CARRBORO, NC — On Friday, October 23, Cat’s Cradle inaugurated its new venue at 107 Brewer Lane in Carrboro with a "Get Out the Vote" concert drawing more than 1,000 attendees. The lineup featured Hiss Golden Messenger, Karly Hartzman of Wednesday, Tift Merritt, Watchhouse with Viv & Riley, and Davie Circle, bringing together a small sampling of North Carolina’s Americana, folk, and alt-country scene. The show marked the first concert at the long-anticipated space and a new chapter for one of the Triangle’s most established independent music institutions.

The evening’s lineup leaned heavily into familiar folk and Americana traditions, with acoustic instrumentation, reflective songwriting, and roots-oriented arrangements dominating much of the bill. The performers ranged from UNC Chapel Hill-based Davie Circle to artists with established national audiences. While the program offered a cohesive snapshot of the state’s roots-music community, its musical range was relatively narrow, with Wednesday frontwoman Karly Hartzman providing one of the evening’s more distinct departures through her work’s indie rock and noise influences.

Among the more established acts, Durham’s Hiss Golden Messenger, brought its understated blend of folk, country, and soul. Raleigh-born singer-songwriter Tift Merritt further represented the region’s longstanding folk and Americana traditions. Watchhouse, formally known as Mandolin Orange, performed alongside Viv & Riley, adding another layer to the evening’s acoustic focus.

Ultimately, the concert served two purposes: introducing audiences to the new Cat’s Cradle venue and assembling a small collection of North Carolina artists around a shared civic occasion. Musically, the bill favored established styles over experimentation, with its greatest appeal resting in the predictability of the individual performers. For Cat’s Cradle, a venue with deep ties to the region’s independent music scene, the night marked a significant milestone and reinforced a clear connection to the community that helped build the venue’s reputation.

More info on upcoming Cat’s Cradle shows can be found here.