Name: Alcantara
Start: 2027-02-20T20:00:00-04:00
End: 2027-02-21T02:00:00-04:00
Location: The Pinhook

Star Moles - Highway to HellGone are the albums of knights and dragonsGone are the kings and queens of CamelotWe're going to HelWe're dying to be someone on a road to somewhereThis album is what happens when we expireThis album is a banned four lokoThis album is the burger king on Columbus stThis album is PurgatorioThis album will make you sing songs of praiseHeavy is the head that wears a hatWe hope you like and savor the flavors of heavenas we walk together hand in handas saxophones whine and trumpets poundKick me out and put a hole in my headWe're going home, SallyStar Moles is the project of Emily Moales, a New Hampshire ex-pat reborn and perfected in Philadelphia PA, aka Benjamin Franklin’s town. Since she first laid sound to digital tape in 2017, she has been doing what any great artist should be doing: making art, refining her craft, and finding her voice at her own pace and in relative anonymity. Over those years, she’s explored many versions of herself. Her previous releases (four full-length LPs and countless singles) were often fantastical and conceptual in nature, taking inspiration from literature and mythology. It was a necessary escapism for herself as a teenager in sleepy New England, and as a young adult amid the dull dread of a global pandemic. She’s now 27, and still doesn’t get out that much, but these days, she doesn’t feel the need to reach that far away for inspiration. Moales has traded in high-concept for high impact. She finds herself drawn to making music that sounds like the music she loves and singing about her life in beautiful Philadelphia. She also remains rooted in our current world historic moment, touching on topics like religious fanaticism, environmental collapse, and the unabashed ascent of fascism in America. Her transcendent fifth full-length album is called Highway to Hell. AC/DC, eat your fucking heart out.Put simply, this album is a major statement of intent, signaling the arrival of a singular talent, primed for a breakthrough. Moales is a major player in a young, hungry stable of mind-boggingly prolific artists flying under the radar in Philly's ever-vibrant music scene. Highway to Hell was produced by Kevin Basko (Rubber Band Gun, Foxygen) and features vital contributions from members of Emily and Kevin’s Historic NJ Recordings creative collective, including Sam Sullivan (guitar) and Jem Seidel (drums).

Good Moon Pres. Star Moles w/ Brotherkenzie [OFFICIAL FESTIVAL AFTERSHOW]

Kumo 99’s brand of electronic dance music is cut through with a punk spirit, mixing jungle and drum n bass breaks with a mosh-pit ready aesthetic to create something visceral and explosive.&nbsp;With Ami’ Komai ´s history in LA hardcore bands, and&nbsp;Nate&nbsp;Donmoyer’ track record (he was signed to Ninja Tune as Shuttle, and has produced / written for the likes of Gesaffelstein, The Weekend, Pharrell…) they bring all their influences together what now culminates in their&nbsp;album BODY N. WILL, what offers the perfect introduction to Kumo 99’s world, with Komai singing in Japanese over a hardcore rave beat.. It’s hard not to get caught in Kumo 99’s slipstream. – The FaderBabe Haven is a queer punk band known for their riot grrrl attitude and nu-metal edge. Formed in Boone, NC by Lillie Della Penna and Naomi Poesel, the band creates anthems of empowerment and resistance brimming with raw aggression. With a mission to uplift femme, queer, and BIPOC voices, Babe Haven turns every show into a space of radical inclusion and catharsis. Babe Haven has been setting stages ablaze and selling out shows, quickly becoming an iconic staple in the modern punk scene, shared stages with the likes of Mannequin Pussy, Otoboke Beaver, Soft Play, Teen Mortgage, Pinkshift &amp; Pollyanna. They have also appeared at popular tastemaker festivals such as L7’s Fast and Frightening Takeover, Punk Rock Bowling &amp; Jorts Fest. Their sophomore album, Nuisance, showcases a bold evolution in sound—blending nu-metal, thrash, and punk into a visceral, genre-defying statement that cements their place as one of punk’s most vital rising voices.

Good Moon Pres. Kumo 99 / Babe Haven [OFFICIAL FESTIVAL AFTERSHOW]

Annie Caldwells says,&nbsp;“My family is my band,”&nbsp;and so naturally the history of the band—and their music—dovetails with the family’s real life.&nbsp;ANNIE &amp; THE CALDWELLS&nbsp;are a family that plays a powerful disco soul from West Point, Mississippi. When Annie was 16 years old, in Aberdeen, Mississippi, she played in a band with her brothers (they were called the Staples Jr. Singers, a group of teenagers with a single album recorded in the 1970s). One day, the Staples Jrs. were singing on a church program in West Point, when a guitarist who played with one of Annie’s brothers in another band heard her and said, “Who — is&nbsp;that?” That moment Annie met Willie Joe Caldwell, Sr., her husband of the last fifty years, and the co-founder and guitarist for the Caldwells who supports his family’s high-flying vocals with fuzzy, psychedelic riffs.&nbsp; <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://annieandthecaldwells.bandcamp.com/album/i-was-living-in-a-world-of-sin-mixes-part-i">https://annieandthecaldwells.bandcamp.com/album/i-was-living-in-a-world-of-sin-mixes-part-i</a>Annie and Joe got married so young that their parents had to sign for them. They started their own family, and Annie opened a store on Main Street in West Point called Caldwell Fashions—which has been a beloved staple for women dressing for COGIC (Church Of God In Christ) convocations and church anniversaries since the ’80s. Things changed for the Caldwells when their eldest daughter was old enough to be invited to sing at a high school talent show. The Caldwells were shocked that their daughter was singing the blues—“the blues!” for Annie, means any music of any genre that doesn’t speak the gospel.&nbsp;“We thought, if we don’t do something, the devil’s going to get her,”&nbsp;Annie said.&nbsp;“We decided we better get these children because people wanted them to sing in places where they played the blues, and I didn’t want that.”So Annie and Joe started their own group, which pulled from the music their kids loved — The Gap Band, Chaka Kahn, Bootsy Collins.&nbsp;“We started singing ‘Is My Living in Vain’ by the Clark Sisters,”&nbsp;Annie said, illustrating how the group infuses gospel with grit and street savvy. Two decades later, the constellation of family members in The Caldwells is more or less the same: Annie is backed by their daughters&nbsp;Deborah Caldwell Moore&nbsp;and&nbsp;Anjessica Caldwell&nbsp;and goddaughter&nbsp;Toni Rivers; their eldest son&nbsp;Willie Jr.&nbsp;is on the bass and youngest son&nbsp;Abel Aquirius&nbsp;is on the drums. Their real troubles and experiences—as an intergenerational family run by women—are at the center of their music: Memories of a daughter’s birth or a brother’s recovery from an illness spill into transcendent moments onstage.“I feel like the message is often for me first,”&nbsp;Annie said about the songs she writes.&nbsp;“But so many ladies come up crying and say, ‘I feel like what you were saying was for me.’”“What does it mean to seek God as a woman?”&nbsp;Danielle Amir Jackson, who wrote the liner notes for Annie &amp; The Caldwells’ new record&nbsp;Can’t Lose My (Soul)&nbsp;(out via Luaka Bop on March 21), asked Annie’s daughter Deborah this potent question after listening to her song,&nbsp;“Wrong.”&nbsp;Deborah is a hairstylist in West Point—she styles the group's hair in jazzy side swoops before their shows. Between Deborah’s work and Annie’s styling of the girls in royal blues and purples, gabardine fabric and peplum accented by gold jewelry and bright-red nails, the Caldwell sound is married to a vision of opulent feminine power, unflinching, honest witness, and devotion.&nbsp;She wrote “Wrong” as a testimony after a tumultuous period in her marriage to her beloved late husband. Reeling from a betrayal, Deborah believed that getting revenge on her husband might improve the balance of tensions between them — but getting revenge only left her feeling depleted.“Being a married woman / experiencing heartache and pain,” Deborah sings in a performance that is raw and direct.&nbsp;&nbsp;“Girls, I was wrong.”&nbsp; The song is a confession, and just as it happened in real life, her family’s voices answer her call:&nbsp;“Wrong! Wrong!,”&nbsp;her mother and sister sing behind her. That’s the family dynamic at work.&nbsp;“I sing about my life. I don’t just sing to be singing,”&nbsp;Deborah said.&nbsp;“A lot of women liked it and a lot of men didn’t like it. The women can relate. But we wouldn’t be in this position if men didn’t put us in this position.”Can't Lose My (Soul), is twenty years in the making. They recorded it in West Point down the street from Annie and Joe’s house—at a church where Joe plays guitar every other Sunday, and where his father used to be a deacon. It was produced by Ahmed Gallab, the artist Sinkane, who together with the engineer Albert DiFiore drove a mobile rig down from Nashville and turned the back room of the church into a control room.&nbsp;As a producer, Gallab saw his role there as making sure that&nbsp;“each song felt as powerful, as raw, and as genuine as the family dynamic behind it. The goal was always to stay true to the feeling behind the music,”&nbsp;which is why&nbsp;“everything was tracked live, in their church, together as a family.”&nbsp;From a practical level, a big part of Gallab’s job was to get out of the way. When the band was in a groove, he would stick his head out of the control room and frantically swing his arm around like a pinwheel and stage whisper,&nbsp;“Keep going!”&nbsp;and&nbsp;“More! more! more!”&nbsp;“Hearing Annie’s voice for the first time was like witnessing something rare,”&nbsp;Gallab said of the recording session,&nbsp;“Like you’re in the presence of a force of nature that’s been here long before you. It’s visceral, almost like it’s coming from her soul. You can feel every part of her life, every little piece of her journey, in each note she hits. It’s pure talent: no effort, no pretense, just real and raw.”&nbsp;“And working with Deborah was like tapping into pure fire,”&nbsp;he said.&nbsp;“She's feisty, no doubt! That spark, that intensity she brings, spills right into her music. The tough love that these girls gave each other. Calling each other out when one wasn’t in key. It was pretty funny.”&nbsp;In November 2024, ANNIE &amp; THE CALDWELLS travelled to Utrecht in the Netherlands to perform at the prestigious Le Guess Who? Festival, where MOJO caught their showstopping performance and reviewed it as,&nbsp;“The most exciting, most dynamic family of faith imaginable: their rhythm section (dad and two sons) would give the Family Stone a run for its money; the front line (mum and daughters) have unquenchable sass and spirituality, and the crowd doesn’t need persuading to crash the stage and be saved by songs. It feels like 2025 may already be their year.”&nbsp;Amen to that.Hex Files is a post punk, alt new wave band formed in 2024 in the Triangle, North Carolina. Thrives on DIY sounds and techniques while integrating influences from the 70s and 80s to the modern day.<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://hexfiles.bandcamp.com/">https://hexfiles.bandcamp.com/</a>

Good Moon Pres. Annie & the Caldwells / Hex Files [OFFICIAL FESTIVAL AFTERSHOW]

"Beggar WeedsBeggar Weeds write songs about little tragedies: nothing as big as a presidential assassination, but more mundane injustices, more common disappointments. They find everyday tragedies in growing up (“Graduating”), suffering your family’s prejudices (“Daddy’s Little Angel”), reckoning with your roots (“Picolata”), and the accumulation of unwanted stuff at the local garbage dump (“Sunbeam Mountain”). Their songs sound like only these three young men from the Sunshine State could have dreamed them up.&nbsp;Musically, the band are collectors and connoisseurs of the offbeat, taking parts from their favorite bands—the jangle of R.E.M., the almost-falling-apart-ness of the Replacements, the rumbling melodicism of Hüsker Dü—and combining them with hardscrabble country and rustic folk. Then they play it all loud and fast. “We want to do something different, play a little harder, chase our own ideas,” says Watson, who sings and plays guitar and harmonica. “We’re combining all those things, punk but also pop and country and folk. I remember someone described us as the Everly Brothers on speed.”&nbsp;Opening for national acts that came through Jacksonville—including X, the Meat Puppets, the Dead Milkmen, and drivin n cryin—the trio very quickly developed a reputation for rambunctious shows where anything could happen and often did. They dance and shimmy constantly, switch instruments with each other, and emphasize volume, speed, feral energy. “We have to pick the right shoes,” says Leuthold. “We need to find shiny bottom shoes so we can move around more smoothly. On the strength of the live reputation and their EP, the trio toured around the South and further afield, often sharing the bill with their friends the Chickasaw Mudd Puppies. That Athens, Georgia, band was working on an album with Michael Stipe, and singer Brant Slay played Sure Pants Alot for the R.E.M. frontman. He was instantly smitten. The band holed up with Stipe and filmmaker Jim McKay at John Keane Studios in Athens, Georgia, where they recorded six songs. Songs like “Linden &amp; Mary” (about the hoarders next door) and “Picolata” (about a town between St. Augustine and Jacksonville) retain their essential eccentricities, while “Ship” combines Cowart’s hoedown with Leuthold and Watson’s Byrdsy harmonies to create an unexpectedly majestic chorus.&nbsp;Tragedy in U.S. History today sounds unique in its combination of sounds and personalities, the missing link between the underground music scene of the 1980s and the alt-country movement of the 1990. <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://open.spotify.com/artist/4DBgyoGRUvjqfpcEqceomD?si=fUmlEzDnQbqpH361bqF83A">https://open.spotify.com/artist/4DBgyoGRUvjqfpcEqceomD?si=fUmlEzDnQbqpH361bqF83A</a>The CadetsRumbling away in a small garage, Cash built his frenetic, thundering drum style around Chuck’s fast-twitch searing lead rhythms and melodies fertile with nervous energy. Inside those urgent drums and angular chords came their melodic hooks, catchy and strong, laden with unexpected twists. They released a 7” record, an EP entitled&nbsp;The Search for the Edible Man&nbsp;(1997), and their first full-length record,&nbsp;The Cadets&nbsp;(1999).As the century drew to a close, Cochrane departed and the Cadets took on bassist Chad Matheny (Emperor X), a dynamo of creativity and sonic agitation. Also joining was Isaac Bear, brilliantly color washing in the open spaces with expertly placed keys and guitars. The result was a delicately balanced collage of daydreams and found sounds dangling on the hilt of a steel edge. They followed up with the full-length&nbsp;Conditions on Alpha Atoll&nbsp;(2001), and another EP,&nbsp;Finding the Straight and Level&nbsp;(2002).This lineup toured Japan and all along the US east coast until 2007, issuing their third full-length record,&nbsp;On the Death of Science as a Major World Religion&nbsp;(2006).The Cadets’ music continues to be delightfully peculiar and full of immediacy, arriving at your ear having skidded briskly across the table yet perfectly upright and nary a drop wasted. Their sonic experiments produce songs that possess a rare energy that conjures the early days of rock &amp; roll, sci-fi adventures, and diary entries never intended for the light of day. Lyrics filter larger themes through a tilted and tinted lens of wide-eyed fantastic reverie. Brainwashed spies, mythical chimera, desperate refugees, and jilted lovers all become protagonists and truth tellers.<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://s.disco.ac/goicihthxbmd">https://s.disco.ac/goicihthxbmd</a>"

Beggar Weeds / The Cadets

Bayonne’s music captures the indescribable. For 10 years, the Austin, Texas-based experimental avant-pop/electronic musician, born Roger Sellers, has been creating atmospheric soundscapes brimming with layers, texture, and deep emotional resonance. On his fourth and most immersive album to date, Filters, Sellers picks up where he left us on 2023’s mournful yet pop-minded Temporary Time. With its elegantly constructed melodies, silken synth-work, a sprinkle of field recordings, and an upbeat yet blissful blend of piano and percussion, Filters finds Sellers entering a new phase of existence as he works through the grief around losing his father and into a place of acceptance.<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.bayonnemusic.com/">https://www.bayonnemusic.com/</a><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.lilbadsnacks.com/">https://www.lilbadsnacks.com/</a>

