Soul Asylum announces 2013 tour, coming to Raleigh

Minnesota rockers Soul Asylum, best known for their Grammy-winning 1993 single "Runaway Train,"  released their tenth full-length album in 2012, Delayed Reaction. The band will hit the road on tour in early 2013 that will bring them to the Triangle.

They'll play the Lincoln Theatre in Raleigh on Sunday, February 10. Tickets are on sale now via Etix for $17.

Check out the music video for their hit "Runaway Train" below. The band just celebrated the 20th anniversary of the album Grave Dancers Union (which features "Runaway Train") with a big home town show on December 28, so a lot of those songs might end up in the set list on the 2013 tour.

Amy Ray to host songwriter event with Heather McEntire, Phil Cook & M.C. Taylor

Singer-songwriter Amy Ray of the Indigo Girls will host a special "Writers in the Round" event in Durham in January with some of the best local writers of the Triangle.

The event will be at the Casbah in Durham on Thursday, January 31 and will feature Heather McEntire of Mount Moriah, Phil Cook of Megafaun and M.C. Taylor, aka Hiss Golden Messenger. Tickets are on sale now via Etix for $15.

It should be a fantastic evening of music as these skillful songwriters show off their craft in a collaborative, nurturing setting.

New Year's Eve happenings in the Triangle

Well, the world didn't end on December 22 so if you're looking for a way to ring in the new year with great music in the Triangle, there is no shortage of choices for you this year.

The big Triangle event is always First Night in downtown Raleigh. This year's event will feature a headline set by local rising stars Delta Rae. The event is happening in venues all over downtown and other performers include Jonathan Scales Fourchestra, the Cool John Ferguson Trio and many more.

Raleigh's two local metal clubs, DIVEbar and Volume 11 Tavern will not only be ringing in the new year, but will be hosting their final shows at each club on New Year's Eve.  DIVEbar will have Bedowyn, The Hell No, Bad Idea and The Villians while Volume 11 will have BONZ, Drill, End Of Days and The Omega Project.

Mission of Burma announces 2013 dates, coming to Carrboro

Veteran post-punk band Mission of Burma released a new album earlier this year titled Unsound as well as a new two-disc best of set titled Learn How: The Essential Mission of Burma. The band has scheduled a handful of 2013 tour dates and will make their way to the Triangle.

The band will play the Cat's Cradle in Carrboro on Friday, March 15. Tickets are on sale now via Etix for $16.

Check out the music video for "Semi-Pseudo-Sort-of Plan" from Unsound below.

Triangle Music's 2012 readers' poll results

This is one our favorite posts of the year. We get to tally up the results of our annual readers' poll and share them with you wonderful people.

Japandroids' Celebration Rock came out the clear winner this year in the top album category. Local folk band Bowerbirds came out on top in the top song category with "Tuck the Darkness In" (their album The Clearing also came in at number three on the albums list). And last but not least, Hiss Golden Messenger's fantastic set at the Fletcher Opera House during the Hopscotch Music Festival was you guys' favorite show.

Check out the full results below and our own personal lists HERE and HERE. Happy holidays!

Best of 2012: Kevin's Favorites

Another year is almost over and it's been another great year for music. I am always drawn to big melodies and fantastic songwriting and this year's list reflects that.

My album of the year is one that I kept going back to over and over again, Passion Pit's Gossamer. It's full of big hooks, is tons of fun and a really stellar outing from a young band. The rest of the list includes everything from bluegrass virtuosos Punch Brothers to Canadian pop band Stars, up-and-coming singer-songwriter Kenneth Aaron Harris, and veteran songstress Aimee Mann.

Check out my favorites below and stay tuned for the results of our annual readers' poll which are coming soon.

Boyz II Men to perform with the NC Symphony

1990s R&B superstars Boyz II Men will be bringing their smooth, sexy sounds to the Triangle in the spring for a special performance with the North Carolina Symphony.

The group will perform at Meymandi Concert Hall in Raleigh on Thursday, March 28. Tickets are on sale now via the Progress Energy Center box office and Ticketmaster for $51 to $89 (the $38 balcony seats are already gone).

Check out a video Boyz II Men performing their hit "It's Hard to Say Goodbye to Yesterday" with the Colorado Symphony Orchestra in 2011 below. It's quite a beautiful arrangement.

Samantha Crain announces winter tour, coming to Raleigh

Songstress Samantha Crain will release a new album on February 19 via Ramseur Records titled Kid Face, but before the release, she'll hit the road on a winter tour that will kick off in the Triangle.

She'll play the Berkeley Cafe in Raleigh on Wednesday, January 23. Sunmer James will open. Tickets are on sale now via Etix for $10.

Crain will also play Wilmington the following night, January 24, and then two nights at UNC Pembroke, January 25 and 26. Check out the full schedule below.

Check out the song "Never Going Back" from the forthcoming album Kid Face below.

