Trekky Records Web Log

Video: LIVE! from Trekky House II: Midtown Dickens

2012-01-26T10:10:00.000-05:00

We continue our LIVE! From Trekky House video series today with a performance by Midtown Dickens. The band chose to play on the Blue Bird school bus at Trekky House, wanting to be outside but taking shelter from the rainy day. They play a stripped down version of "Only Brother", the first single from their upcoming Home. The album will be out April 3 on Trekky Records. Special thanks to guest cameraman D. L. Anderson.

MP3: Midtown Dickens - Only Brother [from the Home LP]

Trekky Records presents: Amalgam, a Mixtape Compilation

2012-01-20T09:40:00.002-05:00

Introducing: Trekky Records. These are our friends, our sisters and brothers, our collaborators and advisers. This is our future as well as our past. These songs are an amalgamation of everything we've worked on for nearly 10 years, supporting each other as artists and picking up new friends along the way. Like the mixtapes you've received from friends and kindred spirits in the past, we hope Amalgam will introduce you to some new music that may come to shape your life, as it has shaped ours.

With contributions from Lost in the Trees, Midtown Dickens, Phil Cook & His Feat, Brice Randall Bickford, Butterflies, Vibrant Green and more, the mixtape features some our favorite songs from our past releases as well as brand new and unreleased gems. The compilation will be issued as a limited edition cassette tape, and also be available for digital download on March 6, 2012.

To celebrate the release of the tape, we'll be hosting a release show at Nightlight in Chapel Hill, NC, on March 2, 2012. Butterflies, Phil Cook & His Feat, Vibrant Green and a very special surprise guest band will perform, and it'll be your first chance to get your hands on Amalgam. Hope to see you there!

Phil Cook contributes new song to hymn compilation

2012-01-18T15:55:00.000-05:00

Phil Cook contributes a song to the upcoming Hymns From The Gathering Church compilation, a collection of traditional hymns performed by various North Carolina musicians. Phil's track is a rendition of "Leaning On The Everlasting Arms", a popular hymn composed in 1887 by Elisha Hoffman and Anthony Showalter. You can listen to and buy the track here.

If that's not enough Phil Cook for you, you can still order Phil Cook and His Feat's critically acclaimed 2011 album, Hungry Mother Blues from the Trekky Records Online Store.

Midtown Dickens release first single from Home

2012-01-18T10:09:00.003-05:00

Midtown Dickens' have released the first single from their upcoming Home LP, a gorgeous folk song called "Only Brother". The song explores reincarnation, god and place, inspired by the story of an animal psychic traveling back in time to heal a wolf's broken leg. Intertwining acoustic guitars, slide mandolin, and an unlikely clarinet solo fill out the composition, Midtown Dickens' most striking statement to date. Shuffle Magazine is debuting the track today.

Home will be released in Trekky's signature LP+CD+MP3 package on April 3, 2012.

Watch a teaser trailer of Midtown Dickens in the studio:

Lost in the Trees announce new album, NPR debuts first single

2012-01-10T09:09:00.002-05:00

It gives us great honor to share with you the details of Lost In The Trees' newest statement, a devastating and beautiful album titled A Church That Fits Our Needs, to be released by ANTI- and Trekky Records on March 20, 2012. It is a work of vaulting ambition, a cathedral built on loss and transformation. Visit NPR's All Songs Considered to hear "Red", the stunning first single.

In the summer of 2009, Ari Picker lost his mother, an artist in her own right, when she took her own life. Picker set about transforming the events into a musical tribute, composing and writing with his mother’s picture above his desk: the same picture that will now grace the album’s cover.
“I wanted to give her a space, in the music, to be, and to become all the things she didn’t get a chance to be when she was alive,” Picker says.

As on 2010's All Alone In An Empty House, Picker has again surrounded himself with musicians who bring his vision to life with verve and sensitivity. A special contribution comes in the vocals of Emma Nadeau, whose soaring, wordless melodies counter Picker’s ecstatic vocals throughout. Recorded and produced by Picker in North Carolina, the album was mixed by the legendary Rob Schnapf (Elliott Smith, Beck), bringing out the lush tones of the orchestrations in their full grandeur.