The ‘Filters’ Tour: Bayonne / Bad Snacks

Cult of Queer Movement brings you ANOTHER Queer Latin dance night--this time, with a twist: "SONIDERO CUIR" at The Pinhook! Inspired by Mexican street party culture (bailes sonideros) This party honors community and music, and centers play, friendship and flirtation! Sonideros are famous for bringing the party to life through shout-outs, creating connections with people that may not have mustered up the guts to flirt otherwise! Bring a friend, shout-out a cutie, or even your amiguis that just achieved something impressive.Each month, learn a new style of Latin dance from rotating instructors, and dance to music from big energy DJs ready to show off their impeccable taste in dance music. ¡Órale, jochis, pónganse a bailar!($5-10 sliding scale donation to support the organizers and the space for hosting us.)Expect to hear:BachataSalsa &amp; CasinoCumbiaMerengueChachachaand More!Cult of Queer Movement is a divestment from the mainstream Latin dance community. We aim to provide a safe, inclusive space for LGBTQIA+ folks. This is a queer-centered event, no bones about it! While allies are welcome, allies are encouraged to pay on the higher end of the sliding scale to help support the queer organizers that bring you these events!&nbsp;

Sonidero Cuir: Communal Dancing feat. Salsa / Bachata / Cumbia y mas

&nbsp;The Brass Boudoir is an LGBTQ+ ensemble with a penchant for Jazz, Funk, and Disco. Fronted by the multi-talented singer, instrumentalist, drag, and burlesque artist Franny Starlight, TERROR, T*TTIES &amp; TROMBONES brings brass, sass, and a whole lotta ass to the stage.The Brass Boudoir will debut their newest single, “Valley of the Lonely,” alongside tracks from their upcoming EP and twisted arrangements of everyone’s Halloween favorites.🎃 Early-bird tickets are $10🕷️ Day-of tickets are $15

Franny Starlight & The Brass Boudoir: Terror, Titties & Trombones

Doomga(y)ze 4-piece Well Hell and experimental sludge 3-piece INCARI are on tour from Southern California’s Inland Empire, and will be making their way out to the eastern US for the first time ever on their October tour. They’ll be joined by local doom folk duo Moon Womb (**plus an additional local not yet confirmed**)@wellhellll<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://wellhell.bandcamp.com">https://wellhell.bandcamp.com</a>@<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="http://incari.ca">incari.ca</a><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://incari.bandcamp.com">https://incari.bandcamp.com</a>@moon__womb<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://moonwomb.bandcamp.com">https://moonwomb.bandcamp.com</a>

Well Hell / INCARI / Moon Womb / Spookstina 

Hardcore punk four piece SOJI produces energetic melodies paired alongside subversive lyrics reflecting on racism, womanism, police brutality, and the growing housing crisis. Aptly named “the crown revived”, SOJI comes out the gate swinging with a radically Black, Trans and Queer-led ethos and a dedication to disrupting existing punk spaces in favor of centering more Black Queer and Trans punks. They are taking this on the road and out of Philly in October with a southern tour, it's sure to be a good rageful time. <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="http://soji215.bandcamp.com">soji215.bandcamp.com</a>

SOJI / Survival Tactics / Mean Habit / Speedbag

Flowerbomb is an alternative indie band from Washington DC. With accolades from local outlets like the Wammies DC, (winning Best Rock Song and Best Rock Band, in 2023 and 2024) Flowerbomb has become a staple of their scene, winning listeners over with their raw observational lyricism and the palpable joy and camaraderie of their live performances. Flowerbomb's second single, Jewish Girl, from their forthcoming LP comes out July 2026.Shrimp is a genre-blending band from Raleigh, NC, combining grunge, shoegaze, psych, punk, sludge, and prog rock all into one heaping ball of sonic waves, sure to keep you on the tips of your toes wondering what’s coming next. Previously active from 2018-2020, they made their return to the scene in 2025 with the Halloween sophomore release of Crangon Crangon. Now with a fourth member behind a few synthesizers, new and old songs are more complex and wackier than ever before. Some inspirations include: Osees, Duster, Nirvana, The Melvins, Wishy, Ty Segall.big mistake is a Raleigh based indie noise pop band. They were formed in 2025 by Elijah Hall and Michael Utt after working on the project My Sister Maura. Their debut single “party pickup” released independently in July of 2025.

Flowerbomb / Shrimp / big mistake

Crush Fund is a dance-punk band based in Brooklyn. They make heavy, high-sprung grooves for you to mosh and cry to. The project was formed in 2022 by Wendy Kya and Nora Knox, college friends brought together by a shared love for noisy post-punk, DIY punk ethos, and feminine rage. They soon recruited July Brown and Sean Kovacs, released two EPs, Drama (2022) and New Fixation (2024), and developed a reputation for starting topless mosh pits full of trans women. Their debut LP "GO" comes out on 7/31 via Lonely Ghost Records.MEGABITCH: partnered with gay crime &amp; cryingAutumn House is a country-inflected alternative rock band based in Carrboro, NC. Their songs, dealing broadly with the ephemeral and the beauty in the mundane, are tinged with a persistent melancholy that occasionally gives way to cathartic anger. Autumn House is comprised of Bob (bass guitar), Paco Marvelli (lap steel guitar), Max Randall (guitar, vocals), and Andy Seiglie (drums, backing vocals).

Crush Fund / MEGABITCH / Autumn House

yee haw fuck the law! 3RD Tuesday of every month will be QUEER LINE DANCE NIGHT. This night will be about all the line dances you know and the two you'll learn tonight! We'll follow the format of line dance instruction at 730 and 830 ​and then do line dance sign ups and and do three dances on and one rest song until the night is OVER :) Come sweat it OUT you queermosexuals! Sign up for our email list (at this night or queer country night) to get the dances in advance! Do you want to teach? Let us know. Donations please - $5-$10 no one turned away! Some dances may include: Country girl shake3So hot you’re hurting my feelingsWalk the lineFuegoHigh classBurn it to the groundPieces to the puzzleHigh horseTexas timeAskin questionsThe wolfMy Maria Rattlesnake kissFour on the floorEasy riderCowgirlsRedneck angelHonky tonk way6s to 9sCopperhead Road

Queer Line Dancing Night

Queer heartache is a unique experience, and one that Hit Like a Girl knows well. Drawing influence from pop, emo, indie and even hardcore, the band channels yearning, love and loss into intimate yet catchy music that may resonate with fans of Tigers Jaw, Future Teens, or Indigo De Souza.Hit Like a Girl strives to represent trans and queer artists, and inspire them to follow their creative pursuits. In 2016 Maroulis founded No More Dysphoria, a 501(c)3 non-profit organization created with the goal of helping transgender individuals pay for major aspects of their transition.Maroulis is a masterful and prolific songwriter. In the eight years since Hit Like a Girl’s inception in 2017, Maroulis has released 4 full length records (You Make Sense (2017), What Makes Love Last (2018), Heart Racer (2021)) and one EP (Becoming (2022)). The band has performed alongside the likes of Mom Jeans, Kississippi, Origami Angel, Pool Kids, and Prince Daddy and the Hyena, and has toured with acts including John-Allison Weiss and The Iron Roses.Hit Like a Girl just released Burning at Both Ends, their most collaborative LP to date on 3/27/26 via Cryptid Records.Spotify: <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://open.spotify.com/artist/0saOG9dPAQ3PCwLLVNlgvQ">https://open.spotify.com/artist/0saOG9dPAQ3PCwLLVNlgvQ</a>Bandcamp: <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="http://hitlikeagirl.bandcamp.com">hitlikeagirl.bandcamp.com</a>

Tenderqueer / Hit Like a Girl / Superintendo

<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.instagram.com/cooperhandy">https://www.instagram.com/cooperhandy</a> <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://open.spotify.com/artist/16j0wVUk9UOoYEDknfb9rK">https://open.spotify.com/artist/16j0wVUk9UOoYEDknfb9rK</a> <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCQn3R1daF5aMw1c3qJAUSRw">https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCQn3R1daF5aMw1c3qJAUSRw</a><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.instagram.com/wifigawd">https://www.instagram.com/wifigawd</a> <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://open.spotify.com/artist/2tM4YvbGRPeHpxdD6PqLwe">https://open.spotify.com/artist/2tM4YvbGRPeHpxdD6PqLwe</a> <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCi4wb2-LzZP5MAbVFpz4lhw">https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCi4wb2-LzZP5MAbVFpz4lhw</a>

LUCY (Cooper B. Handy) / WiFiGawd

10/23rd the Pinhook is going to bring all the boos, wilder beast, and bumps in the night out to the CREATURE FEATURE 3 the Cryptid Disxo, Presented by Rainy Daie Produxtions. Featuring DJ RayYes and a cast of creatures who are frighteningly delightful!Thigh Fieri, Mx. Princexx Peritwinkle, Fête D. Ville, Mx. Creant, Missy V. Sour, and introducing Ecto Gasm! Hosted by the Madam Monster herself, Stormie Daie.Tickets are $8-$15 sliding scale. Raffle to Support LGBTQ community. Come Out, Come Out, where ever you are.

CREATURE FEATURE 3: Cryptid Disxo

Elanor Moss grew up in a very creative, devoutly Catholic family, and began playing music at church events. Homeschooled through early youth, her parents put a real emphasis on nature, reading and music. Eventually leaving the faith, Moss started writing songs of her own in York as a student of English literature and playing open mics around the city. While at University she also discovered songwriting greats: Leonard Cohen, Joni Mitchell, Bob Dylan, The Beatles. Shortly after graduation, Moss met producer Oli Deakin, who offered to record her first EP, “Citrus." Her work with Deakin took her to New York City, where she began forging a sense of community. Between “Citrus” and her second EP, “Cosmic,” Moss toured with Christian Lee Hutson, Benjamin Francis Leftwich, and LYR, played one-off shows with Cassandra Jenkins, CMAT, and Sam Amidon, and performed at Pitchfork London, Green Man Festival, and Mosely Folk, among others.aNatalie Jane Hill is a Texas native guitarist and singer-songwriter currently based in the mountains of North Carolina. She writes songs that reach for the haunted and comforting corners of the natural world, dressed in a gently virtuosic and singular approach to finger-style guitar.

Elanor Moss / Natalie Jane Hill 

Black, Brown, Queer, Techno. We invite you to welcome the start of Scorpio season and to celebrate Ver’s birthday with a spooky fun night of Durhams hottest queer Techno lineup!

SHADOW WERK: Ver/Savon x Isabel Essence/Sex On Decks/Kali Fuchis x Màs Culina 

Laurenicole:&nbsp;<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://laurenicoleofficial.com/meet-the-band">https://laurenicoleofficial.com/meet-the-band</a> LaureNicole is an alt-pop/rock band with a sound that blends gritty rock intensity with the emotional depth of alternative music. Band members include Lauren (lead singer/songwriter/guitar), Jim (drums), Zack (bass), and Rhet (lead guitar/backing vocals) who create a tight, dynamic sound, marked by an infectious energy on stage. Drawing inspiration from iconic acts such as The Cranberries, Hevenshe, Vertical Horizon, Foo Fighters, and Alanis Morissette, LaureNicole weaves elements of 90s nostalgia into their music, delivering both haunting melodies and uplifting anthems. The band’s lyrics are full of vulnerability and emotional weight that guide listeners through moments of struggle, while offering messages of perseverance and healing. Hemlock Theory is a passionate project from Sanford NC. An Alt-Rock burning rollicking riffs with melodies about the messy and ever-changing state of our lives, they hope to make you feel every emotion you need to in the moment in the most fun and cathartic ways possible<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://open.spotify.com/artist/4wyx665lj3m9irTDXTtn9E">https://open.spotify.com/artist/4wyx665lj3m9irTDXTtn9E</a>Lydia SaintLaureNicole is an alt-pop/rock band with a sound that blends gritty rock intensity with the emotional depth of alternative music. Band members include Lauren (lead singer/songwriter/guitar), Jim (drums), Zack (bass), and Rhet (lead guitar/backing vocals) who create a tight, dynamic sound, marked by an infectious energy on stage. Drawing inspiration from iconic acts such as The Cranberries, Hevenshe, Vertical Horizon, Foo Fighters, and Alanis Morissette, LaureNicole weaves elements of 90s nostalgia into their music, delivering both haunting melodies and uplifting anthems. The band’s lyrics are full of vulnerability and emotional weight that guide listeners through moments of struggle, while offering messages of perseverance and healing. George:&nbsp;<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://voyageraleigh.com/interview/life-work-with-lydia-saint-george-of-north-carolina/">https://voyageraleigh.com/interview/life-work-with-lydia-saint-george-of-north-carolina/</a>

Laurenicole / Hemlock Theory / Lydia Saint George 

Triangle Queer Film presents: SLEEPAWAY CAMP...you won't be coming home!After a terrible boating accident killed her family, shy Angela Baker (Felissa Rose) went to live with her eccentric Aunt Martha and her cousin Ricky.This summer, Martha decides to send them both to Camp Arawak, a place to enjoy the great outdoors. Shortly after their arrival, a series of bizarre and violent "accidents" begin to claim the lives of various campers. Has a dark secret returned from the camp's past... or will an unspeakable horror end the summer season for all?Join TQF for this shocking cult classic slasher, along with an introductory short film from a North Carolina-area filmmaker, title TBD!

A Film Screening: Sleepaway Camp

Since the release of her debut album Shapeshifter in 2016, New York based songwriter Jilian Medford – better known as IAN SWEET, has worked vigorously towards reinvention with each album. From the rocking rush of Crush Crusher (2018) into the emotional depths of Show Me How You Disappear (2021), gradually rising to the surface with the sparkling pop profundity of SUCKER (2023), Medford’s singular voice has only grown stronger. As IAN SWEET prepares for an exciting new chapter in her decade-strong discography, 2026 promises to be Medford’s most realized songwriting era to date. IAN SWEET’s music has been streamed millions of times worldwide and has been praised by the likes of The FADER, KEXP, The New York Times, NPR Music, Pitchfork, Rolling Stone, Stereogum, and elsewhere. “One of the most thrilling and experimental voices in indie rock.” — Rolling Stone “Jilian Medford might perform under the name IAN SWEET, but the sugary hooks in her dynamic indie pop are often cut with acid.” — The New York Times “[IAN SWEET] leans into high-adrenaline hooks and poignant self-reflection with confidence and grit.” — Pitchfork<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.iansweetmusic.com/">https://www.iansweetmusic.com/</a>

IAN SWEET / Meg Elsier

Clover-lynn and the Hellfires is a project borned from ashes of olde; of olde memories, olde melodies and an even older spirit. With her roots dug deep into the mountain sides of the Virginia Clover-Lynn pulls at those roots of her heritage in search of both uncanny and hearth. Conjuring the sounds of an old country dance hall, the smell of mold in an old church on Sunday morning, and the warmth of a story passed down from tongues that came before. With the help of her band of Hellfires, Clover-Lynn is able to create a show that reminds those away from home they can always go back and gives others a feeling of yearning for a home they've never known.

