To an untrained ear, the sounds emanating from downtown street corners form a cacophony of drums and strings and synthesizers. To musicians and poets and music lovers, it’s a distinctive symphony like no other.
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An Our State Playlist: Voices of North Carolina Women
In honor of Women’s History Month, we’ve curated a Spotify playlist featuring a selection of tunes by homegrown female musicians.
Musicians Who Move Us
The tunes created by these talented North Carolinians fill our homes and hearts all year. During Black History Month, especially, we love to celebrate their legacies.
The 1970s: Cradle of Music
At Cat’s Cradle, a new music venue in the college town of Chapel Hill, a lively arts scene flourishes, drawing national acts and nurturing the careers of countless local musicians.
Whispers in the Wood
In Pitt County, a luthier’s handcrafted guitars are sometimes discolored or full of knots; some are shaped liked snakes or shotguns. Each instrument’s story starts with the wood used to make it. And while the past may have left its scars, beauty can be found in the sights and sounds of art.
Etta Baker’s Blues Legacy in North Carolina
Born on March 31, 1913, Etta Baker might not be a common household name across America, but her music’s influence continues to shape generations of musicians across genres.
Nathan Pope is a Young Blues Prodigy With Soul
Just 13 years old, a blues prodigy from Liberty continues a long-standing musical tradition.
Rhiannon Giddens & The Making of NC’s Most Beautiful Voice
With a talent — and a repertoire — that spans opera to gospel, bluegrass to blues, a native songbird cherishes her North Carolina identity as she hits the big gigs, and the big time.
