DMB in NC!

After taking a year off from a full tour last year the Dave Matthews Band is back on the road... with new material to boot!

Tomorrow at Verizon Wireless Amphitheater in Charlotte, you can catch DMB for the first time in over a year.
DMB has most recently been in the studio with their long-time friend and legendary producer, Steve Lillywhite. They've already released a new tune "Gaucho" via e-mail and have been playing another, one Dave debuted on Jimmy Fallon last month, "Mercy."  Both songs are incredible and have a ton of potential to be monsters live. Why not head out and enjoy one of the nation's top touring acts? I've seen DMB 7 times and I have never been disappointed! Come out and hang out and pick up some artwork that I and my better half will have! (She's the artist, not me.)

Come by and say hey. We'll have an EZ-up and American Flag waving so we're easy to spot. (peace sign in the blue)

Lawn Seats are still available for approx. $45 at the box office. (I say approximately because who can keep track of all the charges and which one's they'll have at the Box office.)

Here's both new songs: Mercy Gaucho:

Collective Soul in NC!

Tonight!

Collective Soul quintessential 90's rockers will be playing at the Fillmore tonight in Charlotte and Lincoln Theater in Raleigh tomorrow night! Everyone who was born post 1992 should be familiar with these guys, if you're drawing a black play the video posted below to refresh your memory.

Collective Soul has been around since the early 90's ('93 to be exact) and they always put on a rockin' show from what I've heard. No reason to miss this if you're a fan of 90's alternative music (and let's be honest, who isn't?)

Tonight's and tomorrow night's showtime's are at 8:00pm. Tickets are $26 tonight and $25 tomorrow night. Follow the links on the venue page for tickets and more information.

Later this weekend we have drumSTRONG in Charlotte with Keller Williams, Jeff Sipe and many more! More on that later in the week.

Here's Collective Soul's Shine:

Brief Hiatus, My Apologies...

Well folks,

It's been a while since the last post, but finals are all done. School is out and it is finally summer time! Summer time is the busiest season for live-music, and We'll be covering it all! (If we're missing something shoot us an e-mail and we'll make corrections)

Tonight is fairly slow, so take it easy, study if you need to, or just relax after finals or a rough few weeks at work, because this weekend is music packed!

Tomorrow i'll be posting a run-down of all the future NC music festies coming up! We got some great ones for music lovers of all kinds!
As always, check the Calendar and Venue pages for more information.

Music on the Mountaintop 5! LINEUP!

Wow folks, MOTM really is bringing it this year!

So far the initial lineup is:
Railroad Earth x2
Dr. Dog
JJ Grey and Mofro
Sam Bush
Futurebirds
Larry Keel and Natural Bridge
Holy Ghost Tent Revival
The Black Lillies
The Hackensaw Boys
River Whyless

Also, more headliners and regional/local acts to be added soon!
I am thrilled with this line-up. If you've never made the trip up to Boone for MOTM you have no reason not to this year. This lineup has it all!

In other news, get out tonight and see some music. Holy Ghost Tent Revival is playing with Bombadil in Boone and Ballyhoo is at Lincoln Theater in Raleigh.

More info on MOTM 5 as it's announced!

Gomez at the Visulite in Charlotte

Howdy Music lovers!

Gomez is playing tonight in Charlotte at the Visulite Theater. If you're near by you should definitely try and make it out!
Gomez is a British indie rock outfit that has been touring and making music for over a decade. Gomez has provided support for some of the worlds largest bands, including the Dave Matthews Band and Pearl Jam. These guys don't mess around. Get out and enjoy it while they're in North Carolina!

Ticket and show time info can be found by following the links from the Venue page.

Here's a video of Gomez on Letterman performing "Options"

Sunday 4-29

Tonight has something for you! I guarantee it! Tonight there are three awesome shows covering 3 different genres in this glorious state.

If you're in Asheville, head down to the Orange Peel for Ziggy Marley. If you're a fan of reggae music there's really no other place to be tonight. Ziggy Marley, the oldest son the late Bob Marley is bringing his roots reggae sound to Asheville. Head on down and enjoy some great reggae music.

