Sam Robbins (SOLD OUT)
Jan
25
8:00 PM20:00

Sam Robbins (SOLD OUT)

Doors open at 7pm, show 8-10pm. Tickets are $20. This show is SOLD OUT!

Sam Robbins is often described as an "old soul singer songwriter." A Nashville based musician whose music evokes classic 70's singer songwriters like James Taylor and Neil Young, Sam adds a modern, upbeat edge to the storyteller troubadour persona. An avid performer, he has gained recognition from extensive touring and as one of the six 2021 winners in the Kerrville Folk Festival New Folk competition, one of the largest and most prestigious songwriting competitions in the country.

Sam released his debut album, Finally Feeling Young, on May 14th, 2021. The album is reminiscent of his 70's singer-songwriter heroes, with a modern perspective. On the heels of the award winning opening single, 'Remind Me", Finally Feeling Young has already garnered radio airplay and critical acclaim. Two album tracks, Remind Me and Saying Amen, won him a place as one of the six Kerrville Folk Festival New Folk winners. Americana Highways writes: “He writes of subjects that others don't explore. Saying Amen has Robbins touching that special place Leonard Cohen went. This is brilliance." Fateau Magazine in the UK writes "One of the most promising new songwriters of his generation".

A multi-instrumentalist from a young age, Sam began learning drums and piano, falling in love with guitar at age 15. He then started writing original music, recording his first CD during his sophomore year of high school, while playing open mics in his hometown of Portsmouth, NH.  

Over his career, Sam has performed countless shows across the country, in theaters, house concerts, biker bars, weddings, proposals, frat parties, and everything in between. Sam is able to tour full time, and feels at home in both intimate listening rooms and larger venues. Sam is a solo acoustic performer who melds intricate and exciting acoustic guitar arrangements with smooth, intriguing vocals. Wherever he is performing, Sam builds an intimate, easy connection with the listener, naturally creating a feeling of closeness throughout the performance.

Sam is a full time troubadour, playing over 150 shows a year across the country, including the MainStage at the Kerrville Folk Festival, Dripping Springs Songwriter’s Festival, and as one of the “‘Most Wanted to Return” artists in the 2023 Falcon Ridge Folk Festival.

Since moving to Nashville in September 2019 following his graduation from Berklee College of Music, Sam has made a splash in music city - performing at the Bluebird Cafe within a month of moving, and sitting in again at the legendary venue with Liz Longley in February. Sam was also a winner at the Eddie's Attic Songwriter's shootout competition in Atlanta in early March 2020.

In 2018, Sam was able to audition and was aired on NBC's The Voice, performing for Adam Levine, Kelly Clarkson, Blake Shelton and Jennifer Hudson as the first artist to perform a Jim Croce song on the show.

Sam considers himself a student of songwriting, constantly searching and learning about why songs have the impact they do. A 2019 graduate of Berklee College of Music's songwriting department, he has hosted many songwriting workshops and masterclasses, including at the Harvard Music Department, the Boys & Girls Club of Boston, and the Folk Project's Fall Acoustic Getaway. In his performances and workshops, Sam explores the magic behind the craft of songwriting, and tries to help others express themselves through the unique and powerful medium of songwriting.

Website: https://samrobbinsmusic.com/home

Video: https://youtu.be/zUZbLTs263c

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Hiroya Tsukamoto (SOLD OUT)
Jan
26
4:00 PM16:00

Hiroya Tsukamoto (SOLD OUT)

Doors open at 3pm, show 4-6pm. Tickets are $20. This show is SOLD OUT.

“Eclectic, immersive and mesmerizing; guitarist and songwriter Hiroya Tsukamoto embodies the notion that music has no language: Beautifully raw and cathartically emotional, Tsukamoto is a world-renowned, self-made musician.”

Hiroya Tsukamoto is a Japanese-born fingerstyle guitarist who moved to the United States in 2000 to attend the Berklee College of Music. Needless to say, he’s not only a dizzyingly agile fingerpicker, but a soulful and transcendent performer, with compositions that combine instrumental guitar work with lyrical performance and spoken stories from his life. 

Tsukamoto has been recognized for his talents on stages such as at Blue Note in New York City, Japanese National Television and United Nations, and by scoring second place at the International Fingerstyle Guitar Championship both in 2018 and 2022. 

“Fingerpicking is delicate, fluid, and beautifully detailed" -Acoustic Guitar magazine

“Hiroya Tsukamoto has an orchestra at his fingertips” -Lansing City Pulse

"Hiroya Tsukamoto takes us to an impressionistic journey " -Boston Herald

"...chops, passion and warmth. Zealously recommended!"   -Jazz Review.com

Website: https://hiroyatsukamoto.com/

Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?app=desktop&v=85BM_xhZmv0

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The Midatlantic (SOLD OUT)
Jan
31
8:00 PM20:00

The Midatlantic (SOLD OUT)

Doors open at 7pm, show 8-10pm. This show is SOLD OUT.

The Midatlantic is a crew of musicians hailing from the Cape Fear coast of North Carolina.~They are an exciting and refreshing brand of folk rock creating a unique blend of progressive folk rock, americana, and celtic punk newgrass.

The Midatlantic delivers a wide range of dynamics, energy, and melodic harmonies through songs that are sincere and passionate to love, life, loss, and the human experience.

The Midatlantic takes great pride in their professional image and providing tasteful performances suitable for all age groups.

The Midatlantic began to take shape on the Cape Fear coast of NC in 2013 when, then solo singer/songwriter, Jason Andre began working with friends on collaboration projects and took up the mandolin. As a new season of songwriting began while collaborating with his surfing buddies on beaches, back porches, and around bonfires The Midatlantic took shape. With influences spanning from The Avett Brothers, Xavier Rudd, Trampled By Turtles, and Flogging Molly they went from tiny backyard concerts around Wilmington, NC to regional festivals around the southeast growing their fan base and continuing to write new material.

Fluctuating from a four to sometimes seven piece band, The Midatlantic began opening for nationally recognized bands such as The Steep Canyon Rangers, Chatham County Line, and The Big Something. They have performed at Blue Moon Brewing’s 20th Anniversary party, received runner-up at Floydfest’s On-The-Rise competition earning multiple standing ovations, hundreds of new fans, and an invitation to take the main stage the following year. Since then, their regional following has grown to see them perform at major festivals from Pennsylvania to South Carolina including Bristol Rhythm & Roots, Brewgaloo, Shakori Hills,Smoked Country Jam, Brewgrass, North Charleston Music & Arts, and the world renowned Merlefest.

After a short hiatus filled with songwriting and shifting goals, The Midatlantic has reached a new era of performing, writing, and recording and began a new voyage by digging into its past punk rock roots, as well asmelodic folk ballads. Together they have crafted a new edge and energy to their songwriting and for theiraudiences as they prepare to release a new full-length album in 2025

Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tb4eMPrg-hg

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*the paper stars* (SOLD OUT)
Feb
1
8:00 PM20:00

*the paper stars* (SOLD OUT)

Doors open at 7pm, show 8-10pm. Tickets are $15. This show is SOLD OUT!

The Paper Stars embody an image of the opening of the eyes and the taking-in of light. Illustrated otherwise, they are a catalog of human emotion punctuated by visions of a man taking responsibility for what is his.
Altman’s songs are vast – in sonic dimension and lyrical aptitude. Without a doubt, Altman has a grasp on that mysterious place where the words and music intersect. At once earnest in that ultra-human pursuit of making things right – and making an attempt at anything honest, The Paper Stars is a collection of sounds and stories; perfunctory calls to everything elevated. Both transcendent and secular. Altman’s lyrics wind through western canyons of love lost and every dawn of solace washed in bright lights.-Denver Syntax

Video: https://vimeo.com/151256802

Website: https://www.thepaperstars.com/

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Rod Abernethy
Feb
2
4:00 PM16:00

Rod Abernethy

Doors open at 3pm, show 4-6pm. Tickets are $15.

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Rod Abernethy is a unique blend of an authentic southern folk troubadour, master acoustic guitarist, and award winning songwriter and composer for film, TV and video games and the Overall Grand Prize Winner of the 2021 International Acoustic Music Awards. In 2019 he was the Grand Prize winner of American Songwriter's Bob Dylan Song Contest. His last album Normal Isn’t Normal Anymore, produced by Grammy nominated producer Neilson Hubbard (Mary Gauthier, Kim Richey, Glen Phillips), received rave reviews from No Depression, American Highways and The Wall Street Journal and was the Top 20 CD of 2021 at No. 11 on the Folk International Folk Charts.

Rod’s talents go beyond being a dynamic performer, vocalist, instrumentalist, and storyteller. He’s a prolific photographer, a sculpture artist of whimsical steampunk found-object robots and a seasoned teacher and adjunct professor at the University of North Carolina School of the Arts in Winston Salem, NC, where he teaches how to score video games. As composer, Rod has scored and produced music for countless television shows, commercials and over 80 video games including the Electronic Art's blockbuster hit "Dead Space" which won a BAFTA Award in 2009 for Best Use of Audio and Tolkien's "The Hobbit" for Vivendi Universal which won the Game Audio Network Guild’s Video Game Soundtrack Of The Year in 2003. 

Rod continues to perform live in acoustic venues and halls across the country. Past venues include The Woodstock Folk Festival (Woodstock, IL), Club Passim (Boston, MA), The Cat’s Cradle (Chapel Hill, NC) and the ISIS Music Hall (Asheville, NC). He will also be a featured artist on this year’s popular PBS series, Songs At The Center hosted by Eric Gnesda.

Website: https://www.rodabernethyguitar.com/home

Video: https://youtu.be/S95vLiyp7Rc

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Keel Duo: Larry Keel & Jared Pool
Feb
14
8:00 PM20:00

Keel Duo: Larry Keel & Jared Pool

Doors open at 7pm, show 8-10pm. Tickets are $40.

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Larry Keel is an award-winning innovative flat-picking guitarist and singer/songwriter hailing from Appalachia and currently residing in historic Lexington, VA. Raised in a musical family steeped in the mountain culture of the region, Keel began from an early age to forge a distinctive sound, taking bluegrass and classic country music and infusing those styles with a rock edge and elements of improvisational jazz.

The Keel Duo, consisting of Larry Keel on acoustic guitar and Jared Pool on mandolin and acoustic guitar, are masters of their instruments and deeply soulful singers, drawing heavily from Keel’s catalog of original music and imaginative interpretations of choice covers. A fellow Virginian, Pool has been studying Keel’s style since he was a very young prodigy, going on to win contests and competitions in flatpicking guitar, receiving a college degree in music, playing in successful touring acts and landing with the ‘Larry Keel Experience’ band around 2016. Pool’s skillful adaptability in supporting Keel’s distinctive sound has enriched the music and inspired and challenged Keel’s own playing along the way. It’s no wonder these artists know each other’s styles and idiosyncrasies so thoroughly enabling them to go on exhilarating musical explorations in the moment, no matter what material they choose. One listener likened the experience of watching this act to being backstage while the artists are running tunes, relaxed yet energized, nailing songs while taking musical risks and letting it all hang out. That’s the vibe they bring to the stage, inviting listeners to have fun and be part of the creative process happening before their very eyes and ears.