Tracklist:

01. Moment One
02. Neither Here Nor There
03. Red
04. Golden Eyelids
05. Icy River
06. Tall Ceilings
07. Moment Two
08. The Dead Bird Is Beautiful
09. Garden
10. Villain
11. An Artist's Song
12. Vines

For a glimpse into the process of making the album, check out this lovely video:

TRK Best of 2k11

2011-12-09T13:01:00.026-05:00

As 2011 draws to a close, the Trekky crew looks back on what made 2011 such a great year! Here are some highlights!

Jesse Ainslie (Barghest, Virgin Forest, Phosphorescent)

Top Ten Albums of "2011":

Talk Talk - Laughing Stock (1991) - reissue 2011
Radiohead - King Of Limbs
Tyler, The Creator - Goblin
Curren$y - Pilot Talk (2010)
Bobby Charles - Bobby Charles (1972) - reissue 2011
Destroyer - Kaputt
Grinderman - Grinderman II (2010)
Deertick - Divine Providence
Tom Waits - Bad As Me
Ulver - Wars of The Roses (2011)

and two things I still just can't get over:
Charles Mingus - Mingus Plays Piano (1963)
and
Ulver - Lyckantropen Themes (2002)

In my opinion, these are, at least, contenders for the greatest instrumental records of all time - do yourselves the favor.

====================================

Martin Anderson (Trekky Records)

**sorry in advance that my list is so long...2011 has been a big one!**

TOP 30 ALBUMS OF 2011
1. Bon Iver- "Bon Iver, Bon Iver"
2. The War on Drugs- "Slave Ambient"
3. James Blake- "s/t"
4. Future Islands- "On the Water"
5. Akron/Family- "The Cosmic Birth and Journey of Shinju TNT"
6. High Places- "Original Colors"
7. Wye Oak- "Civilian"
8. The Dodos- "No Color"
9. Gillian Welch- "The Harrow & The Harvest
10. The Rosebuds- "Loud Planes Fly Low"
11. Wilco- "The Whole Love"
12. Mount Moriah- "s/t"
13. All Tiny Creatures- "Harbors"
14. James Blake- "Enough Thunder"
15. Grouper- "A/A : Alien Observer / Dream Loss"
16. Vetiver- "The Errant Charm"
17. Panda Bear- "Tomboy"
18. Beirut- "The Rip Tide"
19. Whatever Brains- "s/t"
20. Hammer No More The Fingers- "Black Shark"
21. Kurt Vile- "Smoke Ring for My Halo"
22. Des Ark- "Don't Rock The Boat, Sink the Fucker"
23. Gil-Scott Heron & Jamie xx- "We're New Here"
24. Colin Stetson- "New history Warfare, Vol 2: Judges"
25. Atlas Sound- "Parallax"
26. Collections of Colonies of Bees- "GIVING"
27. Tinariwen- "Tassili"
28. Drive-By Truckers- "Go-Go Boots"
29. Tom Waits- "Bad As Me"
30. Stephen Malkmus- "Mirror Traffic"

***I intentionally excluded the handful of AMAZING albums that I worked very closely on (Megafaun, Lost in the Trees, Phil Cook, Brice Randall Bickford, etc)***

Shows:
--TRKfest 2011 @ Haw River Ballroom in Saxapahaw, NC (highlights: Butterflies, Bowerbirds, Lonnie Walker, Vibrant Green)
--Megafaun + Doug Paisley @ Schuba's in Chicago, IL
--Future Islands @ The Echoplex in Los Angeles, CA
--Phil Cook & His Feat album release @ Motorco in Durham, NC
--Bon Iver & The Rosebuds @ Downtown Amphitheater in Raleigh, NC
--High Places @ The Smell in Los Angeles, CA
--Westfalia @ Johnny's in Carrboro, NC
--Hopscotch Music Festival in Raleigh, NC (highlights: Superchunk, Brice Randall Bickford, Lost in the Trees, Mount Moriah, Wooden Wand, The Dodos)
--Sharon Van Etten & Megafaun @ Music Hall of Williamsburg in Brooklyn, NY
--All Tiny Creatures @ Hometapes SXSW Friend Island in Austin, TX
--The Mountain Goats & Megafaun @ The Ottobar in Baltimore, MD
--The War on Drugs @ The Satellite in Los Angeles, CA
--Gayngs @ Stubb's in Austin, TX
--Menomena & Megafaun @ The Republic in New Orleans, LA
--Avi Buffalo @ The Winona house in Los Angeles, CA

