There are a few things that make college towns culturally unique.
Among those is college radio which remains one of the most important sources of exposure for local artists the people that provide students and residents the opportunity for a musical experience unlike people in different parts of the country.
Steph Russ the Promotions and Special Events Director for UNC's student-run radio station WXYC" said she takes this mission very seriously.
""We always try to keep local bands in rotation. We really love putting the spotlight on bands that make great music in this area.""
On Sunday evenings from 8 to 9" the spotlight shines brightest during the station's Backyard BBQ program an hour dedicated to exposing listeners to local music.
The show gives air time to local acts but also invites bands in for interviews and in studio performances.
And Friday night at Local 506 three bands that the station has firmly stamped with its approval will take the stage in celebration of both Backyard BBQ and the music it so ardently supports.
Sam Taylor of Caltrop who will headline Friday's show" said being asked to play the concert served as a little bit of validation.
""We're glad to be a part of this show" he said.
It's great that they're paying attention to us and that our music can get a little bit of distribution through WXYC. I guess it just means they dig it" and there's nothing wrong with that.""
Django Haskins" of Chapel Hill's Old Ceremony said the experience of going into the studio for the radio show provides a surreal environment" which leads to inspired performances.
""We've been on the Backyard BBQ a couple of times" and it's always been a great experience" he said in an e-mail.
There's something uplifting about playing music in a room literally surrounded by vinyl and rock posters and memorabilia.""
Those performances" in the cramped WXYC studio upstairs in the Student Union also provide the opportunity for a free recording for the band" said Brennan O'Brien of Greensboro instrumental trio The Bronzed Chorus.
""Playing live on the radio not only helped promote us by being broadcast to all the listeners" it also helped us by us being able to use the recording for a more recent collection of our songs to sell to people at the shows we play O'Brien said in an e-mail.
Russ said that the ultimate goal of the Backyard BBQ is to make sure that local music is thriving because that can only help the radio station.
We really want to support local artists because when the scene is doing well — like it is now — it can only benefit us at the station she said.
Haskins said that sort of symbiotic relationship between local musicians and college radio is what makes it stand out as commercial radio continues to lose its cultural relevancy.
With commercial radio becoming a shell of its former self college radio remains a bastion of free thinking and for-the-hell-of-it programming and that's a great thing he said.
Taylor said that the benefit of the show should not be underestimated.
It's emblematic of stuff that should happen he said.
There's a lot of bands that just need to be heard. It's difficult to have your ear on every pulse" but they do a great job of picking up on a lot of great stuff.""
ATTEND THE SHOW
Time: 10 p.m. Friday
Location: Local 506
Info: www.local506.com
Contact the Dive Editor at dive@unc.edu.