Keel is on a roll for 2025, with a new single release planned every few months starting January 10, as well as an early summer EP drop. Keep up to date by checking out the Larry Keel site at: https://larrykeel.com/

Video:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GetkX8w1KPw&list=PLLwmj41RKJc0ihX6255qeKoMvNBjL8n47&index=1

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WHQR Soup to Nuts LIVE! with Carlos Rising
Feb
15
8:00 PM20:00

WHQR Soup to Nuts LIVE! with Carlos Rising

Doors open at 7pm, show 8-10pm. Tickets are $15.

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Whether he's solo or with his band, Carlos Rising creates an unforgettable experience for all listeners with his soothing tone and diverse repertoire of original music. For the past 10 years Carlos has been playing shows and releasing songs that reach a plethora of audiences, including fans of Soul, RnB and Pop. In 2023, Rising was a featured contestant on Season 23 of NBC's the Voice, where he showcased his vocal ability, artistry and genre versatility on Team Blake. Not only does Rising have the ability to connect with large audiences on a national scale, but also can thrive in intimate small environments where he encapsulates audiences with his original songs. Now based out of Wilmington NC, Carlos continues to play shows and write music, all in an effort to make his songs make a difference the lives of his listeners.

About Soup to Nuts Live!: Well into its second decade, WHQR's Soup To Nuts LIVE! has become one of the Cape Fear region's favorite, live-listening experiences, featuring a wide array of musical genres on its stage. STNL!'s recording process reflects its commitment to high quality, ongoing success, and the hard work of its technical staff. Each performance is engineered, multitracked, and edited into a one-hour program for broadcast on an upcoming date. In addition, WHQR forwards and cross-promotes the live event (and the later broadcast) across their website, on-air, social media, and related platforms. Starting in 2023, Live At Ted’s joined in hosting and booking acts for the STNL! show, alternating hosting duties each month with WHQR. Ted’s listening room environment, recording capabilities, and commitment to showcasing original music made for a seamless partnership.

Website: https://www.carlosrising.com/

Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EfXmr89VCSw

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Eternally Grateful
Feb
21
8:00 PM20:00

Eternally Grateful

Doors open at 7pm, show 8-10pm. Tickets are $12.

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Eternally Grateful is a dynamic band mainly operating as an acoustic guitar and upright bass duo. Their live shows combine influences from different generations in American music to create a timeless, captivating and distinctive style. Working to quickly become a staple on the Charlotte, NC music scene, they have played over 200 shows since 2023. Complemented by the eclectic mastery of Ben Williams on upright bass, and completed by the prolific songwriting and virtuosic talents of Cooper Pearce on guitar/vocals, Eternally Grateful strives to make a true connection with their audiences and is a must see act for any music lover.

Website: https://eternallygratefulmusic.com/home

Video: https://youtu.be/9xNRCbzDeuY

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Jay Killman & the Constellations
Feb
23
4:00 PM16:00

Jay Killman & the Constellations

Doors open at 3pm, show 4-6pm. Tickets are $15.

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Jay Killman has been a professional musician for eleven years.  He performs with a wide array of acts including jazz ensembles, singer songwriter acts, hip hop groups, and fusion bands.

Over the years Jay has studied and played with numerous greats including Keith Ganz, Joey Calderrazo, Ralph Bowen, Branford Marsalis, Isaiah Sharkey, Peter DiCarlo, Jerald Shynett and more. He has acheived a BA in Music from the University of North Carolina at Wilmington and a MM in Jazz Composition from North Carolina Central University. 

Jay has released 2 albums of original music - Rene & Jay Nice Sounds Collection no. 1 and Jay Killman Cycles.  https://open.spotify.com/album/0yDP6i7ajTd2RtadJejFyF

In addition to performing, Jay is an avid composer, arranger and teacher. 

Website: https://jaykillmanmusic.com/

Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uaoq4V8jFoI

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Alan Barnosky & Abigail Dowd
Feb
28
8:00 PM20:00

Alan Barnosky & Abigail Dowd

Doors open at 7pm, show 8-10pm. Tickets are $15.

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Alan Barnosky is a multi-faceted musician keeping pace with the ever-changing expectations of the modern artist. He is a flatpicking guitarist, upright bassist, and songwriter, has released two solo albums, performs as a solo artist, works as a multi-instrumentalist for touring bands - including The Barefoot Movement, Farewell Friend, and Chatham Rabbits - and is a writer and teacher. Originally from Michigan, he now makes his home in central North Carolina.

A lifelong musician and fan of acoustic music from an early age, Barnosky began playing with bluegrass bands in his late teens, first in his home state of Michigan and then after he relocated to North Carolina in 2012. He made his independent debut in 2018 with the release of his first solo album Old Freight, becoming a favorite among independent radio stations (two top 5 songs in the March 2018 Folk DJ cart) and noted as being “a fantastic album, full of clever guitar work, excellent vocal performances, and punchy arrangements.” He gained recognition as a skilled songwriter and was invited to the 2018 IBMA Songwriter Showcase, received an honorable mention at the Telluride Troubadour Contest, and was an official showcase artist at the 2018 Southeast Regional Folk Alliance conference. His 2020 EP Lonesome Road similarly received praise from The Bluegrass Situation, Bluegrass Today, Americana UK, and IndyWeek.

Website: https://alanbarnosky.com/home

Video: https://youtu.be/Ype0N_jrMcw

Abigail Dowd didn’t just wander into music—she practically tumbled in, barefoot, with a guitar slung over her shoulder and a mystic line tracing back to where she came from before she got here. Raised in the heart of North Carolina, she grew up chasing fireflies, harmonizing with the wind, and figuring out how to turn all that wildness into melody. Her songs are like handwritten letters from an old friend—equal parts Southern grit and soulful tenderness, with a voice that feels like the love child of an Appalachian holler and a smoky jazz bar.

Abigail’s guitar doesn’t just accompany her; it’s her co-conspirator, weaving intricate melodies that dance around her lyrics like they’ve been practicing for years. She writes songs that make you laugh, cry, or suddenly remember the name of your third-grade teacher—and she swears she didn’t plan it that way. She’s on the same ride, trusting the music and energy of the room will weave the magic carpet. On stage, she’s a storyteller, a truth-teller, and sometimes a joke-teller, especially when she doesn’t mean to.

She’s toured the east coast and Rockies, played in living rooms, theaters, and maybe a barn or two, leaving a trail of listeners feeling like they just made a new best friend. Abigail doesn’t just perform; she creates moments—raw, real, and unforgettable. And if you don’t believe it, go to a show. You’ll leave humming her songs and wondering how you ever lived without them.

Website: https://www.abigaildowd.com/

Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JYsVgFDi9hA

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Hank, Pattie & The Current
Mar
1
8:00 PM20:00

Hank, Pattie & The Current

Doors open at 7pm, show 8-10pm. Tickets are $20 + fees.

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Bluegrass ambassadors Hank Smith and Pattie Hopkins Kinlaw join forces once again with their original and energetic new soulgrass band, Hank and Pattie. Hank and Pattie take bluegrass and infuse it with their own flair, drawing from a melting pot of styles including classical and Motown, which adds up to an authentic and unique reflection of American music. While some of the music sounds old school and some sounds fresh and new, their overall musicianship, vocal harmonies, impassioned delivery and innovative arrangements captivate all generations of music lovers.

Hank and Pattie are backed by an all-star band comprised of Carolina musicians Stevie Martinez on Bass and vocals and Billie Feather on guitar.

Video: https://youtu.be/-Kw-t_JNHLw

Website: https://www.hankandpattie.com/

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Cassie & Maggie
Mar
2
4:00 PM16:00

Cassie & Maggie

Doors open at 3pm, show 4-6pm. Tickets are $20 + fees.

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With over 17 combined Canadian Folk Music, East Coast Music, and Music Nova Scotia awards and nominations, the JUNO-Nominated powerhouse duo, Cassie and Maggie, emerge as an unstoppable force on the global folk stage. Unleashing a magnetic energy, they seamlessly weave their deep Celtic heritage with contemporary influences. Committed to not just preserving but also propelling Nova Scotia's folk traditions into new realms, Cassie and Maggie bring an exhilarating energy that is both timeless and irresistibly modern. Their eagerly anticipated 5th studio album, "Gold and Coal," poised to solidify their status as folk music trailblazers.

"Be it their foot percussion accompanying driving Nova Scotian sets, their perfect blend of sibling harmonies, added to a stunning interplay on various instruments, a musical evening spent with Cassie and Maggie is a great night, altogether" -Irish Music Magazine. Their latest album, The Willow Collection "has sold over 9000 copies worldwide andshowcases not only their musical ability, but the depth and variety of their musicianship."IMM Cassie and Maggie are an unbelievably gifted duo... the train is just gathering steam and leaving the station on these new stars. It is going to be a glorious journey, and it is already well-begun." –Live Ireland Radio- Dublin, IR

Website: https://www.cassieandmaggie.com/home

Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aymPsyL3WKk

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Shanna in a Dress
Mar
7
8:00 PM20:00

Shanna in a Dress

Doors open at 7pm, show 8-10pm. Tickets are $15 + fees.

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Shanna in a Dress is your quirky best friend who refuses to wear pants. She says what everyone has felt but no one else will say and you'll get an uncensored journey of clever humor and heartbreak, extreme candor, and a hefty side of entertainment at her shows. This witty wordsmith is known for taking you on an emotional roller coaster, sometimes within the same song. Think John Prine mixed with Ingrid Michaelson with a twist of Phoebe Buffay from Friends all wrapped up in a sweet voice accented by guitar, piano, and ukulele. She's as real as it gets, as anyone who follows her on FB or Instagram knows.

Shanna started her career at the University of Virginia, fell in love with Boulder, Colorado, and now keeps her fun music flowing out of Nashville unless she's touring the US or Europe. You can't get the same Shanna in a Dress show twice with her spontaneous banter and playful stage presence. She manages to teeter the line masterfully of taking on complex subject matters with smart, bold, and yet accessible lyrics. Her charisma and boldly honest songs are full of interesting language and wordplay and delight audiences of all ages.