Other rad highlights of 2011:
Trekky House...2011-2012 Tar Heels...Pie Pushers...Day off at an indoor water park with the Megafaun gang...hiking in the Redwoods...TRKfest...BJ "Crow" Burton...new Westfalia songs entering my life...bloody marys and ceviche in Mexico with Katie...welcoming Ellis Bradley Cook into this world...Greg Davis' Grateful Dead mixes...Adam Wills: hangmaster...Hi Ho Silver Oh Silverlake Lounge residency night 4 with Grandma Sparrow and Wil Donegan...The final days of Brome...Joan Didion...MusicNOW festival in Cinci w Fauns, FBB, Sharon, Vern, Doug, JagJag fam, National fam, et al...cabbage salad at Carousel in Los Angeles...Lee Waters...Punjab Deli in NYC...Adam & Sara Heathcott...re-reading the Merge book...Doug "Drugs" Paisley & Jordan Long...Boiling Crab & Beverly Soon Tofu in Ktown LA...Thomas and Amanda's dining room table...tamale birthday party...finally getting thorough with Yo La Tengo's catalog...Carolina Brewery Anniversary Lager..Dave Godowsky's apartment...Listening to Patterson Hood and James Toth speak at a Hopscotch panel

Knowing how hard the new Midtown Dickens, Lost in the Trees, Bowerbirds, Sharon Van Etten, Bear in Heaven, Dana Buoy and Matt White records are going to rule next year!!!

====================================

Phil Cook (Phil Cook & His Feat, Megafaun)

Doug Paisley - Constant Companion (i don't care that it's 2010. still listened to it the most!)
William Tyler - Behold the Spirit
The Alabama Shakes - S/T EP
Gillian Welch - The Harrow and The Harvest
Dawes - Nothing Is Wrong
Drive By Truckers - Go Go Boots
Bon Iver - Bon Iver, Bon Iver
Mount Moriah - S/T
The War On Drugs - Slave Ambient
The Dodos - No Color

====================================

Thomas Costello (Embarrassing Fruits)

Cass Mccombs "Wit's End"
Yuck "Yuck"
Colin Stetson "New History Of Warfare Vol.2"
Kurt Vile "Smoke Ring For My Halo"
Gillian Welch "The Harrow & The Harvest"
Trouble Books & Mark McGuire "Trouble Books & Mark McGuire"
Bill Orcutt "A New Way To Pay Old Debts"
Iceage "New Brigade"
The War On Drugs "Slave Ambient"
Whatever Brains "Whatever Brains"
Megafaun "Megafaun"
Glenn Jones "The Wanting"
Eddy Current Suppression Ring "So Many Things"

====================================

Wil Donegan (Auxiliary House)

Bill Callahan - Apocalypse
Pains Of Being Pure At Heart - Belong
Destroyer - Kaputt
Mickey Newbury - An American Trilogy (reissue)
Josh T. Pearson - The Last of the Country Gentlemen

====================================

Catherine Edgerton (Midtown Dickens)

Best Record: Mount Moriah by Mount Moriah

Best Short Film: Mr. Percy's Run by DL Anderson

Most Epic Sunset: Baucum Road (Monroe Manor) November, 2011

New Favorite Bands: The Gift Machine, Cal Folger Day, Sonny and the Sunsets, The Water Bears

Best Date: 11/11/11

Best Taco: Taqueria Cancun, the Mission, SF
****(There is an important lesson in this one: Things that don't need qualifiers are always done well; the guest check just said: Taco. Kinda like how the new Megafaun record just says: Megafaun)

Best Hair: Will Hackney by FAR

Best Place to Sleep Alone: Strawberry Rock, Petrolia CA

Best Show: Wild Flag and Yellow Fever, Local 506, March 11, 2011

====================================

Will Hackney (Trekky Records, Midtown Dickens)

Favorite 10 Albums of 2011

1 Gillian Welch - The Harrow and The Harvest
2. Bill Callahan - Apocalypse
3. Terius Nash - 1977
4. Beyonce - 4
5. Yardwork - Brotherer
6. Kate Bush - Director's Cut
7. M83 - Hurry Up, We're Dreaming
8. Kanye West & Jay-Z - Watch The Throne
9. James Blake - s/t
10. Des Ark - Don't Rock The Boat, Sink The Fucker

Favorite Reissues

Talk Talk - Laughing Stock
Fred McDowell - The Alan Lomax Recordings

Can't believe I still haven't listened to it, what's wrong with me?

