WKNC presenting Double Barrel Benefit day party & market

This year's WKNC Double Barrel Benefit concert at The Pour House (which you can read more about HERE) is taking a page from the Hopscotch Music Festival playbook by hosting a day party and market.

There will be music at Tir Na Nog on Saturday, February 4 from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. with sets by Patrick Phelan (of Luego), Jeff Crawford, Baobab, Magnolia Collective, Driftwood and Juan Huevos. The show is free and open to all ages.

There will also be a market set up at Tir Na Nog featuring art, clothing, jewelry and music from local charities, businesses and artists. There will also be raffles for WKNC merchandise and concert tickets, including tickets for the Hopscotch Music Festival. The market starts an hour before the music, at noon, and will continue until 5 p.m.

A new free holiday compilation from Potluck & Grip Tapes

Local record labels Potluck and Grip Tapes have teamed up again to release another free compilation album. This one features holiday themed tunes titled Mistletow Throwdown.

It features local acts including North Elementary, Juan Huevos, Schooner, Old Bricks, Organos and more. A few are classic holiday tunes, while others are originals.

Check out the full track list below, where you can also stream the entire album. Head HERE to download it.

WKNC celebrating 45th birthday with Stu McLamb, Lonnie Walker & more

The undisputed king of college radio stations in the Triangle, NC State's WKNC, is celebrating it's 45th birthday this year. To mark the occasion, there will be a big free show at Kings in Raleigh on Friday, October 14.

The show will feature Stu McLamb (of The Love Language), Lonnie Walker and Juan Huevos as well as a dance party to close the night featuring Hidden Cat.

McLamb's set will be all cover songs and the Kings' show listing is encouraging people to request songs, though it's not clear how you're supposed to do that. You could try leaving a message on Stu's Facebook Wall.

Griptapes & PotLuck Records give away local music compilation

Local record labels Griptapes and PotLuck have teamed up to celebrate the Hopscotch Music Festival next week. They're giving away a 13-song compilation titled GRPTPS vs PTLCK: Round One, which features a number of bands playing the festival.

It features songs from Old Bricks, Gross Ghost, North Elementary, Heads on Sticks and Organos who are playing the festival as well as Schooner who is playing a few day parties. The other bands on the comp are Joshua Carpenter, Jphono1, Juan Huevos, Corey Pavilion, Logan Pete, The Grapes and Doctor.

Stream all of the songs below or download it HERE.

Shirlette, the Dynamite Brothers & friends bring soul to Duke Gardens

All photos by Kevin Norris

With a little help from an impressive roster of friends, Shirlette Ammons and the Dynamite Brothers unleashed their new collaboration on a large, receptive Duke Gardens crowd Wednesday evening.

The group took the stage and launched into a funky set of R&B music, mixing songs from their debut album And Lovers Like and other songs from the Dynamite Brothers catalog. Each song on And Lovers Like features guest performers, many of which were on hand to reprise their roles.