Doc Watson video

Photo by Appalachian Encounters on Flickr

This is the Carrboro Art Scene blog. Doc ain't from Carrboro (though he'd a fit in) but he is from North Carolina. And frankly Doc is a part of all of NC in the same way that Mt. Airy's Andy Griffith and Chapel Hill's James Taylor are.

All of that to let you know that there is a marvelous old BBC video available from the No Depression site on Doc from 1976 which means before Merl died - and Merl's in it some. The early parts are pretty hokey in a John Cleese Monty Python sort of way (and putting Doc in with generic country music is an insult) but after that it is interesting and shows off the beauty of the Blue Ridge Mountains.

Filmmakers: Entry window open for 7th Carrboro Film Festival

Filmmakers, young and old, experienced and rookies, we are now accepting entries to the November 18th, 2012 7th Annual Carrboro Film Festival. From the website:

7th Annual Carrboro Film Festival – Submission GuidelinesDate: Sunday, November 18, 2012, 1 – 7 pmLocation: Century Hall in the Carrboro Century Center, 100 North Greensboro St., Carrboro, NC 27510
Mission: To support & promote film & video artists

We welcome all films and videos less than 20 minutes total running time (including titles and end credits). All filmmakers who have breathed in the good air of North Carolina sometime in their life are eligible to submit. 

Entry fee per film is still $10 till August 20th and then $15 till closing date of September 30th. The online submission and payment system is simple and, if your film is online, there is nothing more to do. Entering 1 or 10 films couldn't be easier.

The url to enter is http://tinyurl.com/cff7-entry.

Carrack Gallery (Durham) 1st Birthday celebration!

The Carrack Gallery (Facebook page here) in Durham is free flowing, open, interesting, a bit irreverent and full of interesting people and art. They are having a first anniversary event this Saturday, May 26th from 2-11 with art, music, food, conversation and definitely fun. You can check out more info at the Facebook event page.

We've been at this for a year now and would love to celebrate with all of the people who helped make this possible and see some new faces who are sure to add to our story in the future. Join us for a day of art, conversations, music, food and fun. 2 p.m. Carrack Salon - Artists are invited to bring their materials and work in the space, trade ideas and show off their process to the public. 7 p.m- - PARTY! Music and wine and food and art. Come celebrate.

What does Carrboro have in common with NYC, Chicago, SF and Montreal?

Places where Gaslight Anthem will be playing in support of their new album. Way to go Cat's Cradle! More info at the terrific Triangle Music blog including a streaming song off the new album, Handwritten, to be released July 24th, just a few days after the July 19th show at Cat's. Ticket info to follow.

The Gaslight Anthem tour dates

06.23.12 - Atlantic City, NJ - Orion Music & More

07.05.12 - San Francisco, CA - The Independent

07.07.12 - Portland, OR - Hawthorne Theater

07.08.12 - Seattle, WA - Crocodile Cafe

07.11.12 - Minneapolis, MN - Fineline

07.12.12 - Lawrence, KS - Bottleneck

07.13.12 - Firebird St Louis, MO

07.14.12 - Cincinnati, OH - Bunberry Festival

07.16.12 - Toronto, ON - Opera House

07.18.12 - Nashville, TN - Mercy Lounge

07.19.12 - Carrboro, NC - Cat's Cradle

07.20.12 - Washington, DC - U Street

07.22.12 - Boston, MA - Middle East

07.24.12 - New York, NY - Webster Hall

09.11.12 - Quebec City, QC - Agora Port Of Quebec

09.12.12 - Montreal, QC - Bell Centre

09.13.12 - Ottawa, ON - Ce Centre

09.15.12 - Chicago, IL - Riot Fest 

YepRoc Records 15th Year 3-day celebration, Oct 11-13 2012

Yep Roc Records, in Haw River a bit west of Carrboro, is one of those record companies (like local Merge Records) that rarely has big platinum sellers but consistently works with new and established musicians who bring honesty and talent to their work. And occasionally they do hit the big(ger) time with bands like Arcade Fire, M. Ward, Josh Rouse and Fountains of Wayne.

Merge Records 20 year celebration back in 2009 was a big success and I'm betting that Yep Roc's 15th coming up in Carrboro and Chapel Hill in October will be too.

Yep Roc Records, the artist-driven label that proudly refuses to be labeled, will celebrate its 15th anniversary with Yep Roc 15, a three-night concert blowout October 11, 12 and 13, at the Cat’s Cradle in Carrboro, NC, featuring once-in-a-lifetime performances, collaborations, and recording sessions by current and past Yep Roc artists.

Hard to beat the lineup (with more to be added)

Dave Alvin, Chatham County Line, John Doe, Liam Finn, Fountains Of Wayne, Robyn Hitchcock, Los Straitjackets, Nick Lowe, Chuck Prophet, Eleni Mandell, Mayflies USA,Cheyenne Marie Mize, The Sadies, Sloan, Jim White

Plus John Wesley Harding will be the MC. Most of the music will be at Cats Cradle.

For more info and tickets go to the Yep Roc 15 Celebration website. Three-day tickets start at $80 with the Premier Fan Bundle at $170. (Warning, there are only 100 Premier tix and I already splurged for one leaving only 99 other lucky fans.) Here's a Paste online article on the event.