Bjork - Biophilia

====================================

Daniel Hart (The Physics of Meaning)

Best Albums:

Tamer Animals -- Other Lives
King of Limbs -- Radiohead
Underneath the Pine -- Toro Y Moi
English Riviera -- Metronomy
Loud Planes Fly Low -- The Rosebuds
James Blake -- James Blake
Metals -- Feist
w h o k i l l -- tUnE-yArDs
New History Warfare Vol. 2 - Judges -- Colin Stetson
bon iver, bon iver -- Bon Iver
No Time For Dreaming -- Charles Bradley
Burst Apart -- Antlers
Unknown Mortal Orchestra -- Unknown Mortal Orchestra

Best Videos:

Metronomy - She Wants, dir. Jul & Mat
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ntVV3dTo-qw

+ every other Metronomy video (look it up and feel cleverer)

Battles - My Machines, dir. Daniels
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pkgQ88G8Hj8

Battles - Ice Cream, dir. Canada
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-CXtJA34QGQ&feature=related

Best Shows:

Feist @ the Majestic, Dallas, November
Toro Y Moi @ some shitty club, Austin, SXSW
Man Man/Shilpa Ray and Her Happy Hookers @ Sons of Hermann Hall, Dallas, April
Bon Iver @ Grand Ole Opry, Nashville, July
Other Lives @ Spanish Moon, Baton Rouge, June
Broken Social Scene @ House of Fucking Blues, Dallas, March

Best Movies:

Midnight in Paris
HP8

Best things that happened to me this year:

1. Rachel and I celebrated four years together in August

2. Charlyne Yi made this amazing video for one of my songs, with no help from me, because she is truly amazing:

http://vimeo.com/24804326

3. Playing in Other Lives supporting Bon Iver's West Coast run, September

Best People:

Gerard Smith (1975 - 2011). Rest in peace

====================================

Seamus Kenney (Trepak, Auxiliary House, Lost in the Trees)

My top ten consists mostly of artists/songs I was listening to via Pandora in the past year. I have noted the year of release so as to not confuse or confound the reader.

Band/Album/Single/Year

1 - Peter, Bjorn and John/Gimme Some/Dig a Little Deeper/2011
2 - Fleet Foxes/Helplessness Blues/The Shrine - An Argument/2011
3 - Blitzen Trapper/The Destroyer of The Void/The Man Who Would Speak True/2010
4 - Dirty Projectors/Bitte Orca/Stillness Is The Move/2009
5 - Grizzly Bear/Veckatimest/Two Weeks/2009
6 - Band of Horses/Cease To Begin/No One's Gonna Love You/2007
7 - The Bird and The Bee/Please Clap Your Hands/Polite Dance Song/2007
8 - Phoenix/It's Never Been Like That/Sometime in The Fall/2006
9 - Ben Kweller/Out Come The Wolves/ Hospital Bed/2004
10- The Wedding Present/Watusi/Yeah,Yeah, Yeah, Yeah, Yeah/1994
====================================

Josh Kimbrough (Butterflies, Westfalia)

Faves in order:

1. Kurt Vile - "Smoke Ring For My Halo"

2. Deleted Scenes - "Young People's Church of the Air"

3. Mark Hollis - "Mark Hollis" (reissue)

4. Casual Curious - "Lungs"

5. Let's Wrestle - "Nursing Home"

6. All Tiny Creatures - "Harbors"

7. Phil Cook & His Feat - "Hungry Mother Blues"

8. Tyler, the Creator - "Goblin"

9. Toro Y Moi - "Freaking Out"

10. Bon Iver - "Bon Iver"

So confused about:

1. Lou Reed & Metallica - "Lulu"

2. Limp Bizkit - "Gold Cobra"

====================================

Jon Mackey (Hi Ho Silver Oh, Auxiliary House)

1. M83 - Hurry Up, We're Dreaming
2. David Bazan - Strange Negotiations
3. Megafaun - Megafaun
4. Mount Moriah - Mount Moriah
5. Tim Hecker - Ravedeath, 1972
5. (tie) Tim Hecker - Dropped Pianos
6. Bon Iver - Bon Iver
7. Wolves in the Throne Room - Celestial Lineage
8. Low - C'mon
9. Toro Y Moi - Underneath the Pine
10. Washed Out - Within and Without

====================================

Joe Norkus (Embarrassing Fruits, Westfalia)

National:
The War on Drugs - Slave Ambient
Swearing At Motorists - Postcards From a Drinking Town
Kurt Vile - Smoke Ring For My Halo
Richard Buckner - Our Blood
John Maus - We Must Become the Pitiless Censors of Ourselves
Atlas Sound - Parallax
Toro Y Moi - Underneath The Pine
Girls - Father, Son, Holy Ghost

Local:
Wesley Wolfe - Cynics Need Love Too
Secret Message Machine - Trashface
Gross Ghost - Wicked Game
Mount Moriah - s/t

Other Stuff:
Jim Beam Rye Whiskey w/ Blenheim's and Lime (thanks John)
Sriracha + Anything
The Taco Truck next to Cat's Cradle
Breaking Bad
My "new" Squire Strat
Seeing Archers of Loaf, Guided By Voices (twice), and Dinosaur Jr. all in the same year!

====================================

Ari Picker (Lost in the Trees)

I'm always asked the same question this time of year: "What are you top 10 favorite albums of the year"....and every year it seems like there are less and less albums that really change me as a music lover. Perhaps it is just an age thing (not being young and wide eyed to the word), or perhaps I'm too self absorbed. Or am I looking for other types of inspiration? But...when a record does fight its way into my head, it gives me the same thrill that it did 10 years ago. So for this year, here are my top 10 (or so) albums that changed my life. There are so many wonderful albums, but these are the ones that really changed me as a music listener (at least the ones that I can remember at the moment).

1. Kid A/OK Computer - Radiohead
2. Atom Heart Mother/Meddle - Pink Floyd
3. Airplane Over the Sea/Live at Jittery Joe's - Neutral Milk Hotel
4. Orchestral Music - Beethoven's late string quartets, Berlioz Symphony Fantastique, Saint-Sean's tone poems, Chopin's Nocturnes, Shostakovich's symphonies, Stravinsky's ballets, Bach fugues, Mozart's 40th-41st symphony, Sibelius' Violin Concerto, and On and On and On....
5. Ziggy Stardus/Aladin Sane - David Bowie
6. Edward Scissor Hands - Danny Elfman
7. Smily Smile/Smile - The Beach Boys
8. The Royal Tenembaums - Various Artists
9. Anti-Christ Super Star - Marilyn Manson
10. Pinkerton/Blue Album - Weezer

Honorable Mentions: The Misfits - Static Age, Queen - Sheer Heart Attack, Blonde Redhead - Melody of Certain Damaged Lemons/Fake Can be Just as Good, Outkast - Aquimini/Stankonia, Joni Mitchell - Blue, The Beatles, Funeral/Neon Bible - Arcade Fire, The 'Burbs Sound Track - Jerry Goldsmith, and on and on...

====================================

Kym Register (Midtown Dickens)

Records:
Bon Iver - Bon Iver
Wild Flag - Wild Flag
Javelin - Canyon Candy
The Mountain Goats - All Eternals Deck
Megafaun - Megafaun
Pink Flag - King of Scene
Harvey Sue - Harvey Sue Gets Down
Destroyer - Kaputt
Phil Cook and his Feat - Hungry Mother Blues
Future Islands - On the Water
Thurston Moore - Demolished Thoughts
Frank Fairfield - Out on the Open West
Gillian Welch - The Harrow and the Harvest
Kendl Winter - At the Same Time
Clyde Peterson (Your Heart Breaks), Theo Hilton (Nana Grizol / Defiance Ohio), Toby Foster, Ryan Woods (Defiance Ohio) - THEO CLYDE TOBY RYAN "SELF TITLED SPLIT"
Des Ark - Don't Rock the Boat, Sink the Fucker