Best of 2012: Justin's Favorites

This year I was reminded how vital music can be in tough times and how context can turn a good album into something unforgettable.

When I hear Nate Tarr of Wood Ear start singing "Been the hottest summer that I've known," I'll always feel the sweltering humidity of summer 2012 – literally the hottest summer I've known. All of my favorites this year send specific memories like this to the forefront of my mind.

I don't know if I would rank any of my top albums this year higher than any albums I've listed in previous year-end posts for Triangle Music, but they were crucial in 2012 for me and will always be an important part of how I remember 2012.

Patterson Hood announces winter solo tour

Singer-songwriter Patterson Hood of the Drive-By Truckers will be hitting the road in early 2013 on a short solo tour in support of his new solo album Heat Lightning Rumbles in the Distance and it includes a stop in the Triangle.

Hood will play the ArtsCenter in Carrboro on Tuesday, February 12. Jay Gonzalez and Brad Morgan will open. Tickets are on sale now via Etix for $15.

Check out a video of Patterson Hood performing the title track from Heat Lightning Rumbles in the Distance for WFUV below.

Chris Stamey to celebrate new album with The Fellow Travellers

Photo by Daniel Coston

As we mentioned last month, singer-songwriter Chris Stamey will be releasing a new solo album on February 5 via Yep Roc Records titled Lovesick Blues. Now he's announced a big hometown release show.

Stamey and The Fellow Travellers (which features Skylar Gudasz, Brett Harris, Django Haskins, Matt McMichaels and others) will play the The ArtsCenter in Carrboro on Friday, February 8. Tickets are on sale now via Etix for $12.

Stream or download the song "Astronomy" from Lovesick Blues below. Also, check out a few photos of The Fellow Travellers opening for The Zombies at the Cat's Cradle back in July HERE.

Vote now in the 2012 Triangle Music Readers' Poll

The year is swiftly coming to its end, which means it's time for one of our favorite annual traditions here at Triangle Music, the readers' poll.

Click here or fill out the survey below to tell us your favorite albums, songs, and concerts of the year. We'll follow suit in the coming week by sharing our favorites and announce the survey results by year's end.

Be sure to complete the survey by midnight on Thursday, December 20, in order to be counted!

Go back in time and check out your favorites from past years: 2007  2008  2009  2010  2011

Cotton Jones announces 2013 dates, coming to Chapel Hill

Maryland indie folk band Cotton Jones released a new limited edition 7" in August featuring the a-side "About the Game" and they're heading out on the road in early 2013 on a U.S. tour that will bring the band to the Triangle.

The band will play Local 506 in Chapel Hill on Saturday, February 9. Tickets are on sale now via Ticketfly for $8.

Check out the aforementioned song "About the Game" below which is available on 7" vinyl from Porchlight Records.

Augustana announces acoustic tour, coming to Chapel Hill

California pop rock band Augusta are hitting the road in early 2013 on an acoustic tour supporting their self-titled, third full-length album released in 2011.

The band will play Local 506 in Chapel Hill on Tuesday, January 22. Lauren Shera will open. Tickets are on sale now via Etix for $15.

Check out the music video for "Steal Your Heart" from Augustana below.

Josh Ritter announces new album, big 2013 tour

Singer-songwriter Josh Ritter has just announced that he will release a new album on March 5 titled The Beast In Its Tracks and will hit the road on a big North American tour in the spring to support.

Ritter will return to the Cat's Cradle in Carrboro on Sunday, May 12. The Felice Brothers will open.  Tickets will go on sale on Friday, December 14, via Etix for $24. Every ticket purchased will include a download of The Beast In Its Tracks.

Check out the song "Joy To You Baby" from The Beast In Its Tracks below.

Frightened Rabbit announces new album, spring tour

Scottish indie rockers Frightened Rabbit will release their fourth full-length album on February 5 titled Pedestrian Verse and they'll hit the road in the spring on a U.S. tour to support it.

The band will return to the Cat's Cradle in Carrboro on Monday, April 8. Tickets will go on sale on Friday, December 14, via Etix for $17.

Check out the music video for the catchy song "Dead Now" from the forthcoming album Pedestrian Verse below.

The Gaslight Anthem announces March tour

New Jersey rockers The Gaslight Anthem will hit the road in early 2013 in support of the their latest album Handwritten, released in July, and they'll make a stop in the Triangle.

The band will play the Lincoln Theatre in Raleigh on Saturday, March 9. Cory Branan will open. Tickets will go on sale on Friday, December 14, via Etix for $22.50.

Check out a video of the band performing "Here Comes My Man" from Handwritten on Conan last week below.

New music from Mount Moriah - "Younger Days" + announce big hometown release show

We told you about the forthcoming sophomore release (and Merge Records debut) from local rising starts Mount Moriah a few weeks ago. Now we have the first songs from the album to share with you.

