Casbah in Durham to end run as music venue

Casbah, the excellent music club in Durham, will cease to be a music venue once the calendar rolls over to 2014. In a year where a lot of Triangle venues have seen lot of changes, Casbah is the latest in a series of upheavals.

The final show will be a New Year's Eve party with Peter Lamb and The Wolves and Bullfrog and The Connoisseurs. Tickets are $15 in advance via Etix.

After that final show, the venue will close and will later reopen as what the Indy Week is reporting will be a "bar with games." We'll have to wait and see what exactly that entails.

Hey Marseilles announces fall tour, coming to Durham

Seattle indie folk rock band Hey Marseilles released their sophomore album, Lines We Trace, earlier this year (which Amazon has named the 17th best album of 2013 so far) and the band will hit the road on US tour this fall.

The band will make a stop at the Casbah in Durham on Thursday, October 17. The Apache Relay will open. Tickets are on sale now via Ticketfly for $10.

Check out the music video for the song "Heart Beats" from the album Lines We Trace below.

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.

Bell X1 releasing new live album, announces North American tour

Irish band Bell X1 are gearing up for the release of a new live album, Field Recordings, on July 20. They'll hit the road on an acoustic North American tour this fall to support it and will come to the Triangle.

The band will play a special seated show at the Casbah in Durham on Sunday, October 7. Tickets are on sale now via Etix for $12.

Stream the song "In Every Sunflower" from Field Recordings below.

Langhorne Slim & The Law announces new album & tour

Hardworking singer-songwriter Langhorne Slim and his band The Law are gearing up for the release of their new album The Way We Move, due out on June 5 via NC label Ramseur Records. The band will be touring hard as usual and will return to the Triangle.

They'll play the Casbah in Durham on Tuesday June 12. Ha Ha Tonka will open. Tickets are on sale now via Etix for $10.

Check out a video of the band performing the title track from The Way We Move below.

Shovels and Rope announces spring 2012 dates, coming to Durham

Charleston husband and wife duo Shovels and Rope were among the many great bands announced to play the 2012 Hopscotch Music Festival in September, but you don't have to wait that long to see the band in the Triangle.

They're playing the Casbah in Durham on Wednesday, May 16. John Howie, Jr. and the Rosewood Bluff and Wylie Hunter will open. Tickets are on sale now via Etix for $10.

Check out a review and photos from Shovels and Rope's show at Local 506 last August HERE. The band plans to release a new album titled O' Be Joyful on July 31.

Shawn Mullins announces 2012 tour, coming to Durham

Georgia singer-songwriter Shawn Mullins, who broke into the mainstream with his 1998 hit "Lullaby," is hitting the road this summer in support of his latest album, 2010's Light You Up.

Mullins will make a stop at the Casbah in Durham on Saturday, July 7. Tickets will go on sale at 10 a.m on Thursday, April 19 via Etix for $20.

Check out the lyric video for the title track from Light You Up below. You can also watch a solo performance of "Lullaby" performed for KFOG in San Francisco below too.

Mike Doughty releases book, performing in Durham

Alt-rock singer-songwriter and former Soul Coughing front man Mike Doughty is hitting the road this spring in support of a very personal new project. In January, Doughty published The Book of Drugs, a memoir of his addiction and recovery.

Doughty will be at Durham's Casbah on Friday, May 11, for a reading, concert and Q&A session. Tickets are $16 and go on sale Friday, March 2, via Etix.

Watch Doughty discuss his new book with New York Public Radio below.

Eleanor Friedberger announces spring tour, coming to Durham

Photo by Michael Rubenstein

Singer-songwriter Eleanor Friedberger is hitting the road again this spring in support of her solo debut Last Summer, released last year via Merge Records.

She'll come back to the Triangle to play the Casbah in Durham on Friday, April 20. Tickets are on sale now via Etix for $12.

Those who are checking out the Portlandia show at the Carolina Theatre on February 22 will have a chance to see Friedberger sooner, because she's billed as a "special musical guest" on the tour.

Mates of State announces February tour, coming to Durham

Indie pop duo Mates of State are hitting the road in February for a short tour in support of their latest album Mountaintops and you guessed it, their coming to the Triangle.

They'll play the Casbah in Durham on Wednesday, February 22. Tickets are on sale now via Etix for $15. An opener has not been announced yet.

Check out the awesome hand painted, rotoscope animated music video for "Palomino" from Mountaintops below.

The Explorers Club announce new album & tour, coming to Durham

It's been more than three years since the Charleston, SC band The Explorers Club unleashed their 1960s and 1970s-inspired debut album, Freedom Wind, on the world. Now, they're finally back with their sophomore effort, Grand Hotel, which will be released on February 9.

A tour will accompany the album's release and will bring them to the Casbah in Durham on Saturday, February 11. Schooner and North Elementary will open the show. Tickets are on sale now via Etix for $7 (and you have to be a member of Casbah to attend shows; a lifetime membership is $3).

Win tickets to Amy LaVere at Casbah

Photo by Joshua Black Wilkins

Amy LaVere is riding high on the critical acclaim of her latest album, Stranger Me, and her tour will bring her to Durham's Casbah on Tuesday, December 6.