Shows:
Diamond Center - Hopscotch
The Mountain Goats - The Fillmore, yeow!!
Des Ark / Bellafea / Pygmy Lush - The Nightlight
The War on Drugs / Carter Tanton - Kings
Javelin - Pinhook 3 year anniversary
Shonen Knife / Ghost of Rock - Pinhook
A Hawk and a Hacksaw / Dark Dark Dark / Pillars & Tongues - Pinhook
MEN ft. JD Sampson / Tayisha Bussay - Pinhook
Kairaba / Afica Unplugged - Pinhook
Gillian Welch - NC Museum of Art
Vibrant Green - TRKfest - Haw River Ballroom
Paper Hand Puppet Intervention - Forest Theatre
The Moaners / Mount Moriah - Cat's Cradle
Des Ark - Hopscotch
Hurray for the Riff Raff - the Pinhook w. Sam Doores and the Tumbleweeds
O'Death / Why are we Building Such a Big Ship /Lonnie Walker - Pinhook

Best new find of 2011, hopefully to acquire in 2012:
*Moog Taurus*

====================================

Hunter Simpson (Daytona, Participation Award)

here's my favorite song from this year:

====================================

Rusty Sutton (Lost in the Trees live sound engineer)

TOP RECORDS

1. Gillian Welch - The Harrow and the Harvest

2. Fucked Up - David Comes to Life

3. Generationals - Actor-Castor

4. Mount Moriah - s/t

5. Braids - Native Speaker

6. Brice Randall Bickford - s/t

7. Telekinesis - 12 Desperate Straight Lines

8. War on Drugs - Slave Ambient

9. Battles - Gloss Drop

10. Foo Fighters - Wasting Life

Honorable mentions: Yuck - s/t, Jessica Leah Mayfield - Tell Me, Decemberists - The King is Dead

TOP SHOWS/TOURS/FESTIVALS (In chronological order)

Jan. 13-23 - Lost in the Trees/Butterflies South East Tour
Feb. 11 - Pipe @ Local 506, Chapel Hill, NC
Mar. 18 - Versus and Lost in the Trees acoustic sets @ Homeslice Pizza, Austin, TX
Mar. 23 - OFF! @ Local 506, Chapel Hill, NC
Apr. 11 - Joe Pug and Strand of Oaks @ Local 506, Chapel Hill, NC
Apr. 12 - Wanda Jackson @ Local 506, Chapel Hill, NC
May 14-15 - Flaming Lips, Yo La Tengo, Mucca Pazza, Lost in the Trees, and Ghost of a Saber Tooth Tiger, Nelsonville Music Festival, Nelsonville, OH
June 25 - David Bazan, Centro-Matic and Sarah Jaffe @ Local 506, Chapel Hill, NC
July 23-24 - Hillside Music Festival, Guelph, ON
August 19-20 - Archers of Loaf @ Cat's Cradle, Carrboro, NC
Sept. 6 - Active Child @ Local 506, Chapel Hill NC
Sept. 8-11 - Hopscotch Music Festival
Sept. 17 Neon Indian @ Local 506, Chapel Hill, NC
Sept. 18 The Low Anthem and William Elliott Whitmore @ Local 506, Chapel Hill, NC
Sept. 27 - Fucked Up and Wavves @ Local 506, Chapel Hill, NC
Oct. 31 - Zen Frisbee and Shit Horse @ Local 506, Chapel Hill, NC

====================================

Stephen Tunnell (Vibrant Green)

Shoes: Clarks
Looking forward to: YanDrew releasing somethin recorded
Kinda old but newly discovered music: PJ Harvey's "Uh-Huh Her", Aloe Blacc's "Good things".
Food: Rediscovered Crab Cakes!
New music: St. Vincent's Strange Mercy

Midtown Dickens announce new album, Home

2011-12-07T13:08:00.004-05:00

Trekky Records is proud to announce the release of Midtown Dickens' third album, Home, the band's most stunning and accomplished work to date. Durham, North Carolina's Midtown Dickens have never sounded more bold or graceful than they do across these 11 gorgeous meditations on the themes of home (both literal and abstract), family (blood and chosen) and space (within us and about us). Home is the sound of journey and motion; the pulling apart and coming together we experience as we search for our place in the world.

