INDY Selects: What to Do in the Triangle This Week

Musical duo Larry Bellorín and Joe Troop may have the distinction of being the Triangle’s most unique musical fusion (a distinction that has much competition, by the way): Bellorín, a master of Venezuelan folk tradition música llanera, comes to Raleigh by way of political asylum, while Troop, who grew up in Winston-Salem, grew up learning old-time music and founded GRAMMY-nominated stringband Che Apache.

Together, the pair make, as writer Nick McGregor wrote in the INDY three years ago, an “egalitarian Nuevo South brew.” Triangle audiences can hear the pair blend their respective rich musical traditions in an evening installment of The Wavemakers Series, curated by Rissi Palmer; ticket prices vary. —Sarah Edwards

While most know him as the straight-faced warehouse supervisor Darryl Philbin on The Office, Craig Robinson’s roots run deep in the comedy club circuit, where he developed a style that balances punchlines with surprising musical flourishes (his band is called “The Nasty Flourish”). Now the keyboard-wielding comedian brings his unique performance blend to the Triangle for a three-day, five-show run. We’ll see if he works in any jokes about the confusion between Raleigh Improv’s name and its actual Cary location. —Lena Geller

Major the Bull, 2,500-pound bronze statue that he is, probably does not care about us. He has not moved a muscle or said a word in his 21 years of watching countless protests, celebrations, and construction projects near CCB plaza. Major the Bull probably does not care about us, but we care about him; his birthday also coincides with Third Friday programming, so expect to find a downtown Durham lively with open art galleries alongside on-site, Durham-based breweries and free birthday cupcakes from Little Barb’s Bakery—and a closing-out cypher from Blackspace that starts at, you guessed it, 9:19 p.m.

For more on Major’s history, check out WUNC’s recent interview with his creators, artist power couple Michael Waller and Leah Foushee Waller. And here’s to 21 more years of telling your friends to “meet me at the bull.” —Chase Pellegrini de Paur 

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Here’s author Ben Okri describing a flamenco dancer in his novel, Birds of Heaven: “With a dark tragic rage, shouting, she hurls her hungers, her doubts, her terrors, and her secular prayer for more light into the spaces around her. All fire and fate, she spins her enigma around us, and pulls into the awesome risk of her dance.” Dance company Flamenco Vivo’s run in Durham this weekend may inspire such a reverie—the dance form, a combination of singing, dancing, and musical accompaniment, has a sincerity and passion that invites attendees to let their guards down.

The event (which has three shows—Friday evening, a Saturday matinee, and Saturday evening show) offers meal options (vegetarian and seafood Paella) for an additional price, to take that romantic southern Spain vibe just a bit farther. —Sarah Edwards

As suggested by the festival’s portmanteau, this downtown Raleigh tradition is all about eating barbecue and listening to bluegrass—and supporting North Carolina charities. This year, that’s local child abuse prevention organization SAFEchild, as well as the Occoneechee Council, Freedom Ride Rescue, and, more generally, WNC recovery efforts, so you can enjoy the afternoon knowing your festival pass ($25) is going to a good cause.

The eight-act lineup is killer, too, with big names like folk crooner Alexa Rose, local favorites Fancy Gap, and Pembroke powerhouse Charly Lowry. Between sets, sip on local beer and stroll through the vendor market along Fayetteville Street, take your kids to the Kid Zone for crafts and games, or bid on items donated by local businesses. An after-party keeps the festival going at The Raleigh Times, where there will be more live music. —Sarah Edwards

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