AJ McQueen – When We Evolve Tour
All Ages AJ McQueen is a soulful emcee rooted in the Midwest and shaped by the South, whose journey through life, loss, and liberation has become the core of his message and music. Fusing sharp lyricism, unflinching honesty, and a deep sense of purpose, AJ has grown into more than just a rapper. He’s a voice for the voiceless and a vessel for change. Drawing influence from artists like 2Pac, Nipsey Hussle, Nas, Lauryn Hill, Bob Marley, and Lil Wayne, AJ channels that legacy into a style that’s both poetic and powerful. His latest single, “Ginger Root,” peels back the layers of resilience and identity, offering listeners a raw, rhythmic meditation on healing and truth. A true palate cleanser for the listener’s ears indeed. With a new body of work on the horizon, AJ continues to evolve by blending soulful storytelling with bold commentary. His music remains organic and introspective; challenging norms while inspiring growth. Whether on stage or in the studio, AJ McQueen stands as a lyrical architect building bridges between purpose, pain, spirit and sound. Website | Instagram | Facebook | YouTube | Soundcloud
Crazy Chester: A Very Carrboro Tribute To The Band & The Last Waltz
Formed in early 2020 for a series of one-off events, Crazy Chester is a homegrown tribute act to The Band, consisting of Carrboro musicians Jones Bell (Mellow Swells, Ravary), Charles Cleaver (Big Star’s Third, Tripp), Rob DiMauro (Heat Preacher, Mixtape Grab Bag), Justin Ellis (Slow Teeth, Ravary), and Rafael Green (Little Raven, Ravary), respectively recreating and playing the parts of Richard Manuel, Garth Hudson, Levon Helm, Rick Danko, and Robbie Robertson. For this special concert, Crazy Chester will be performing most of The Band’s legendary farewell performance from Thanksgiving Day 1976, immortalized in the 1978 Martin Scorsese film “The Last Waltz” – complete with additional musicians and special local guests to play the songs originally performed in the film by Joni Mitchell, Bob Dylan, Neil Young, and many more. Join for an unforgettable live performance of a Thanksgiving tradition, live at the Cat’s Cradle. Jones Bell as Richard Manuel + Dr. JohnCharles Cleaver as Garth Hudson + Bobby Charles Rob DiMauro as Levon Helm Justin Ellis as Rick Danko Rafael Green as Robbie Robertson Boykin Dunlap Bell as Michael McClure Greg Bell as Lawrence Ferlinghetti Matthew Greenslade as Trumpeter Danny Grewen as Trombonist Brett Harris as Van Morrison Charles Latham as Bob Dylan Jodi Jones as Emmylou Harris Georgia Moon as Joni Mitchell + Saxophonist Brad Porter as Ringo Starr Luis Rodriguez as Eric Clapton + Trumpetist/ Tubist Lonnie Rott as Neil Young Jacob Seyle as Paul Butterfield Alex Thompson as Ronnie Hawkins
Pinkshift – The Earthkeeper Tour
During a pit stop while travelling between shows in 2023, Pinkshift found a huge fallen redwood tree. The three of them (Vocalist Ashrita Kumar (they/them), guitarist Paul Vallejo (he/him) and drummer Myron Houngbedji (he/him) lay down on the trunk, staring up at the canopy of leaves from the trees around them. What followed is an experience Kumar describes as almost psychedelic. They felt as if the trees were inviting them to stay there forever. “I heard these voices telling me that I’m welcome here,” they recall, “and everything I could ever want is in this space.” That beautiful, perspective-altering moment of stillness and peace that grounded them in the present was a reminder of how much nature can teach us, if only we slow down, connect to it and open ourselves up to its wisdom. “I think nature is really inspiring,” they explain. “It’s the biggest and most incredible creative force that we witness as people. Nature is always moving forward. It’s always creating, it’s always changing, it’s always evolving. We have a lot to learn from that. I feel like there’s sacrifices that nature makes for the for the world – animals die, plants die, then something takes its place.” Shortly after, they wrote the words ‘earth keeper’ in their journal. They felt, in that moment, that they had rediscovered their life’s meaning. I know why I am here. But they were angry too, Ashrita says ‘about the wildfires, feeling helpless in my body, living under the threat of capitalism, rising global conservatism, and the existential dread climate change had instilled in me permanently. And after October 7th, I couldn’t help but feel immense grief and anger over the rapid genocide in Gaza, and the rise of fascist, white supremacist rhetoric. I felt a kind of desperation, and I felt it everywhere around me. I and those around me were affected deeply and personally. So many people around me were fighting and shutting down, lost, angry, and confused. I wanted the Earth to heal me, but it felt like all I could hear was the Earth screaming. It was at this point the band began gathering ideas for their second album, Earthkeeper with the nu metal-tinged ‘Blood’ emerging first and becoming the “seed song” from which the rest of the music would germinate. Earthkeeper is a record that bursts at the seams with big riffs, big feelings and big ideas. At its core is a spiritual being whose name gives the record its title, “a reflection of universal consciousness and a protector of existence”. It’s a patchwork of anxiety, angst, grief and hope, juggling experiences both personal and existential across themes such as loss, one’s individual purpose, and what it means to watch the notion of a stable life collapse before your eyes. Crucially, Ashrita, Paul and Myron are not the same people that they were when they made their 2022 debut Love Me Forever. They’ve grown, matured and been altered by experience. They crafted their debut at a time where they didn’t have as much experience playing live as they do now. “The first album was influenced a lot by stuff we grew up listening to because we’d never really toured,” offers Myron. Website | Instagram | Facebook | YouTube | TikTok | Soundcloud | Spotify