Home is also Midtown Dickens' most collaborative release, expanding the core duo of songwriters/vocalists Kym Register and Catherine Edgerton to include multi-instrumentalists Will Hackney and Jonathan Henderson. Recorded between tours in a near-constant year of traveling (including jaunts with kindred-spirits The Mountain Goats, Megafaun, and Lost in the Trees) the album reveals a band moving effortlessly as one. This unity brings focus and warmth to Edgerton and Register's dark folk compositions.

Home was recorded by long-time collaborator Scott Solter (Spoon, St. Vincent, The Mountain Goats) at his studio in Monroe, North Carolina. The remote location afforded Midtown Dickens the time and space to delve into the most adventurous, experimental, and focused sessions of the band's career. At first listen, it is clear that Home marks a dramatic shift in Midtown Dickens' sonic world. While still anchored by acoustic, folk instrumentation (banjo, mandolin, acoustic guitar, upright bass), the album also wields layers of overdriven bowed cymbals, musical saws drowning in reverb and walls-of-sound that push acoustic instruments to places they've never been before. Yet the band never allows the noise to obscure the soul of the song, and without out a doubt these are the most realized and lucid songs Register and Edgerton have ever written, modern standards. Home evokes the stunning colors of Carolina tobacco fields and Appalachian mountain ranges, re-imagined and re-contextualized in a way that is undeniably Midtown Dickens.

Trekky will release Home, in our signature LP+CD+MP3 format on February 28, 2012.

Tracklist:
1. Home All Ways
2. Elephant
3. No More Reason (To Pine)
4. Only Brother
5. Apple Tree
6. Resting
7. Crocodile Mile
8. Walk, Don't You Run
9. Volcanoes (Covered In Snow)
10. Cross My Heart
11. This Is My Home

Midtown Dickens | Home from Trekky Records on Vimeo.

When You Awake premieres Brice Randall Bickford music video + MP3

2011-12-01T12:18:00.001-05:00

The good folks over at When You Awake are premiering the new Brice Randall Bickford music video, a visual interpretation of "On The Caesura Of Paying Attention", the second single from Bickford's dense and rewarding self-titled album. The video is directed by visual artist Leon Godwin, and places a particular focus on Bickford's greatest strength: his lyrics. Click here to see the video, as well as download a free MP3 of "On The Caesura Of Paying Attention".

Brice Randall Bickford's self-titled album is out now in our signature 3-part package, complete with LP, CD and MP3 download. Order here.

MP3: The Trekky Yuletide Orchestra - "In The Bleak Midwinter"

2011-11-30T09:32:00.004-05:00

As the temperature drops and holiday spirits rise, you may find yourself in the mood for some seasonal music. Not to worry, The Trekky Yuletide Orchestra has you covered! Composed of members of Lost in the Trees, Midtown Dickens, Butterflies and Embarrassing Fruits, the collective orchestra has been bringing holiday cheer to the masses for 5 years. As our early gift to you, please enjoy this free MP3 of The Trekky Yuletide Orchestra's "In The Bleak Midwinter". Probably the most somber cut from the Orchestra's A New Old Fashioned Christmas, the classic hymn will get you in that nostalgic, wintery mood that comes each snowy season. A New Old Fashioned Christmas is on sale now for only $8 in the Trekky Records Online Store, as a part of our Winter Sale. Right click below to download "In The Bleak Midwinter" for free!

MP3: The Trekky Yuletide Orchestra - In The Bleak Midwinter [from the A New Old Fashioned Christmas LP]

Weekly deals in Trekky Records' Winter Sale!

