Live local music continues at University Place this week, as the town of Chapel Hill hosts the Tracks Music Series!
Every Thursday for the rest of September, the Tracks Music Series will feature some of the local bands and musicians spotlighted in the town’s Tracks Music Library. Launched last year, the Tracks Music Library is a free streaming service with music from more than 100 Triangle-area artists.
The Tracks Music Series is being organized by Chapel Hill Community Arts & Culture – following a recent public survey that found residents wanting “more opportunities to hear live, local music,” according to Arts & Culture director Susan Brown.
This Thursday, September 23, the series continues with an evening of hip-hop, featuring Kaze4letters and Rowdy!
Kaze4letters is Kevin “Kaze” Thomas, who’s been a fixture in North Carolina’s hip-hop scene for two decades. He launched his career with the acclaimed 2003 debut album “Spirit of ’94,” produced by 9th Wonder. Even before that, though, he’d already made his mark as the co-creator and producer of the nationally syndicated TV show Hip-Hop Nation, which grew out of an organization he founded at UNC to promote local musicians and artists. Today, Kaze is the co-owner of VibeHouse 405, the host of “Inside Voices” on 97.9 The Hill, and the organizer of the “Save the Music” street performance series in connection with the Chapel Hill Downtown Partnership. His most recent album, “A Thousand Shades of Black,” came out last year.
Kevin “Rowdy” Rowsey is an acclaimed hip-hop artist with two albums under his belt, most recently 2019’s “Black Royalty.” In addition, he’s also an influential figure in promoting arts and culture both locally and beyond. Locally, Rowdy founded the UNC Cypher in Chapel Hill and the Med City Cypher in Durham, and he’s the program director at Blackspace in Durham. Beyond, Rowdy has served as a U.S. Hip Hop Ambassador through the U.S. Department of State and the Next Level Hip Hop Program.
Preview Rowdy’s performance by listening to his album on The Tracks Music Library, “Black Royalty.”
Thursday’s concert will take place from 6-8 pm on the southeast corner of the University Place parking lot, near the former Southern Season. 97.9 The Hill’s Aaron Keck will serve as MC. Attendees should bring their own chairs. Beer, wine, and ice cream will be available for sale; everyone’s encouraged to pack a picnic or order takeout from a nearby restaurant. Masks are strongly encouraged.
You can also tune in to “Live and Local” on 97.9 The Hill at 6:06PM tonight, Wednesday, September 22, as Aaron Keck And Kaze will open and close the show previewing the concert.
And mark your calendars for the final installment of the Tracks Music Series, next Thursday, September 30, featuring jazz with Katharine Whalen’s Jazz Squad and Dreamroot!
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