Clover-Lynn 

All Onyx World @ The PinhookA Free Citywide Cultural Festival in Honor of OnyxFriday, October 30, 2026 | Free Entry | All AgesThe Pinhook joins All Onyx World as one of eight venues across Durham for the inaugural year of a citywide celebration created in honor of Onyx Nyne Williams, son of hometown hero Jooselord. All Onyx World turns one family's love for one child into a free, multi-location festival — one city, one day, every genre, all for Onyx.At The Pinhook, expect a lineup pulled from North Carolina's deep bench of local talent, part of the 30+ artists performing across the festival. Come through for the music, stay for the reason we're all here: community, love, and remembrance, built into something people can actually be part of.All Onyx World is free to attend and open to all ages. Proceeds and partner support go toward the Onyx Is Hope Foundation.Presented by Jooselord | October 30 | Durham, NC

ALL ONYX WORLD

Sleepy Fest has become an integral piece to the puzzle for Sleepy Cat Records. We’re tremendously grateful for the North Carolina community that has supported us over the years, from our first two festivals in Hillsborough, to the last two in Saxapahaw. This year, celebrating Sleepy Fest’s 5th anniversary, we’re teaming up with The Pinhook and Rubies to present Cattyrompus, a special Sleepy Fest Halloween party in downtown Durham, NC.WHAT TO EXPECTThe festival will play out in 2 parts, afternoon/evening and late night. We’ll kick things off at 2pm with bands playing at both venues. At around 9pm, Pinhook trades bands for DJs, drag performers, and visual artists for a revelrous Halloween fete. Rubies is hosting their own dance party starting at 9p, ticketed separately. You can follow Rubies for more info. “The Prowl” // 2-9p // Rubies + Pinhook“Hell Cat Dance Party” // 9p-2a // PinhookRubies Dance Party // 9p-2a // Rubies (Unaffiliated Event Ticketed Separately)Visual installations and other non-music elements will carry on the spirit of Sleepy Fests prior, including a live-scored puppet show, an all ages costume contest, a Hell-Cat-themed mask making station, and other one-of-a-kind collaborations.Durham’s favorite drag queens Naomi Dix and Stormie Daie team up to host Hell Cat Dance Party. Strut the Yard will be running a Silent Disco Soul Train to dance your way down Main St and about town!LINEUPThis year’s festival will feature a blend of performances from our Sleepy Cat Artists as well as non-label artists and friends. The lineup includes folk, dance, americana, immersive electronic, drag, a puppet show, twangy punk rock, and more:Twain, Chessa Rich, Lou Hazel, Woke County Speedway, Dunums, Delver, XOXOK, Stormie Daie, Naomi Dix, DJ Tuttle Recall, DJ Lomain, Stella Rosalie Rosen, Heron Toe and more to be announced!Schedule TBA

Sleepy Fest - Cattyrompus

Durham Theatre Workshop presents three new plays by local playwrights Andy Li, Nik Narain, and Charlie Probus. These in-progress pieces are being seen for the first time.“Face Down, Ass Up” by Andy Li. An anonymous hookup accidentally reunites two estranged former lovers. Hilarity ensues.“Emergent Properties” by Nik Narain. An estranged family fights over the rights to the home of their recently deceased prodigal son. Chaos ensues.

Charlie Probus, Durham Theatre Workshop

“PromisedLand” by Charlie Probus. A failing Christian theme park hires an out gay actor to play Jesus after a homophobic incident goes viral.

Charlie Probus, PromisedLand

Saddle Up Sissies…. Welcome to Queer Country Night. EVERY FIRST TUESDAY OF THE MONTH and QUEER LINE DANCING NIGHT every THIRD TUESDAY of the month. These sometimes change - so sign up for our queer country night specific email list and we'll keep you posted. <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://app.hive.co/l/3ym1nr">https://app.hive.co/l/3ym1nr</a>All ages.$5-$10 sliding scale!Get the hitch out of your giddyup and sashe on over to queer country night at The Pinhook from 7-11 or 12. The only constant will be country – karoake and line dancing w/ friends ... Saddle up sissy’s and lez do this – see you here ? It is what you make it! Tell your partner(s)?Karaoke will start at 7pm! The first line dance will be VERY beginner friendly and start at 730 (ISH). Until the next line dance lesson @ 830 / 9 we'll do a mix of karaoke and pretty simple line dances / karaoke and THEN we'll move to 1 for one - line dance / karaoke sign up after the 2nd line dance lesson. Is so fun and below are some dances that come up OFTEN at the end of the night.SOME LINE DANCES TO LEARN (yes they're all on youtube)Country girl shake3So hot you’re hurting my feelingsWalk the lineFuegoHigh classBurn it to the groundPieces to the puzzleHigh horseTexas timeAskin questionsThe wolfMy MariaRattlesnake kissFour on the floorEasy riderCowgirlsRedneck angelHonky tonk way6s to 9s<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://9thstreetjournal.org/2024/04/29/a-more-inclusive-nashville-inside-durhams-queer-country-music-scene/">https://9thstreetjournal.org/2024/04/29/a-more-inclusive-nashville-inside-durhams-queer-country-music-scene/</a>

Queer Country Night!

#BlendsWithFriends is an open decks DJ skill share event 1rst and 3rd Wednesdays at The Pinhook in Durham!Come learn to DJ, spin some tunes, play with synths and make new friends.From 8pm-midnight, people will be able to sign up for short sets. All skill levels are welcome and instruction is available. Bring records, USBs or a hard drive of music.Donations please! Help us keep this event alive! Learn more about #BlendsWithFriends: <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.treeecity.com/blog/2021/12/12/how-do-you-blendswithfriends">https://www.treeecity.com/blog/2021/12/12/how-do-you-blendswithfriends</a>

Blends with Friends / Open Decks 

“Twin sisters Lauren and Leanna Price are poised to become the torchbearers for bluegrass music as it enters its eighth decade. While their playing is strongly rooted in the classic style of Bill Monroe, their smooth, polished sibling harmonies infuse the music with a fresh, contemporary appeal.”– No DepressionMusic has always had a resounding presence in the lives of twin sisters Leanna Price and Lauren Price Napier. Growing up, their parents sang traditional and old-time country songs and as the sisters grew up hearing duet harmony, they naturally became accustomed to singing together themselves. In the spring of 2016, Leanna and Lauren signed to Rebel Records and released an EP that August, thus pursuing to tour professionally as The Price Sisters. The Price Sisters have since performed at numerous venues and festivals across the United States as well as in Germany, Austria, Switzerland, and Canada. The Sisters released their first full-length album for Rebel Records, "A Heart Never Knows," in the spring of 2018 and in 2019 hired their first full-time touring band. ​While Lauren and Leanna front the band and are recognized for their twin-sister harmony singing, the girls are supported by band members who are each accomplished musicians in their own right. The band is made up of young multi-instrumentalists and vocalists who showcase traditional, yet fresh and innovative sounds. Lauren has instructed at the Monroe Mandolin Camp, DelFest Academy, Mandolin Camp North, Camp Bluegrass, Augusta Bluegrass Week, and more; Leanna has been a featured artist in Fiddler Magazine, presently works as an apprentice of set-up and repair at Nashville's The Violin Shop, and is a frequent fiddler on WSM's Grand Ole Opry. Banjo player Trevor Holder was awarded first prize on the banjo at the prestigious Old Fiddlers' Convention in Galax, VA. Bobby Osborne Jr on bass is no stranger to bluegrass and country music, having started his musical career touring with his father, the late Bobby Osborne of the Osborne Brothers. Conner Vlietstra is not only a talented guitarist and vocalist, but has soloed on the Grand Ole Opry, is an award-winner on several instruments, and is well-versed in material stemming from pre-bluegrass and country music catalogs. Both collectively and individually, band members have instructed and hosted various vocal and instrumental workshops/lessons in private and festival/group settings. Lauren and Leanna have been Artists in Residence for the Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame &amp; Museum in Owensboro, KY and featured on Mandolin Café and in Fiddler magazine. Bluegrass Unlimited magazine has featured articles on The Price Sisters in three separate issues to date; every one of their professional releases earned "highlight" reviews in the magazine as well. The Price Sisters have garnered significant press through outlets such as No Depression, Paste Magazine, For Folk's Sake, The Bluegrass Situation, and WSM's The Eddie Stubbs Show. The Price Sisters band collectively has been nominated for the International Bluegrass Music Association's (IBMA) Momentum Band of the Year (2024 &amp; 2019) while Lauren has received nominations for Momentum Vocalist and Instrumentalist of the Year (2019 and 2020, respectively) and Leanna for Momentum Vocalist (2020.) The group has been featured as an official showcase act for the IBMA and has appeared at DelFest, the University of Chicago's Folklife Festival, ROMP, Bean Blossom, and many more. Presently, The Price Sisters have signed to the Del McCoury Band’s family record label, McCoury Music, and released their first album for the label titled "Between the Lines" and produced by Ronnie McCoury, in 2024. Following the release of "Between the Lines," The Price Sisters Band made their debut on the world-revered Grand Ole Opry stage.

The Price Sisters 

SLOT: Baltimore Club Punk Duo. New Album "Dry Swallow" out with Exag Records. Their music is a potent, genre-fusing sound described as gritty but flirty pop songs with a punk, in-your-face delivery, and pumping, heavy, danceable beats. Drawing on dance punk, noise pop, and alt-rock. <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://slotmp3.online/">https://slotmp3.online/</a>Mean Habit: Mean Habit is a queer, all gender non-conforming, hardcore-inspired, post punk band from Carrboro, NC. Seething, palpable, raw rage meets poetic writing about highly personal experiences and their political contexts. Mean Habit screams about transphobic fetishization, intimate partner abuse’s role in patriarchy, and the reclamation of sites of dehumanization while rallying for autonomy, love, and the annihilation of capitalism. <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="http://meanhabit.bandcamp.com">meanhabit.bandcamp.com</a>Fear Family: FEAR FAMILY are a psychedelic industrial noise duo from Raleigh, North Carolina. They know what you did and they're going to tell everyone. <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://fearfamily.bandcamp.com/album/fear-family-volume-1">https://fearfamily.bandcamp.com/album/fear-family-volume-1</a>Violent Institution: Confrontationally bleak, poetically dystopian and uncompromisingly defiant, Violent Institution weaponizes elements from coldwave, darkwave, goth rock and anarcho-punk to forge synth-driven anthems against the world of authoritarian misery. <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://violentinstitution.bandcamp.com/">https://violentinstitution.bandcamp.com/</a>

SLOT / Mean Habit / Fear Family / Violent Institution

Imperial Teen’s releases over the past 20+ years have been pointed and specific diaries of musical celebration, windows into the hypersensitive personal drama of relationships within the band, individual conquests and failures, and collective, aspirational hopes, dreams, and perspectives. Roddy Bottum, Will Schwartz, Jone Stebbins, and Lynn Perko Truell—who they’ve become, how they are dealing, and what their lives are in 2019—all of this is on Imperial Teen’s forthcoming release Now We Are Timeless.The band wrote and recorded the new album in the cities the individual members have geographically gravitated to: New York City, the Bay Area, Denver, and Los Angeles. Themes of time and movement, averting and succumbing to crisis, dealing with loss and pain are all represented on the record, but what rings triumphant is the undeniable joy and catharsis that come from the band’s spontaneous and improvisational approach to making music together.The juxtaposition of the title and the imagery of the cover of Now We Are Timeless takes us immediately to the heart of what Imperial Teen does best. By focusing on an element in the collective here and now—an iceberg in the midst of ecological crisis, clearly sinking, melting, disappearing, the absolute antithesis of timelessness—they pose the question of hope and beauty in the wake of age, a fading icon shining brightest in the final phase of its demise, exuding light and glory as the world falls apart. Now We Are Timeless indeed.In strict keeping with the band’s roots of creating seemingly clean, pop presentations as a springboard for dramatic themes of loneliness, triumph, suicide, success, and failure, Now We Are Timeless moves us into a realm of inevitability for the band. While Seasick, the band’s first release, thematically touched on the queasiness of pop and beach and sun and glare and the optimism that lies beneath, the new release serves as a bookend of sorts in its portrayal of a world in crisis, a frostbitten but melting iceberg, monolithic and stationary yet impermanent and resonant.What has remained constant over the years is Imperial Teen’s indisputable knack for writing profound hooks as a framework for their musical memories. Their songs exhibit the realness, joy, and energy that only good friends can conjure.Gay Meat:&nbsp;<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.instagram.com/gaymeatkarl/">https://www.instagram.com/gaymeatkarl/</a>

Imperial Teen / Gay Meat 

ATTENTION: MEOW2 IS BACK FROM THE DEAD AND HUNGRY FOR BLOOD. WILL YOU BE HER NEXT VICTIM?FIND OUT ON NOVEMBER 7TH AT THE PINHOOK.DOORS AT 10PM.SHOW AT 10:30.KILLING SPREE TILL 2AM.FEATURING:JESUS IS THE PATH TO HEAVEN (APOCALYPTIC FOLK)JANE DOE (GRAVE WAVE INDUSTRIAL)HUMANOID HORSE LOVER (EVIL HARDWARE GABBER) VS KUTTMISTRESS (GLITZY HARD TECHNO)&amp; MEOW2 (CLOWN KITTY GABBERVIOLENCE)CLOWN MAKEUP STRONGLY ENCOURAGED.

MEOW2 RETURNS (& SHE’S KILLING YOU NEXT!!!)

Musician, songwriter, poet, and producer Kimaya Diggs returns with her expansive new collection, Green, out October 2. Green showcases twelve tracks of glittering, genre-bending indie pop, carried by Diggs’ powerful, honeyed vocals, and honest, attentive lyricism. The album sees Diggs as lead producer, and features a roster of Nashville and Western Massachusetts musicians, including Nashville-based harpist Lizzie No, drummer Eric Slick of Dr. Dog, and Chicago’s Sen Morimoto. In its production, Green is heavily anchored by the lineage of Black soul and R&amp;B. Diggs has earned a place on stages alongside Mavis Staples, Emily King, Trombone Shorty, Madison McFerrin, and Tank &amp; The Bangas. On Green, it’s clear Diggs has been forced to harden herself against the heartbreak that comes along with loving and being loved, but it would be foolish to mistake her hard-won grit for surliness aimed toward the world. It’s this very grit that shapes her love into something more capacious and ever-expanding. Her softness is in turn reserved for herself, the ones closest to her, and the earth. It’s this faithful preservation that serves as Green’s trustworthy tether. <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://open.spotify.com/artist/2htDUAwQ43hKvaGxAobgSB?si=Oe0BJD1SS8CB2ALNQGczzQ￼￼￼-----￼￼Omar">https://open.spotify.com/artist/2htDUAwQ43hKvaGxAobgSB?si=Oe0BJD1SS8CB2ALNQGczzQ ----- Omar</a> Ruiz-Lopez (he/they) is a Latin-Americana artist whose music bridges old-time, Celtic, and Brazilian fiddle traditions with indie folk songwriting. A bilingual singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist, Omar brings classical training, emotional depth, and a cross-cultural perspective to the stage. Omar calls North Carolina home, and has been part of the Triangle music scene since 2010. Omar lived in Nashville from 2023-25 and has played and recorded with artists including as the GRAMMY-nominated band War and Treaty, Franklin Jonas, Lizzie No and Langhorne Slim, and co-written with songwriters such as Rachel Baiman and GRAMMY-nominated Melody Walker (Sierra Ferrell, American Dreaming). He is currently working on an EP with Willa Frank (Paper Wings) and a full-length album with Rachel Baiman producing. Omar co-founded the Americana group Violet Bell with Lizzy Ross and from 2016-2024 their collaboration seamlessly intertwined top-notch songwriting with a variety of musical landscapes. — Born in Panama and raised in Puerto Rico, Omar's early exposure to traditional Caribbean folk songs, courtesy of his father, laid the foundation for his deep appreciation for music. A bilingual songwriter and undercover composer, Omar crafts music that beautifully reflects his cultural roots entwined with a rich tapestry of diverse musical influences. With a wealth of experience in music business, production, and engineering, Omar is both a skilled performer and a dedicated educator. His role as a Teaching Artist underscores his commitment to shaping the next generation of musicians. His extensive teaching expertise extends to coaching chamber music ensembles and conducting. This includes a 10-year period of having worked with Kidznotes in Durham, the non-profit free orchestral music program for kids ages K-12. As a Latiné immigrant and a versatile musician spanning multiple genres, Omar has a unique ability to connect with diverse international audiences. His music serves as a bridge, fostering understanding and appreciation across cultural boundaries.