Most recently, Shanna in a Dress was pronounced the winner of the Rocky Mountain Folks Fest Songwriting Contest and will be performing with a full band at the 2023 Rocky Mountain Folks Fest. In 2020 alone, Shanna was a winner in the Kerrville New Folk competition, winner of the Great River Folk Fest Song Competition, a finalist at Songwriter Serenade, and a Grassy Hill Emerging Artist at the Falcon Ridge Folk Festival.

During the summer of 2021, Shanna bicycled from Seattle to Boston while music-touring on her epic "Tour de Dress," playing over 60 shows from coast to coast and partnering up with the global non-profit Pangaea World Foundation.

In May 2022, her debut record "Robot" was released after a wildly successful crowdfunded campaign years earlier. She was the winner She has most recently been seen gracing the stages of Kerrville Folk Festival, Falcon Ridge Folk Festival, Black Bear Americana Fest, Great River Folk Fest, and the Bluebird Cafe in Nashville. Tom Prasada-Rao calls her "Kerrville's fastest rising star" and she's certainly delightfully unique and is one to watch in the future.

Website: https://www.shannainadress.com/home

Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GxGZZ6kutrE

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Jesse Fox
Mar
8
8:00 PM20:00

Jesse Fox

Doors open at 7pm, show 8-10pm. Tickets are $15 + fees.

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Jesse Fox – a name that echoes within the realm of soulful artistry and immersive storytelling. Each performance is a gateway to an emotional landscape where heartfelt melodies and eloquent narratives seamlessly entwine, resonating deep within the core of one's being. Rooted in the musically diverse landscape of North Carolina, Fox emerges as a master craftsman of lyrics, weaving songs that stir even the most stoic of spirits.

​From his early musical explorations with the acclaimed folk band Love & Valor, Jesse embarked on a journey to define his voice as a singular singer-songwriter. Guided by the echoes of the past, he channels the timeless resonance of songsmiths like Bob Dylan and Johnny Cash. Concurrently, he embraces the sonic tapestry of modern troubadours like The Avett Brothers, The Lumineers, and The Civil Wars. The result is an enchanting fusion of Americana, folk, and deeply emotive ballads.

With a gift for delving deep into the human psyche, Jesse Fox's lyrics resonate with profound honesty. They navigate the intricate pathways of love, the hollow echoes of loss, the reflective inner gaze, and the relentless quest for personal evolution. His narratives are a rich tapestry of life's shared experiences, stirring a sense of collective authenticity among listeners.

​Complemented by a skilled ensemble of musicians, Jesse's live performances radiate with a distinctive energy that electrifies, while simultaneously nurturing intimacy. Each note and harmony fill the room, wrapping audiences in a tapestry of shared emotion and musical unity. Be it on the grand stage of a festival or the close quarters of a small venue, Jesse's empathic connection with the audience pervades every corner, creating a truly shared experience.

​As he steps forth into his solo career, Jesse carries the legacy of Love & Valor within his heart. Their final symphony together, 'Old Oak,' is an extraordinary portfolio of songs, reflecting the artistic zenith of their shared journey.

​Jesse Fox, with ambitions to stir hearts across the globe, extends an open invitation to you. Join him on this entrancing musical odyssey. Plunge into his endless well of melodies, immerse yourself in the depth of his lyrics, and feel the unfiltered passion of an artist who crafts each note with undying love and dedication. Let the captivating allure of Jesse Fox – a singer-songwriter of remarkable soulfulness – leave a lasting imprint within your heart.

Jesse will be performing with his 4 piece band at Ted's.

Website: https://www.jessefoxmusic.com/

Video: https://youtu.be/qheDHA2oteY?si=MwQNRUIt_eUII2qv

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Laura McLean's Songwriter Showcase
Mar
12
7:00 PM19:00

Laura McLean's Songwriter Showcase

Doors open at 6pm, show 7-9pm. Tickets are $10 + fees.

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Wilmington Guitar Guru, Laura McLean, curates a night of local songwriters on the Ted's stage! Artists performing include:

Gaby Merediz

Evan Jabaley

Nell Dare

Camelcase

Laura McLean

This showcase is a longtime Ted's favorite and always such a fun evening. Come out and see for yourself!

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Rupert Wates
Mar
14
8:00 PM20:00

Rupert Wates

Doors open at 7pm, show 8-10pm. Tickets are $12 + fees.

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Rupert Wates was born in London and studied at Oxford University. He has been a full time songwriter since the late 1990s, when he signed a publishing contract with Eaton Music Limited.  In London he worked with some of the best performers in the city.  Moving in 2001 to Paris, Wates formed his own quartet and began playing live regularly. In fall 2006 he came to the US. He is now based in New York City and Colorado.  Since coming to the US, he has won more than 50 songwriting and performing awards.

His music is an eclectic mix of acoustic, melodic art/folk, with flavors of jazz, vaudeville and cabaret. He has released twelve solo CDs. They have received outstanding reviews in the international online press and tracks from them have been played on radio all over the world. In addition, Wates' songs have been covered by other artists in the UK, Canada and the US. Two full length tribute CDs to his material have been recorded: 'Crazy Puzzle' (2015) by Nashville-based performer Roxie Rogers, and 'Wide Open Heart' (July 2017) by Los Angeles vocalist Susan Kohler. Both these CDs were initiated and funded entirely by the artists themselves, and comprise exclusively songs taken from Rupert Wates' back catalog. Over 20 recordings featuring Wates's songs by other artists were made in 2016, and more are scheduled for 2017.

Rupert Wates averages 120 live shows every year, in front of audiences totaling more than 3,500, in acoustic venues in every state in America, in Canada and in Europe. He performs sometimes alone, sometimes with his trio or his quartet. He prefers smaller listening rooms where the audience is up close and the emphasis is on the music.  He was voted an Artist Of The Year in both 2013 and 2016 by the international house concert network Concerts In Your Home, and for five years running he has been the most booked performer on their database of several hundred artists.  In 2018, Wates was a Finalist in the Kerrville New Folk Song Contest, and an Emerging Artist at Falconridge Folk Festival.  
 
Despite Wates' British background, and underpinning the universality of his music's appeal, Folk And Acoustic Music Exchange has called him "a prime figure in American music'' and goes on: "This is one gifted sonofabitch... If you're not hip to this guy yet you're missing out."

Audiences everywhere respond to Wates' brand of melodic art/folk—haunting songs that ring true.

Video: https://youtu.be/a4fpE2trFYA

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The Brent Stimmel Band
Mar
16
4:00 PM16:00

The Brent Stimmel Band

Doors open at 3pm, show 4-6pm. Tickets are $10 + fees.

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Great music begins with great songs, and great songs are what The Brent Stimmel Band is all about. The band’s music has been described as “ fine mix of Southern Americana and everything in between”. Featuring the smooth vocals and rhythm guitar from Brent Stimmel, the searing guitar work from Leslie Britt, or the groovin' rhythm section of bassist Davis Canady Jr. and drummer Jeff Hunnicutt. Whatever it is, the sounds are quintessentially The Brent Stimmel Band. They not only know where they’re going, but have a rock solid history that put them here today. Their shows feature a compelling combination of rich layered vocals along with mixed styles of americana, blues, rock and soul. Melding hook-filled melodies within hard and heavy beats, they show a unique ability to combine a vast array of influences into a singular sound.

Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WaIuqr75dHs

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The Turkey Buzzards
Mar
21
8:00 PM20:00

The Turkey Buzzards

Doors open at 7pm, show 8-10pm. Tickets are $15.

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"Much like the duo themselves, the songs range near and far. From the sticky humidity of North Carolina to the dusty cellars of the West, The Turkey Buzzards tell simplistic stories that unravel through gritty vocals and thoughtful harmonies. The carefully crafted guitar riffs set against a solid bone bass stretch out across an American landscape with enough depth to sink well beneath the skin."

Dylan Nicholson (Greensboro, NC) and Eric Patterson (Lodi, CA) formed the The Turkey Buzzards in Morro Bay, CA and have shared stages with John R. Miller, Robert Earl Keen, Jeffery Martin, The Deslondes, Dawes, White Buffalo, Brothers Comatose, and frequently join Willy Tea Taylor as members of The Fellership.

Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r43HYoOpRU0

Website: www.theturkeybuzzards.com

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Darren Nicholson & Shawn Lane
Mar
22
8:00 PM20:00

Darren Nicholson & Shawn Lane

Doors open at 7pm, show 8-10pm. Tickets are $20.

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Two bluegrass legends team up for an unforgettable performance!

Darren Nicholson is a Western North Carolina native who has taken his own brand of mountain music and entertainment around the world. He’s a Grammy nominated artist who has won 13 International Bluegrass Music Association Awards.

Shawn Lane is a three-time GRAMMY Nominee and 28-time IBMA Award winner with supergroup Blue Highway. A fan-favorite vocalist, instrumentalist, and songwriter, Shawn is as explosive on fiddle as mandolin and guitar, and has often lent his talents to the GRAMMY winning Earls of Leicester.

Video: https://youtu.be/ZJrcJ4A43JQ?si=mz_xal9Z2f3kyKqR

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The Kennedys
Mar
24
7:00 PM19:00

The Kennedys

Doors open at 6pm, show 7-9pm. Tickets are $25.

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Songwriting duo Pete and Maura Kennedy make a strong return to the studio and stage after three years of weekly live-streamed lockdown-era concerts. They took the opportunity to explore classic songwriting in depth, performing over a thousand songs during the pandemic. That vast overview strengthened and refined their own writing and laid the foundation for this new collection of original, socially-conscious songs.

“After such a deep dive into American roots music, we felt like we had a new set of writing tools. We were ready to create this body of work, and there’s just SO much to write about,” says Maura. “During our five-year hiatus from writing and recording, America changed in massive ways, divisive ways that have shaken our whole foundation. That has to be addressed by creative artists, those of us who have a voice to speak for others. Our love of the great things about this country, things that are under threat, is the reason we decided to make “Headwinds” the title track of the CD. Political and social headwinds are making it hard to get back “home’ to our greatness as a nation. We want to push back in a positive way against those winds.”

In addition to singing and writing, Pete and Maura are multi-instrumentalists. The thirteen songs are cast in a soundscape that draws from the classic canon of American roots, in keeping with the theme of getting back “home” as a nation. Acoustic and electric guitars, a vintage steel guitar, a gospel-inflected piano/organ mix, and even a slide ukulele all add colors to a songbag of sounds that have drawn us together during hard times. Pete and Maura believe that those sounds still have the power to pull us through again. 

The Kennedys began their writing and touring life three decades ago as members of Nanci Griffith’s Blue Moon Orchestra, developing their own sound as a frequent support act on Nanci’s tours across America, Ireland, Scotland and England. Collaborations with Nanci continued, culminating in Pete and Maura producing her final album, “Intersections.” Along the way, they hosted a nationwide radio program, “The Dharma Cafe” on Sirius/XM, wrote and released sixteen CDs of original music, and have been core artists on folk radio, expanding their audience further with the inception of the AAA and Americana formats.

