October Raleigh-area Local Music Concert Guide

By Grant Golden

September 30, 2022

A monthly Triangle-area local music concert guide sponsored by Raleigh’s newest music venue, Transfer Co. Ballroom. Each month we’ll look at some of the best local shows showcasing a wide variety of genres at the many venues the region has to offer.

Kooley High: David Thompson 10-Year Anniversary Show

Saturday, October 1 at The Pour House
Tickets: $20 plus 

NC hip-hop stalwarts Kooley High are celebrating the 10th anniversary of their sophomore album David Thompson with a collection of impressive openers. Joined by Nance, Jalisa and Luckyuno, Kooley High will be bringing their kicked-back soulful hip-hop tunes to a surely packed out Pour House. While the group has been consistently releasing outstanding music since their inception, David Thompson, was a seminal track for both Kooley High and the Triangle hip-hop scene in the early aughts. Local hip-hop heads won’t want to miss this one.

Shakori Hills GrassRoots Festival of Music & Dance

Thursday, October 6-9 in Pittsboro, North Carolina
Tickets: $35 plus 

Shakori Hills serves as the Triangle’s premiere outdoor camping festival, and this season’s 18th annual fall lineup is one of the strongest in recent memory. Combining beloved North Carolina acts like Hiss Golden Messenger with the partying blues rock of Andy Frasco & The U.N., Grammy-winning guitarist Eric Krasno (Soullive, Lettuce), Afrobeat icon Kaleta & Super Yamba Band, Shakori Hills showcases a range of both local and international acts. While the top of the bill shines bright, acts like By George, Cosmic Collective, and William Hinson help round out the lineup.

NCMA Come Hear NC – Music at the Museum Festival

Saturday, October 8 at North Carolina Museum of Art
Tickets: Free

Starting as a virtual local music showcase during the pandemic, the Music at the Museum series has since blossomed into a jam-packed single-day festival representing a wide range of North Carolina music. With Chatham County Line’s rustic Americana, Rissi Palmer’s soulful country, Diali Cissokho & Kaira Ba’s enchanting West-African sounds, Lakota John’s bluesy folk and Tumbao’s high-energy Latin-fusion, there’s guaranteed to be something that makes you wanna come and hear these North Carolina artists.

Rebekah Todd with Duck

Thursday, October 13 at Transfer Co. Ballroom
Tickets: $13 plus

It’s a night full of powerhouse vocalists as Rebekah Todd celebrates the release of her latest full-length record, Realign, with rising Raleigh funk outfit Duck. Todd’s music has transformed in recent years from forthright folksy rock to an amalgam of contemporary pop, soul and funk that feels both unique and familiar. While Todd’s instrumentation is groove-inducing, her vocals soar high and command attention. Pairing with Duck and their equally talented vocalist Donnie Tyree, it’s a match made in musical heaven.

Psychic Hotline Block Party

Saturday, October 15 at Cat’s Cradle
Tickets: $45 plus

Once again the Psychic Hotline team has pulled together one of the most anticipated local bills in months. The artist-run label, founded by Sylvan Esso and their manager Martin Anderson, brings an astounding collection of friends to the legendary Cat’s Cradle, the Cradle Back Room and the adjacent ArtsCenter in Carrboro. With sets from Bartees Strange, The A’s, Lambchop, Indigo De Souza (DJ Set), Well$, and more, Psychic Hotline blends local and national acts for an all-day outing that will surely be a highlight of the season.

Caleb Caudle, Kate Rhudy, and Eva Louullo

Sunday, October 16 at The Pour House
Tickets: $15 plus 

Caleb Caudle is an artist whose evolution has been remarkably satisfying to follow. The country crooner’s upcoming record, Forsythia, finds Caudle at his most vulnerable, but also his most polished. Produced by John Carter Cash and featuring session work from legends like Jerry Douglas and Sam Bush, Caudle’s work on Forsythia blends country and folk sentiments with dazzling results. With support from Raleigh’s own beloved folk songwriter Kate Rhudy and New Orlean’s Eva LoVullo, this partially seated Sunday show is a fine way to cap off a weekend.

Mightmare

Tuesday, October 18 at Cat’s Cradle
Tickets: $12 plus

Sarah Shook is best known for their work fronting the pink-tinged alt-country outfit Sarah Shook & The Disarmers, but Mightmare marks a bold new territory for the songwriter. Their debut full-length record Cruel Liars is a fuzzed-out dark indie pop outing that’s propelled by Shook’s twangy and evocative vocals. Mightmare’s live debut in the Triangle is bound to be a memorable showing, and a must-see for longtime fans of Shook.

Bombadil and Dissimilar South

Friday, October 21 at The Pour House
Tickets: $12 plus 

Bombadil is a long-running folk-pop outfit that’s remained remarkably consistent throughout all of their iterations. Their music nestles into your heart and lingers in your head long after it’s done playing thanks to affectionate lyrics and unforgettable hooks. With the Americana-leaning folk stylings of Dissimilar South opening up the show, The Pour House will serve as a hub for heartfelt folk tunes that bring attendees aboard an emotional rollercoaster of an evening.

Sleepy Fest 2022

Saturday, October 22 at Down Yonder Farm
Tickets: $35 plus

The inaugural all-day festival celebrating Carrboro’s Sleepy Cat Records takes place at Hillsborough’s Down Yonder Farms. Sleepy Cat Records is home to a collection of creative local acts that range from cosmic country to old-time to punk-folk rock. The label thrives on the art of collaboration, so expect some unique outings from beloved locals like Blue Cactus, Libby Rodenbough, Lou Hazel, label founders T. Gold, and more. Hard to find a better bang for your buck than an all-day event with some of Carrboro’s finest.

Youth League with Tiny Stills and Frontside

Tuesday, October 25 at Rubies on Five Points
Tickets: Free ($5 suggested donation)

Youth League brings an energetic blend of live-looping math rock and melodic punk vocals that make for an invigorating live experience. Celebrating the release of their most recent full-length record Somehow Those Were The Days, Youth League kicks off a string of shows with support from Frontside, one of the region’s most beloved pop-punk bands, and Tiny Stills from LA. It may be a weeknight, but Rubies on Five Points will surely be brimming with rock energy to pull you out of the house.

Zoocru

Friday, October 28 at Transfer Co. Ballroom
Tickets: $12 plus

Zoocru has proven to be one of the most innovative and exciting jazz groups in North Carolina, blending elements of hip-hop, R&B, gospel and rock together for an entrancing output. Any opportunity to catch this quartet live is one worth taking, as their classically-trained jazz foundation helps the crew lean heavy into heady improvisational jams that are easy to get lost in.

Watchhouse with Allison De Groot and Tatiana Hargreaves

Friday, October 28 at North Carolina Museum of Art
Tickets: $37.50 plus 

Watchhouse has long been one of North Carolina’s most acclaimed acts, recently expanding from their traditional folk project Mandolin Orange into the spacier, more expansive sound with Watchhouse. Whether you’re a newfound fan or a diehard, this NCMA set brings a special air about it– serving as their only local show in 2022 and an intimate duo set. Delving deeper into the flourishes that make their music so compelling, the dynamics between the duo of Andrew Marlin and Emily Franz is what keeps fans coming back for more. Joining the pair for this rare outing is another powerhouse duo Allison De Groot & Tatiana Hargreaves. De Groot and Hargreaves bring an adventurous new take on traditional tunes that have earned them national acclaim as one of the best new bluegrass acts today, making this night at the museum one to remember.

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