Layto
On Layto’s anticipated debut LP, alternative psycho dropped with many personalities of the musician come out to play. Throughout the seven tracks, listeners are introduced to the passionate alt rock song bard and sly pop charmer, who combine to make beautiful music together. Now, Layto has followed up the release with the deluxe version of the project that features three new songs, highlighted by the new focus single “better off”. “Bending genres is what I’ve always been drawn to. I’m conscious of actively combining different elements of rock, alt and hip-hop, into an amalgamation of music that I want to be tenable for people,” says the songwriter. Layto draws on influential acts like Twenty One Pilots, Post Malone and Imagine Dragons in the art of musical multiplicity while honing in on a sound that’s uniquely his. While Layto is naturally gifted at creating his unique stylistic tapestry, it was also nurtured in his earliest years – the Boston native grew up the youngest of five in a lively, if not sometimes dysfunctional, household where many vied for attention and music became its own kind of escape. While his father had a love of crooners like Sinatra and Dean Martin (giving Layto an appreciation of vocal tone), his mother – a drummer herself – gravitated towards Motown and R&B stars like Stevie Wonder and Brian McKnight imparting Layto with an ear for a good beat. It was in high school where Layto really had his musical epiphany after discovering hip-hop. “Eminem was a game changer,” he says. “I love his angst, I related to the honesty and rawness. Before then, I didn’t know you could make music that was so intense and still connected with people.” The direct testimonial style is one that Layto successfully brings to his own music, with a constant emphasis on lyrics. It’s evident in the unbarred new tracks “in bed with a psycho” and “save urself (runaway)” the first talking to the Jekyll and Hyde nature of bad relationships and the second a cautionary tale to find an exit. He admits he taps into his alter ego when writing music to find that darker side. “I try to draw on what I’m going through or what I have been through in the past; an ingrained memory or something that really stuck with me,” he says. “I draw from whatever I’m feeling in the moment and push myself to be as honest as possible.” The artist also has a strong desire to make music that gives a voice to the millions who suffer from anxiety and depression – and let them know they are not alone. “It’s something I’ve dealt with from a very young age, and though I’ve learned techniques on how to manage it, I would say mental health is my most drawn upon motif,” Layto shares. “I want people to hear it and feel connected. It brings me a lot of joy when my music can bring someone a bit of happiness and it’s clear it has done so over the course of the past five years. Since releasing his debut EP Low Boy in 2018, featuring the hit “Little Poor Me,” Layto has amassed 250+ million global streams and counting as well as 1+ million monthly listeners that cling to his relatable, anthemic music with stories powered by his gravely, booming vocals. Website | Facebook | Instagram | TikTok
Madilyn Mei – The One Man Circus Tour
All Ages With vivid storytelling, poetic wordplay, genre-defying productions, and a beautifully unique voice, Madilyn Mei has quickly become known for her innovative indie-folk twist on the alternative pop genre. Having released her debut album, 3 EPs, and countless singles in just over two years – all of which written and recorded from her bedroom in Arizona – the 22-year-old singer-songwriter is building a fun, comforting, and magically whimsical world, relatable enough for anyone to immerse themselves within. Website | Facebook | Instagram | YouTube | Spotify
briZB, Grace Lucia, Liam Martin
briZB Solo indie-rock artist briZB captures fans and tears with her electrifying songwriting and heartbreaking guitar. She pulls from alt-rock, bedroom-pop, and pop-punk influences to write of love and loss and the repercussions of growing. Based out of Charlotte, NC, she finds ways to shock the scene alongside her growing online fanbase. LinkTree Grace Lucia Grace 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. LinkTree Liam Martin Based in the North Carolina triangle, Liam Martin is dreamy folk-pop personified. With introspective songwriting and heartfelt nostalgia, Liam’s artistry is all about the melodic expression of the observed world. Taking themes of biological and technological design, his forthcoming EP positions itself in a conversation between attention and engagement. When he is not working on new music with his fellow artists at SOON records, Liam finds utmost fulfillment in his live performances. Sharing his art directly with listeners to capture raw, emotional reactions in real-time. Website
Sun Room