Kimaya Diggs / Omar Ruiz-Lopez

Bungalow Collect, the creators of Disco Rap, are on a mission to bring joy, dancing, and human connection back to the forefront of music. Blending infectious grooves, live instrumentation, and meaningful lyricism, the group has built a rapidly growing community around a simple idea: music should be fun again. Through unforgettable live shows and a sound that celebrates freedom, optimism, and self-expression, Bungalow Collect is proving one thing: Disco Rap is back.

 Bungalow Collect presents Disco Rap: Keep It Honest Across the World

MAMA’S BROKE - REUNIONFor more than a decade, Mama’s Broke, the Canadian duo of Amy Lou Keeler and Lisa Maria, have forged a style carried across landscapes rather than tied to one. Their forthcoming 12-song LP Reunion, out August 28 via Free Dirt Records and Forward Music Group, follows years in near-constant motion, bringing their folk-without-borders approach to small clubs, DIY spaces, and everywhere in between. Winners of the Canadian Folk Music Award for Ensemble of the Year for their 2017 debut Count the Wicked, their music is rooted in long days playing for passing crowds and traveling by foot, as well as in the deep wells of folk lineage they’ve tapped into across Eastern Canada, Appalachia, Ireland, and beyond. Their sound doesn’t belong to any one place so much as it passes through them, grounded in the traditions that shaped it.That foundation was built long before stages and studio sessions, in traveling communities where music functioned as both currency and connection. The two met within a global network of musicians funding their way through shared songs, carrying only what they could as they traded melodies and stories across the miles. Playing for hours at a time on the street demanded a repertoire that could hold attention and sustain emotion, drawing them deep into traditional material and the discipline of close harmony. Over time, the songs became a common language, connecting what came before with the music they were making together.Building on their JUNO-nominated album Narrow Line (2022), Reunion reflects a world coming apart in plain sight, tracing fractured communities, the erosion of shared ground, and the growing awareness that the systems we were taught to trust no longer hold or deliver the promises they were meant to keep. The songs don’t preach or prescribe; they reflect, holding up a mirror and leaving space for something else to take shape.Recorded just outside Nashville in Goodlettsville, Tennessee, Reunion features subtle contributions from bassist Paul Kowert (Gillian Welch &amp; David Rawlings) and others, adding depth without pulling focus from the record’s acoustic core. At its heart, Mama’s Broke remains what it has always been: two voices, intertwined, both fragile and enduring. Reunion asks what it means to make something that lasts: not a place you’re from, or even a place you return to, but what you make together, and how long it lasts, if you tend to it.Mama’s Broke are touring their new album in North America and Europe throughout 2026 and 2027.North Carolina–bred, Nashville-based indie country artist Nathan EvansFox writes songs that trace the fault lines between family, faith,labor, and inheritance, poignantly showcased on his forthcoming LP,Heirloom. Raised on four generations of family land at the end of adead-end road in Glen Alpine, North Carolina, Fox grew up in acommunity shaped by mill closures, factory layoffs, and the slowerosion of working-class stability. His sound carries blue-collarcritique and community-minded hope into places that might otherwiseresist them. For him, country music is about owning your twang,working inside traditions, and making sure the hardest conversationshappen in a language that feels familiar. Fox lovingly calls it“comrade country.” Sonically, Heirloom brims with Appalachian textureand spirit. Banjo threads throughout the record in inventiveways–bowed, muted, and treated percussively–used less as a symbol oftradition than as a storytelling device. Across his work, Fox isbuilding something larger than a catalog of songs. He’s creating spacefor listeners who don’t want to choose between their cultural rootsand their hopes for a more just world. His music invites people intohard conversations without losing playfulness or warmth: protest hymnsthat feel like porch songs, liberation theology wrapped in banjostrings, and country music that remembers where it came from whileimagining where it could go.

Mama’s Broke Reunion Album Release Tour / Nathan Evans Fox 

Sacredd919Sacredd919 is an emerging hip-hop artist sprouting from the local abstract rap scene in Durham, NC. He has carved out his own sound as one of North Carolina’s most promising and innovative young rappers - equal parts experimental and traditionalist, with diverse soundscapes rooted in a variety of genres; from psychedelic soul to meditative jazz. He has worked closely with Professor Payne (“dirty room tape”) and Rohtwiq, another Bull City native, and has been recognized for his magnetic live performances around the Triangle area.rohtwiq.Durham native and Charlotte-based rohtwiq. has been impressing listeners and like audiences alike with his unique brand of rap. Dropping full length projects with Professor Payne and Average Bleach Drinker in the past year, rohtwiq. stands out for his vivid narratives, conversational tone, and hazy delivery. He has impressed fans globally on features including collaborations (Biking with Francis, Oddie Strangeluv, and Brother Tom Sos).professor payneRaleigh producer professor payne has been reshaping the sound of modern hip-hop in North Carolina. With a discography including many impressive collaborations (“profwiq.” with rohtwiq., “dirty room tape” with Sacredd919), and his own cult favorite “night fishing” recently released on vinyl, payne’s unorthodox sample selections and cohesive world-building are swiftly establishing him as a force to be reckoned with.Otis GhostBorn right outside of Chicago, Otis Ghost has toured the US countless times. He has performed for the likes of Mobb Deep, Cappadonna and Inspectah Deck (of Wu-Tang Clan), Slick Rick and Rakim, to name a few. Since relocating to Durham in 2019, he has continued to play locally and nationwide. His latest release, “I miss you. Behave, and I’ll be back soon” is available on all major platforms.MillydotcomMillydotcom is an R&amp;B/Soul artist based in North Carolina. Milly balances powerful and honest songwriting with angelic, sultry vocals, and natural star quality. She has dazzled at shows and festivals around the triangle area including Muse and The Genius Party.RizzyRizzy is art in motion—an experience you can’t simply hear, but one you feel.She commands attention without ever asking for it, captivating crowds before she even speaks. Her music speaks to deep thinkers, quiet souls, and anyone who has ever loved deeply, felt deeply, or searched for truth within themselves.Raw. Authentic. Unfiltered. Rizzy transforms vulnerability into strength and truth into art. Every lyric carries intention. Every word holds weight. Every performance leaves an imprint.Her presence is magnetic. Her aura is undeniable. Her delivery is unmatched.Rizzy creates music that heals, inspires, awakens, and empowers. She gives language to emotions we struggle to express and turns pain, passion, and truth into something beautiful.Rizzy isn’t just heard. She’s felt. She’s remembered.ProtonWith roots in New Jersey, this Cuban American artist started his career in Raleigh, North Carolina making R&amp;B and Rap singles with his unique sound. Proton keeps a positive vibe in his lyricism and a truth to his sound. You’ll hear a versatile array of genre blending in all his music. His debut music video “Trials” embodies what he’s all about… a vision, story of hardship and recovery. They call him Pro because he’s anything but an amateur, he’s a Prodigy in the game.RoneshRonesh is a producer and emcee currently based in North Carolina, with roots in Illinois and the Bay area. As a child, he dabbled in piano, saxophone, and drums, before pivoting to beats and rhymes as a teen in the Chicago area's vibrant underground hip-hop scene. His soundscapes are rooted in traditional boom-bap, while incorporating elements of West Coast G-Funk, soul, jazz, rock, and electronic music.

Sacredd919/ rohtwiq. / Professor Payne / Otis Ghost / Millydotcom / Rizzy/ Proton / Ronesh

RIYL: Majority Rule, Gouge Away, Portrayal of GuiltNØ MANIn Arabic, the word “sumud” translates to the word “steadfastness”or “perseverance,” and has expanded in Palestinian culture to represent strength based on these tenets in the face of political and cultural subjugation. The presence that Washington D.C. quartet NØ MAN emanates and the message they’ve continued to deliver has been of survival, an outright refusal of erasure, of sumud. Vocalist Maha Shami, a daughter of Palestinian refugees, details her worldview, shares her lived experiences, and purges her inner turmoil in NØ MAN, contributing an essential voice to the traditions of their home city and the global punk canon. Their towering new LP, Between The Sword And The Neck, will be their second album with Iodine Records.Over the course of the first three albums, NØ MAN, completed by guitarist/vocalist Matthew Michel, bassist Kevin Lamiell, and drummer Pat Broderick, have crafted material consisting of increasingly devastating tonality, riffage, and songwriting. On Between The Sword And The Neck, NØ MAN have merged the directions and influences that drove the creation of Erase and Glitter and Spit into a blistering new work. The songs tear angrily through the tracklisting, seldomly slowing down enough for listeners to catch their breath. Songs like “Moan,” and “Murmur,” provide respite from the new levels of absolutely pummeling heaviness and speed while the rest of the record serves new intensities around every corner. Between The Sword And The Neck begs repeat listens as Shami’s vocal performances now feel perfectly woven into each song’s instrumentation, her lyricism as sophisticated and meaningful as ever. The title Between The Sword And The Neck itself is taken from a quote from Palestinian poet Ghassan Kanafani, who in a 1970 interview spoke it to describe the impossibility of genuine negotiations between an oppressor (the sword) and the oppressed (the neck), signifying a refusal to engage in peace talks that equate to surrender or capitulation.To draw listeners even closer to the personal place in which Between The Sword And The Neck resides, Shami invites family and trusted collaborators onto the album. Opening track “In Spite,” is “a love letter,” to Jenna Pup of HIRS and Kat Lanzillo-Hidalgo of FAIM, featuring guest performances from each vocalist as well as lyrics from both of their bands. On “In Tongues,” Shami includes lines from Kanafani as well as Palestinian poets Mahmoud Darwish, and Fadwa Tuqan, each credited in the lyrics sheet themselves. Over the ending of the song “They Have Names” the band has woven in names of lives lost to the occupation, spoken by their own friends and family. In Between The Sword And The Neck’s most meaningful expression of love, Shami also includes her daughter’s singing on “In Tongues,” and her mother Kamelah Shami’s voice and poetry on “نزيف على الورق.” In this, Shami creates a connection not only between Palestinians on different sides of this mortal coil, but also between three generations of Palestinian women in the same family.Between The Sword And The Neck is a collection of sentiments definitive of NØ MAN’s career echoed consistently throughout its 26 minute runtime. Self-produced and recorded by the band themselves, it reveals the most intimate and vulnerable sources of love and pain in art. In the face of the horrors of genocide, NØ MAN carry sumud with them, refusing to kneel, refusing to die.Serrate is a screamo punk band from Asheville, NC.

NØ MAN / Serrates / Covenant Eye 

Lee Bains is a songwriter from Birmingham, Alabama, who, since 2012, has released four studio albums of what Rolling Stone once called “Southern gospel punk." His music has received acclaim from the likes of The New York Times, NPR, Mojo, Uncut, Sonic Magazine, and the Guardian. His most recent album, Old-Time Folks, was released by Don Giovanni Records in 2022, and explored stories of People’s movements in the Deep South. He will release a live solo album, Free South 2025, on Don Giovanni in August 2026. He has collaborated in live performance and on recordings with artists including Lonnie Holley, Moor Mother, and Algiers, and has toured with artists like The Alabama Shakes, Nana Grizol, Bad Moves, John Moreland, and Meltdown Rodeo. After first having his poems published by The New Yorker in 2021, Lee will see his debut poetry collection, Work Lunch, published by Hub City Press in October 2026. In addition to touring around the U.S. and Europe, Lee has lent his music to support striking coal miners, immigrants’ rights groups, abortion funds, and anti-racism organizations.MELTDOWN RODEO&nbsp;<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://meltdownrodeo.bandcamp.com/">https://meltdownrodeo.bandcamp.com/</a>Whether grappling with the constrictions of gender expressions on dating apps (“How Do You See Me”), evoking the semi-autobiographical loneliness of Dorothy Allison’s Carolina bastards (“Maureen”), or daring white folks to “get right with their history of compliance in racial capitalism” (“Loamlands”), Register affirms that songwriting, at its best, is a gross but necessary confrontation.Ultimately Register and Meltdown Rodeo (both the newly named band and album) have achieved in eleven songs something the south has only half-heartedly attempted – undoing generational curses by retiring “bless your heart” lip service. Damn if we can’t all benefit from a little melting down. – shirlette ammonsPress: “written to directly address North Carolina, the people in the Durham DIY scene, and the area's long history with LGBT communities and police violence, the themes Register… wrestle[s] with throughout—queerness, police violence, bigotry and general intolerance to those who refuse to adhere to any kind of binary—are poignant no matter where you live.” -- NOISEY"It's a narrative-heavy — and proudly queer — record, channeling both the South's folksy past and the crunchy protest music of the modern Merge roster, sporting a genre-defying sound as courageous as the issues breached: institutionalized bigotry, body dysmorphia, the agonies of love and loss. " - AUTOSTRADDLE"Even if you don’t know Register’s backstory, you can still hear that Sweet High Rise is a compelling, beautiful, and starkly political record." -Bitch Media "...a lush guitar pop sound that pulls from the late ’70s rock and country." - Brooklyn Vegan

Lee Bains / Meltdown Rodeo 

<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://sweepingpromises.com/">https://sweepingpromises.com/</a>Sweeping Promises was born in a disused and reverberant concrete laboratory in Cambridge, MA. Tracked with a self-devised “single-mic technique” and mixed in mono, serial band-starters Lira Mondal and CauField Schnug completed their debut, Hunger for a Way Out, just in time to enter quarantine. With only a single basement show under their belt, the band received an unexpectedly wide reception, Firstly in online punk circles, and eventually stretching beyond. In 2023, having gotten the chance to tour the USA and abroad with live drummer Spenser Gralla, the duo relocated to their new home and DIY recording compound in Lawrence, KS, and released their sophomore album, Good Living is Coming for You, on Feel It Records (US) and Sub Pop (EU/UK). The album received wide critical acclaim for its pop songwriting and idiosyncratic punk production and led to yet more touring, boosting the band’s reputation as a Fierce live act.

Sweeping Promises / Mean Habit / COGS 

Hailing from the historically rich city of Charleston, South Carolina, Americana music artist Hunter Park is defining what it means to not only live in the modern south, but to be a trans woman and artist within this landscape. Combining folk-infused vocal melodies and evocative lyrics that capture the unfiltered human experience, She Returns From War is taking her seat in the Americana music world with grace, strength, and passion. And her journey has been a wild one. Since founding the project in 2014, She Returns From War has released many singles, including her second full-length album, Mirrored Moon Dance Hall, in 2018. The 11-track release dives into the themes of love, loss, and self-exploration. Now, with a whole new collection of stories to share, she returns with her latest full-length record, co-produced by Joel Hamilton (Mechanical River) and Wolfgang Zimmerman (Band of Horses, SUSTO, Brave Baby). The album is a slow-burn, deceptively hitting the listener with vocal lines that are just as elegant as they are intensely emotional. Look beyond the surface and you just might see that the album is meant for healing the heart. Now, in 2023, the project shows no signs of slowing down. From opening for Bernie Sanders at his presidential rally in Charleston to performing at national festivals like Stagecoach and High Water Festival and with artists such as Pat Benatar, Band of Horses, and Nikki Lane, She Returns From War is sharing with the world what the modern south should look and feel like: inclusive, compassionate, unfiltered, and loving. She Returns From War will release Ruthless on Nov 10, and will be out supporting S.G. Goodman and Erin Rae.

