No Cocker: Mad Dogs & Englishmen Tribute
No Cocker: Mad Dogs & EnglishmenNo Cocker is a celebration of Joe Cocker’s classic album “Mad Dogs & Englishmen” but with a twist: all the singers are women. We’ve assembled some of the Triangle’s baddest vocalists from various corners of the music scene – rock and blues bands, sacred music, theater – and brought them together with a kick-ass rhythm section and a full horn section under musical director Nick Langston. Join us for a night of soulful music, dancing and celebrating! Website Jimmy Ray Swagger & The Fussy EatersRecently transplanted to the Triangle area from their home in Cumby, TX, Jimmie Ray Swagger and his band The Fussy Eaters have been taking the East Coast country music establishment by storm. Their gritty songs of love, lust, addiction, malfeasance, and pain aim right for the heart and/or groin. After many long months of planning the move to NC, Jimmie’s probation judge finally approved and they haven’t looked back since! Website
Bedroom Division & William Hinson
Bedroom Division is an indie/alt-pop project from Central NC. Combining polished pop production with 80s inspired synths, dreamy soundscapes, and mellow vocals, Bedroom Division takes inspiration from acts such Djo, Mac DeMarco, and The 1975, delivering a dynamic, unique and nostalgic live experience. After releasing their debut album, along with opening for national touring acts Jonah Marais and The Backfires, Bedroom Division is set to make a splash in the indie scene. William Hinson is an indie pop singer-songwriter from Winston-Salem, North Carolina- currently based in Nashville, TN. Citing The Beatles, John Mayer, Hall and Oates, and The 1975 as his biggest influences, William fuses catchy, relatable lyrics with feel-good compositions to create a sound that has landed him performance slots on radio, festivals, college campuses, and beloved venues such as Georgia Theatre, Mercury Lounge, and Cat’s Cradle. William Hinson has built an impressive catalog, generating over 8M streams on Spotify alone. Lennon KC is an alternative/indie artist from Durham, North Carolina, currently playing as a duo. His sound flows between soft introspective moments and punk-inspired intensity, drawing comparisons to artists like Dominic Fike, The Backseat Lovers, and Rex Orange County. On stage, his electrifying presence amplifies these contrasts, creating an experience that is both dynamic and deeply intimate.
26th Annual Bob Marley Bash
The 26th Annual Bob Marley Birthday Bash returns to the legendary Cat’s Cradle with Mickey Mills & Steel, Dub Addis, Zion Project, Joel Keel and DJ Ras J. Celebrate the music and message of reggae superstar Bob Marley and bask in the positive energy and natural healing power of live reggae music. Jamaican food and local vendors will also be on hand for this uplifting and positive show, produced by Steel Productions. ☆ Mickey Mills & SteelA pioneer of North Carolina’s reggae scene, Mickey Mills is a Trinidad-born singer, keyboardist, and songwriter once dubbed “the fastest steel drum soloist on earth.” He began playing steel drums at age 12 and has worked with legends including The Rolling Stones, Johnny Mathis, and Mighty Sparrow. His career includes appearances on NBC’s Matlock, performances in the off-Broadway production House of Flowers, and shows at iconic New York City venues such as The Village Gate and Madison Square Garden. Influenced by Bob Marley, Mickey also brings his music and culture to young people nationwide through his “Island In The Sun” and “Steel-A-Rama” educational programs. ☆ dub AddisSoulful and energizing, dub Addis blends intricate Ethiopian melodies with reggae rhythms to create a sound that moves both heart and mind. Rooted in the rich musical tradition of northeastern Africa and the hills of Jamaica, their music celebrates life and unity across many cultures. For more than a decade, dub Addis has performed with superstars like Hugh Masekela, The Wailers, Steel Pulse, Arrested Development, and more, bringing people together through the power of music. ☆ Zion ProjectCovering a vast expanse of musical knowledge reaching from Seattle to Washington, DC, the Zion Project has shared the stage with such reggae royalty as Toots and the Maytals, The Wailers, The Abyssinians, and The Itals. Based in Asheville, NC, the Zion Project was formed through the collective consciousness of Rastafari, combining roots rhythms with soul and jazz influences and an uplifting message. Over the years, the Zion Project has developed a unique style of heavy roots, harmonized vocals, and upbeat songs, bursting with energy. ☆ Joel KeelJoel has been a working musician since his teens, arriving in the U.S. at 18 with the calypso group Firesticks before spending more than two decades as bassist for the reggae band Sunfire, touring widely from New Jersey to Florida, including some of the first reggae shows to ever take place in North Carolina. Now based in Chapel Hill, Joel also has released six solo albums and has multiple studio credits and most recently represented the Triangle Blues Society with Charley Ward at the 2026 International Blues Challenge (IBC) in Memphis.. ☆ DJ Ras JWith over 25 years behind the decks and a deep crate of rare Jamaican 45s, Ras J has opened for reggae legends including Lee “Scratch” Perry, Black Uhuru, Culture, Buju Banton, and The Wailers. Known for his incredible “vibe control” of crowds and live dub mixes, his Simmer Down roots vinyl series in the Triangle, his genre-blending Shakori GrassRoots Vinyl Lounge sets, regular festival appearances, and decades of shows at the Cat’s Cradle and the Lincoln Theatre have earned him a respected place in North Carolina’s reggae history.
