This was a fun one. Talked to three Squirrel Nut Zippers and one Brian Paulson about the making of the NC classic “Hot.”

Lucky me got to chat with Lucinda Williams about protest music. She’s at @hawriverballroom.com on Friday!

Wrote about the new one from Hiss Golden Messenger.

Lord Jah-Monte Ogbon has been one of the busiest rappers in North Carolina, having released more than a dozen projects between 2019 and 2023 alone. He spoke to @brianburns.bsky.social about his latest, "As Of Now," one of this year's most critically acclaimed records. www.wunc.org/wunc-music/2...

Do you know where you're headed for Record Store Day tomorrow? @brianburns.bsky.social has you covered with this guide on where to shop in the Triangle. www.wunc.org/wunc-music/2...

WUNC caught up with North Carolina musicians performing at the Big Ears festival in Knoxville, Tennessee to chat about AI. www.wunc.org/wunc-music/2...

After 20 years of serving Durham's music scene, Bull City Records will be closing at the end of this month. www.wunc.org/wunc-music/2...

WUNC's Brian Burns recently chatted with Durham-based folk artist Anjimile about his new record "You're Free To Go." Anjimile begins a three night residency at The Fuzzy Needle in Durham tonight. www.wunc.org/wunc-music/2...

Had the best time hanging out with Brad Cook for this story!

On Feb. 23, Chicago-based drummer and composer Makaya McCraven will perform at The Pinhook in downtown Durham. Ahead of his appearance, McCraven talked with WUNC about his latest LP and his thoughts on performing in smaller venues. www.wunc.org/wunc-music/2...

WUNC music reporter Brian Burns chats with pedal steel guitarist Luke Schneider ahead of his show at The Fuzzy Needle on February 20. www.wunc.org/wunc-music/2...

Wrote about the great Laura King!

Stanczyks Music Bar quietly opened on West Main Street in Durham at the end of 2025. Beginning in March, they'll host local and touring artists. www.wunc.org/wunc-music/2...

Carrboro-based All Day Records has opened a second location in Pittsboro. www.wunc.org/wunc-music/2...

Looking to catch up on the year in NC music? WUNC music reporter Brian Burns picks 16 albums you should know from North Carolina based artists from 2025. www.wunc.org/wunc-music/2...

Need a rundown of this year's best records? Our music reporter @brianburns.bsky.social has you covered. www.wunc.org/wunc-music/2...

The Triangle music scene recently lost one of its brightest stars to a rare soft tissue cancer. Now, Reese McHenry's final recordings will be released in a posthumous album by the Chapel Hill based Suah Sounds. www.wunc.org/wunc-music/2...

Raafe Purnsley, better known as Stormie Daie, has spent the last decade-plus as one of the most beloved drag performers and educators in Durham. www.wunc.org/wunc-music/2...

On Sunday, as ICE agents began their descent on Charlotte, Border Patrol Commander Gregory Bovino posted a video that contained Petey Pablo's anthem "Raise Up" without the artist's permission. www.wunc.org/wunc-music/2...

Wrote about the closing of PS37.

Spotlight on Scott Nurkin 🔦

Ari Picker of Dante High catches up with @brianburns.bsky.social ahead of the band's final show on November 1 at Cat's Cradle. www.wunc.org/wunc-music/2...

ADULTING is an early evening dance party in Durham where people can "dance all night" and "be in bed by 11." www.wunc.org/wunc-music/2...

Legendary producer and musician Don Was chats with @brianburns.bsky.social ahead of his show with the Pan-Detroit Ensemble at the Haw River Ballroom in Saxapahaw on Oct. 17. www.wunc.org/wunc-music/2...

WUNC music reporter Brian Burns chats with Swedish composer and producer Sven Wunder ahead of his show with rapper Freddie Gibbs at The Ritz in Raleigh on Friday, October 10. www.wunc.org/wunc-music/2...

For the past 17 years Kym Register has owned The Pinhook, one of Durham's most esteemed clubs. WUNC music reporter @brianburns.bsky.social recently sat down with Register to talk about the history of the club and what came before it. www.wunc.org/wunc-music/2...

Ahead of her show at The Ritz on Monday, Nilüfer Yanya talks with @brianburns.bsky.social about her new EP, "Dancing Shoes." "There's a parallel between the theory of method acting and the way I see my life enmeshed with music and writing and being on stage." www.wunc.org/wunc-music/2...