To win a pair of tickets to the show, email trianglemusiccontests at gmail dot com with "Amy LaVere tickets" in the subject line no later that noon on Thursday, Dec. 1. We will notify the winner that afternoon. One entry per person, please.

Tickets to the show are $10 and available through etix. LaVere will play two sets and the show beings at 8 p.m. There is no opener.

Win tickets to Liam Finn at Casbah

Touring on his latest album, FOMO, Liam Finn will play Casbah in Durham with Marques Toliver on Monday, Oct. 17.

To win a pair of tickets to the show, email trianglemusiccontests at gmail dot com with "Liam Finn tickets" in the subject line no later than 9 a.m. on Monday, Oct. 17. We will notify the winner that morning. One entry per person, please. Update: Congratulations, Jonathan B.!

Tickets to the show are $10 in advance and $13 day of, and are available through etix.

Check out our review of FOMO here and Finn's video for his new single "Cold Feet" below the jump.

Langhorne Slim announces fall tour, coming to Durham

Singer-songwriter Langhorne Slim has to be one of the hardest touring songwriters out there these days. His hectic touring schedule brings him to the Triangle somewhat regularly and he's heading back our way this fall.

He and his band The Law will play the Casbah in Durham on Sunday, October 2. Tickets are on sale now via etix for $10.

Slim's latest album is 2009's Be Set Free, but he and the band recently played a new song titled "The Way We Move" for Live & Breathing. Check out the performance below.

Liam Finn announces fall tour, coming to Durham

Singer-songwriter Liam Finn released his second full-length album FOMO in June via Yep Roc Records, and he's hitting the road this fall to support it.

The tour is currently scheduled to wrap up at the Casbah in Durham on Monday, October 17. Maurice Toliver will open the show. Tickets are on sale now via etix for $10.

Finn has been touring with a band for the first time this year, so hopefully they'll be with him on the fall dates, which would make the Durham show his first full band gig in the Triangle.

Benefit for the Scrap Exchange with Phil Cook, Midtown Dickens & more

This weekend is a big one for benefit concerts. The big benefit for recent tornado victims is this Saturday, June 3 (check out more info on it HERE), and there will also be a benefit in Durham to save The Scrap Exchange and the Liberty Arts Foundry on Saturday, June 4.

Both nonprofit art groups were located in the Liberty Warehouse which flooded during the heavy rains on May 14 and were later condemned. The benefit show will be at the Casbah in Durham from 1 p.m. to 1 a.m. Saturday and feature ten 14 bands for $10. Proceeds are going to help the groups pay for relocation expenses as they reopen at 923 Franklin St. Advance tickets are available via etix.

Robbie Fulks announces a few January dates, coming to Durham

Photo by Jim Herrington

Alt country troubadour and Yep Roc Records artist Robbie Fulks is taking a short break from his weekly gig at The Hideout in Chicago in late January to hit the road for a limited number of dates.

The first stop on that run is at the Casbah in Durham on Friday, January 28. Tickets are available now via etix for $12. An opener hasn't been announced yet.

While Fulks is well known for his old-school country sound, on his latest album Happy, released in March 2010, is very different. He dedicated the album to the late Michael Jackson, and half of the album are covers Jackson songs. Stream Fulks' slow, moody version of "Billie Jean" below.

Chatham County Line announce new hometown gig in Durham

Photo by Kevin Norris

Chatham County Line, who released one of my favorite albums of 2010, Wildwood, played a variety of venues in the Triangle in 2010 including the Cat's Cradle, Fletcher Opera Theater and Motorco Music Hall. Now the band are preparing to play the Triangle again.

The quartet will play a special seated show at the Casbah in Durham on Friday, March 18. Tickets are $20 in advance and available now via etix.

Check out photos and reviews of Chatham County Line's July 2010 Cat's Cradle show HERE and their outdoor in-store at Sadlack's HERE.

Jukebox the Ghost get goofy at the Casbah

All photos by Kevin Norris

It was another chilly night in the Triangle Wednesday night, but for the small crowd that gathered at the Casbah in Durham, the night was warmed by the power pop sounds of Jukebox the Ghost.

The trio was in a goofy mood when they took the stage. Guitarist and singer Tommy Siegel noted right away that he hit his head on the speakers before coming on stage which may have caused him to forget the lyrics to "The Stars." The charming, nonsensical banter continued throughout the night and fit right in with the band's easygoing pop sound.

The band played songs from their latest sophomore album Everything Under the Sun, released earlier this year via Yep Roc Records, as well as songs from their previous record which really got a small group of hardcore fans incredibly excited.

Patty Larkin announces 2011 dates, coming to Durham

Veteran folk songstress Patty Larkin has announced a new round of tour dates in 2011 in support of her latest release 25, a two-disc collection featuring songs from her 25 year career, reworked with a variety of special guests like Roseanne Cash and Shawn Colvin.

Larkin will be making a stop at the Casbah in Durham on Thursday, January 6. Wisconsin singer-songwriter Peter Mulvey, who is featured on 25, will open the show. Tickets will be $18 in advance and will available via etix soon.

Watch a video of Larkin's performance of the song "Hallelujah" for the website MusicFog.com below where you'll also find her tour schedule.