If you're in Greensboro you're in for a treat. ?uestlove of The Roots will be at The Blind Tiger. The Roots were in NC last week for the taping of Late Night with Jimmy Fallon at UNC at Chapel Hill, but this time Questlove will be performing sans The Roots. This show will be a great time for anyone!

If you're in Chapel Hill head out to the Cat's Cradle for The English Beat. If 80's British pop is your thing head down to Cat's Cradle. With labels like ska and new-wave you really can find something to enjoy tonight at Cat's Cradle. Besides, who doesn't love 80's pop music?

So you've got 3 genres to choose from Reggae, Hip-hop, and Pop. For tickets to all these shows check out the venue page and follow the links.

Here's a video of Ziggey Marley's "Love is my Religion"

Dirty Guv'nahs at The Garage

Winston Salem, there's a whole lot of Rock n Roll coming your way tonight.

If you're in or around the Winston Salem area, get out to The Garage for the Dirty Guv'nahs. The Dirty Guv'nahs hail from Knoxville, TN and put on a smoking show. They specialize in good old rock-n-roll music. They're every bit as southern as the Allmans and have the rock-n-roll prowess of the Rolling Stones. The Guv'nahs have been described as a mix between the Black Crowes and The Wallflowers, I think this is an accurate description but with a more southern sound. I really can not say enough about these guys. They're humble down to earth guys who really know how to rock. Get out to The Garage and get rocked!

Tickets are $8 in advance and $10 at the door. They start tonight at 9pm sharp! Get their early to see Possum Jenkins get the night started!

Check out this great video of them performing "Baby we Were Young" and "Loving Cup" (Rolling Stones).

Friday 4-27.

Friday night is a night to get out and see what your local scene has to offer. Don't fear though, I've got a few leads.

If you're in or around the Raleigh area and looking for something to do, don't hesitate to head out to Shakedown Street in downtown Raleigh. Tomorrow, Shakedown Street will play host to Better off Dead and Agents of Dissonance. Head out and enjoy some great local music. Better Off Dead specializes in bringing the music of The Grateful Dead and other similar bands to a local audience. Along with Better off Dead will be Agents of Dissonance will provide support. This show should be a great time. Shakedown Street is a great place.

If you're near Boone head on down to Murphy's for the Native L. The Native L will be laying down the funk. This band will bring it and it is guaranteed to be a good time.

Head out and enjoy some live music!

Big Thursday. (4-26)

Thursday is a big night for anyone in the more western part of the state! Thursday night has shows in Greensboro, Boone and Asheville.

Greensboro: Head on out to The Blind Tiger for Perpetual Groove! Last Thursday they were up in Boone, and by all accounts put on a great show, so make sure you get out and see them while they are still in the Old North State. Tickets are $15 at the door. Show starts at 10pm.

Asheville: Well, there was a post about it earlier, but Trampled By Turtles will be bringing their talent to the Orange Peel. Head out and get your bluegrass groove on in the NC mountains! Tickets are $18 in advance and $20 at the door. Show starts at 9pm- doors at 8pm.

Boone: You have two great options if you're in Boone. Legends is having the New River Boys with special guest, Jim Avett. That name may sound familiar to you, Jim Avett is in fact the father of Scott and Seth Avett of The Avett Brothers. This show will be a great time for anyone looking for some Americana/Bluegrass music. Jim brings a soulful twang to good-old traditional country music that never disappoints. Tickets are $4 in advance and $6 at the door. Show starts around 10pm or so. Get out and support Jim Avett and the New River Boys.
If you happen to be looking for something a bit more up-beat, head down to Boone Saloon for the Native Sway. If "jam" music is your bag come out and get your groove on at the Saloon. The Native Sway always puts on a good show! They haven't played in town in a while though, so get there early. Electric Soul Pandemic will be kicking things off. Cover is $5 and show starts around $10.

Get out and start the weekend off right!

Here's a video of The Native Sway at Boone Saloon last year.

Merlefest 25 (This weekend!)

That's right folks, it's that time again. It's time to pack the tent, grab the cooler and load up the van for Merlefest!

Merlefest started 25 years ago after the death of Doc Watson's son, Merle. Since it's first year the yearly festival has hosted thousands of musicians in what Doc Watson refers to as a "Traditional plus" lineup. Traditional Plus is the concept of having traditional Appalachian music, plus whatever they feel like playing. It is this traditional plus lineup that gives Merlefest such strong staying power.