Born and raised in San Diego’s surf-rock scene, Sun Room quickly went from getting their house shows shut down for playing too loudly to performing their music in sold out venues across a dozen countries. Forming in 2021, Sun Room experienced a series of viral moments after two of their songs were included on the hit Netflix series, Outer Banks, which grew the band’s excitement online. Eager to play shows outside of their hometown surf community, Sun Room quickly became a touring act that went on to sell out a run of shows across the US, support Louis Tomlinson’s North and South American tour, and support Inhaler in Europe in 2022. Making their way back to the US in fall 2022, Sun Room embarked on their first headline tour across North America, selling over 15,000 tickets. Getting back on the road in spring 2023, the band toured North America with Inhaler, then returned home to SoCal for the summer where they finished “At Least I Tried”, a 4 track EP produced by Zac Carper from FIDLAR, one of the band’s biggest influences growing up in the California DIY scene. The project was met with great responses – Scoring playlist covers, a highlight from lggy Pop on BBC and DIY Mag describing them as “a band so unashamedly indebted to the garage rock’n’roll of decades past … ” The project dropped as the band kicked off their second headline tour across North America, playing in over 30 cities, before jetting off to Australia for a headline tour and series of festivals in January 2024. Most recently, Sun Room released their latest EP “Can’t Explain” in summer 2024 before going on to support Dayglow on a 20+ date North American tour. “Can’t Explain” is a project that highlights the band’s admiration for blues-rock, shoegaze, and post-punk garage music they have absorbed by playing their music all over the world since being a band. Their live show resembles that of the packed house shows they grew up playing in San Diego while striving to come back bigger, better, and louder with each performance. Gaining over 500k followers across social media, Sun Room has a steady flow of global listeners that continue to grow as they experiment with their sound, play in new cities, and pull influences from the unique experiences they have encountered in just three years of being a band. Sun Room’s highly anticipated debut album is set to release in early 2026. Website | Instagram | Spotify | YouTube
American Aquarium
For American Aquarium VIP Add On, visit https://www.americanaquarium.com/vip. For nearly two decades, American Aquarium have pushed toward that rare form of rock-and-roll that’s revelatory in every sense. “For us the sweet spot is when you’ve got a rock band that makes you scream along to every word, and it’s not until you’re coming down at three a.m. that you realize those words are saying something real about your life,” says frontman BJ Barham. “That’s what made us fall in love with music in the first place, and that’s the goal in everything we do.” On their new album The Fear of Standing Still, the North Carolina-bred band embody that dynamic with more intensity than ever before, endlessly matching their gritty breed of country-rock with Barham’s bravest and most incisive songwriting to date. As he reflects on matters both personal and sociocultural—e.g., the complexity of Southern identity, the intersection of generational trauma and the dismantling of reproductive rights—American Aquarium instill every moment of The Fear of Standing Still with equal parts unbridled spirit and illuminating empathy. Recorded live at the legendary Sunset Sound in Los Angeles, The Fear of Standing Still marks American Aquarium’s second outing with producer Shooter Jennings—a three-time Grammy winner who also helmed production on 2020’s critically lauded Lamentations, as well as albums from the likes of Brandi Carlile and Tanya Tucker. In a departure from the stripped-down subtlety of 2022’s Chicamacomico (a largely acoustic rumination on grief), the band’s tenth studio LP piles on plenty of explosive riffs and hard-charging rhythms, bringing a visceral energy to the most nuanced and poetic of lyrics. “In our live show the band’s like a freight train that never lets up, and for this record I really wanted to showcase how big and anthemic we can be,” notes Barham, whose bandmates include guitarist Shane Boeker, pedal-steel guitarist Neil Jones, keyboardist Rhett Huffman, drummer Ryan Van Fleet, and bassist Alden Hedges. Mixed by four-time Grammy winner Trina Shoemaker (Queens of the Stone Age, Emmylou Harris), The Fear of Standing Still shares its title with one of the first songs Barham wrote for the album—a soul-baring look at how raising a family has radically altered his priorities and perspective. In the process of creating what he refers to as “a record about growing up and growing older,” Barham also found his songwriting closely informed by his ten years of sobriety, as well as his ever-deepening connection with American Aquarium’s community of fans. “Whenever someone tells me that one of our songs helped them in some way, it encourages me to be more and more open—almost like peeling a layer off an onion,” he says. “This album is a writer 18 years into his career, peeling away the next layer and seeing just how human we can make this thing.” Expanding on the raw vitality of previous albums like 2012’s Jason Isbell-produced Burn.Flicker.Die, The Fear of Standing Still kicks offs with “Crier”: a gloriously ferocious track that swiftly obliterates worn-out ideals of masculine behavior. Website | Facebook | Instagram | Spotify | YouTube
School of Rock Chapel Hill’s Mid-Season Preview
$10 Suggested Donation. 12:00pm The SORCH House Band set #1!12:15pm Music from Guardians of the Galaxy!12:45pm Red Hot Chili Peppers “Californication”!1:15pm Rock 101!1:30pm The SORCH Adult Band presents “Best of the 90’s”!2:00pm Songwriting – Originals!2:30pm Pop Queens!3:00pm Rock 201!3:30pm The SORCH House Band set #2!3:45pm The Music of New Orleans!4:15pm Punk!4:45pm Staff Infection previews Fall 2025 Show Themes! This will be another incredible afternoon of amazing music! Website | Instagram | Facebook
Benches
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