She Returns From War / Maddie Medley / Big Guy & The Very Large Men

American Motors - Art damaged minimalism.For fans of: Shellac, Fugazi, Swervedriver, Slowdive, Five Easy Pieces, Hysteria b-sides, pull-tabs, Roland S. Howard, Killing Joke, Charles Portis’ Norwood. <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://americanmotors.bandcamp.com">https://americanmotors.bandcamp.com</a>Snide - Queer little aggressively reverbed punk freaks.<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://bandofsnide.bandcamp.com">https://bandofsnide.bandcamp.com</a>Pretty Baby - In their debut full-length “Layaway Plot,” Pretty Baby is a band realizing itself after years of compiling disparate sounds and influences, and pushing them through the fine mesh sieve of grief.<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://prettybaby704.bandcamp.com">https://prettybaby704.bandcamp.com</a>

American Motors / Snide / Pretty Baby

BLUE CACTUS: Rooted in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, Blue Cactus got their start among the active honky-tonk circuit, developing an electrified twang that now branches out effortlessly into folk, alt-country, and psychedelic-tinged rock. Having released three records to critical acclaim, they have grown a cult following in the South and beyond, their introspective lyricism and blistering guitar techniques making the band potent in the studio and on stage. Their 2025 album Believer was hailed in Bandcamp's Best New Country list and earned them slots on SXSW, Hopscotch Fest’s main stage opening for Geese and My Morning Jacket, and PBS' new original series, Shaped By Sound. Blue Cactus have toured throughout the US, developing a dedicated cult following. From intimate clubs to major festival stages, Blue Cactus is known for connecting deeply with audiences wherever they go.RAMONA &amp; THE HOLY SMOKESBased in Central Virginia and with family roots in South Texas,Ramona and the Holy Smokes represent a new generation of honkytonk music. With powerful female vocals that cover an emotionalrange from determined to comic to vulnerable, and a talentedbacking band steeped in classic country and western styles of the1950s, 1960s, and 1970s, the band exhibits a “clarity and sinceritythat bring Patsy Cline to mind” (Nashville Scene, 2025). Fronted byRamona Martinez, whose songwriting has earned her recognitionfrom Wide Open Country as one of the ""15 Latino Artists ShapingCountry Music,"" this Charlottesville, Virginia-based band is rootedin the traditional sounds of country music but unafraid of pushingboundaries and highlighting the connections across border cultures.They have appeared at several Americana festivals including RedWing Roots (2024), Rooster Walk (2025), and Bristol Rhythm &amp;Roots (2025), and has opened for touring artists like Margo Cilker,Colby Acuff, Willi Carlisle, Redd Volkaert, Joshua Hedley, Donnathe Buffalo, and Kashus Culpepper. Their self-produced debutalbum, Ramona and the Holy Smokes, a collection of original songsabout heartache and resiliency, was released on September 26.

Blue Cactus / Ramona & the Holy Smokes 

Weymouth is an alternative rock band based out of Moore County. Exploring a wide range of sounds and lyrical topics, all while maintaining a fun-loving prescence, this five-piece asks ‘but why not?’ in a world full of ‘but why?’. To top it off, the band displays an energy for live shows that is enigmatic as much as it is infectious.<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://open.spotify.com/artist/16msR1gY57k2EB4RGTg3is">https://open.spotify.com/artist/16msR1gY57k2EB4RGTg3is</a>ColorMeKrazy! is the brainchild of a bedroom-pop artist &amp; an ex-scene kid. They are a collective of musicians/maniacs hailing from Raleigh, North Carolina. In 2023, vocalist &amp; producer Mia Brunal teamed up with guitarist &amp; recording engineer Tom Detrick to meld the saccharine aesthetic &amp; sensibilities of modern hyperpop artists (Brakence, 100 Gecs, Charlie XCX) with the powerful, dark, scream-crying-in-the-rain-angst of yesteryear’s emo titans (My Chemical Romance, Senses Fail, Taking Back Sunday) into it’s own unique flavor of electronic pop-punk music.<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://open.spotify.com/artist/10x4NvxQvGrX99vmEfy5Dp">https://open.spotify.com/artist/10x4NvxQvGrX99vmEfy5Dp</a>snowblinder is a shoegaze-emo band from Raleigh, NC playing songs about problems that never really mattered. They released their debut EP "peach" in November 2025 and followed it up with the new single "There's No Crying in Baseball" on July 1st 2026. For fans of Movements, Balance and Composure, and Turnover.<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://open.spotify.com/artist/7tScGdeFxh1GzmnrIhzSiL">https://open.spotify.com/artist/7tScGdeFxh1GzmnrIhzSiL</a>Holloway Drive, hailing from Durham, North Carolina, delivers a dynamic sound that fuses alternative rock with the raw energy of pop-punk and the emotional depth of emo. Their music is characterized by infectious guitar riffs, powerful drumming, and heartfelt vocals that explore introspective themes.<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://open.spotify.com/artist/3kgZoQD80Jvl53jI0EBCd4">https://open.spotify.com/artist/3kgZoQD80Jvl53jI0EBCd4</a>

Weymouth / ColorMeKrazy! / Snowblinder / Holloway Drive

Three DJs. One stage. Zero chill.Get ready for an explosive night of nonstop hip-hop, trap, rage, and high-energy anthems as three DJs join forces to turn the venue into a full-blown moshpit. Expect heavy bass, unexpected transitions, crowd-shaking drops, and a night where standing still is not an option. Come ready to rage, sweat, jump, and lose yourself in the music.

DJ J'Mar / DJ 9ine / DJ Jimmie V

Sunday Cruise is a Chicago-based indie/alternative rock band built on raw emotion and infectious energy. Fronted by songwriter Zoe Garcia alongside Camden Kiefer (lead guitar), Cassidy McGill (bass), and Nolan Manke (drums), the band has been quietly building something special, earning over 5 million streams since their 2020 debut Am I Pretty?Their 2024 album The Art of Losing My Reflection marked a natural evolution for the band, exploring themes of self-discovery, mental health, and the messy complexities of young adulthood with warmth and vulnerability. In 2025, they followed it up with Eat My Heart — a 5-track EP that centers queer relationships with the same emotional honesty and melodic heart that has always defined their sound.At their core, Sunday Cruise makes music for the moments that are hard to put into words. With a growing catalog and a community of listeners who keep coming back, they’re a band that only gets more interesting with time.<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://sundaycruiseband.com/">https://sundaycruiseband.com/</a>Dino Gala (Martin, Alex, Miguel, Tanya, and Christian) met at Berklee College of Music in 2017, first forming a garage rock project called Melk. Dino Gala (then Dinosaur Gala) first started as a side project, and eventually became the main focus while shows were on hold during covid. When the Boston scene started throwing shows again in mid 2021, the band released their first singles and started playing live as Dino Gala for the first time.<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://dinogala.bandcamp.com/">https://dinogala.bandcamp.com/</a>Latchkey Kids’ Year of Summers is a modern Greek tragedy about growing up and falling out of love in New Jersey. On their sophomore album, Hanny Ramadan narrates a staggering emo epic that comes alive at basement shows and in beat-up cars, with guitarist Joey Grzybowski and drummer Cyle Morris soaring alongside him. An emotionally ferocious yet tender song cycle about grief, identity, and resilience in the face of an uncertain future, Year of Summers aims straight for the heart with bombastic hooks and sharp storytelling.<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://latchkeykidsnj.bandcamp.com/">https://latchkeykidsnj.bandcamp.com/</a> Friend is an alternative garage noise goblin punk indie rock band from Philadelphia. The power trio has been making waves in the Philly DIY scene for five years and built a reputation around the country for relentless touring and a raucous and high-energy live show. They are gearing up to release their fourth album, “THIS MACHINE MAKES FRIENDS” on November 13th.

Sunday Cruise / Dino Gala / Friend / Latchkey Kids 

Though she has been ubiquitous, thanks to the success of 'Same Love', Ms. Lambert is still a rarity - Jon Caramanica from the New York TimesMary Lambert is not your typical multi-platinum artist. While studying Music Composition at Cornish College of the Arts, she found a home in the spoken word community of Seattle and began experimenting with infusing poetry into her music, performing frequently as a cellist, singer-songwriter, and poet. Lambert had never released music and was juggling multiple food service jobs when she received a call from Macklemore and Ryan Lewis to collaborate on their marriage equality anthem, “Same Love”. Writing and singing the hook to “Same Love” led to an MTV VMA win and two Grammy nominations: Song of The Year and Album of The Year, and culminated in the iconic 2014 Grammys performance, which featured a mass wedding officiated by Queen Latifah and Lambert’s unforgettable duet with Madonna. After the viral success of releasing a standalone version of the song, “She Keeps Me Warm” Lambert shortly signed to Capitol Records. She released Welcome to the Age of My Body, an EP with a re-release of the Top 20 hit “She Keeps Me Warm” and “Body Love”, a spoken-word piece about body image. Later that year, she debuted her first pop song: a tongue-in-cheek single, “Secrets,” that went Gold and shot to No. 1 on the Billboard Dance charts, which was

Mary Lambert

Nicole Mitchell is an award-winning creative flutist, conceptualist and composer. Her first concern is creating projects where she combines her love for nature, liberation and music in an effort to contribute towards the deepening of human consciousness. Joe Westerlund is a North Carolina-based composer and percussionist whose work moves fluidly between song-based forms, experimental music, and improvisation, creating richly textured, rhythmically inventive pieces that bring together percussion, electronics, chamber instrumentation, and unexpected sonic relationships.Together, they draw on their individual relationships to spontaneous composition, Mitchell having been the chair of Chicago’s legendary Association for the Advancement of Creative Music (AACM), and Westerlund a long time pupil of Milford Graves, to create music that is built less from preconception and more from attention.

Nicole Mitchell & Joe Westerlund / Alli Blois with Luke Norton

Make the Yuletide Gay It's your newest holiday tradition! Don your gay apparel and cozy up next to three award-winning songwriters for a night of holiday classics, original music, storytelling, comfort, and joy. 2025 International Folk Music Artist of the Year award winner Crys Matthews is joined by genre-defying artist/activist Heather Mae and shame-slaying singer-songwriter drag queen Flamy Grant for a winter show like no other. We're making merry and celebrating the resilience of the LGBTQ+ community in a time when so many are trying to silence our voices. Don't miss this night of feel-good, uplifting, soul-filling music as we Make the Yuletide Gay for the second year in a row! Crys Matthews Winner of the 2025 International Folk Music Awards Artist of the Year, Nashville resident Crys Matthews is among the brightest stars of the new generation of social justice music-makers. Of Matthews, ASCAP VP &amp; Creative Director Eric Philbrook says, “By wrapping honest emotions around her socially conscious messages and dynamically delivering them with a warm heart and a strong voice, she lifts our spirits just when we need it most in these troubled times.” In her own words, Matthews says her mission is: to amplify the voices of the unheard, to shed light on the unseen, and to be a steadfast reminder that hope and love are the truest pathways to equity and justice. Flamy Grant Flamy Grant is a shame-slaying, hip-swaying, singing-songwriting drag queen from Asheville, North Carolina. Her 2024 record CHURCH hit #8 on the iTunes Country charts and was nominated for 2026 Album of the Year at the International Folk Music Awards, while her 2022 debut record, Bible Belt Baby, reached the #1 spot on the iTunes Christian Chart and cracked the top 20 of Billboard’s Christian digital sales chart. Winner of the 2023 Kerrville Folk Festival New Folk competition, Flamy is powerhouse vocalist and intrepid songwriter who blends country, folk, gospel, and roots, delivering theatrical, therapeutic, and wholly original music shared through the evocative art of drag. Heather Mae Heather Mae is an acclaimed social justice singer-songwriter, fearlessly baring her soul in her music and creating an intimate space of shared vulnerability for her listeners. Her unbridled honesty, both on and off stage, has cultivated a devoted fanbase and garnered recognition including accolades like the winner of the Rocky Mountain Folks Fest Songwriter Showcase and Northeast Regional Folk Alliance Artist-Activist of the Year award. Her luminescent 2019 release, Glimmer, drew parallels to vocal powerhouses Adele and Sara Bareilles. With storytelling depth reminiscent of Florence Welch, each work by Heather Mae unveils a portrait of resilience and self-discovery.

Make the Yuletide Gay with Crys Matthews, Flamy Grant, and Heather Mae

Recorded live to tape in just two days, Robert Ellis’s exquisite new album, Yesterday’s News, is as stripped-down as it gets, with the celebrated songwriter and producer’s delicate, reedy tenor accompanied only by nylon string guitar, upright bass, and the occasional piece of handheld percussion. The arrangements are harmonically sophisticated here, drawing on the open tunings and intricate fingerpicking of English songwriters like Nick Drake or Richard Thompson, and Ellis’s performances are similarly subtle and nuanced, tapping into the bittersweet longing of Chet Baker and the playful poignancy of Bill Evans and Jim Hall. While that might seem surprising coming off 2019’s raucous Texas Piano Man, subverting expectations is nothing new for Ellis. Born and raised outside Houston, he gained early acclaim for his piercing introspection and absorbing narratives, but over the course of five solo albums, he flirted with everything from Paul Simon and John Prine to Elton John and Joni Mitchell in a series of sonic and visual transformations that ran the gamut from Redneck Steely Dan to Lone Star Liberace. NPR hailed his “musical daring and impeccable songcraft,” while Rolling Stone praised his “sharp eye for storytelling,” and the New York Times lauded his writing as an emotional “gut punch.” Yesterday’s News marks Ellis’s debut LP for Niles City Records, an outgrowth of the famed Niles City Sound studio he and longtime collaborator Josh Block run in Fort Worth, TX.

Robert Ellis 

Angela Autumn is a country folk artist from the Appalachia region of Pennsylvania. Blending her sound from roots of her small hometown, she soon brought her childhood stories and buried upbringing to the city of Nashville. Releasing several albums, including “Cowboy Jack Clementine” (2023) and creating countless media videos through her platforms on social media, gaining her over millions of views, her sound and traditions began to be recognized: crowning her the name of “The Rose of Appalachia.”<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.angelaautumnmusic.com/">https://www.angelaautumnmusic.com/</a> Clover-lynn and the Hellfires is a project borned from ashes of olde; of olde memories, olde melodies and an even older spirit. With her roots dug deep into the mountain sides of the Virginia Clover-Lynn pulls at those roots of her heritage in search of both uncanny and hearth. Conjuring the sounds of an old country dance hall, the smell of mold in an old church on Sunday morning, and the warmth of a story passed down from tongues that came before. With the help of her band of Hellfires, Clover-Lynn is able to create a show that reminds those away from home they can always go back and gives others a feeling of yearning for a home they've never known.<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://linktr.ee/hillbillygothicc">https://linktr.ee/hillbillygothicc</a>

Angela Autumn / Clover-Lynn

Kai &amp; Clyde is an alternative rock band from Chapel Hill, consisting of Kai Bishop (vocals, guitar) Clyde Lambe (bass) and Jude Dasher (drums.) Their sound is reminiscent of slacker rock with fuzzed out guitar riffs and cosmic jams.Kai &amp; Clyde streaming:<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://redwhalerecords.bandcamp.com/album/live-at-all-day-records">https://redwhalerecords.bandcamp.com/album/live-at-all-day-records</a> Sharmwe are sharm an alternative noise duo from durham with songs to rock ya mothaSharm Spotify: <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://open.spotify.com/artist/4H93HYtfEZ2wKxvo7uyxjU?si=dLLoqO4ITKiAobiGGbOa2w&amp;utm_source=copy-link">https://open.spotify.com/artist/4H93HYtfEZ2wKxvo7uyxjU?si=dLLoqO4ITKiAobiGGbOa2w&amp;utm_source=copy-link</a>Grave Painters are a rock band from Carrboro, North Carolina comprised of two guys named Henry Clark(e), and twin brothers Luke and Isaac Pendergraft.Grace Painters streaming: <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://gravepainters.bandcamp.com/track/she-gets-me-high-demo">https://gravepainters.bandcamp.com/track/she-gets-me-high-demo</a>

Kai & Clyde / Sharm / Grave Painters

FiNE$$E THA PHANTOM is a musical artist/songwriter/producer originally from Florida, and currently based in North Carolina. The youngest member in the local independent record label, “47 EYEZ ON ME” &amp; also in the rising international art collective, “FLEEGANG”. He just recently released 2 albums, “RES NOVAE”, and “ZOMBIELAND”, so in order to celebrate accordingly expect a night full of loud music, interactive activities, and an immersive theatrical experience tied in with his latest bodies of work!