"Younger Days" is the the lead-off track from Miracle Temple which you can stream via the widget below (you can download the song HERE). It's a fantastic, upbeat tune that makes us excited to hear the rest of the album.

Miracle Temple will be out on February 26 via Merge.

Bowerbirds raising money to fund new album, studio & more

Local indie folk band Bowerbirds is gearing up to work on a new album and has launched an elaborate Kickstarter campaign to raise money for it as well as other musical ventures.

The band is attempting to raise $28,000 to build an earth-friendly, hand-built recording studio at their home, record and release a brand new Bowerbirds album and an album from Phil's new side project, Island Dweller. The  band has already raised over half of their goal ($14,010 as of Sunday night).

Bowerbirds is offering tons of special items for folks who contribute to the cause including the usual things like an advance download of the new album and a collection of previously unreleased songs as well as quirkier items like magical amulets, dish cloths, paintings and more.

Carolina Chocolate Drops, The Avett Brothers & more earn Grammy nominations

The 2013 Grammy nominations were announced on Wednesday night and artists with Triangle ties have fared fairly well again this year.

Carolina Chocolate Drops received another nomination for Folk Album of the Year for their latest album Leaving Eden. The band won this award in 2011 for Genuine Negro Jig (the award was called Best Traditional Folk Album then).

North Carolina favorites The Avett Brothers are up for Best Americana Album for their new album The Carpenter.

Will Hoge gets nominated for a Grammy during Chapel Hill show

Photos by Kevin Norris

Wednesday night brought Nashville singer-songwriter Will Hoge's Let Me Be Lonely solo tour to Local 506. It was a partially seated show which is something I'd never seen in the small Chapel Hill club before.

After a few quirky and impressive tricks from local magician Michael Casey (aka Magic Mike), Hoge took the stage to play a career-spanning set, including quite a few audience requests.

Older songs like "(Pretty Sure) I'm Over You," "Hey Tonight" and "Heartbreak Avenue" were fantastic inclusions that don't make full band sets as much these days. On the other end of his timeline, Hoge played a few new songs that will be on a new album to be released sometime in 2013. The upbeat song "The Bad Old Days" about the rowdy days of being young and in a band sounds like it will be quite a groovy rock n roll number when fleshed out by a full band.

Shout Out Louds to release 'Optica' in February

Swedish indie pop band the Shout Out Louds will return in 2013 with their fourth full-length album, Optica. The album will be released by Merge Records on February 26.

The band released the first single from the album, "Blue Ice," last week. Check out the music video for the song below where you'll also find the complete track list for Optica.

The band have announced North American tour dates for the spring of 2013, but there's not a Triangle date yet. We'll keep you posted if they come back our way. Check out a review and some photos from their show at the Cat's Cradle in 2007 HERE.

Tenacious D announces Old School Acoustic Style Tour

The comedy rock duo Tenacious D, featuring Jack Black and Kyle Glass, will hit the road in 2013 on their Old School Acoustic Style Tour in support of their latest album Rize of the Fenix.

The tour will stop at The Ritz (formerly Disco Rodeo) in Raleigh on Friday, March 8. Tickets will go on sale at 10 a.m. on Friday, December 14, via Ticketmaster for $40. The band's pre-sale will start at 10 a.m. on Friday, December 7, (a pre-sale password is presumably available via the band's mailing list).

Check out the goofy music video for the song "Rock is Dead" from Rize of Fenix below.

Alt-J announces 2013 North American tour, coming to Carrboro

After a round of sold out shows in the U.S. in December, British indie rockers Alt-J will return to North America in 2013 for a more thorough tour which will bring them to the Triangle.

The band will play the Cat's Cradle in Carrboro on Tuesday, March 5. Tickets will go on sale at 10 a.m. on Friday, December 7, via Etix for $15.

Alt-J released their debut album, An Awesome Way, in September in the U.S. Check out the music video for the song "Fitzpleasure" from the album below.

Olivia Newton-John announces 2013 tour, coming to Durham

Singer and actress Olivia Newton-John, best known for her role as Sandy Olsson in Grease, will hit the road in 2013 to perform songs from her 40-plus year music career.

She'll perform at the Durham Performing Arts Center on Tuesday, February 19. Tickets will go on sale at 10 a.m. on Friday, December 14, via the venue box office and Ticketmaster.

Check out a video Newton-John performing the song "Xanadu," which was written and performed by ELO for the 1980 film of the same name, at a show in November below.

Tony Bennett announces 2013 dates, coming to Durham

Legendary singer Tony Bennett will hit the road on a North American tour in early 2013 and he'll make his way to the Triangle for a show.

He'll play the Durham Performing Arts Center on Friday, February 1. Tickets will go on sale at 10 a.m. on Friday, December 7, via the venue box office and Ticketmaster for $69 to $129.

Bennett just released a new album in October featuring duets with Latin American artists titled Viva Duets. Check out the video for "For Once in My Life," a duet with Marc Anthony, from the album below.