Website: https://www.kennedysmusic.com/home.html

Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JMS-9Arv26w

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Liam Purcell & Cane Mill Road
Mar
28
8:00 PM20:00

Liam Purcell & Cane Mill Road

Doors open at 7pm, show 8-10pm. Tickets are $25 + fees.

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Characterized by No Depression as “the future of bluegrass”, Liam Purcell & Cane Mill Road twine innovation, tradition, and excellence into a unique musical experience. Though only in his 22nd year, North Carolina’s Liam Purcell has already established a name for himself in the world of American Stringband music. Growing up less than a mile away from the legendary guitarist Doc Watson, Purcell was steeped in Appalachian Old-Time and Bluegrass traditions from an early age. Taking inspiration from the local Deep Gap legacy, Liam began writing, performing, and storytelling from an early age.

Entering the professional bluegrass circuit during his teenage years, Purcell formed the stringband-supergroup Cane Mill Road. He would go on to lead the virtuosic ensemble through regional appearances, building a fanbase across the Southeast and bringing his homespun rapport to some of the most revered festivals in the scene. By the time Purcell was 17, the project had seen multiple entries on the Billboard Top 10 Bluegrass charts, performed in 25 states, and was recognized by the International Bluegrass Music Association in 2019 as the recipient of their Momentum Band of the Year Award.

New paths emerged for Liam in 2020 when he was accepted to attend Berklee College of Music (Boston, MA) on a full scholarship. However, plans quickly ground to a halt with the onset of a global pandemic. Using this time to write and record, Purcell began his studies remotely while multi-tracking a 10-song album released as “Roots” later that year. This independent project led to a widely anticipated tour and a recording contract with Pinecastle Records over the following years.

Departing his native Appalachia, Purcell took up residence in Boston while attending Berklee, following in the footsteps of Molly Tuttle, Infamous Stringdusters, Sierra Hull, Crooked Still, and many others who came out of the College’s famed American Roots Program. Despite the rigorous course of study, Liam Purcell & Cane Mill Road performed over 80 dates per year around an academic schedule. In 2022, Purcell shook the bluegrass world by sweeping the Rockygrass Instrumental Championships in Colorado, taking home first place honors on mandolin, banjo, and guitar. He is the only person to ever achieve a simultaneous victory in multiple championships.

Recording their latest album “Yellow Line”, Liam Purcell & Cane Mill Road dug deep into the writing and arranging facets of creativity. Purcell described the responsibility of carrying on a living tradition; “It was very important to me that I began this project the way I had learned from my heroes. Just us, telling stories in songs, building on the rich and diverse folk culture I had grown up in. However, I couldn’t simply leave it there. Everyone I’ve ever looked up to as an entertainer, Doc in particular, had never acknowledged boundaries between genre, style, origin, or influence. While I cared deeply about honoring the Appalachian Stringband music I loved, I also have my own songs inside, my own feelings to express, and my own innovations to contribute.”

Finishing his degree in String Performance, Purcell graduated from Berklee in May of 2024, promptly hitting the road for over two months of heavy touring. Relocating to Nashville, Tennessee, Liam maintains his Deep Gap roots, watering them on stage each night in front of new audiences, as if to transport listeners beyond the lights and curtains, to a front porch up in the mountains where the journey all began.

Video: https://youtu.be/1kiVxKrRIh8

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The Rough & Tumble
Mar
29
8:00 PM20:00

The Rough & Tumble

Doors open at 7pm, show 8-10pm. Tickets are $12 + fees.

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The Rough & Tumble, a dynamic duo comprised of Mallory Graham and Scott Tyler, have been captivating audiences with their unique blend of dumpster-folk and thrift store-Americana for over a decade. The Pennsylvania-born Graham and Central California's Tyler have a knack for weaving together elements of joy, sorrow, comedy, and drama in their music, leaving audiences on the edge of their seats. 

“There are plenty of acoustic songscapes that will pleasure fans of the likes of Nanci Griffith... while other songs have an elegance and emotional craft to the lyrics which stand shoulder to shoulder with master songsmiths such as Gretchen Peters or Guy Clark."  

​---Americana UK, May 2023

Writing and performing together since 2007, Mallory Graham and Scott Tyler inevitably formed The Rough & Tumble in 2011 as the friends turned into bandmates. In 2015, after a bad Nashville landlord left them without heat for twelve days during an ice storm, the bandmates-turning-spouses decided to hit the road. They sold everything they could, bought a sixteen-foot camper (despite the warning of their families and the lot salesman), packed up their instruments, their dogs, and a couple of small trinkets shaped like elephants and mice that they couldn’t part with, and hit the road. They’ve been touring relentlessly ever since with their two 100 lb rescue dogs, Mud Puddle and Magpie Mae, in spite of multiple burnt up axles, busted tires, and consistent water leaks.

It takes determination and stamina to live this hardscrabble lifestyle, but not as much as it takes for them to stay still. With some luck and old-fashioned working together, you’ll be able to see The Rough & Tumble pull their camper into your town to do what they do best; speaking up until they’re heard. We suggest you do the same. 

Website: https://www.theroughandtumble.com/

Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_mJJWSExNYA

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Palmyra "Restless" Tour w/ Clover Lynn
Mar
30
4:00 PM16:00

Palmyra "Restless" Tour w/ Clover Lynn

Doors open at 3pm, show 4-6pm. Tickets are $20 + fees. Tickets go on sale Friday 1/24 at 10:00am.

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Established in Virginia’s Shenandoah Valley, Palmyra captures the collective spirit of three Virginia natives: Teddy Chipouras, Mānoa Bell, and Sasha Landon. 
Palmyra straddles at least two musical worlds. They are, on one hand, a band from the South that plays traditional instruments and indeed once lived in the old-time locus of Floyd, Virginia. Comparisons to and a kinship with The Avett Brothers and even Old Crow Medicine Show are inevitable. On the other hand, Palmyra writes about grief, gender dysphoria and identity, and coming of age in songs that flirt with soul, post-rock, and even emo; the South, too, is the place of My Morning Jacket, Band of Horses, Cat Power, and now, Palmyra. 


The band’s first full length LP, Restless, is out March 2025 on Oh Boy Records. Framed by moments of struggle, solidarity, and hard-won growth, Restless is an unqualified ringer for anyone who loves the space where the roar of indie rock collides with raw folk. 

Website:https://www.palmyratheband.com/

Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YTs_OJX1eZc

with support from Clover Lynn

Pulled from the dense clay underneath Cahas mountain in South Western Virginia, Clover-Lynn dresses the sounds of her mountains upbringing with the veil of the Gothic. Blending 3 Finger, Clawhammer, and ballad singing she creates a unique sound that is both unsettling and familiar. 

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Liz Longley
Apr
6
4:00 PM16:00

Liz Longley

Doors open at 3pm, show 4-6pm. Tickets are $25. Tickets go on sale Friday, December 6th at 10:00am.

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Liz Longley is a Nashville-based singer-songwriter celebrated for her stop-you-in-your-tracks voice and deeply emotional music. Known for her distinctive blend of folk, pop, and Americana, Liz has earned accolades from prestigious songwriting competitions, including the BMI John Lennon Songwriting Scholarship Competition.

Her self-titled debut album was praised as “stunning” (HuffPost) and marked by “cleverness and wit” (Dallas Morning News). The follow-up, Weightless (2016), was lauded as “a thing of beauty” by Pop Dose. Liz’s sixth album, Funeral For My Past, became a notable success after her fans raised over $150,000 on Kickstarter to fund its independent release, making her the #4 most funded solo female musician in Kickstarter history. The album received widespread acclaim, with Forbes calling it “stunning” and Billboard highlighting its diverse range from Americana to shimmering pop anthems.

Becoming a mother in 2022 profoundly impacted Liz’s songwriting, infusing her music with greater depth and perspective. Her upcoming album reflects this new chapter in her life, showcasing both her personal growth and her continued evolution as an artist.

Website: https://www.lizlongley.com/

Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UK1_U7Ot1UY

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Kyran Daniel
May
10
8:00 PM20:00

Kyran Daniel

Doors open at 7pm, show 8-10pm. Tickets are $20.

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‘I knew at that time he would be an incredible force in music…he was always received with thunderous applause and standing ovations…’ - Tommy Emmanuel AM

‘likely the most influential acoustic guitar composer of his generation … publicly unsung, his pieces have shaped the progression of the art form since his emergence onto the world stage, only growing stronger through his dormancy … we’re excited to see what this master of the guitar presents in his renaissance’

Guitarist, Composer, Producer and Musical Director, Kyran Daniel began his career performing alongside Grammy Nominee Tommy Emmanuel on stages spanning the globe. His debut album ‘Per Se’ became a highly influential work in the acoustic guitar world, opening the door to his attendance of the prestigious Berklee College of Music studying under the greatest songwriting & production professors in contemporary music.

Following his time at Berklee, Kyran focussed on the roles of songwriter & producer for a cohort of Australian artists including G Flip, Gretta Ray, and Kingswood. His diverse musical palette and superlative musicianship saw him fast become one of Australia’s finest studio talents, and a go-to for artists & labels domestically & abroad, with credits including Gretta Ray’s ARIA Nominated Album ‘Begin To Look Around’ (EMI), G Flip’s #1 ARIA Charting Album ‘Drummer’ (4x ARIA Nominated), and Australian & European tours and televised performances with legendary rock group Kingswood.

2022 saw Kyran return to his most authentic musical form as a solo artist, with sold-out concerts including the opening of ‘The Picasso Century’ at NGV International, and a triumphant return to European and American stages alongside mentor Tommy Emmanuel.

Kyran is currently completing his renaissance solo album amidst a string of 2023 European performances. Expect a new chapter of emotive compositions drawing upon rich global influences, cinematic soundscapes, and virtuosic performances from the heart.

Website: https://www.kyrandaniel.com/

Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IW1hHD9_oBI

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Justin Hoke & Marc Siegel (RESCHEDULED)
Jan
24
8:00 PM20:00

Justin Hoke & Marc Siegel (RESCHEDULED)

THIS SHOW IS RESCHEDULED DUE TO UNSAFE CONDITIONS ON THE TED’S PROPERTY! Ticket holders will be refunded shortly.

The new date for this show is Friday, May 9th from 8-10pm! Please mark your calendars. Tickets will go on sale in the next month or so.

———-

Join us for an evening of acoustic jazz guitar duo music with Justin Hoke and Marc Siegel at Wilmington’s premier listening room. The concert will feature an eclectic blend of songs and styles arranged for guitar duo.