FiNE$$E THA PHANTOM / 13DGE / SUBATOMIXX / + MORE

Billy Martin (Medeski, Martin and Wood), Matt Glassmeyer (Slow Accordion with Oliver Wood), and Jonathan Goldberger (John Zorn, Joe Russo) venture out for round two of their unyielding sound barrage found on the 2026 album State Fete. Guitarbage, bamboo, steel, trash, experimental electric piano, reedless saxophone, and unmistakable beats are all a guarantee.

Billy Martin + Matt Glassmeyer + Jonathan Goldberger

Ellie K- Boone NC Touring Band, Female fronted indie punk rock Reveri3- Durham Based Ethereal Emo, Female fronted Dead Ringers- Durham Based Rock , Female fronted

Ellie K / Reveri3 / Dead Ringers

<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.bandalcantara.com/">https://www.bandalcantara.com/</a>Formed in 2022 by transplants from the vibrant scenes of Brooklyn, Oakland, New Haven, Raleigh, and Salt Lake City, Alcantara is a riveting ensemble showcasing the talents of Brooke Suffridge, Justin Blau, Eric Bliss, Myles Peterson, and Adrian Drummond-Cole. Pulling in equal measures from indie, post-rock, punk, and post-hardcore, Alcantara specializes in off-kilter grooves and earworm melodies. Songs flow from wistful to wrathful, reflective to rebellious, always bursting with energy. Their live performances around the state have earned them a growing following as well as a spot on Raleigh’s Boared to Death Records.This show is a release and video premiere for the band’s new split single “Cat in the Caterpillar” with Charlotte’s hardcore purveyors, Pretty Baby.Other bands TBD (We’ve asked Cor du Lux and Snide, should have confirmation soon)

Alcantara 

The Durham Square Dance is a community-driven group that supports artistic expression via old time music and collective movement. New and experienced dancers are welcome. You don't need to bring a partner. There's a caller who teaches every move and guides you through the wild adventure. A live band plays rippin' tunes to drive the energy. All in all, your face should hurt by the end from smiling. Family Square Dance, 5-6pm. Slower-paced, for kiddos and their adults. Big Square Dance, 7-9pm. Faster-paced, for anyone out for an adventure. Expect some easy moves, some silly moves, and a good time for anyone. Calling by Nancy Mamlin for both dances.****************************************************You can choose to pay for a $10, $15, or $20 ticket based on your personal financial situation and ability to support the local arts scene. Kids under 12 are free! One ticket will get you into both dances.

Durham Square Dance

Just in time for Durham Pride we have The Conjure bringing in another banger of a queer party for the books with DJs Gemynii, Ebony Red, Femi The Femme, and Ursomajor along with a burlesque performance with Soulty Sweets! Only $10 all night! 🏳️‍🌈

PRIDE DANCE PARTY 

Pat Van Buren - t-girl grungegrass from the 919. songs about struggle, life beyond death, and loving your friends forever<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="http://patvanburen.bandcamp.com">patvanburen.bandcamp.com</a>Boygirl Rising - folk punk songs for the funny fat friend to realize they’re hot to<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="http://boygirlrising.bandcamp.com">boygirlrising.bandcamp.com</a> Peytopia - HARK! Emerging at long last from a secluded tower in a magical glade, PEYTOPIA doth appear! Intimate but not delicate, PEYTOPIA's pop-folk-punk stylings are bound to inspire you to slay that dragon (or perhaps become it). <div data-youtube-video=""><iframe width="640" height="480" allowfullscreen="true" autoplay="false" disablekbcontrols="false" enableiframeapi="false" endtime="0" ivloadpolicy="0" loop="false" modestbranding="false" origin="" playlist="" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/px7pc_NmLgo?is=ElefA7lSP9ECsn0o" start="0"></iframe></div>

Pat Van Buren / Peytopia / Boygirl Rising

On her debut album Switchbacks, Nashville-based artist Hannah Cole finds inspiration in the image of the switchbacks — sinuous twists in the road that obscure what’s ahead. For a young artist making her way in the music industry, it’s a powerful image: we can’t really know what’s ahead for us but — as Cole has learned — you should honk your horn to tell the world you’re coming, and otherwise just enjoy the ride. Melding shoegaze and alternative rock with infectious pop melodies and strains of 90s nostalgia, Switchbacks is a commentary on the pursuit of success and how to protect the pure joy and love that lives at our core.Cole, who grew up in Covington, Louisiana, moved to Nashville in 2019 to study music business and songwriting. There, she was exposed to new sounds and possibilities — and given the permission to dream big. Like her local musical kin Bully and Soccer Mommy, Cole found a way to merge a taste for heavier rock sounds with a studied sense of songwriting craftsmanship. It was this unique blend of style and technique that drew the attention of new independent label Tight Knit Records.Cole and her longtime collaborator and partner Josef Kuhn recorded Switchbacks in their home studio between 2024 and 2025, playing nearly every instrument themselves. Aided by mixer Sonny Diperri (American Football, Wisp, Julie), the album features a much wider and denser sonic palette than Cole’s previous releases, with massive, cathartic splashes of sound that were constructed with the live show in mind.Across the ten tracks of Switchbacks, Cole swings her gaze at many unsettling aspects of the scramble toward success. Lead single “MMA” explores the ugly side of the music industry through the image of Las Vegas. On the brightly off-kilter “Give,” she sings, “I feel like I’ve become an actor, / a TV pastor / climbing up a topless ladder,” explaining that “the pursuit of success can feel like buying lottery tickets all the time for money that you’ll never see.” “Mechanical Bull” seethes with rage as Cole grapples with being seen as just the “girlfriend” in music settings and not being perceived as an equal to her partner, while on “Pitcher,” she’s paralyzed in the face of wanting to achieve perfection. Later, she shrugs off the need to impress on “100 Bucks,” reminding herself that she’s enough for the people she loves.In the summer of 2025, the day after she got home from a successful run of shows opening for Silversun Pickups, Cole got a call that her aunt had passed away. A few days after that, she had a health scare of her own. The whiplash of events prompted her to think a lot about mortality and to reorient her priorities. “You need to slow down,” she told herself. “Life is so short and you need to be content with what you have now.” On hopeful closer “Every New Day,” she sings, “the record keeps on spinning,” reminding herself of the ephemerality of it all.Switchbacks is not only a finely-crafted debut album but also a deeply human artifact, tracing an arc that blazes like a comet to the height of ambition and then leaves you in the shimmer of self-acceptance and contentment. “Success is a moment that comes and goes,” Cole concludes, “but I think the joy and experience that comes with making music is something I can take with me forever.”<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC6rdN0YS196vedJf5HU-pmw">https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC6rdN0YS196vedJf5HU-pmw</a> Durham three-piece Shinesprite jangle with frantic urgency. Taking cues from classic post-punk and modern indie pop, they charge forth into their craft with no respect for their own dignity. <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.instagram.com/shinesprite.nc/">https://www.instagram.com/shinesprite.nc/</a>

Hannah Cole / Shinesprite 

Leah Woehr Leah Woehr is a singer/songwriter from Charlotte, North Carolina. Her music is inspired by her southern upbringing (thank you Tennessee, Texas, and North Carolina), women who play piano very, very well (love you Carole King and Sara Bareilles), and past and current loves.<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://leahwoehr.bandcamp.com/">https://leahwoehr.bandcamp.com/</a>David Travis and the Generation ThreeA twenty-five-year veteran of guitar-driven music, David Travis has fronted power pop and punk bands as well as strummed in Americana, indie and garage rock groups while touring the east coast. He is based in the Raleigh-Durham-Chapel Hill area of North Carolina.<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://open.spotify.com/album/2PaF8DSMI2CxAHOG4lTRmA?uid=f22424647d3592c8e84f&amp;uri=spotify:track:09oTsQo1hL2eVcHuJLHcoR">https://open.spotify.com/album/2PaF8DSMI2CxAHOG4lTRmA?uid=f22424647d3592c8e84f&amp;uri=spotify:track:09oTsQo1hL2eVcHuJLHcoR</a>Brian K &amp; The Parkway and Juliana Finch are already on the page.

David Travis and the Generation Three / Leah Woehr / Brian K & The Parkway / Juliana Finch

You may have seen other a night of 1000 “ insert artist name” but you haven’t seen one like this!The kings are out and ready to give you a night of 1000 Justin Timberlakes😏😏 We’re here to Rock Your Body and bring SexyBack 😉 Featuring some of NC’s hottest drag kings 👑- Dixon Durham 😩- Pirata 😈- Jay Pride 😌💦Hosted by your Durham Daddy , S.S. Byrdie 🤭😏😉Join us during this years Durham Pride week!!! My Love we hope to see you there! For a Night of 1000 Justin Timberlakes 🔥🤤😮‍💨

Night of 1000 Justin Timberlakes feat: Pirata / Dixon Durham / Jay Pride 

On September 29th, Almighty Records brings another night of music, community, and underground talent to Durham, NC, headlined by Noahh. Founded by rising artist AlmightyPat, Almighty Records is focused on creating real opportunities for artists while building its presence within North Carolina’s underground music scene.Headliner Noahh, artist and owner of inthafest, has built a thriving community known for consistently bringing people together through engaging, community-driven events. This collaboration represents two growing platforms coming together with one goal: building the culture, connecting communities, and giving upcoming talent a place to shine.

Noahh / Jay Hicks / JahWiick / Jay4oe

<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.youtube.com/@powerplantxxx">https://www.youtube.com/@powerplantxxx</a> <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.facebook.com/ppowerplant">https://www.facebook.com/ppowerplant</a> <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://open.spotify.com/artist/6Uh9lH1RiHWp6z8t2wXZDx">https://open.spotify.com/artist/6Uh9lH1RiHWp6z8t2wXZDx</a> <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.instagram.com/powerplantxx/">https://www.instagram.com/powerplantxx/</a>Formerly a solo project of Ukrainian Theo Zhykharyev, POWERPLANT is now a fully-membered band with Theo on guitar and vocals, supported by bass, drum, and synth (didn’t see any credits on this particular release to name them, however).Blab School is a post-punk quartet from North Carolina. Their self-titled debut LP came out on NC's Fort Lowell Records and is available on all streaming platforms.Taking philosophical cues from American post-punk bands like the Wipers and Talking Heads, also incorporating the goth-adjacent tones of bands like Joy Division and Killing Joke, and adding the often danceable and joyfully nihilistic aesthetic of 21st-century punk, Blab School makes music that is simultaneously urgent and fun, upbeat and crooked, loud and thoughtful.Pronounced "Debt." Freaky punky synthy for fans of Killed By Death comps and filling out mad libs.<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://weareindet.bandcamp.com/album/full-length-preview-cassette">https://weareindet.bandcamp.com/album/full-length-preview-cassette</a><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://instagram.com/de_tband">https://instagram.com/de_tband</a>

Powerplant / Blab School / De()t 

Fifth Floor is a high-energy pop-rock band inspired by the electrifying sounds of 5 Seconds of Summer, Paramore, and other iconic alternative pop rock acts. Known for their dynamic performances and catchy, emotionally charged songs, Fifth Floor brings a fresh, vibrant energy to every stage they step on. With driving rhythms, infectious melodies, and a passion for connecting with their audience, they strive to make every show unforgettable.Mellow, woozy and romantic shimmer pop from Greensboro, NC. Bedroom Division is the recording project from songwriter, producer and multi-instrumentalist Dylan Wishon. Fusing mellow, home grown indie rock with polished pop production and nostalgic synths, he crafts soundscapes inspired by well known artists such as Mac DeMarco, Djo, Bleachers, and The 1975Grace Lucia is a genre-blending rock and roll artist based in Wake Forest, NC, known for high-energy and heartfelt performances that light up bars, restaurants, and stages across the Research Triangle. Her original music fuses elements of dreampop, goth, pop punk, and classic rock, balancing grit and vulnerability in songs about resilience, love, and loss. With a voice that cuts through and a stage presence that pulls you in, Grace and her backup band create an atmosphere where every show feels personal. She doesn’t just play for a crowd—she plays with them. Grace Lucia delivers whether you're ready to dance, laugh, cry, or connect.

Fifth Floor / Bedroom Division / Grace Lucia

Saturday September 26th10pm to 2am Our second cross dress event! The first was such a success showing us your high fashion gender bending moments. Now it’s time to strip an article or two and cross dress for LESSDURHAM PRIDE EDITION The Pinhook | 117 W Main St$8-$10 DJSursomajor b2b Ebony RedMàs CulinaKali Fuchis DragAllda SmokeMissy V Sour

CROSS DRESS FOR LESS 

Come kick off Durham Pride weekend with a flash tattoo fundraising event benefiting Youth Rock NC at the Pinhook on Saturday, September 26th from 1-6pm! Hang out at Pinhook, admire the amazing work done by local queer/trans artists, and maybe get a tattoo of your own! This is a sliding- flash tattoo event with the minimum pricing starting at $75.YRNC (formerly known as Girls Rock NC) is a youth-centered music education summer camp and organization dedicated to building community and power among girls, transgender youth, and gender-expansive youth across the Triangle area. This fundraising event will help ensure operations can continue into 2027, and allow us to continue providing programming for youth of marginalized genders in our area!Check out Youth Rock NC's website (<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.girlsrocknc.org/">https://www.girlsrocknc.org/</a>) or Instagram (@youthrocknc) for more info.