So, who's playing? Everyone. It honestly may be easier to list who isn't playing. But here is a small list: Doc Watson, Vince Gill, Sam Bush, Tedeschi Trucks Band, Punch Brothers, Bela Fleck and the Flecktones (original lineup), David Holt, Donna The Buffalo and MANY more (Seriously, the lineup is fantastic if you're even the slightest bit interested in music). For a complete list of performers, schedules, directions and FAQ head over to the Merlefest official website: http://www.merlefest.org/

A few Great things about Merlefest is the option of having day passes so if you  can't make it for all four days you can come for one or two. Day passes and all other tickets can be obtained from the link above. Another great thing is the family friendly nature of the event. Slightly bigger than Shakori that took place last weekend, but just as friendly.

Merlefest kicks of on Tomorrow 4-26 and goes all the way through Sunday on the campus of Wilkes Community College in Wilkes County, NC.

Weather? Well, evidently there's a chance of some rain, but don't let a little rain scare you. Bring plenty of dry warm clothes and you'll be just fine!

I'll leave you with a video of Tedeschi Trucks Band. Enjoy:

La Dispute (and more) at Local 506

Just realized that this show is tonight!!
Head on down to the Local 506 to catch this great show. La Dispute will be there along with Balance & Composure, All Get Out, and Sainthood Reps.

This show will be a rocker. Follow the links and get tickets from the FB event page: http://www.facebook.com/events/243094289104920/

Show starts at 6:30 PM so get there early. Tickets are only $12!

Trampled By Turtles

Trampled By Turtles is on tour and coming to North Carolina for 3 shows!

Hopefully you're familiar with them, but if you're not, Trampled By Turtles will blow you away! Trampled By Turtles is another one of those bands that is hard to describe. They have a very distinct bluegrassy sound with obvious hints of harder rock type genres. These different styles combine to create a great sound that is uniquely their own. Trampled By Turtles puts on a high energy show and these shows will be top notch! If you're a music lover you'll really be glad you caught them!

Tonight (Monday 4-23) they'll be at Cats Cradle in Chapel Hill, Wednesday (4-25) they'll be at the Neighborhood Theater in Charlotte and Thursday (4-24) they'll  be at The Orange Peel in Asheville. For tickets to these shows go over to the Music Venue page and follow the links. (it's a painless process.) Or visit Trampled By Turtles official website: www.trampledbyturtles.com

We've got more shows later in the week. Stay tuned, friends!

Here's the official music video for "Alone."

Saturday 4-21.

There are some great things going on this Saturday night.
If you're in or around the Charlotte area and looking for a good time, head on out to The Fillmore in Charlotte for TR3 featuring Tim Reynolds and special guests Toubab Krewe.

Tim Reynolds, long time friend and touring member of the Dave Matthews Band will be bringing his own band, TR3 to the Fillmore in Charlotte! Tim Reynolds and TR3 know how to get the crowd moving and there's no doubt that the show at the Fillmore will be an absolute blast! Joining TR3 will be Toubab Krewe. Toubab Krewe is an Asheville based band that has a deep African sound that is uniquely their own. These two bands will mesh together perfectly creating an awesome experience. Tickets are available from the Fillmore's website (check the venue page) or TR3's website. Tickets are $25. Show starts at 9pm, doors open at 7pm.

If you're on the other side of this fine state in or around the Greenville area, head on out to see a free acoustic show by Jon-Michael McRoy at Professor O'Cools. Jon-Michael is a musician who's lived in eastern NC and truly absorbed what the culture has to offer. He's been influenced by anyone from Jimi Hendrix to Roger Miller to The Allman Brothers. This show should be a good time. (expect a tribute to the late, great Levon Helm) Your's truly will be in attendance, and I hope to see you there! Again, it's FREE!

Also, don't forget Shakori is still in full effect!
We've got another BIG week of music coming up, take a sneak peak on the Calendar page!

Here's a video of TR3 Covering James Brown's Sex Machine! Enjoy!

