Diversions Notable and Upcoming Events: 2009-10

Notable Events

Carrboro Music Festival

The Carrboro Music Festival has always been one of the area’s most intriguing events.

Perhaps the most relaxed music festival you could imagine, local musicians invade every room in Chapel Hill’s neighborhood for a laid-back, family-friendly Sunday afternoon and evening. It’s always full of southern charm and good times.
But the line-up of the September’s 2009 event offered something more, sporting perhaps its most varied and packed bill ever.
From a furious set by Carrboro metal band Caltrop, to a quietly quaint set by folk duo Mandolin Orange in Open Eye Café, the highlights were many and came from almost every genre under the sun.

Last year, the festival proved that it’s got more on its mind than just being a pleasant distraction to begin the fall. It added a well-rounded bill that could stand up to most any N.C. festival. Not bad for a Sunday. — Jordan Lawrence

Troika

owntown Durham to life with the sounds of the best musical acts from Chapel Hill, Raleigh and Durham.

Last year’s bill included more than 50 bands throughout three days ­— from Bowerbirds to The Love Language  ­— and every venue in Durham had a stacked lineup of N.C. greats.

In quality and scope, 2009’s festival was the greatest singular display of the Triangle’s current generation indie up-and-comers the area has seen to this point.

It all kicked off with Megafaun and The Beast — two bands whose live performances speak for themselves.

Troika is the best, biggest and most established showcase of local music the Triangle has to offer. With the festival’s growing popularity, 2010 holds the most promising lineup yet. — Jospeh Chapman

Upcoming Events

TRKFest

Date: June 23
Location: Piedmont Biofuels 220 Lorax Lane, Pittsboro
Info: trekkyrecords.com

Like a slice of watermelon on a hot summer’s day, Trekky Records’ TRKFest has a local lineup that’s a refreshing and cool antidote to Chapel Hill’s June heat.

Past performers include Lost in the Trees, Megafaun and Midtown Dickens, and the outdoor festivities, which take place on a lawn, add to the event’s distinctly Carolinian appeal.

Unlike other summer festivals, TRKFest focuses specifically on N.C. musicians, highlighting the best the state and area have to offer.

In the midst of Piedmont Biofuels’ Pittsboro campus, area heavyweights sing, strum and goof off under the sun and stars. Between the cake walks, musical chairs, craft vendors and hot dogs, you can witness musicians, critics and audiences cutting loose in the mellow musical environment.

This year, expect plenty of quirky indie charm and enough Carolinian tunes to remind you why you’re lucky to be a Tar Heel — or an out-of-stater spending the summer in the Old North State. It’s the perfect way to spend a summer day with some of your favorite bands. —Linnie Greene

Hopscotch

Date: Sept. 9-11
Location: Downtown Raleigh, various locations
Info: hopscotchmusicfest.com

We’ve been waiting for a festival of this proportion in the Triangle for a long time now, and it seems Hopscotch has come to local music lovers’ rescue.

This fall, downtown Raleigh will host national and local acts ranging from Public Enemy to Broken Social Scene. The line-up is peppered with Pitchfork favorites, like Akron/Family, Collections of Colonies Of Bees, Future Islands, Harlem and Washed Out.

And although the roster boasts acts from coast to coast, the Independent Weekly-sponsored festival also contains a major local contingent: The Love Language, The Rosebuds and Hammer No More The Fingers will represent some of the best in the area, among others.

There’s literally something for everyone at this event of epic proportions, be it hip-hop aficionados or die-hard rock fans, and Dive can’t wait to see how all the musical mayhem goes down. Get ready for an onslaught of great music all in one nearby location. Here’s to hoping that Hopscotch will show out-of-towners just what kind of bounty the Triangle has to offer. — LG