearly a year ago, ahead of the arrival of the first edition of the IBMA World of Bluegrass extravaganza in Raleigh, I began searching for a direct, deep connection between the city and the storied genre of bluegrass. There are several, but one of the most neglected and notable, it seemed, involved the “Father of […]
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Video: Mary Gauthier rewards the brave
“Thank you for braving the frightening weather,” Mary Gauthier told the crowd during a recent set at the Cat’s Cradle Back Room. Before the show, tornado warnings had sounded throughout the Triangle. Still, umbrellas in hand, a surprising number of faithful braved the downpour and filed into the room’s comfortable confines, grabbing a drink and […]
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Live: A look back as Merlefest 27 ends
Sunday marked the close of the 27th edition of MerleFest, the storied “traditional plus” festival in Wilkesboro, NC. Before it ended, I sat down with a person who served as both a personal friend of Doc’s and the spark for what would become MerleFest—Frederick William Townes IV, or “B.” Backstage at the Watson stage, a […]
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Live: MerleFest’s big Saturday
It was early Saturday morning when I crossed into Wilkes County and onto the Junior Johnson Highway, approaching the grounds of MerleFest’s third day. Late the night before, word arrived that two Triangle songwriters took home first prize in categories of the prestigious Chris Austin Songwriting Content. In the Gospel/Inspirational category, Raleigh’s Frank Hurd grabbed […]