Levon Helm

Levon Helm (May 26, 1940 - April 19, 2012) has passed away.
Levon perhaps is best known for the time he spent playing with The Band, delivering the back-beat and vocals for some of American musics greatest tunes. It is hard to sum up such a life. No words can describe the tremendous effect this man has had on the music world. His voice was iconic in every sense of the word. He Delivered his amazing vocals all the while keeping the beat for the rest of the group. To date Levon Helm and The Band, along with The Grateful Dead and The Allman Brothers Band played to the largest crowd in American history. 600,000 people came to upstate New York to see The Band, and I guarantee every soul was satisfied that day.

Although Levon Helm was most famous for his time spent with The Band, the argument can be made that his solo career was even more successful. Levon was nominated for three grammy's: 2007's Dirt Farmer, 2010's Electric Dirt and 2011's Ramble at the Ryman. Not only was he nominated, he won all three, 2010's being the introduction of a new grammy category, Best Americana Album. Levon has been listed by Rolling Stone as one of the top 100 drummers of all time (albeit to low on their list at 91).

Not enough can be said. Not enough can be written. Let us never forget this man and his many contributions to the world of music.

Rest In Peace, Levon Helm.

I'll leave you with 2 videos.
1) The Band performing Marvin Gaye's "Don't Do It" This song really shows off Levon's capabilities.



2) Levon Performing "Ana Lee" from his Ramble at the Ryman in 2011. Simply no words can describe...

Friday 4-20. Lots O Local Goodness.

It's finally almost Friday, and if you're anything like me, you're curious as to what's going on! Well, there's a lot of good music to see this Friday night folks!

Is pop-punk or punk your bag? Good! You should head right on over to The Pinhook in Durham for En Serenade's Last show EVER. Joining En Serenade will be Almost People and Handsome Foxes. This show is guaranteed to be a great time. If I were you I would definitely get there early and be prepared to get rocked. After listening to these guys all week I have to say, i'm very sad I won't be able to make this show! But, there's hope for you! Don't miss out!

Are you a fan of psychedelic rock? You are? Then head on over to Shakedown Street in Raleigh Friday night for Cindercat. Cindercat is an Asheville based band that knows how to bring it! If you're a fan of  "jam" music Cindercat at Shakedown is definitely worth your time. Shakedown has the party going on all day tomorrow starting around 4pm and going until 2am Cindercat hits the stage around midnight, but get there early and check out the other bands and street vendors! Head over to the Venue Page for a link to Shakedown's website and more info.

Boone, Murphy's has a great show tonight! KinGator and Nomadic are getting the weekend starting around 10pm. I guarantee that there will be great music, good friends, and plenty of dancing. Both of these bands brings the groove hard. Perfectly suiting what Boone is all about. Cover is $5.

Also, don't forget that Shakori is going on this weekend! Head out for the night if you don't see anything here that suits your liking.

Here's a video of En Serenade performing One Last Musical:

Thursday. 4-19-12. Something for everyone!

This Thursday is one big day for Live Music around NC. Tomorrow there are shows in Greenville, Boone and Chapel Hill!

Greenville: Barefoot on the mall. If you're a Hip-Hop fan in Greenville and looking for some live hip-hop head on down to campus for Barefoot on the Mall. The New Boyz will be there and to they got a pretty great sound. Check them out at their Official Site:http://www.thenewboyz.com/main

Joining the New Boyz will be Matt Phillips and the Philharmonic, Thick as Thieves and Greenville's very own the Ethnographers. If I was in Greenville I would be right there!

Boone: Boone, Perpetual Groove will be at Legends. P-Groove always put's on a great show so head on out to Legends and get your groove on. I can honestly say that I've never seen a bad P-Groove show. Tickets are $10 in advance and $12 at the door. And as always at legends it's BYOB, so bring your favorite 6 Pack and enjoy!

Chapel Hill: Chapel Hill, you got lucky! If you're in Chapel Hill this Thursday you have 2 options. You can head over to the opening night of Shakori Hills Grassroots Festival or you can head over to Cat's Cradle for the Drive By Truckers. Either decision is a win-win. Tonight at Shakori is Leftover Salmon and Rubblebucket (think Talking Heads-esque). So, like I said, you have options. Tonight is a Thursday, Tomorrow is the weekend. Get out and see one of these two awesome shows!

