Southern Culture on the Skids, Mandolin Orange, Bombadil & more slated for 2014 Back Porch Music series

With springtime finally here in full force and temperatures rising, it's about time for summer concerts to kick off in the Triangle. Music in the Gardens and the Oak City 7 lineups have already been announced, and now WUNC's free Back Porch Music on the Lawn series has joined the ranks.

The series takes place at Durham's American Tobacco Campus and kicks off this year on May 15 with Southern Culture on the Skids. Mandolin Orange, Balsam Range, The Lee Boys with Love Cannon, Yarn, Bombadil with Loamlands, and Mipso with Victoria Lee round out the series. The series will close on September 4 with a surprise musical guest to celebrate the American Tobacco Campus' tenth anniversary. Check out the full series schedule below.

Phil Cook, Jack the Radio & Big Fat Gap to play free Indy show in Durham

To celebrate the annual The Independent's Best of the Triangle winners for 2012, the publication is throwing a free party in downtown Durham on Saturday, June 9.

The event will be at the American Tobacco Campus and will feature performances by Phil Cook and His Feet, Jack the Radio and Big Fat Gap. There will be food and other items for sale from local businesses who are Best of the Triangle finalists.

Things will get started at 4 p.m and run until 11 p.m.

WUNC announces 2011 Music on the Lawn series

This Friday, April 29, The Small Ponds will kick off WUNC's 2011 Back Porch Music on the Lawn concert series at the American Tobacco Campus in Durham.

This year's series is fantastic as a whole, but a performance by Chapel Hill born singer-songwriter Loudon Wainwright III towards the end of the season, on September 16, certainly stands out

Shows will happen on Fridays throughout the summer and will feature Steep Canyon Rangers, Holy Ghost Tent Revival, Chatham County Line and others. Check out the full schedule below. Each show starts at 6 p.m.

Thad Cockrell giving away latest album 'To Be Loved'

Former Raleigh resident Thad Cockrell, who now spends most of his time in Nashville, TN, released his fourth solo album To Be Loved in 2009, but has now decided to give it away free to whoever will listed. The complete album is available to download via NoiseTrade.com as 256 kpbs mp3s. There is also the option of tipping the artist as little or as much as you'd like in order to show your support.

To Be Loved is well worth checking out as it combines excellent songwriting with a lush, folky soundscape to create an enjoyable listening experience.

Cockrell will perform at WUNC's free Music on the Lawn concert series in Durham at the American Tobacco Campus on Friday, Aug. 20. Check out the rest of his upcoming shows below.

Chatham County Line kicks off WUNC concert series

Old, young, and in between took advantage of the beautiful weather at Durham's American Tobacco Campus Friday night to watch Raleigh quartet Chatham County Line. The band performed for the first installment of WUNC's Back Porch Music on the Lawn series for this summer.

The show's location, start time, and nonexistent price tag were all pretty significant draws. Parents could enjoy an evening out and not have to worry about hiring a babysitter or keeping the kids out late. CCL fans completely packed the lawn, yet no one ever seemed to mind. It was more like a halcyon family reunion, a rare event where all attendees behave and get along with each other.

Chatham County Line releasing 'Wildwood' in July

The Triangle's premier string band, Chatham County Line, are gearing up to release their fifth full-length album, the follow-up to 2008's IV. The album is dubbed Wildwood and will be released by Yep Roc Records on July 13. We'll bring you more specifics of the release once they're available.

In the meantime, wet your whistle with performances of the songs "Wildwood" and "Sweet Marie, or, Crop Comes In" from the new album below. The performances were for radio station WNRN in Virginia in January.

Carolina Chocolate Drops have a busy fall schedule

Local string band the Carolina Chocolate Drops have a fairly busy few months ahead of them. The group signed to Nonesuch Records earlier this year and are tentatively scheduled to release their first album with the label in early 2010. Between now and then though, they will be on tour bringing their music to the masses. Their busy schedule will also continue into the new year.

The tour has a trio of Triangle dates coming up soon including a show at the American Tobacco Campus in Durham on August 27, a show a the Cat's Cradle on September 5 and a show at Fearrington Village in Pittsboro on September 9. Check out all of the upcoming dates below.