Carrboro venue the Cat’s Cradle hosted a six-day festival between December 27 and January 5 filled with legendary local bands to commemorate the legacy of the now 50 year-old concert hall.
The 750-person-capacity venue has played a major role in the arts scene of Chapel Hill, helping kickstart various local acts such as Polvo, Ben Folds Five and Mandolin Orange.
Over the years, the Cat’s Cradle has gained legendary status among fans of all kinds of music. Popular band Sonic Youth even mentioned the venue on their famous song “Chapel Hill” with the line “Get the Cradle rockin’.”
To send-off the “Year of the Cradle,” owner Frank Heath assembled a line-up of local and fan-favorite bands that have helped shape the Cat’s Cradle’s 50-year residency in both Chapel Hill and Carrboro.
“I think people are recognizing this area as being an arts hub. And so, that brings in more people from outside, more bands move here. It brings in more money to help foster artists and a lot more innovation,” Heath told local radio station WCHL.
Chapel Hill senior Stella Hileman agreed.
“I think the history of [the Cat’s Cradle] is what really makes it special, as well as the personal connection you can feel to the pretty popular bands,” she said.
The festival’s lineup was updated regularly with special guests and bands added to the already large cast. The six-day celebration showcased 40 bands loved by the supportive Chapel Hill community.
Each band represented a different era and sound of North Carolina music history. Pipe and Superchunk represented the indie rock that defined the area in the 1990s, while The Bad Checks and Mayflies USA served as ambassadors of rockabilly punk and power pop respectively.
Local indie-rock pioneers Archers of Loaf performed their first live set since the announcement of their reunion. The band started its short performance with an unreleased song entitled “Raleigh Days.”
Solar Halos shook the Cradle with its dense, pulsating doom metal. The vocals of Nora Rogers added a soft touch to the powerful guitar-driven melodies the band offers, creating an interesting dynamic between the vocals and instrumentals. Rapper Kaze brought his modern trap flare that has made a large mainstream push in recent years.
The venue originally opened in 1969 and, in 1993, moved from Rosemary Street in Chapel Hill to its current Carrboro location. The venue is rumored to be amidst another move, possibly marking a new chapter in the downtown spot’s lifespan.
Many Chapel Hill students have gone to the Cradle to see some of their favorite bands or, in some cases, play concerts.
Pajama Day bassist and junior Ali Gotelli played the Cat’s Cradle during the annual Battle of the Bands competition.
“The Cat’s Cradle is like a center for the music scene here to revolve around,” Gotelli said.
It’s not only the artists who have a fond love for the Cat’s Cradle; the venue attracts concertgoers from the Triangle and beyond.
Spanish teacher Thomas Soth even moved to the area, in part, because of the Cat’s Cradle.
“The music and arts life around here is part of the reason I choose to move and teach in Chapel Hill,” he said.