John Wood Band
The John Wood Band is a soulful, six-piece indie rock band out of Wilmington, NC. The band formed at UNCW, led by lead singer and songwriter John Wood, who is known for songs such as Coffee On The Beach and Dry Eyes. With six pieces in the band, you can always expect a dynamic and electric set. They have played alongside acts such as Congress The Band, Winyah, Harvey Street, Innlet, The Vegabonds, Wim Tapley, and Easy Honey. Catch The John Wood Band on tour all year long! Instagram | Spotify Wild Oak is an indie rock band out of Chapel Hill, NC. Battling through noise complaints and cop visits, the band played their first gig in February of 2025. With a sound somewhere between the Backseat Lovers and Ax and the Hatchetmen, Wild Oak hits the stage each night, sharing one thing with the audience: love for music. Pollen is an indie/alt-rock band based in Chapel Hill, NC. Formed when a casual invite to play, evolved into the first practice. The name Pollen comes from hours spent practicing outside, each time ending with the band covered in yellow dust. Drawing inspiration from staple bands like The Red Hot Chili Peppers and blending in the fresh, melodic edge of modern indie rock, Pollen is slowly cementing themselves in the vibrant Chapel Hill live music scene. They aim to bring the energy and fun of a cramped house show to every venue they play.
Mega Colossus, Mortal Man, Archaos
Empty Parking Lot, Lqm
Chris Chism EP Release
Nicole Tester:Nicole Tester is a singer/songwriter based in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. Her eclectic indie folk sound pulls from the roots of the Appalachian mountains where she was raised, intertwined with modern indie folk/rock/pop influences. Balancing wit and humor with introspection and insight, she is sure to cover a vast expanse of emotional ground with her lyrics and expressive voice. Her songs serve as a way to tell stories, process experiences, and simultaneously attempt to find common ground to connect with others.Instagram Chris Chism:Chris Chism is a North Carolina-based musician, originally from Indiana, whose work blends traditional folk with modern indie and alternative influences. Playing guitar and banjo, Chris creates music that is both deeply personal and open to interpretation. His songs carry a melancholic tone, but offer glimpses of hope for those willing to look closer. Through a unique mix of heartfelt storytelling and diverse musical elements, Chris’s work invites listeners to connect with the beauty and complexity of life’s quieter moments.Instagram Omar Ruiz-LopezOmar 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 — drawing inspiration from artists like Nick Drake, Bruce Molsky, and Elliott Smith. He is based in Hillsborough, NC. Omar has played and recorded with artists such as the GRAMMY-nominated band War and Treaty, Franklin Jonas, Lizzie No, Harper Grace and Langhorne Slim, and cowritten 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.Instagram Lonnie RottLonnie Rott is a singer-songwriter in Durham, whose songs explore themes of anticapitalist anger, liberation, solidarity, and lament for the reality that everything dies at last, and too soon.Instagram
Bee Million
Durham, NC songwriter Ben Newgard formed Bee Million with his brother, drummer Anders Newgard, and best friend and lead guitar player David Smith, before adding bass extraordinaire Lucas Tax to round out the roster. With sonic influences spanning the likes of everything from Angel Olsen to the Rolling Stones to Guided by Voices (after whom they’re named), Bee Million weaves together a rough-and-ragged yet melodic and infectious strand of garage pop that will linger with you long after the music’s ended. Linktree PanesMinimal introspective music with an engaging, dreamy listlessness. Ever careening toward some kind of undiscovered self-epiphany. Instagram Future Fix Bandcamp
The Connells
The Connells, one of North Carolina’s most successful indie rock bands, have new music on the way for the first time since 2001. They’ll break their recording hiatus with “Steadman’s Wake,” a new 11-song album that will be released September 24th, 2021.Beyond the fact that “Steadman’s Wake” is the group’s first new release in over 20 years, it is the first Connells’ album to feature their two newest members, guitarist Mike Ayers and drummer Rob Ladd (who have been in the lineup since 2002 and 2012, respectively), and the band’s first record made up of songs contributed solely by Mike Connell, who happens to take on a more prominent role as vocalist.Additionally, the title track, “Steadman’s Wake,” represents the first time The Connells have ventured into overt politics. Previously, the group tended to let actions and implications do the talking when it came to current events. But taking a more concrete and literal stand was something the times seemed to demand. With references to war, the opioid crisis and the white-supremacist rioting that roiled Charlottesville, Va., in 2017 (and were reprised in the January 6, 2021, assault on the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C.), there is no mistaking the message of “Steadman’s Wake.”“We’ve had some oblique socio-political bits here and there over the years,” says Mike Connell. “But never as direct as this. It seems like it’s time. It’s scary, where we still stand in this country with issues of race. Of the 11 songs on the record, the clear consensus within the band was that ‘Steadman’s Wake’ best reflected the band’s take on the temper of the times and best represented the “spirit” of the record.”Off-record and onstage, The Connells have been no strangers to political activism over the years, going back to benefit shows they played for Harvey Gant when he was running against controversial Republican U.S. Sen. Jesse Helms. Nevertheless, taking a musical step into current events was not a decision they made lightly. But as frontman Doug MacMillan concurs, the times are dire enough to demand a response.“Even the least politically minded bands are saying things now because they need to be said,” MacMillan says. “Mike’s never been one for hitting anybody over the head with an agenda, and his lyrics tend to be pretty subtle. But I’m glad we did this. I’ll be interested to see what people think.”Even though it’s been 20 years since their last recording, The Connells never quit playing live, and Mike Connell never quit writing songs. Eventually enough material came together to suggest it was finally time to make another record. “Steadman’s Wake” features eight new songs that have never been released, while three of the album’s songs previously appeared in different versions on 2001’s “Old-School Dropouts” – a collection of demos recorded at the group’s practice space. Website | Facebook | Instagram | YouTube
Carrboro Bluegrass Festival Presents Bluegrass In The Backroom
This is a seated show.