Youth Rock NC and Durham Pride Flash Tattoos

Friday September 25th you are cordially invited to the gayest show in town , a sure carnal delight to make you feel right. Come reveal in the rhythms of the remarkable cast of “Cirque de Moulin Rouge!”At 9pm come and delight in a clowningly good time, with DJ dance party before the open of the event that is sure to starch your collars and make your bustles shake. So rouge your knees and pinch those cheeks. It’s time to taste the forbidden fruit and celebrate Pride like it is Gay Ole Paris!Vous êtes scandaleusement invités au cirque du Moulin Rouge.Friday Sept 25th @the_pinhook 9pm-2amWith @dj.ray.yesterdaie and DJ @jblissmusic Live acts at 9pm, Dance Party and GoGo at 10:30pm, Drag and Burlesque at 11pmFeaturing: @cri5luna @gizmodragking @thekarabao @anthromex @tori2grace @s.s.byrdie @<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="http://mx.c.mh">mx.c.mh</a> @bubbles.liqueur @theafterafterafterafterparty @drumstiqck @naomidix_h.o.c and hosted by me @stormiedaie

PRIDE EVENT: Le Cirque du Moulin Rouge Drag Show 

Blends With Friends presents BLENDRBLENDR is a contest where the crowd at our Blends With Friends open decks night casts votes for their favorite artist of night. The winners play paid 1 hour sets at the BLENDR showcase for a crowd of screaming fans!Our final round of voting is Wednesday, September 9th, where we will be selecting our fourth and final winner to perform at BLENDR on Thursday, September 24th!Meet our winners so far:GROOVY TEEDJ HIMBOBOOSHIE MYSTIC??? (Round 4 on September 9th)Thursday, September 24thOpen decks 8pmDJ sets start 9pm$5 cover at the door Powered by Party Illegal <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="http://partyillegal.com">partyillegal.com</a>

BLENDR

“The synergy between them makes you want to be a part of the party.” - Melissa Clarke, Americana HighwaysBorn and raised in Knoxville, TN, Sally Buice and Molly Rochelson of The Montvales spent much of their formative years busking amidst the Elvis impersonators and musical saw players of the town’s Market Square, honing their uniquely boisterous harmonies and perfecting the art of people-watching. Some fifteen years later, the two are still at it-maintaining their study of the robust chaos of the commons as they tour the country playing their descriptive, textured songs on the self-described “feral outskirts of country music.”&nbsp; Their lyrics tackle everything from heartbreak to gentrification to abortion rights, pulling audiences in alongside their well-worn harmonies and nearly telepathic musical connection.&nbsp;&nbsp;In 2020, the Montvales recorded their first album Heartbreak Summer Camp in a living room. The stripped-down, DIY folksongs span their young adulthood, beginning in their teens and taking them through their mid 20s. Then, seeking a more polished, full-band sound, the duo recorded their next album Born Strangers at Sean Sullivan’s Tractor Shed Studio in Goodlettsville, TN, recruiting Nashville stalwart Mike Eli LoPinto (guitarist for Chris Stapleton, producer of Emily Nenni’s On the Ranch) to produce it.&nbsp; The record garnered them a dedicated cult following and has been featured by outlets such as Holler, American Songwriter, Twangville, and more.&nbsp;&nbsp;The Montvales have gone on to share the stage with bands like Willy Tea Taylor and the Fellership, The Local Honeys, James McMurtry, and Mama’s Broke, and have appeared at festivals such as Healing Appalachia and the Old Quarter Songwriter Festival.&nbsp; In 2025 they signed with Free Dirt Records to release the single “Loud and Clear”, with a hint at more new music to come.&nbsp;“Addressing issues ranging from self-determination to money, (Born Strangers) is also infused with opinions on gender. According to both performers, music allows each to express deeply-held beliefs – such as thoughts on reproductive freedom – in a way they believe might be more unrestrained and effective than what other communication methods might allow. This freedom to express a range of beliefs – popular, unpopular, controversial, mundane, weird, hyper-personal, or anything in between – lures many to make a life of music. The power of this isn’t lost on The Montvales…It’s something some of their musical heroes understood well, acts such as The Indigo Girls and The Chicks. The Montvales clearly aim to be just as forthright.”—The Bluegrass Standard“I deeply appreciate message-driven music that doesn’t hit you over the head with its message but rather lures you in with listenability, letting the impact of the lyrics build subtly. Born Strangers is a masterclass in this technique. The first track, “Woman of God,” lets you know this won’t be an empty-headed affair or a collection of well-trodden cliches…Every one of the 12 songs on Born Strangers manages to sound distinct while contributing to an effortlessly cohesive feel. The Montvales have created a gorgeous, thoughtful album that contains enough unique instrumental elements and intriguing lyrics to yield more meaning and enjoyment from every replay.”—Adventures in Americana“Subtle, beautiful observations and a blast of activism.”—Americana UK“...bright and soulful harmonies…”—Glide Magazine

The Montevales

yee haw fuck the law!&nbsp; 3RD Tuesday of every month will be QUEER LINE DANCE NIGHT.&nbsp; This night will be about all the line dances you know and the two you'll learn tonight! We'll follow the format of line dance instruction at 730 and 830&nbsp;​and then do line dance sign ups and and do three dances on and one rest song until the night is OVER :) Come sweat it OUT you queermosexuals! Sign up for our email list (at this night or queer country night) to get the dances in advance!&nbsp; Do you want to teach?&nbsp; Let us know. Donations please - $5-$10 no one turned away!&nbsp;&nbsp;Some dances may include:&nbsp;Country girl shake 3 So hot you’re hurting my feelings Walk the line Fuego High class Burn it to the ground Pieces to the puzzle High horse Texas time Askin questions The wolf My Maria&nbsp; Rattlesnake kiss Four on the floor Easy rider Cowgirls Redneck angel Honky tonk way 6s to 9sCopperhead Road&nbsp;

Queer Line Dance Night!  

Annie Stirling - Annie Stirling is a dynamic and talented singer/songwriter, originally from Vermont and currently based in Richmond, VA. Annie started performing her original music live at age thirteen, cultivating her skills into a unique folk americana style. Her writing is inspired by her experiences growing up queer in rural America, creating universally relatable stories through deeply personal lyricism. Since the start of her career, she has rapidly progressed from playing local coffee shops to booking festivals and events, establishing herself as an attention-capturing, powerful new voice in the Richmond music scene.Emanuel Wynter - Hailing from Charlotte, classically trained violinist and songwriter Emanuel Wynter is taking ears and stages by storm with a distinctive sound and a lively, high-spirited stage presence that is infectious to everyone in the room. Taking influence from artists such as Anthony Hamilton, Leon Bridges, and Gary Clark Jr., Emanuel’s sound is a unique, vibrant, and expressive blend of R&amp;B and Rock that manages to be raw in emotion and refined, sonically. He finds a way to sing, not only through rich and soulful vocals, but through his electrifying violin playing that is, at times, quite reminiscent of electric guitar. With dynamic musicianship and sincere lyricism, Emanuel Wynter is sure to keep your toes tapping and your soul singing.Katie Blvd - Katie Blvd is a multi-instrumentalist, singer/songwriter, and beat maker from Raleigh, NC. She plays locally around Greensboro, while also popping up in Winston Salem, Durham, Raleigh and Asheville. She is known for her smoky-sweet-deep voice, unconventional lyricism, bosso nova style guitar, and soul filled 90's inspired beat selections. She writes with hopes that people understand her, leave with insight, and a different view on the way to approach music and life itself.Turn on screen reader supportTrying to connect. Banner hiddenTo enable screen reader support, press ⌘+Option+Z To learn about keyboard shortcuts, press ⌘slash

Annie Stirling / Emanuel Wynter / Katie Blvd

Some Random Party is a genre-bending, category defying dance party for anyone who likes their nights a little unpredictable.&nbsp; Expect an eclectic mix of sounds, styles, and DJ’s bringing hteir own flavor to the dance floor.&nbsp; &nbsp;No boxes, no rules, no musical loyalty required.&nbsp; Just good energy, good people, and something you’ll definitely want to dance to.&nbsp; $5.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Some Random Party Vol. 1 

INTRODUCING BOOTYMASTERS VOL.I, a love letter to the sweat-soaked lineage of music made for throwing ass, brought to you by Sonic Essence in collaboration with Sex Party! We’re tapping into the energy of a 90s Miami club night and tracing the booty bass lineage outward: Miami bass, funk carioca, teknobass, ghettotech, Atlanta booty, electro, breaks, and beyond. Fast, freaky, low-end music all night, sure to keep you on your feet. Let’s get nasty 😈We’ve always been serious about throwing ass… that’s why for the first time ever we are doing a twerk competition! Come flaunt your skills for a chance to win $50 and the title of BOOTYMASTERS VOL. I champion!We are amped to feature Spell, who is joining us from Asheville and bringing firsthand energy from her time in the Miami circuit, alongside a lineup ready to keep the pressure on.Come loose. Come loud. Come ready to sweat. 🍑🔊$10 all night long, doors 8 PM, music 9 PM. 18+ event.

BOOTYMASTERS  VOL.I

Join us for a fantastic, femme forward lineup of hip hop and R&amp;B from the NC community. Jane Deux, Kylah Leshon, Pynk Moscato, Deja Imani, and Jai Jemini perform live, hosted by emcee Jewel the Gem. September 17th, 8PM at The Pinhook, Durham NC. Tickets $12 advance, $15 at door.

Kyla Leshon / Pynk Moscato / Deja Imani / Jane Deux / Jai Jemini

Jake Blount is a performer and scholar of Black folk music based in Providence, RI. Initially recognized for his skill as a string band musician, Blount has synthesized his scholarly and artistic pursuits into a diverse performance practice that has taken him to Carnegie Hall, Newport Folk Festival, NPR’s Tiny Desk, and beyond. His albums, released on Free Dirt Records and Smithsonian Folkways Recordings, have been featured in best-of lists from NPR, The New Yorker, and Rolling Stone. His scholarly publications include “Jail the Zombie: Black Banjoists, Biopolitics, and Archives,” published in Modern American History. He also served as a music consultant for the movie Sinners, and performed on the soundtrack of Ken Burns’s The American Revolution. Blount holds an A.M. in Musicology and Ethnomusicology from Brown University, where he is working toward a Ph.D. in the same and a second master’s degree in Anthropology. A new string band record is forthcoming in September 2026.Website: <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://jakeblount.com">https://jakeblount.com</a>

Jake Blount / Colin Cutler 

Acopia is a band from Naarm/Melbourne, formed in 2018 by Kate Durman, Lachlan McGeehan, and Morgan Wright. Working with restraint and atmosphere, their music unfolds slowly and deliberately, guided by instinct and emotion. Their debut album Chances was released in 2022 on Melbourne imprint Companion, followed by a self-titled, self-released LP in 2023. Since then, they’ve sold out headline shows across the UK, Europe, and Australia, performed at festivals including Wide Awake (UK), Les Nuits Botanique (BE), and Golden Plains (AUS), and shared the stage with artists such as Bar Italia, Tirzah, and Raisa K. Their third album, Blush Response, is due out in September 2025 via London label Scenic Route.Killdeer is the musical project of North Carolina artist Madison Grifaldo. Her sound explores the connection between folk, dream pop, new age, and more.

Acopia / Lilly Flower / Killdeer

<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.alkcm.com/">https://www.alkcm.com/</a>

Alex Cameron /  Josh De Costa

COME DANCE for FREE / DONATIONS / whatever just come dance!&nbsp; 18 PLUS.&nbsp; ROLL YOUR BODY with one of the best DJ’s in town.&nbsp;&nbsp;

BODY ROLL DANCE PARTY 

Pocket Nightmare Productions brings you Celestial Bodies: An Out of This World Burlesque and Drag Show. Our headliner is sweeter than a Bojangles Tea; a producer and performer from Charlotte, NC: Shirley Sweet! Also featuring the amazing talents of:Boom-Boom BathoryBubbles LiqueurDandelion LazarEdie SativaLeo LushLia Blake Mx. Princexx PeritwinkleOblivion Tank O’ SugarXenus Xero Zorra Obscura Headliner: Shirley Sweet Hosted by Holly Pocket

Celestial Bodies Starring Shirley Sweet

"For a decade now, Hilton's band Nana Grizol has wound long-winding narratives around scrappy pop songs that explore identity and anti-capitalist philosophy, but are also incredibly sweet and kind." -Lars Gotrich, NPR"Seven years have passed since the band’s sophomore release Ruth, and now Ursa Minor has reared its cathartic head not a moment too soon. Much like the titular constellation serves as a navigator, Hilton and company have returned with yet another tried and true travelogue to hashing out the details of the universe when whittled down to the increments of the day-to-day interactions within, both latent and subtle." -Ryan Gabos, The Big Takeover"Nana Grizol songs are so heart-wrenchingly beautiful and meaningful, complete with lyrics that make you rethink your entire attitude towards life and not feel so alone." -Liz Riley Tollefson, Three Imaginary GirlsMiddnight:&nbsp;Dark Folk for the heart hungry (<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.instagram.com/middnighttmusic/">https://www.instagram.com/middnighttmusic/</a>)&nbsp;Kym Register (Meltdown Rodeo / Loamlands) is trying out a few new songs in a super short opener set.&nbsp; Basically just trying to chill with their friends :)&nbsp;&nbsp;<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.meltdownrodeo.com/">https://www.meltdownrodeo.com/</a>

Nana Grizol / Middnightt / Kym Register 

W/ DJ Gay Agenda / DJ Morrow

Anthrosonixx 

Jacksonville “nu-emocore” band Gilt released their sophomore album, I Saw Myself in the Black Screen, through Orlando imprint Smartpunk earlier this summer, and it sees the young band stretching their legs creatively in new and adventurous ways.Blending emo screams, dizzying post-hardcore drums and undeniable nu-metal melodies, their new music has a nostalgic, skramzy early-Hot Topic vibe while pushing forward through experimental off-ramps. The band typically leans more emo, but injected other genres into their latest album seamlessly. - Asa Carvajal / Orlando Weekly

Manic Third Planet  / GILT / The Moon Ringers

Anna Graves is an alt-folk artist whose music casts spells through storytelling. Raised on a farm in southern Minnesota, she left home chasing big dreams and bright lights, only to return years later and rediscover the mystical magic that first sparked her songwriting. Her sound weaves cinematic pop melodies with folk intimacy where vulnerability transforms into power, and heartbreak alchemizes into healing. With over 25 million global streams and syncs in the Golden Globe-nominated series Nobody Wants This, as well as Brilliant Minds, and Chicken Sisters, Graves has built a devoted following through authentic connection rather than traditional industry machinery. Her most recent single “Hollow Bones” has 1.6M streams driven entirely by fan passion, with 15K+ TikTok creates (18M+ views) sparking organic trends across witchtok and home aesthetic communities. The track resonated so deeply that Shaboozey selected it as one of his five favorite songs for Harper’s Bazaar. She’s opened for legends like Stevie Nicks, The Head and the Heart, and Maren Morris, bringing her intimate acoustic storytelling to stages across North America. Now signed to Rounder Records, Graves returns with Burn On, a song she first wrote in high school, rediscovered on an old computer, and reimagined with producer Davis Naish (Forest Blakk, Thomas Day, Betany Cosentino, Maggie Rose). The result is a haunting anthem of rediscovery that feels both ancient and urgent, grounded in Minnesota soil but reaching toward something universal. Where folk music meets mystical storytelling, where farm life intersects with literary fantasy that’s where you’ll find Anna Graves, singing songs for the haunted and the hopeful.<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.instagram.com/annagravesmusic/?hl=en">https://www.instagram.com/annagravesmusic/?hl=en</a> <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://open.spotify.com/artist/4j9vFTGkTHf54MjcZvedcT">https://open.spotify.com/artist/4j9vFTGkTHf54MjcZvedcT</a>

Anna Graves / Nicole Tester 

#BlendsWithFriends is an open decks DJ skill share event 1rst and 3rd Wednesdays at The Pinhook in Durham! Come learn to DJ, spin some tunes, play with synths and make new friends. From 8pm-midnight, people will be able to sign up for short sets. All skill levels are welcome and instruction is available. Bring records, USBs or a hard drive of music. Donations please!&nbsp; Help us keep this event alive!&nbsp;Learn more about #BlendsWithFriends: <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.treeecity.com/blog/2021/12/12/how-do-you-blendswithfriends">https://www.treeecity.com/blog/2021/12/12/how-do-you-blendswithfriends</a>

Los Angeles based electronic duo Spike Hellis comprises of Cortland Gibson and Elaine "Lainey" Chang, who got their start on Halloween of 2019. They self-released their first full-length, self-titled album in April 2022 under their imprint Over-Pop. Since finishing the album, Spike Hellis has hit the road hard with zero hesitation—completing tours throughout North America, Europe and Latin America. They've performed in good company with artists and friends, including Front 242, Nitzer Ebb, ADULT., Kontravoid, Choir Boy, Portrayal of Guilt, Plack Blague, Pixel Grip, Twin Tribes and numerous others. They have made frequent appearances at festivals such as Cold Waves, Ombra, Grauzone, Sound and Fury, Substance and Sanctum. Spike Hellis will release their sophomore LP, Successor, on August 7, 2026, followed by an extensive fall tour across the US and Canada. Blasting their bleak outlook and spreading their gospel of disenchantment and sarcasm, Spike Hellis announce their arrival. Nuxx is the electro project of musician and visual artist Madeline Seely. Taking inspiration from EBM, 90's techno, big beat, drum and bass, and digital hardcore, Seely has made Nuxx into a grimy yet-dancy powerhouse. Known for her dynamic performances, Seely has taken the project on tours through the US, Europe and Mexico. Since her 2020 demo, and through her most recent releases, "FTEV" and "No Money" (both out on NYC powerhouse Synthicide Records) Nuxx shows a direct evolution both as a musician and producer. Never one to slow down, Nuxx can be found somewhere between the strobe lights as her music pumps through your system.