Justin Hoke is an active soloist, chamber musician, composer, and educator based in Wilmington, North Carolina. He has been featured as a soloist on classical and electric guitar with the Wilmington Symphony Orchestra, Panama City Orchestra, Florida State University Orchestra, and the Appalachian State University Guitar Orchestra. He currently performs throughout the region as a member of the North Carolina Guitar Quartet and the Cypress Duo. Justin Hoke currently serves on the music faculty at the University of North Carolina Wilmington.

Awards include first prize in the 2012 Florida State University Doctoral Concerto Competition, Florida State University graduate teaching assistantship 2010-2013, top prize in the 2010 Appalachian Guitarfest International Competition, top prize in the 2010 Music Academy of North Carolina Guitar Competition. His solo album Open Sky was released in 2015: “Superbly played… very highly recommended” –Marvin J. Ward, CVNC.org.

Dr. Hoke has previously served as a guitar instructor at Coastal Carolina University, Florida State University, Tallahassee Community College, Appalachian State University, and Emory and Henry College.

Marc Siegel is an accomplished guitarist and dedicated educator at Cape Fear Community College, where he combines his passion for music with a deep commitment to his students. As a longtime part of the CFCC community, Siegel has inspired countless aspiring musicians, always going above and beyond to ensure his students not only develop technical skills but also a lifelong love for music.

His teaching philosophy centers on fostering creativity, confidence, and personal growth, and he takes immense pride in helping his students succeed both in the classroom and on stage. Siegel’s genuine care for his students shines through, and his influence extends well beyond the notes he plays on his guitar.

Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AefqGth6sW8

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Sean Meade Presents: An Evening of Music by Joe Henderson (SOLD OUT)
Jan
19
4:00 PM16:00

Sean Meade Presents: An Evening of Music by Joe Henderson (SOLD OUT)

Doors open at 3pm, show 4-6pm. Tickets are $25. This show is SOLD OUT.

Saxophonist Sean Meade will be presenting an evening filled with compositions written and recorded by jazz icon Joe Henderson. Join us as Sean and the band explores the various eras of Henderson's deep catalog, ranging from classics that have earned their place as jazz standards; to lesser known, but powerful and exciting compositions. 

Joining Sean will be a former staple of the Wilmington Jazz and greater music scene: Keith Butler Jr.  If you've been a part of Wilmington around 2011-2016, you're certain to have heard Keith performing on drums in at least one band in town. Keith now resides in D.C., but will be making a trip down to be a part of a band of local and regional talented musicians for one night only, only at Live at Ted's.

Full band to be announced soon!

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Justin Clyde Williams & Tyler Hatley (LOW TIX)
Jan
18
8:00 PM20:00

Justin Clyde Williams & Tyler Hatley (LOW TIX)

Doors open at 7pm, show 8-10pm. Tickets are $12.

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JUSTIN CLYDE WILLIAMS writes songs. Sometimes he writes them with his buddies.

Armed with a flattop or backed by a full band, Justin Clyde Williams takes listeners on an emotional journey with his songs and stories you can relate to no matter where you call home.

Capturing the full spectrum of life, the good times and bad most of his songs you’ll hear serve as a soundtrack to his own experiences with love, death, heartache and that one time he “ate a little bit too much of that gummy bear”

Raised on sounds between bluegrass and rock ‘n roll with a variety of influences, when he’s not performing himself, it’s not uncommon to see Clyde playing sideman for one of his buddies or appearing with Tyler Hatley in The Dick and Tammy Show.

Justin Clyde Williams always leaves people wanting more with an unwavering experience that is blunt, therapeutic, candid and above all - unforgettable.

Website: https://justinclydewilliams.com/

Video: https://youtu.be/k2UJBOx16bE

Tyler Hatley, North Carolina native has been all over the Country performing in Honky Tonks as well as Arenas with some of the largest acts in country music including Luke Combs, Joe Diffie, Josh Thompson, Shane Smith and the Saints, Sundy Best and many more. With influences from 90’s country, Red Dirt Texas Country, and Appalachian folk you will experience a great blend of original music and some of his favorite artists cover songs. While not on stage Tyler enjoys being outdoors, hunting, fishing, and enjoying nature.

Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0GKyensr3l4

Justin & Tyler Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5lT3LkfJNX8

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The Asheville Mountain Boys (SOLD OUT)
Jan
17
8:00 PM20:00

The Asheville Mountain Boys (SOLD OUT)

Doors open at 7pm, show 8-10pm. Tickets are $25. This show is SOLD OUT!

By their name, you know where they are from, and by their sound, you know what they are about. The Asheville Mountain Boys are on a mission to capture not just the style but the spirit of traditional bluegrass. Asheville, NC has long been known for great music and its roots in bluegrass go back to the founding of the genre (Bill Monroe’s first broadcast performance as the Bluegrass Boys was at Asheville radio station WWNC in 1938) A group that firmly stakes its claim to the tradition of the music from the area, The Asheville Mountain Boys spring onto the scene with a thought,” What happened to bluegrass?” It’s not a disparaging one that condemns current styles in the genre but rather asks, “Why do we love this music in the first place” and answers with an approach that is true to the originators of the genre in the sense of both style and philosophy. Bluegrass is raw emotion, excitement, drive, and authenticity. It is not sanitized or compromised but a reflection of the lives of those who play it. It’s storytelling that follows a throughline of tradition. With these priorities in mind, they offer their first in a series of live-recorded singles. Your introduction to the band is “Another Day” a classic tune written and first recorded by Reno and Smiley in the late 50’s. This song choice and performance fit the ethos of the Boys showing the musical prowess of the group which includes John Duncan on banjo, Zeb Gambill on mandolin, Jacob Brewer on bass and vocals, and Marshal Brown on guitar and vocals. The group plans to release more live music this year with studio recording to follow.

Website: http://ashevillemountainboys.com/

Video: https://youtu.be/3X7uWaF21v0

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Richard Smith (SOLD OUT)
Jan
15
7:00 PM19:00

Richard Smith (SOLD OUT)

Doors open at 6pm, show 7-9pm. Tickets are $25. This show is SOLD OUT!

Born in 1971 in Beckenham, England, Richard started early and first picked up the guiar at the age of 5 with his father teaching him his first chords and songs.

After some early solo performances and six years of working as a trio with two of his brothers, Rob and Sam in the 90's, Richard moved to Nashville, TN. in January 2000,

In 2001 he won the national fingerpicking championship and has since forged a career as a solo artist, performing all over the USA, Canada, UK, Europe, Australia and Brazil, releasing solo records, duet and ensemble records.

 Constantly touring with a repertoire of fingerpicking classics, originals, fiddle tunes, blues,  Joplin rags, jazz standards, classical repertoire and everything from pop to Sousa marches,

Richard has also performed or recorded along the way with Chet Atkins, Les Paul, Tommy Emmanuel, Suzy Bogguss, Steve Wariner, Jimmy Fortune, Earl Klugh, Martin Taylor, Joscho Stephan, Sam Bush, Stuart Duncan, John Schneider, Lee Roy Parnell, Brent Mason, Rory Hoffman and a host of others. 

Website: https://www.richardsmithmusic.com/

Video: https://youtu.be/xy18aM0w7q8

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Massive Grass (RESCHEDULED FROM 1.10 TO SUNDAY 1.12 DUE TO WEATHER!!)
Jan
12
4:00 PM16:00

Massive Grass (RESCHEDULED FROM 1.10 TO SUNDAY 1.12 DUE TO WEATHER!!)

Doors open at 3pm, show 4-6pm. Some tickets ($20) could be available due to refunds issued because of the new reschedule date.

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Local bluegrass favorites, Massive Grass, make their way back to Ted’s for a fun evening of stories and music.

“Their uniqueness isn’t just limited to the musical sound, but also in the lyrical content. Massive Grass combines their sometimes dark and witty, and sometimes sorrowful and yearning lyrics over driving, energetic, rock and roll chord progressions and still delivering the appeal of bluegrass. ” — Layla Sutton, Beach Buzz

Website: https://www.massivegrass.com/home

Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VNHDek34CL0

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Jon Shain & FJ Ventre
Jan
11
8:00 PM20:00

Jon Shain & FJ Ventre

Doors open at 7pm, show 8-10pm. Tickets are $15.

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Hailing from Durham, NC, Jon Shain is a veteran singer-songwriter who’s been turning heads for years with his words, his fiery acoustic guitar work, and his evolved musical style – combining improvised piedmont blues with bluegrass, swing, and ragtime. Jon has released nine solo albums to date, along with two albums with duo partner FJ Ventre, a Jon Shain Trio live album, and one album of co-writes with Joe Newberry. Shain’s newest album, Restless Soul Syndrome, recorded at Good Luck Studio this past year, will be released April 9, 2024. Shain is also the author of the music books Gettin’ Handy With the Blues – a Tribute to the Legacy of W.C. Handy and Jon Shain’s Fingerstyle Guitar Method, both published by Mel Bay Publications. In 2019, Shain won the International Blues Challenge in Memphis, TN in the solo/duo category.

Jon grew up in Haverhill, Massachusetts, a Merrimack River mill-town that had already seen its better days by the time he was a child in the 1970s. His family’s business was a small textile dyeing company, and he worked in the factory during the summers throughout his teens. At the same time, Shain began to discover his love of American roots music and songwriting, specifically drawn to the narratives about regular people and themes of social justice.

Shain headed south to North Carolina in 1986, to study American History at Duke University and to continue his musical journey, as well. In addition to studying with jazz professor Paul Jeffrey, he also had the good fortune to learn the piedmont blues tradition firsthand by playing in Big Boy Henry’s backing band. It was at this time that Shain also got to meet and play with John Dee Holeman and a number of the great older NC blues players. Shain's classes in school were heavily concentrated in southern history, English, and world religions. That mixture of the academic environment and the real-world blues music is what has most informed his musical direction.

Shain cut his touring teeth from 1989-1998 founding the Chapel Hill, NC folk-rock group, Flyin' Mice and their spin-off group, WAKE. The band performed with acts such as David Grisman, Tony Rice Unit, Hot Tuna, and the Dixie Dregs, released four CDs, and played clubs, schools, and festivals up and down the East Coast, building a legion of fans.

After the band’s breakup, Shain went solo, returning to his roots by touring in the folk and blues circuit. Shain has also become a sought after guitar teacher and studio producer. In 2021, he produced Donna Herula’s blues radio chart-topping album, Bang at the Door.

Over the last several years, Shain has headlined listening rooms both as a solo and with duo partner FJ Ventre throughout the US and he's done two solo tours in Europe. He has opened shows for John Hiatt, Keb’ Mo’, Little Feat, and many other roots legends. When Shain is not recording, producing other artists, or performing, he stays busy giving private instruction in guitar, and teaching group workshops in songwriting and blues guitar.

