By Grant Golden
September 3, 2024
Hopscotch Music Festival will return to Raleigh September 5-7 to celebrate its 14th year of diverse musical offerings. With international acts, genre-bending visionaries, and beloved local/regional artists, Hopscotch serves as one of the premier indie festivals in the region. This year, St. Vincent brings her sharp art rock stylings to Hopscotch for the first time in 10 years, JPEGMafia’s abrasive experimental rap will ignite Moore Square, and acts like BADBADNOTGOOD, The Jesus Lizard, and Waxahatchee will showcase the festival’s truly expansive lineup.
Hopscotch is also bringing back stand-up comedy for the second year, filling Thursday night at Lincoln Theatre with a collection of fast-rising comics like Steven Chen and Vannessa Jackson, and closing out with the understated and wholesome humor of Joe Pera.
The marquee concerts are enough to get music lovers elated, but there’s much more to discover with the innumerable day party offerings at venues across the city. Music bleeds out from the clubs and into the streets starting early Thursday afternoon, running all the way until weekend’s end.
While pre-parties start as early as Wednesday night at Pour House and Wicked Witch, club venues, unique locations, and retailers around Raleigh will be hosting artists throughout the weekend that are free to the public. Raleigh’s Oak City Music Collective is bringing a marathon of day parties to venues like Transfer Co. Ballroom and Artspace, with themed events ranging from funk and reggae to pop, jazz, and salsa. The Moore Square Parking Deck on Wilmington Street will host the Basement Set with Crowmeat Bob; an experimental, improvisational collection of jams in a parking deck basement. And parties like Que Viva and Potluck Presents promise an assortment indie rock acts alongside free Bojangles and pizza, respectively.
Need a break from Hopscotch’ing across town from venue to venue? Post up outside of Kings and Neptunes on Martin Street to catch the Skate Raleigh pop-up BMX, rollerblading, and skateboarding competitions. Attendees can compete throughout the weekend, soak in the activities as observers, vibe to the featured DJs, and catch a breather before the next big set.
With well over 100 bands descending on Raleigh throughout Hopscotch weekend, it’s hard to nail down a schedule to make sure you’re making the most of your weekend, so here’s some of the acts that we’re most excited to see at Hopscotch 2024.
Cosmic Collective x DJ Harrison
Saturday, September 7 at 9:30 p.m.
Lincoln Theatre
Strap in and get ready to transcend into another dimension, as Charlotte’s headiest jazz group Cosmic Collective levels up with a special collaboration with DJ Harrison of Butcher Brown. Cosmic Collective alone is a dazzling live spectacle, with Nikki Enslow’s entrancing work on keys interweaving with Tyler Enslow’s otherworldly bass runs. Adding in Richmond’s Grammy-nominated multi-instrumental musical mastermind DJ Harrison makes this jazz-funk-fusion show one that you can’t miss.
Boldy James
Friday, September 6 at 12:30 a.m.
Transfer Co. Ballroom
Hopscotch always brings a collection of heavy-hitting hip-hop artists, and Boldy James’ slow-brooding, gritty lyricism may be one of the weekend’s most anticipated sets. Best known for collaborations with acclaimed producer the Alchemist, James is a rarity in the rap game with a prolific run of nearly a dozen albums in recent years. With each release chock full of bass-heavy bangers and downtempo hits, his late-night set at Transfer Co. Ballroom should be a packed one.
MJ Lenderman and The Wind
Friday, September 6 at 7:30 p.m.
City Plaza
Equal parts alt-country and slacker-rock, MJ Lenderman churns out sardonic tunes filled with memorable riffs and catchy hooks that linger like cigarette smoke in a ‘90s Waffle House. A brilliant blend of hard-hitting emotionalism and witty references, Lenderman’s live shows breathe new life into his already compelling songs. It’s hard to think of a better act to play the golden hour of City Plaza at Hopscotch, so sip on a cold beer or ‘booch and kick back for this one.