Spike Hellis / NUXX / Corpse Dust 

BLAT (Latin Post-Punk / Darkwave) leads an energetic night of alternative sounds at The Pinhook, featuring special guests Homeostasis (DIY Alt-Punk) and The Band "&amp;" (Variety Fusion / Groove Rock). Listen to BLAT on streaming: <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://ffm.to/b80ygkg">https://ffm.to/b80ygkg</a>

BLAT / Homeostasis / The Band "&"

FIRST FRIDAYS we are hosting donation based KARAOKE here @ The Pinhook!&nbsp; This is a historic night and has taken shape as Emo / 90’s / Pop / Power Ballad / RnB / Punk etc Karaoke Nights.&nbsp; This time its everything goes - everything that is in good taste ie aligns with our values of creating safer spaces.&nbsp; SO COME!&nbsp; PARTY!&nbsp; SING!&nbsp; DANCE!&nbsp; We’re here and queer and ready to get weird and wild on stage.&nbsp;&nbsp;

First Friday Karaoke! 

If you wanna understand Dani-Rae Clark, you’ll have to meet Loretta first. Loretta is a calm, quizzical, quiet pitbull with a lazy eye and a loving demeanor. She’s named for the classic country queen of upstart women, and you better believe that’s by design. If a dog does indeed mimic its owner, Loretta’s comfort in the widest array of venues, in clubs and theaters and dancehalls and dives, serve as a perfect foil for Dani-Rae, who thrives on any stage for any audience. So poignant are their songs that tales of queer and tragic love could melt even the most hardened heart and open the most narrow mind. Their songs are undeniably universal and inclusively human.A gut punch, an understanding embrace, a hand through your hair, Dani-Rae’s unmistakable songs unite an ever-unfolding breadth of experiences. Their methodically thrifted vintage blouses and dresses are just as much an homage to 40s and 50s country legends like Kitty Wells and Patsy Cline as they are a sleeve to cry on for a friend—or roll up for a fight. They write with a brutal honesty and devilishly coy poetic flair, delivered in their confident, expressive, and absolutely haunting alto.<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.daniraeclark.com/music">https://www.daniraeclark.com/music</a>&nbsp;Born and raised in North Carolina, John Rodney is a queer country singer/songwriter with a sound that harkens back to the golden age of country music and honest lyrics that tell of the experiences of rural queer people. Inspired by artist such as Lavender Country, Townes Van Zandt, and the honky tonk heroes of old, John Rodney brings together outlaw country and queer music in a loud, proud, and defiant fashion.<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://johnrodneymusic.com/home">https://johnrodneymusic.com/home</a>

Dani-Rae Clark / John Rodney 

Big D and the Kids Table front man David McWane has said, "There are people who want to be in a band and then there are musicians." Once in a while a group comes along that makes music simply because they have no other choice - they are addicted musicians.<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.facebook.com/bigdboston">https://www.facebook.com/bigdboston</a> <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.instagram.com/bigdandthekidstable">https://www.instagram.com/bigdandthekidstable</a> <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://x.com/bigdboston">https://x.com/bigdboston</a>East Los Ska Punk from sick ass foos for sick ass foos. Est. 2001 - follow us on all social media handles and streaming platforms<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.instagram.com/matamoska">https://www.instagram.com/matamoska</a> <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.facebook.com/OfficialMatamoska/">https://www.facebook.com/OfficialMatamoska/</a>Traditional ska, rocksteady, and reggae. Inspired by the legends of Studio One, Treasure Isle, and Black Ark Studios. From heavy groovers made to move your feet to the sweet melodies of lover’s rock, the Unsustainables will make you bubble.“[The Unsustainables’ latest album, ‘Every Broken Heart Will Mend’] feels genuine, marked by influences while maintaining its own identity. They reimagine the genre through their own perspective while recalling from others in the genre such as the New Your Ska Jazz Ensemble. Without a doubt, this is a band worth adding to your radar so you can closely follow their future updates, new releases, and live performances.” - Frecuencia Ska, Ep. #123, “Forging Legends,” April 2026

Big D and The Kids Table / Matamoska / The Unsustainables

Saddle Up Sissies…. Welcome to Queer Country Night. EVERY FIRST TUESDAY OF THE MONTH and QUEER LINE DANCING NIGHT every THIRD TUESDAY of the month. These sometimes change - so sign up for our queer country night specific email list and we'll keep you posted. <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://app.hive.co/l/3ym1nr">https://app.hive.co/l/3ym1nr</a> All ages. $5-$10 sliding scale! Get the hitch out of your giddyup and sashe on over to queer country night at The Pinhook from 7-11 or 12. The only constant will be country – karoake and line dancing w/ friends ... Saddle up sissy’s and lez do this – see you here ? It is what you make it! Tell your partner(s)? Karaoke will start at 7pm! The first line dance will be VERY beginner friendly and start at 730 (ISH). Until the next line dance lesson @ 830 / 9 we'll do a mix of karaoke and pretty simple line dances / karaoke and THEN we'll move to 1 for one - line dance / karaoke sign up after the 2nd line dance lesson. Is so fun and below are some dances that come up OFTEN at the end of the night. SOME LINE DANCES TO LEARN (yes they're all on youtube) Country girl shake3So hot you’re hurting my feelingsWalk the lineFuegoHigh classBurn it to the groundPieces to the puzzleHigh horseTexas timeAskin questionsThe wolfMy Maria Rattlesnake kissFour on the floorEasy riderCowgirlsRedneck angelHonky tonk way6s to 9s <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://9thstreetjournal.org/2024/04/29/a-more-inclusive-nashville-inside-durhams-queer-country-music-scene/">https://9thstreetjournal.org/2024/04/29/a-more-inclusive-nashville-inside-durhams-queer-country-music-scene/</a>

Queer Country Night 

Jake McKelvie has traveled the DIY touring circuit in the US and UK for over a decade, carving out a niche for himself as a songwriter and performer. Known for his off-kilter "stream of self-consciousness" lyricism, he sings his songs either as a solo performer or with his newly minted backing band, "the New Old Band".“McKelvie has carved himself a niche as a songwriter, combining a rapid delivery with stream-of-self-consciousness writing in a manner so singular that it is never in question whose songs are being played.” - ImposeLocal support from Rodes Baby!

Jake McKelvie / Rodes Baby

The official after party to Black August in the Park.&nbsp;Primrose + The Pinhook&nbsp; - 2 Venues, 1 Vibe, and a connected back patio.

Official Black August in the Park After Party

Come shake sum’n with us at QUEERNIK: a night for the girls, gays, theys, and allies to dance, connect, and celebrate community. 💃🏽🕺🏽💖🎧 Music by: Himbo, VSPRTN, Tausi &amp; Fruitti PebblesExpect high-energy vibes, queer joy, wild dreams, and a dance floor where everyone belongs.

Queernik Dance Party

Blanket:Shoegaze/Post Rock/Grunge band from North West UK.Hailing from Blackpool (UK), Blanket have&nbsp;steadily carved out their place in the UK&nbsp;music&nbsp;scene with their immersive blend of post-rock, shoegaze, and cinematic soundscapes.&nbsp; Following the success of their critically&nbsp;acclaimed studio albums , Modern Escapism&nbsp;(Music&nbsp;for Nations) and Ceremonia (Church Road&nbsp;Records), the band have embarked on UK&nbsp;and&nbsp;European tours alongside Better Lovers, Slow&nbsp;Crush, Intersphere and many more.&nbsp; Blanket have also been gracing the stages of&nbsp;some of the UK’s most revered festivals,&nbsp;including 2000 Trees and ArcTanGent, where&nbsp;their rich, textured soundscapes resonated&nbsp;with fans old and new.&nbsp; Now back in the studio, Blanket have turned&nbsp;their focus to their roots, embracing the lush,&nbsp;dreamlike qualities of shoegaze as they craft&nbsp;their highly anticipated fourth studio album,&nbsp;set for release later this year.The Missing Piece is shoegaze, alternative, hardcore sounds from washington, dc.&nbsp; Recently viral band The Missing Peace has gained attention for their unique emotion and live energy.&nbsp; Their debut EP, THE VOID, has reached over 4M streams since being released in August 2025Day Aches:After breaking through with their “Promo 21” EP (Over 1 million streams) and their landmark debut LP, One Last Dream Before Dying (over 3.5 million streams), Day Aches has emerged as a driving force in the rapidly growing alternative and shoegaze scene of recent years. Blending grunge fueled shoegaze with elements of hardcore and nu metal, the band has carved out a sound that feels both nostalgic, yet forward thinking.Signing with Other People Records in 2026 to release their latest single, “In Water”, Day Aches continues to be a driving force in the Nügaze landscape&nbsp; as they continue to tour ahead of their next big release later in the year.

Blanket / The Missing Peace / Day Aches

Lie Heavy: Lie Heavy is a band bringing together notable N.C. rockers, Karl Agell, Graham Fry, Jeff JD Dennis &amp; Cary Rowells. You may know them from some of their previous musical forays with Corrosion of Conformity, The Backsliders, Leadfoot, Confessor, and Deltoid.The Lie Heavy sound draws on the original hard 'n’ groovy jams of Black Sabbath, Mountain, Thin Lizzy, Deep Purple and other hard rock and metal masters, mixed with some punk and hardcore influences, then fused with their own massive experience to craft heavy riffs, rhythms, melodies and songs.<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://lieheavy.bandcamp.com">https://lieheavy.bandcamp.com</a>Smoke: Smoke is a heavy psychedelic rock band from Lynchburg, Virginia. Dalton Huskin (vocals/guitar), Ben Gold (lead guitar), Alex Thurston (drums), and Stephen Tyree (bass) blend a heady mix of psychedelic rock, southern fuzz, and Sabbathian doom with “lyrical pearls of schizophrenic wisdom” (Frazer Jones, Desert Psychlist). The band’s debut album, Groupthink, reached number 65 on the Doom Charts Top 100 Albums of 2022. They followed it up in 2023 with a split LP with Doomsday Profit.<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://thecultofsmoke.bandcamp.com">https://thecultofsmoke.bandcamp.com</a>Iguanahead: Since clawing their way into the Nashville scene in 2022, Iguanahead has sunk its talons into the raw essence of rock music. Constantly shedding their skin to reveal new influences and grooves, while staying true to their "unpolished" sound, the band brings introspective and exploratory themes together with melodic riffs and bone-rattling energy. The result is what Iguanahead calls Lizardcore, the title of their first self released EP.<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://iguanahead.bandcamp.com">https://iguanahead.bandcamp.com</a>Doomsday Profit: Durham, N.C. sludge metal band Doomsday Profit have built upon their foundations of gritty, groovy, and psych-splattered sludge with their self-titled album. As ever, Doomsday Profit has a finger pointed squarely at the powers that be, but they’ve also learned to turn their ire inward, and balance their vitriol with melancholic nuance. This broader approach has turned their already dynamic performances into a must-see, with a live resume that includes Hopscotch Music Festival and Seismic Summer, as well as supporting slots with established acts like Thou, The Obsessed, Black Tusk, REZN, and Restless Spirit.<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://doomsdayprofit.bandcamp.com">https://doomsdayprofit.bandcamp.com</a>

Lie Heavy / Smoke /  Iguanahead / Doomsday Profit

"Destructo Disk is a Richmond, VA–based DIY punk trio delivering a chaotic, genre-blurring take on punk music. Formed in 2015, the band has grown into a formidable force, known for explosive live shows and a fiercely independent approach to writing, recording, and releasing music. Blending elements of hardcore, indie rock, and beyond, their sound balances sharp humor with introspective songwriting, evolving from early politically charged material into more layered, personal work. Reveri3 is a 4-piece ethereal metal band based out of Durham, NC. Their energetic and passionate live performances hook the audience into a feeling of heaviness and nostalgia. Inspired by Evanescence and metal of the Early 2000s, Reveri3 ties together distorted guitars, classical piano, and ethereal vocals to invite feelings of beauty and feminine rage to their listeners.Tenderqueer is a 3-piece femme punk band based out of NC. With tons of passion and zero tolerance for bullshit, Tenderqueer is ready to rage against the machine by breaking back onto the scene with a high energy mix of femme-forward rage and punk rock roots. Diamonds may be a girls' best friend, but righteous anger is a girl's best weapon. "

Destructo Disk / Reveri3 / Tenderqueer

Harvested in the roaming hills of the lower piedmont mountains, Adeem the Artist shows teeth on “notes from inside.” In short bursts of literary folk songs that draw inspiration from a full library of greater Roots sounds, Adeem traverses the complexities of pinball, suicide, &amp; grand larceny.Frenetic &amp; electrifying; the new collection nests at the intersection of stand-up comedy, social commentary, and well-seasoned country songs that follow the likes of Tyler Childers in expanding the genre. Their thematic albums and confounding one-person-show invite audiences to lead with curiosity, &amp; disarm their expectations of the other.Recorded in three hours at Pink Moon Studios in Knoxville, TN &amp; released one week later, it is brash in its urgency &amp; unflinching in its vulnerability as it reimagines the soundscape of the greater American South.

Adeem The Artist / Chicken Ranch Road Show 

Need somewhere to mourn?&nbsp; We do.&nbsp; Come celebrate the queen with us.&nbsp; Dolly has given southern queers a place to love ourselves for our queerness and our country.&nbsp; We’ll celebrate your life forever Dolly.&nbsp; &nbsp;Tonight its free and open for all ages.&nbsp; Come karaoke or sing or dance and just remember.&nbsp; WE LOVE YOU DOLLY.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Dolly forever - Dolly tonight 

Pinhook and Primrose are at it again.&nbsp; A FREE DAY PARTY with karaoke and DJ’s and our collectively rad back patios.&nbsp; CRUISE downtown and come hang with both of us and hit our drink specials both NA + … A!! (Alcoholic)&nbsp;

PIN&PRIM DAY PARTY 

Thanks so much for coming!  Can’t wait to have you in our space. Please ask staff their pronouns if you’re going to use them :) Parking can be wild - so come early.  You can also park in decks nearby for free on weekends.  And let us know how the show went!

LIONS DEN: A Lingerie Party 

"GUTTING is a whirlwind of skull-splitting harsh electronic obliteration and human death. They are on tour from Seattle, Washington.Supporting GUTTING on their NC date are local heavy electronics artists Final Knife, Fear Family, FTJ and Held. Prepare to be torn limb from limb.GUTTING - <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://nudeconsumer.bandcamp.com/album/gutting-tab-in-tab-out-split">https://nudeconsumer.bandcamp.com/album/gutting-tab-in-tab-out-split</a>"

GUTTING / Final Knife / F.T.J. / Held / Fear Family

Buzz Buzz , this Aug 21rstLet’s celebrate the Queen B and all things buzzing, bold, black, and beautiful!A Beyoncé tribute show featuring the triangles fiercest black femmes in drag. A Rainy Daie Produxtion hosted at the people’s palace, the Pinhook.Featuring Naomi Dix, Kimora Brooks, Alex Thee Rabbit, Kiara Mel, Xenus Xero, and Allda Smoke. With your emcee Stormie Daie.Tickets sliding scale $8-15Doors at 10pm, dance party featuring DJ RayYesterdaie at 10pm and proceeding drag show.You won’t want to miss the queens give love to mama Carter.A raffle to support MAAME as well.Sat Aug 15th at the Pinhook, 117 W Main St Durham, NC.Ugh Oh, Ugh oh, oh no no!

Pinhook LLC

@pinhookllc