FJ Ventre began playing music with Jon in 1982 when they met in high school and have developed a brotherly connection that continues to this day. Ventre went to University of Massachusetts-Lowell, earning a B.A. in Music Performance and Sound Recording and remained for some time in the Boston area, performing in the city's vibrant music scene. Since relocating to Chapel Hill, NC in 2000, Ventre has performed with his own group The Swang Brothers, as well as with Chris Stamey, Wes Collins, Huzzah, and a who's who of NC music groups. In addition to being a sought-after bassist, Ventre spends his time behind the mixing board, producing and engineering at his own Good Luck Studio as well as writing his own songs. 

Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cj3klop8pGk

Website: https://www.jonshain.com/

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Randy McQuay (SOLD OUT)
Jan
5
4:00 PM16:00

Randy McQuay (SOLD OUT)

Doors open at 3pm, show 4-6pm. This show is SOLD OUT.

Join Randy for some fresh stories, unique guitars, and an extra special treat- him on keys!

RANDY MCQUAY is a talented singer / songwriter and roots musician from North Carolina. He performs around the country with his band and as a solo acoustic artist offering an eclectic mix of soulful sounds and rhythms. With sincere lyrics and accomplished musicianship, Randy is a masterful storyteller who plays from the heart. His set is one not to miss, blending Blues, folk, rock & roll, funk, and Americana roots music from behind his harmonic and guitar.

He has performed at festivals and on premier stages all around the US including local events such as the Cape Fear Blues Festival in Wilmington, NC, the Pleasure Island Seafood, Blues & Jazz Festival Kure Beach, and the GoodVibes Brewfest in Carolina Beach. He has won numerous awards including the International Blues Challenge (3-Time Finalist), the prestigious Lee Oskar Harmonica Award, Semper Fidelis Award for Musical Excellence, Cape Fear Blues Challenge Solo (3-time winner!), and was voted ‘Best Musician’ in encore magazine’s Best of 2020.

A few years ago, he released his first solo album, “Solo.” In 2017 he released a followup, “My Kind of Blues.”

Do not miss this incredible Wilmington, NC musician!

Website: randymcquay.com

Video: https://youtu.be/OokrXbi54Y4

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Shannon Baker & sometime soon (SOLD OUT)
Jan
3
8:00 PM20:00

Shannon Baker & sometime soon (SOLD OUT)

Doors open at 7pm, show 8-10pm. This show is SOLD OUT.

Shannon Baker & sometime soon is an acoustic bluegrass and country group that holds true to the traditional sounds of those genres, yet incorporates the distinctive skills from the varied backgrounds of its members for enhanced arrangements.

Shannon sets a high bar as the lead vocalist and songwriter. Joe Pessolano brings lead and harmony vocals with guitar and mandolin skills. Ronnie Parrish sets the foundation with upright bass. Chris Hill adds refined fiddle work and John Dudley serves up baritone vocal, banjo and guitar.

Together they deliver bluegrass-flavored, carefully crafted harmonies and acoustic instrumentation for those favorites in a fresh way, introduce you to new ones from unexpected places and share some original works for you to enjoy. There will be classic foot-stomping numbers, soulful renditions and some surprises from nearby genres, all with their unique styling and energy.

Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zTCV1z84PS0

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Ted's Closed - Whitney Sings with Wilmington Voices!
Dec
13
to Dec 15

Ted's Closed - Whitney Sings with Wilmington Voices!

TED’S WILL BE CLOSED

December 13th - Little Chapel on the Boardwalk @ 7:30pm, doors open at 6:30pm

December 14th - First Presbyterian Church @ 7:30pm, doors open at 6:30pm

Wilmington Voices presents Noël; The spirit of the holidays comes alive through the magic of music. This captivating concert celebrates the warmth, joy, and beauty of the holiday season, inviting audiences of all ages to gather and share in the festive cheer. Experience the power of live performance as Wilmington Voices takes you on a journey through beloved holiday classics. Join us in spreading the message of peace and goodwill.

These concerts are not ticketed and are FREE. Please join us!

For more information about Wilmington Voices, please visit: https://www.wilmingtonvoices.com/

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Port City Trio (SOLD OUT)
Dec
8
4:00 PM16:00

Port City Trio (SOLD OUT)

Doors open at 3pm, show from 4-6pm. This show is SOLD OUT.

Ted’s favorites, Port City Trio, wrap up our performance calendar for 2024! Based in Wilmington, NC, the Port City Trio has been pleasing audiences for years. Featuring standards from The Great American Songbook, a little blues and strong originals.

Video: https://youtu.be/4YlNwAVbqBM

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Seth Walker + Fam Holiday Show (SOLD OUT)
Dec
7
8:00 PM20:00

Seth Walker + Fam Holiday Show (SOLD OUT)

Doors open at 7pm, show 8-10pm. This show is SOLD OUT.

Seth Walker is often cited as one of the most prolific contemporary Americana artists on the scene today. He’s a multi-dimensional talent who combines a gift for melody and lyric alongside a rich, Gospel-drenched, Southern-inflected voice with a true blue knack for getting around on the guitar. His new studio album, I Hope I Know, produced by Jano Rix of The Wood Brothers, and a string of singles, including “We Got This,” “Spirits Moving” and a cover of Van Morrison’s classic “Warm Love” further build upon this reputation.

In 2021, Walker added published author to his oeuvre with his first memoir, ‘Your Van Is On Fire.’ A riotous and charming melange of a touring musician’s life, the book is comprised of many short essays, poems and paintings he’d accumulated over a near 30-year career. Written during the pandemic lockdown, Walker offers a first hand account of an artist in perpetual motion who’s dedicated his life to chasing the muse wherever it may lead.

Growing up on a commune in rural North Carolina, the son of classically trained musicians, Seth Walker played cello long before discovering the guitar in his 20s. When his introduction to the blues came via his Uncle Landon Walker, who was both a musician and disc jockey, his fate was forever sealed. Instantaneously, Seth was looking to artists like T-Bone Walker, Snooks Eaglin, and B.B. King as a wellspring of endless inspiration. The rest is history. He’s released ten albums, broken into the Top 20 of the Americana Radio Charts, reached No. 2 on the Billboard Blues Album Chart and received praise from NPR, American Songwriter, No Depression and Relix, among others.

In addition to extensive recording and songwriting pursuits, Seth is consistently touring and performing at venues and festivals around the world. Along with headline shows, he’s been invited to open for The Mavericks, The Wood Brothers, Raul Malo, Paul Thorn and Ruthie Foster, among others.

Seth Walker is currently based in Asheville, NC after previously residing in Austin, New Orleans and Nashville. He’s used those experiences wisely, soaking up the sounds and absorbing the musical lineage of these varied places. With a bluesman’s respect for roots and tradition, coupled with an appreciation for—and successful melding of—contemporary songwriting, Seth sublimely incorporates a range of styles with warmth and grace. Perhaps Country Standard Time said it best: “If you subscribe to the Big Tent theory of Americana, then Seth Walker –with his blend of blues, gospel, pop, R&B, rock, and a dash country—just might be your poster boy.”

Website: https://sethwalker.com/

Video: https://youtu.be/GH1aT5Cb8Po?si=OA4UAonMJQFunyM_

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Adam Fenton Jazz presents: A Charlie Brown Christmas (SOLD OUT)
Dec
6
8:00 PM20:00

Adam Fenton Jazz presents: A Charlie Brown Christmas (SOLD OUT)

Doors open at 7pm, show 8-10pm. This show is SOLD OUT.

Adam Fenton is a local musician and music instructor in Wilmington who's been playing covers (as well as original music with his group Happy Pill) for the past 3 years. He's passionate about Jazz music and is excited to bring tunes from "A Charlie Brown Christmas" to the Ted's stage. Please join us for this annual holiday treat! 

Featuring Coleman Williams on Drums, Jessica Coppola on Vocals, and Rahsaan Lacey on Bass.

https://instagram.com/1086jazz?igshid=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ==

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Admiral Radio (SOLD OUT)
Nov
22
8:00 PM20:00

Admiral Radio (SOLD OUT)

Doors open at 7pm, show 8-10pm. This show is SOLD OUT.

Inspired by their 1941 wooden Admiral radio, this South Carolina- based husband and wife duo creates an Americana sound rooted in tradition that touches the heartstrings of the modern-day listener. With tight vocal harmonies, endearing storytelling and authentic energy, Becca and Coty hold a presence that is palpable and real, both on and off stage.

Admiral Radio has shared stages with critically-acclaimed acts like Del McCoury, Chatham County Line, Judah & the Lion, and more. The duo has two independently-produced albums under their belt, their debut original record 'Sounds Like You' in 2020 and 'Songs From The Vault' in 2022, an EP of songs from the public domain.

Simply put, Becca and Coty aim to leave listeners better than they found them. With a personal sincerity and honest performance, you might shed a few tears and roll with laughter. The duo recently won first place at the 2024 Tucson Folk Festival Songwriting Competition and 2024 LEAF NewSong Songwriting Competition, and was a finalist in the legendary Kerrville New Folk Competition, International Songwriting Competition, and more. Admiral Radio is taking leaps of faith to share their songs and stories with listeners across the country, inviting you to gather ‘round the radio in modern times.

Website: https://www.admiralradiomusic.com/

Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bSs5auS1UO4

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Dear MariBella & The Pigkickers (SOLD OUT)
Nov
17
4:00 PM16:00

Dear MariBella & The Pigkickers (SOLD OUT)

Doors open at 3pm, show 4-6pm. This show is SOLD OUT.

Dear MariBella and the Pigkickers are a 4-piece bluegrass sibling band born and raised in Wilmington, NC. The band was formed in 2021 by the siblings, when they decided there was no reason not to! The band is composed of Isabella on the fiddle, AnnMari on the guitar, Pete on the banjo and Chris on the mandolin. They just couldn't get enough classic bluegrass, and folk music.This group is set to serenade your soul with their harmonious melodies and foot stomping fun. With music rooted deeply in the Blue Ridge Mountains and feet planted firmly in the Carolina sand, their style is not just a sound, but a journey through family ties and tradition.

Join them in celebrating their debut album release by streaming their EP, Magnolia, on all streaming networks. Join them for a live performance and get ready to be swept off your feet as they infuse their performances with a blend of music, faith, kinship, and a whole lot of heart.

Video: https://youtu.be/ozPPIOGvcSw

Website: https://dearmaribella.com/

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Justin Cody Fox Band - B-sides, Rarities & Unreleased Songs (SOLD OUT)
Nov
15
8:00 PM20:00

Justin Cody Fox Band - B-sides, Rarities & Unreleased Songs (SOLD OUT)

Doors open at 7pm, show 8-10pm. This show is SOLD OUT.