Pachy Garcia, better known as Pachyman, is a modern day student of the founders of dub reggae. WUNC's Brian Burns spoke to him ahead of his show at Motorco Music Hall on Oct. 5. www.wunc.org/wunc-music/2...

As Raleigh Wide Open kicks off this evening, WUNC music reporter @brianburns.bsky.social talks with local musicians to help explain the difference between old-time and bluegrass music. www.wunc.org/wunc-music/2...

Drummer and producer Kassa Overall chats with WUNC music reporter Brian Burns about his new album "Cream" ahead of his performances at Missy Lane's Assembly Room on Sept. 18-19. www.wunc.org/wunc-music/2...

my latest comic featuring the excellent insights of @brianburns.bsky.social is for those of you planning to get DOWN💥 at Hopscotch this weekend as a relatively recent NC transplant, I'll say that making this comic with Brian def is encouraging me to use the festival as a way to discover local bands

Are you ready for Hopscotch this weekend? WUNC music reporter @brianburns.bsky.social shares in this comic by @elichen.bsky.social how he's gearing up to get the most out of the three-day festival in downtown Raleigh. www.wunc.org/arts-culture...

"I've seen a starter guitar that was $199 last Christmas go up to $259," said a co-owner of Harry's Guitar Shop in Raleigh. www.wunc.org/wunc-music/2...

The Great Cover Up, which started in 1999, is an annual event in Raleigh that features an eclectic lineup of local musicians performing cover sets of more famous artists. Now, it's the subject of a new documentary that premieres Thursday on PBS North Carolina. www.wunc.org/wunc-music/2...

WUNC music reporter Brian Burns gets to know Triangle-based visual artist and musician Ron Liberti. www.wunc.org/wunc-music/2...

A group of mostly young Asian refugees are cooking meals for families whose homes at a public housing community on South Estes Drive in Chapel Hill were flooded earlier this month due to Tropical Storm Chantal. www.wunc.org/race-class-c...

this is North Carolina service journalism

Ahead of his show at DPAC on Wednesday night, North Carolina musician MJ Lenderman chats with WUNC music reporter @brianburns.bsky.social about the Hopscotch Music Festival, making a music video with Lance Bangs and more. www.wunc.org/wunc-music/2...

Ahead of The Head and the Heart's performance tonight at Red Hat in Raleigh, band co-founder Jon Russell chats with @brianburns.bsky.social about their latest album "Aperture" and their work to raise funds for arts education. www.wunc.org/wunc-music/2...

Major indie artists like Angel Olsen, Wednesday, Animal Collective and Squirrel Flower have all recorded at this studio in Asheville. @brianburns.bsky.social recently paid them a visit. www.wunc.org/wunc-music/2...

Had a great time getting 2 know Gemynii this month for @wunc.org ! www.wunc.org/wunc-music/2...

When I tell folks about what I do for work, I often get told 1) that they've never met a journalist before & 2) some comment about how they don't trust the news. Well, let's talk about it! Come to NCAAT's office in Raleigh on Wed 6/25 for a chat about media literacy. Info & registration deets 👇

Caught up with the legend Adrian Younge ahead of his show at @motorco.bsky.social next week! @wunc.org www.wunc.org/wunc-music/2...

Wrote about Fly Around Fest which looks very fun and good! www.wunc.org/wunc-music/2...

Wrote about Dex Fest which kicks off in one week! @wunc.org www.wunc.org/wunc-music/2...

President Trump today asked lawmakers to claw back the $1.1 billion in federal subsidies for public broadcasting that Congress approved earlier this year. To support us, visit protectmypublicmedia.org to tell your representative why public media matters to you. And make a donation at wunc.org.

Great write up on Chaz & Bull City Records! (And I’m not saying that just because I’m quoted in the article.)

Chatted it up with Chaz Martenstein of Bull City Records for my latest @wunc.org . www.wunc.org/wunc-music/2...

Amazing reporting from @elichen.bsky.social !

Cannonball Music Hall recently opened at Raleigh Iron Works. It's both a music venue and practice space designed to help musicians and bands who are just getting started. www.wunc.org/wunc-music/2...