WITCH
Saturday, September 7 at 12:30 a.m.
Lincoln Theatre
Without fail Hopscotch always has a handful of acts whose inclusion alone feels worthy of celebration, and WITCH is one of those. This legendary Zambian psych-rock act from the ‘70s recently released their first studio album in nearly 40 years, and it’s just as refreshing as their early work. Blending traditional African rhythms with psych, garage, and blues rock tones, WITCH’s late night Saturday set feels like a no-brainer for adventurous music fans.
Mavi
Thursday, September 5 at 6:45 p.m.
Moore Square
An artist whose star continues to rise with each subsequent release, Mavi’s third album, Shadowbox, finds the artist delving deeper into his own psyche for dark but fulfilling sonic exploration. Shadowbox is full of rich organic instrumentation alongside tracks composed by esteemed producers like Monte Booker, melding into a prismatic musical experience. Mavi’s contemplative tracks will serve as an excellent foil to the intensity of JPEGMafia, giving hip-hop fans a wide offering on the opening night of Hopscotch.
Jason Joshua
Saturday, September 7 at 11:30 p.m.
Lincoln Theatre
The work of Miami-based Jason Joshua is an amalgamation of his Puerto Rican heritage and Chicago roots, which creates a unique output of classic soul with a Latin flare. Joshua’s work oozes with emotion, combining simple but expressive lyrics with a robust orchestration of smooth keys, guitar, horns and bass. Expect an impressive vocal showing backed by energetic R&B arrangements, making for a sultry set at Lincoln Theatre.
Hovvdy
Friday, September 6 at 12 a.m.
Lincoln Theater
For nearly a decade, Hovvdy have crafted affectionate and expansive folk-pop songs, and their fifth self-titled studio album is easily their most ambitious release yet. Lincoln Theatre will reverberate with the wistful and earnest sounds of this Austin-based duo, ranging from hushed and muted melodies to cathartic instrumental builds and earworm hooks. After a long couple of days, chilling out to Hovvdy feels like an ideal Friday closer.
Faye Webster
Friday, September 6 at 9:30 p.m.
City Plaza
The Atlanta-based singer-songwriter and musician Faye Webster blends folk, country, and R&B into a silky sonic sound that scratches an aural itch you didn’t know you had. Webster had already made quite the name for herself with the critically acclaimed Atlanta Millionaires Club in 2019, but was propelled to newfound levels of stardom after going viral on TikTok and collaborating Lil Yachty, bringing in an array of new fans to her recent release, Underdressed at the Symphony. Webster’s dulcet tones will ring out as the closing set at City Plaza on Friday night, promising a packed crowd swaying to Webster’s beloved hits.
BADBADNOTGOOD
Friday, September 6 at 8:30 p.m.
Moore Square
This Toronto-based jazz crew builds far-reaching musical landscapes that delve into soul, electronic, and hip-hop territories. BADBADNOTGOOD has collaborated with a wide range of acts like Ghostface Killah, Sam Herring of Future Islands (for the viral hit “Time Moves Slow”), and Kaytranada, just to name a few. With a deep well of impressive tunes to pull from, BADBADNOTGOOD’s Friday night set at Moore Square is one that will be etched in the memories of attendees for years to come.
Late Bloomer
Saturday, September 7 at 9:30 p.m.
Wicked Witch
High-energy shows and The Wicked Witch are a match made in Hopscotch heaven, and Charlotte’s Late Bloomer will serve as a fantastic way to kick off their Saturday club show offerings. Even with over a decade under their belts, their most recent record, Another One Again, finds the band digging deeper into their emotional core, showing increased restraint and refinement to their soundscapes. Late Bloomer excels at blending elements of ‘90s college rock with modern alt-punk sentiments, making for a generation-spanning reach of frenetic and emotive tunes.
Check out the full lineup, schedule, day parties, and info on tickets for Hopscotch Music Festival 2024 in downtown Raleigh September 5-7.
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