Justin Cody Fox is a singer, songwriter and guitarist from Wilmington, NC. Justin gained regional notoriety for his guitar skills at the age of 15 and has been performing professionally since then. Over the years Justin has written and recorded multiple albums and toured up and down the east coast and Virgin Islands, sharing the stage with many great national acts including: Damon Johnson (Brother Cane, Alice Cooper, Whiskey Falls, Thin Lizzy) Vince Neil (Motley Crue) Mother's Finest, David Lee Roth (Van Halen), Blackfoot, Cowboy Mouth, Joe Bonamassa, Frank Bangs (Buddy Guy) American Minor, The Steepwater Band, The Trews, Will Hoge, Hubert Sumlin, Sonny Landruth, Chris Duarte, Zoso, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Three Doors Down, Rusted Root, Candlebox, Marshall Tucker Band, Shooter Jennings, Blackberry Smoke, Buddy Guy, Gregg Allman Tab Benoit, Donna the Buffalo, Audley Freed, Ford Thurston and many others.

Justin signed with Spectra Music Group in 2017 to release his sophomore album "Go Down Swinging". Justin's latest singles are a well balanced showcase of smart songwriting and polished musicianship For his latest group of recordings Justin teamed up with Legendary Guitarist Audley Freed to record what would be known as the "Three Days in Nashville" EP. The project was Produced by Mr. Freed and enlisted the Allstar talents of Audley himself(guitars), Robert kearns(Bass/Vocals), Jen Gunderman(Keys) and Fred Eltringham(Drums). Hear the tracks here:
https://open.spotify.com/playlist/5s5QDgs3iRk3fFi5XlY9qG?si=0f1f12d8aecb459d

You
can find more info on Justin here: www.justincodyfox.com
Social media: facebook.com/justincodyfox
instagram.com/justincodyfox

Live
in the studio:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MvLZ-_MKKjU

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Voice & the Pen: David Dixon w/ Jim Bickerstaff
Nov
13
7:00 PM19:00

Voice & the Pen: David Dixon w/ Jim Bickerstaff

Doors open at 6pm, show 7-9pm. Tickets are $10.

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Over the last few months, Wilmington, NC songwriter David Dixon has been balancing live performances with writing & recording new music. His latest release, “Before It Gets Too Cold” recently hit 100K streams on Spotify. Dixon was awarded a 2023 Artist Support Grant by New Hanover County. He was also a finalist for the NC Artist Fellowship Award (NC Arts Council). Dixon studied guitar performance at the acclaimed Berklee College of Music in Boston. His musical styles consist of pop, rock, blues & soul. Think John Mayer meets Derek Trucks, with some Ed Sheeran sprinkled on top. Dixon's self-titled album was Mastered by Grammy Award-winner, Brian Lucey (The Black Keys, Beck). His 5-song EP, “The Game” was released in August of 2021 and features his most popular song to date, “Across the Room”, along with a guest appearance by Korey Riker on horns (John Legend) on “Better With You By My Side”.

Dixon performs solo shows while “looping” multiple guitar, percussion & vocal parts. He also plays violin, bass, piano & mandolin. Dixon regularly performs at music festivals, on college campuses, songwriting showcases, house concerts, weddings & corporate events. He opened for Phillip Phillips (American Idol Winner) at Greenfield Lake Amphitheater to a sold-out crowd. Dixon has performed at the NC Seafood Festival in Morehead City, the Beaufort Music Festival, & the Wilmington Wine & Food Festival. He has toured South Korea twice, performing on US military bases for the troops. Dixon has also performed in the Dominican Republic, the Bahamas, & all over the US

Website: https://www.daviddixonmusic.com/

Video:  https://youtu.be/8UOsszMBuy4

As a four-year house engineer for legendary producer, Johnny Sandlin, Jim has worked at the top of the music business as an audio engineer for groups such as Widespread Panic, Col. Bruce Hampton & the Aquarium Rescue Unit & The Dixie Dregs on releases by Capricorn Records and Warner Brothers Music.

Additional projects and artists include Scott Boyer, Tommy Talton, Chuck Leavell, Butch Trucks, Eddie Hinton, Loretta Lynn, Roger Hawkins, Randall Bramblett, T Lavitz, David Hood, John Hiatt, Ry Cooder, Gladys Knight, Kelvin Holly, Spanky Alford, and many others.

As an independent producer and engineer, Jim worked has with Jupiter Coyote, Chief Jim Billie, Sarah McCulloch, Jeannie Fitchen, Mindy Simmons, Raiford Starke, Joey Errigo, Clyde Walker, Sam Pacetti, Vassar Clements. John McEuen, Bela Fleck, Upsala, and hundreds of other Indie artists.

As a writer and performer, Jim has released three albums of his music, including some of the best musicians in the business.

Jim retired in June, 2023 and has leaned into performing and production full-time again with current projects in the works by Seminole, Cowbone (Paul Buster) and Sarah McCulloch, now booking solo performances for 2024 & 2025.

Website: https://jimbickerstaff.com/home

Video: https://youtu.be/pUgthDW8XjE

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Shakey - Neil Young Tribute (on Neil's Birthday!!) SOLD OUT
Nov
12
7:00 PM19:00

Shakey - Neil Young Tribute (on Neil's Birthday!!) SOLD OUT

Doors open at 6pm, show 7-9pm. This show is SOLD OUT.

SHAKEY- AN EVENING WITH NEIL YOUNG.....ALMOST!

Imagine seeing Neil Young perform solo at Massey Hall or The Cellar Door in 1971. Songs like; "Cowgirl in the Sand", "Down by The River' "Cinnamon Girl", "Needle and the Damage Done", "After the Gold Rush", "Heart of Gold", “"Ohio", "Helpless" and “Harvest Moon” are just a few of the many songs Briz performs at his “Shakey” shows. Don’t miss a chance to see this intimate solo acoustic show….on Neil Young’s BIRTHDAY, of all days!

Website: https://brizartandmusic.com/shakey

Video: https://youtu.be/B70xLCD8p_o

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Brad Heller & The Fustics
Nov
10
4:00 PM16:00

Brad Heller & The Fustics

Doors open at 3pm, show 4-6pm. Tickets are $12.

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Whether with his backing band, The Fustics, or performing as an acoustic artist, Brad Heller has established himself as a credible force among current songwriters. Honing his craft for over a decade and a half the Wilmington, North Carolina, transplant has built a reputation as a thoughtful songsmith who tackles a wide range of personal and social issues. Bouncing between a myriad of genres, Heller finds creative drive in honoring musical influences that inspired him, while never abandoning his own unique sound.

With the forthcoming 2024 release of his sixth album, From What You’ve Built, Heller continues to build his audience with constant touring and spirited live shows. Heller’s music centers on middle-class characters while exploring themes of loss, self-imposed alienation, abandonment of faith, and addiction. Voted Wilmington’s “Best Original Rock Band,” look for upcoming shows by Brad Heller & the Fustics and Heller’s acoustic duo.

Website: https://www.bradhellermusic.com/

Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f0NoqALzOQc

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Mac & Juice Quintet - 24th Anniversary Show!
Nov
9
8:00 PM20:00

Mac & Juice Quintet - 24th Anniversary Show!

Doors open at 7pm, show 8-10pm. Tickets are $15 in advance, $20 at the door.

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For 24 years, Mac & Juice have continued to make tremendous evolutionary strides from their days as a dynamic acoustic duo. Now performing as a full band, their vast stylistic range is seamlessly translated into every original song. The sound is personally described as “Jammy-Soul-Rock & Roll”- Organically crafted Rock music that isn't afraid to jam out and improvise, but with a Bluesy touch of Soul sweetness to smooth out the edges.

MJQ consistently prove to audiences across the southeast that they are indeed a force to be reckoned with onstage. In addition to an extensive repertoire of original songs, they also have an equally diverse collection of covers that adds to the dynamic of the live performance. Alternating set lists further ensure that every show played is its own unique and fresh experience.

Whether listening to the albums or experienced live, the end result is a sound all its own that lends itself to a very broad range of listeners.

Website: https://macandjuice.net/upcoming-shows

Video: https://youtu.be/NCBeU_hRhRo

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SolTree Reign
Nov
3
4:00 PM16:00

SolTree Reign

Doors open at 3pm, show 4-6pm. Tickets are $20.

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Artist Statement: SolTree Reign’s name was birthed a decade ago as my lyrical ego. The band is A testament to the undeniable musical syzygy shaped by the laws of lyricism, harmonical, and musical vibration. Rooted in the acknowledged artistic prowess of Mahlaynee Nicole AKA Carrie Assata, has blossomed into a full-fledged 6-piece band. Their unique sound and poetic narrative encapsulate themes of love, resistance, truth, and exposure, navigating the complex tapestry of the human experience.

As a vocalist, poet, and lyricist, Mahlaynee Nicole stands at the forefront, channeling the essence of the band's expression. The "SolTree" sound, characterized as seductive, is crafted through the creative musical genius of Royce Williams on keys, James NewKirk, a soulful bass guitarist, Mike Hanson original last poet, also a Master Conga Percussionist , Junious Fulton smoothly brings the heat drumming in the pocket and completing the ensemble is Robert Bellamy, known as ScaleHamHawk Da Poet, a rhythmic percussionist player and wordsmith.

In the spirit of Duke Ellington's wisdom, SolTree Reign plays from the heart, using music as their primary mode of expression. Their 6-piece constructive collaboration invites audiences to experience the depth of their original compositions, enriched with a touch of finesse when interpreting covers. Let SolTree Reign "Reign" on you, inviting you to feel the roots of soul and groove to the melodic smoothness of their captivating sound.

Video: https://youtu.be/OYbQzHW6zz0?si=oSmOzROAXuvSKYQx

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Striking Copper w/ Michael Paul Lawson (SOLD OUT)
Nov
2
8:00 PM20:00

Striking Copper w/ Michael Paul Lawson (SOLD OUT)

Doors open at 7pm, show 8-10:30pm. This show is SOLD OUT.

Eclectic, familial folk-rock group, Striking Copper, effortlessly combines rhythm-driven rock, haunting vocal arrangements, and harmony-rich Americana. In doing so they deliver an unforgettable melodic sound their audience can’t stop dancing to.  Led by powerhouse copper-haired twins, iconic front-women Allie and Jacquie Lee are inspiring trendsetters and natural performers who own every moment of the limelight. Hailing from the hills of New York, the band formed in 2013 as a four-piece, blending the talents of these siblings with their creative counterparts Matthew Donnelly (vocals, rhythm guitar) and Frank Cacciutto (drums).  Finding their way to a new home on the Southern shoreline, they found themselves in the cultural hub of Wilmington, NC.  Seamlessly settling into a new dynamic, they have built an incredible fan base over the years with tours spanning the eastern shore board. An intriguing contrast of light and dark, feminine and masculine, their lyrics bleed passion, drawing from humanity with an undeniable vulnerability.  

