WKNC Double Barrel Benefit

Double Barrel Benefit

By Grant Eubanks

In February of 2020, NC State’s college radio station WKNC 88.1 FM hosted their annual Double Barrel Benefit concert series. Double Barrel Benefit makes up 6- 14% of WKNC’s yearly income and is planned months in advance. That is until the following month. March, then April, then May, then all of 2020 came and went, then 2021 came and went, and WKNC wasn't able to hold a Double Barrel Benefit for the first time in 17 years.

All of that changes at 8 p.m. Friday, March 11 and Saturday, March 12, when four local performers each night — some of which have already worked with WKNC — will take the stage at The Pour House in Downtown Raleigh to celebrate North Carolina’s rich and vibrant music scene for the first time in two years.

Joining them are Black Haüs, BANGZZ, Basura, Sweet homé, Elijah Rosario, NunAfterHours, Kenny Wavinson, & Permanent.

According to wknc.org, the station’s lineup for night one March 11 starts with headliner Black Haüs, a groovy alt rock band who, in an interview with AFROPUNK, said, "We are queer, we are punk, we are Black, we are undefined, and we are unapologetic, those are the qualities that make up Black Haüs."

Next up are friends of the station BANGZZ, an explosive punk duo made up of vocalist Erika Libero and drummer Jess Caesar bringing the power with anthems like “You Took My Body Long Ago And Now I am Taking It Back.” After BANGZZ, the Raleigh-based band Basura will bring a red-hot grindcore groove. Sweet homé ends the night with a fuzzy, washed out wave of indiepop.

The following day, March 12, begins with headliner and frequent WKNC collaborator Elijah Rosario kicking off Saturday with pop-R&B bangers somewhere between Roy Woods, Drake and PARTYNEXTDOOR.

NunAfterHours follows Elijah’s set with a mix of pop, hiphop, and hard rock from the perspective of a queer black woman from Hendersonville, NC.

Then comes the “Lakewater Rock” of Kenny Wavinson, who radiates the energy of past greats like America and Bill Withers over a lo-fi production style that can only be described as newer Jack Stauber or Clairo records with a lot more guitar.

Mimi Luse's experimental electronic project Permanent closes out the night, likely with some tracks from her debut album “Social Disease.”

After two years on hold, WKNC is excited to present the 2022 Double Barrel Benefit Concert, help bring live music back to North Carolina and resume its fund-raising efforts.