For tickets to these shows check out the Music Venue page and follow the links. All are affordable and worth it!

Out of everything to choose from i'm going to leave with a video from The Ethnographers:

Mickey Hart Band

North Carolina, we have a real treat on our hands. The Mickey Hart Band will be performing 2 shows in the Old North State this week!! Tonight April 17th you can catch them at Cat's Cradle in Chapel Hill and tomorrow, April 18th you can see them at The Orange Peel!

If you've never actually had a chance to hear MHB, then you may be curious as to what they sound like. I'll go as far as to say it is the most interesting Grateful Dead side project to date. Mickey Hart Band sounds like The Grateful Dead and Genesis meshed seamlessly together. They have a smooth jazzy touch with a fierce almost trance-like undertone. I know that may seem like a very weird description and I agree, but it's a very hard sound to describe. I guess it could be described as a "Drums>Space" sound for all you Grateful Dead fans. Now, if you're not a fan of Drums and Space don't let that intimidate you, I assure you it will not disappoint. Laying down the bass for Mickey Hart Band is Dave Schools of Widespread Panic. Also playing in the band (reference intended) is a very solid list of musicians. For more info on the band check Mickey's website: http://mickeyhart.net/

Tickets for the shows can be found at Cat's Cradle's website and the Orange Peels website.

Cat's Cradle tickets are $29 in advance and $32 Day of with a show time of 8pm (doors at 7pm). Orange Peel tickets are $27 in advance and $30 day of. Show time starts at 9pm (doors at 8pm).

Head out and enjoy some Grateful Dead related music with a twist!

Here's a track of the band's forthcoming album:

*Keep checking the music calendar!

Shakori Hills Grassroots Festival

If you're in the state of North Carolina and you're looking for something to do this weekend look no further than Shakori Hills Grassroots Festival. This years spring lineup (yup, that's right, it's a bi-yearly festival) is nothing short of Spectacular. Headlining is Leftover Salmon along with Donna the Buffalo and Blitz the Ambassador. In addition to these 3 headliners there is always a very solid list of regional and local touring bands.

I've heard this festival described as having a very family reunion vibe to it, and not the bad kind where you feel left out. It's a smaller festival set just 20 minutes outside of Chapel Hill, NC and is essentially with in reach of all major North Carolina cities. Short drives from: Greensboro, Boone, Winston Salem, Charlotte area, and even worth the drive from places like Asheville or Greenville.

It's four fun, music-filled days of sunny spring skies. Oh, and I think I forgot to mention my favorite part. It's incredibly affordable. A 4-day Adult Pass for $95 ($55 for youth) and only $10 for camping ($50 for car camping). Get your tickets and enjoy a great NC festival!

You really can't pass something this awesome up!

Here's the link to Shakori's website: http://shakorihillsgrassroots.org/

Here's some Leftover Salmon to get you excited:

NOTE: Don't forget about the music Calendar. These dates have been added and more will be added soon. Lot's of things happening this weekend!

The Music Calendar

This Calendar will be updated fairly often. Keep tabs on it. It'll be as in depth as possible.

Sunday Night Shows.

As you probably know, Sunday shows are often times hard to come by. Unless a major touring band is coming into town there's virtually no options. But, alas friends, fear not. The mighty Warren Haynes, Asheville, NC's native song will be playing at The Orange Peel on Sunday night!

Warren Haynes is one of the busiest men in the music world. He's played with nearly everyone. He's been a long-time member of The Allman Brothers Band, He's formed his own band Gov't Mule and Sunday night you can see him perform with The Warren Haynes Band! These guys know how to play. If you're in Asheville, it's a no brainer, and in my opinion, it is definitely worth the drive!

Asheville is a great town and The Orange Peel is an amazing place to see live music! Don't just take my word for it though, head on down tomorrow night and check out Warren Haynes Band. Hurry though, there are few tickets remaining!!

Tickets are $26 in advance and $28 at the door! Showtime is at 9pm with doors opening at 8pm.

If you can't make it to the Orange Peel tomorrow night don't worry, this upcoming week has a lot to offer. Greenville, i'm looking at you. Boone, I'm looking at you. Chapel Hill, I'm looking at you. More on that and other events later in the week.