Known for their passionate dedication to their music, the respected outfit has released and sold multiple full-length albums with a collection of cinematic music videos and a captivating narrative arc that beautifully accompanies their latest album, titled ‘A Trip Around the Sun’.  With boasting nominations, sold out performances and festival invitations, Striking Copper’s promising sound radiates sensitivity and strength, and authors homage to home.

Website: https://www.strikingcopper.com/

Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UZQWd19ZUTQ

"Hell, I don’t know where I’m going in life, but I know where I’m going tonight" is a sentiment that Michael Paul Lawson has grown accustomed to. It also serves as the hook on the opening track of his forthcoming LP, Love Songs For Loners, a collection of eight distinctive songs about drifters, eccentrics, and those who never quite found their place. Produced by Ken Coomer (Wilco, Will Hoge, Arlo McKinley), Love Songs For Loners is swaggering yet subtle, toeing the line between classic country and the darker folk sound of his 2019 release Some Fights You’ll Never Win. Lawson stares down his own base instincts the way Raymond Carver might — with sparse, economical short stories tangled up in hopelessness and the last legs of youthful optimism.

With its focus on storytelling through characters, Love Songs For Loners hints at being a concept album without coming across as overly contrived. There’s a nod to the late Justin Townes Earle and John Prine, but it never once feels derivative; rather, it confirms Lawson’s place as one of the most promising artists working under the Americana banner today.

Lawson tapped Coomer — who had been interested in working with Lawson since 2018 — for production duties as well as handling percussion on the record. The studio band was rounded out by aces Laur Joamets (Sturgill Simpson, Drivin' N Cryin') on guitar and Billy Mercer (Ryan Adams, Lucinda Williams) on bass. Working out of Coomer’s Cartoon Moon Recording Studio in East Nashville, the record was tracked in just over five days, capturing the live energy of the performances and evoking a warmth that recalls the sonic leanings of Wilco’s Being There. It’s a perfect compliment to Lawson’s flourishing baritone voice. He croons, twangs, growls, and shouts his way through Love Songs For Loners, always finding the right touch for each song.

There’s a natural tendency to associate country music with the south or with Texas. Lawson, who lives in Austin, holds true to these roots while simultaneously paying homage to where he grew up — Central New York. "When I started writing the songs for this record, I knew I wanted to make something reflecting the full-color palette of country music, from traditional to western swing to alt-country," Lawson notes. "I wanted Love Songs For Loners to feel like the three places I’ve called home: New York, Virginia, and Texas." Lawson deftly navigates the juxtaposition, blending alt-country and hill country twang with Mohawk Valley scenery — closing factories, townies, changing maple trees, and navigating I-90 in a whiteout blizzard.

These scenes, while not necessarily biographical in nature, are drawn from Lawson’s lived experiences. The son of two music teachers, Lawson’s parents divorced a few months after he was born. His father relocated to Texas and settled in Austin while Lawson remained with his mother in New York. “As a child, I felt this connection to Texas because my father was there,” Lawson reflects. “I would visit Austin and then go back to New York and feel out of place.” But that Texas draw faded as Lawson’s relationship with his father soured.

After earning an MBA from Long Island University, Lawson made his way to Norfolk, VA, crediting the sleepy Atlantic town for igniting a spark within him that would become the music he’s creating today. In a twist of fate, Lawson found himself back in Austin recording his debut album and reconciling things with his father in the process, helping prompt a full-time move to Austin. Now, he returns with his sophomore effort, written and recorded on more certain footing. The resulting work is transportive — a showcase of Lawson the auteur.

Right from the opening count-in on “I Know Where I’m Going Tonight”, Lawson finds the peaks and valleys of human emotion and lays them out matter-of-factly. “I’ve been learning how to manage, how to mitigate the damage when nothing goes the way you planned it; oh, damn it all, Lucille,” Lawson sings on “Lucille,” an infectious heartland ripper that sticks in your head like an old flame. It all comes full circle on “Varick Street,” as the final lines of the record ring out over an acoustic guitar and the faint buzz of cicadas: “It’s so easy to dig up the past, so hard to love where you’re at, and no amount of living changes that … until you love what little bit you have.”

Love Songs For Loners spans time, place, and the full spectrum of the human experience across its succinct eight tracks. It’s a triumph of the spirit — a reflection on heartbreak, unmet expectations, and feeling out of place.

For Lawson, this new album is a culmination of over a decade of trying to figure it out — unfulfilling jobs, failed relationships, and his multiple moves around the country in search of anything that felt good. But it’s far from a “woe-is-me” saga; instead, Lawson strikes the tone of someone who has learned that joy and pain are invariably intertwined and that ultimately “there’s no love songs for loners.”

Website: https://michaelpaullawson.co/

Video: https://youtu.be/Jwlo6ozsEP8

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The Fabulous Nitelife Boogie
Nov
1
8:00 PM20:00

The Fabulous Nitelife Boogie

Doors open at 7pm, show 8-10pm. Tickets are $15.

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IT’S THE FABULOUS NITE-LIFE BOOGIE BRINGING THE SWINGIN’ SOUNDS OF 1940–1960 AND BEYOND TO THESE MODERN TIMES. JUMP, JIVE, ROCK-N-ROLL, STRAIGHT-UP SWING AND EVEN A RIGHT TURN INTO THE BLUE NOTE ERA OF JAZZ.

THIS IS NOT A COVER BAND, NOT AN OLDIES ACT BUT A LOVE LETTER TO A SOUND THAT KEEPS TOES TAPPING, FINGERS SNAPPING AND THE CROWD YELLING “HEY BARTENDER! MAKE IT DOUBLE!”

IT’S THE NITE-LIFE BOOGIE IT’S THE ALL-NIGHT BOOGIE FOR JOY!

Website: https://www.nitelifeboogie.com/

Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y0OH0mnbDeo

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All Hallows Eve Eve: Justin Lacy & Millie Palmer
Oct
30
7:00 PM19:00

All Hallows Eve Eve: Justin Lacy & Millie Palmer

Doors open at 6pm, show 7-9pm. Tickets are $15.

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This last minute special Wednesday night show is help Asheville, NC Singer Songwriter, Millie Palmer, keep life moving while evacuated here from WNC. Let's help support her by coming out and hearing some of her incredible music, along with local artist and singer songwriter, Justin Lacy!

Not just a singer-songwriter, Justin Lacy is an arranger, stop-motion animator and music video filmmaker. In 2018, Lacy premiered “Weeds” ⁠— a construction-paper music video he stop-motion animated entirely by hand, frame by frame, for 2,609 frames. His oddball vocal delivery of imagery steeped in sweeping orchestral folk arrangements has earned him a signature sound difficult to pin down.

Lacy grew up in Carteret County, on the coast of North Carolina. After moving to Wilmington, NC, Lacy performed in several bands, eventually forming Justin Lacy and the Swimming Machine, a nine-piece folk outfit utilizing all manner of odd instrumentation (there was even a tap dancer on some nights), and in 2012, he released his debut full-length album, “Overgrown,” an almost seamless album that, according to Encore Magazine, “frolics and bows, flits and exaggerates, whispers and screams.”

In April 2017, Lacy released his second full-length album, “Control Burn.” With a bright ensemble of synthesizers, glockenspiels and celestas fashioned around Lacy’s chiming nylon-string guitar, quirky voice and imaginative yet vulnerable lyrics, the album is at-times dark, but ultimately optimistic. As album art creator Jonathan Guggenheim put it, it’s the sound of “bittersweet blossoms that somehow seem to sting … It feels like a break-up album that pieced itself back together with bubble gum and baby bird eggs.”

Lacy has completed 2 film scores, 3 EPs, and 4 albums. Today, he often performs with an orchestral ensemble of clarinets, mandolins, strings and voices, sometimes cramming up to 12 musicians on stage. These orchestral arrangements are the basis for his newest full-length, “Carousel.”

Website: http://www.justinlacymusic.com/

Video: https://youtu.be/hPHr3OZdrww

Millie Palmer was born and raised in Asheville, NC. She began singing and playing piano and guitar at a young age, and began playing professionally in her early teenage years. Palmer's treatment of her music is that of a sensitive and intuitive artist.

Website: https://www.milliepalmermusic.com/

Video: https://youtu.be/Xyw156es2eE?si=j38ifcG2EFg7RTgr

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An Afternoon with Ted
Oct
27
4:00 PM16:00

An Afternoon with Ted

Doors open at 3pm, show 4-6pm. Tickets are $10.

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A new series in 2024 - we're giving Ted the reigns again! Come join us for an evening of music all decided on by our former owner, Ted (Kelly Jewell). He'll play us some tunes and have some special guests join him. Whatever Ted decides, goes for this show!

Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dcxLnrfVjXM

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Jay Killman (solo)
Oct
26
8:00 PM20:00

Jay Killman (solo)

Doors open at 7pm, show 8-10pm. Tickets are $12.

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Jay Killman has been a professional musician for eleven years.  He performs with a wide array of acts including jazz ensembles, singer songwriter acts, hip hop groups, and fusion bands.

Over the years Jay has studied and played with numerous greats including Keith Ganz, Joey Calderrazo, Ralph Bowen, Branford Marsalis, Isaiah Sharkey, Peter DiCarlo, Jerald Shynett and more. He has acheived a BA in Music from the University of North Carolina at Wilmington and a MM in Jazz Composition from North Carolina Central University. 

Jay has released 2 albums of original music - Rene & Jay Nice Sounds Collection no. 1 and Jay Killman Cycles.  https://open.spotify.com/album/0yDP6i7ajTd2RtadJejFyF

In addition to performing, Jay is an avid composer, arranger and teacher. 

Website: https://jaykillmanmusic.com/

Video: https://youtu.be/OEeD-ZJF4V4

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Carlos Rising
Oct
25
8:00 PM20:00

Carlos Rising

Doors open at 7pm, show 8-10pm. Tickets are $15.

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Whether he's solo or with his band, Carlos Rising creates an unforgettable experience for all listeners with his soothing tone and diverse repertoire of original music. For the past 10 years Carlos has been playing shows and releasing songs that reach a plethora of audiences, including fans of Soul, RnB and Pop. In 2023, Rising was a featured contestant on Season 23 of NBC's the Voice, where he showcased his vocal ability, artistry and genre versatility on Team Blake. Not only does Rising have the ability to connect with large audiences on a national scale, but also can thrive in intimate small environments where he encapsulates audiences with his original songs. Now based out of Wilmington NC, Carlos continues to play shows and write music, all in an effort to make his songs make a difference the lives of his listeners.

Website: https://www.carlosrising.com/

Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EfXmr89VCSw

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