Here's evidence of Warren Haynes Band's ability to rock (video from the Christmas Jam):

Enjoy Folks!

Saturday Night - April 14th.

I can’t think of a better town to be in this weekend than Boone, NC. With Big Daddy Love on Friday the 13^th and the incredible option of two stellar musicians on Saturday night (14^th) Boone, NC is going to be rocking!

In Boone this weekend you have 2 options for your Saturday night plans.

Option 1: Jeff Sipe Group at Murphy’s.

Jeff Sipe is an incredible drummer who has performed with a wide array musicians throughout his career. Some of these musicians include: Phil Lesh, Bela Fleck, Waylon Jennings, Sam Bush, Taj Mahal, Keller Williams and many more! The last time Jeff Sipe was in town I caught his show at Murphy’s. Jeff was playing with Jay Sanders (Acoustic Syndicate) and Billy Cardine. The show was fantastic! It was very much like a jam session in the sense that there was no singing, just three fantastic musicians doing what they do best. This time Jeff is coming with his own group, aptly named: Jeff Sipe Group. This show will not disappoint!

Start time is around 10 pm and the cover is $5.00.

Here’s a video of Jeff Sipe performing with Keller Williams:

Option 2: Missing Cats featuring Jojo Hermann and Sherwin Ewing at Canyon’s in Blowing Rock.

That’s right folks; Jojo Hermann of Widespread Panic is coming to the High Country! Jojo Hermann is the keyboard/vocalist for Widespread Panic (WSP). Joining Jojo is New York based Singer/Songwriter Sherwin Ewing. The two have formed an acoustic duo of sorts and are heading to Canyon’s in Blowing Rock! The duo was featured at Warren Haynes most recent Christmas Jam and is in the process of recording their first record. This show is guaranteed to be a blast, if you’re lucky enough to get a ticket at the door (or if your friend has an extra)! As of a few days ago it was sold out, but, if you’re a big WSP fan it may pay to go up to Canyon’s and see what happens.

Here’s a video of the group at the Christmas Jam:

So, what do you do if you’re not in Boone this weekend? You get out there and explore your own local music scene. If you’re in Raleigh there are usually great shows to see at Shakedown Street or The Pour House. If you’re in Charlotte you should definitely head over to the Neighborhood Theater and catch Perpetual Groove (more than likely they’ll be coming to a town near all of us soon- more on that later in the week). As for me? I hope to see some of you at Murphy’s for Jeff Sipe Group. Get out there and enjoy some music folks!

Big Daddy Love

Well, I’m currently living in Boone, NC. One of the main reasons I moved up here was for the incredible selection of live music. This weekend is a prime example of Boone’s musical prowess.

Big Daddy Love is playing at Murphy’s in Boone this Friday night! (April 13, 2012)

Big Daddy Love (BDL) has deep Appalachian roots. They combine a rock tone with a subtle bluegrass sound that gives them a sound all their own. In the fall of 2011 I was driving for one of the local taxis and picked up an older gentleman from Murphy’s who had just seen BDL. Having heard of them but never actually heard them I inquired as to what he thought of them. He said that he had seen around 40-50 Grateful Dead shows in his younger years and about the same Widespread Panic shows in the 90’s. After giving me his life story and explaining how live music had become stale to him, he then made the statement that Big Daddy Love is what made him fall back in love with Live Music. He was from Eastern, NC and said BDL was the only band he was willing to travel for anymore.

I will definitely be at the show tomorrow! Start time is slated for 10pm. And the cover is $5.00. Murphy’s, if you haven’t been, is one of the coolest places to hang out in Boone. Come out and support these guys!

Here's a video to wet your appetite:

Getting Things Started

Ok, here’s what you’re going to find on this blog: My list or suggestions for live music around the state of North Carolina. My aim is to cross many different genres and give everyone something to go see. If you feel like I’m leaving something out please let me know. Live music is very much a community experience, so I’ll include as many different bands/venues/city’s as possible.

Live music is not just the act of attending a concert/show, it is an experience. It’s best to be shared. So, share this with your friends and go share in the experience together.