2011-11-28T11:07:00.001-05:00

Over in the Trekky Records Online Store, we'll be offering a very special deal every week for the next month. Check back often for huge price cuts, free limited edition items and package deals. To kick us off, we're offering The Trekky Yuletide Orchestra's A New Old Fashioned Christmas for just $8, 25% off the regular price. Recorded in one whirlwind week in 2006, the album is full of classic Christmas songs,hymns and modern holiday anthems from members of Lost In The Trees, Midtown Dickens, Butterflies, Embarrassing Fruits and Vibrant Green. Its the perfect soundtrack for your winter season, and now its super-affordable!Click here to order!

Trekky Records Collective joins together for TRK @ ArtsCenter

2011-11-21T16:38:00.001-05:00

In September of 2009, members of the Trekky Records Collective joined together to perform various sets at Milltown in Carrboro, NC. A mix of rare solo performances, cross-band collaborations and spontaneous sing-a-longs, the evening went down in Trekky History as a night to remember. As the label moves into its 10th year, now with more family members than ever, the collective will once again join together to share songs, perform ill-advised covers and celebrate music in the Triangle.

Cat's Cradle presents

TRK @ The ArtsCenter
An Evening with the Trekky Records Collective

Featuring members of:
Butterflies
Embarrassing Fruits
Hammer No More The Fingers
Lost in the Trees
Megafaun
Midtown Dickens
Mount Moriah
Vibrant Green

Doors 7:30. Show 8:00
$6/$8

Get advance tickets and get $2 off!

Daniel Hart Tours the Southwest and California in December

2011-11-17T15:38:00.007-05:00

Daniel Hart, mastermind behind The Physics of Meaning, spent his summer and fall on the road with The Rosebuds and Other Lives, supporting Bon Iver. In December, Daniel will be heading out on tour across the Southwest and California, performing songs from his latest album, "The Orientalist"! Don't miss this one folks! Full dates below.

Watch Daniel perform "O Sangheeta" at SXSW:

Order The Physics of Meaning's "Snake Charmer and Destiny at the Stroke of Midnight" here.

12-03 San Antonio, TX - The Limelight
12-04 Lubbock, TX - Skooner's
12-05 Las Cruces, NM - LB's Late Night Lunchbox
12-06 Phoenix, AZ - Trunk Space
12-08 San Diego, CA - The Soda Bar*^
12-09 Los Angeles, CA - Pehrspace^
12-10 Merced, CA - The Partisan
12-11 San Francisco, CA - Hemlock Tavern
12-15 Amarillo, TX - The 806
12-16 Denton, TX - J&J's Pizza on the Square#
12-17 Dallas, TX - City Tavern#
12-18 Austin, TX - Hole in the Wall#

*with Jeffrey Lewis
^with Martin Starr and Common Rotation
#with Matthew and the Arrogant Sea

Butterflies perform underneath a giant military parachute

2011-11-07T10:27:00.001-05:00

In May of 2011, Josh Kimbrough, Joe Norkus and Bobby Britt were set to move out of their house and on to greater things. But before they left, they wanted to have one last house show in their communal space. Somehow they agreed upon buying a giant military parachute, and having the bands play beneath. What resulted was a strange and special night, promoted online with the hashtag "#justchuteme".

Butterflies, Embarrassing Fruits and Rainbow Nerd all performed. Here's Butterflies performing "Tired Pose".

Butterflies will open for The Sea and Cake this Friday at Local 506 in Chapel Hill. You can get tickets here.

New songs from Midtown Dickens, Butterflies, Daniel Hart on compilation

2011-10-24T16:20:00.001-04:00

Our friends over at Special Passenger Records have put together a very special compilation featuring new music from Midtown Dickens, Butterflies and Daniel Hart, among many others. Each bandwas asked to compose and record a new song relating to their hometowns for a compilation called Feels Like Coming Home. The comp is out now, and can be ordered, downloaded and listened to here. Now the teambehind the comp is traveling the country, creating a documentary about those very hometowns featured in the songs. We're very happy to have so many of our artists involved in the project.

TRK @ Hopscotch 2011

2011-09-08T14:48:00.003-04:00

The Hopscotch Music Festival has, in just two years, become the most important music event in North Carolina. Hundreds of musicians will soon descend upon Raleigh to share their art, and attendees will be treated to more live music in 72 hours than anyone really deserves. Its a real treat for us locals, and we're honored to be involved in the festival again this year. Here's a guide to seeing Trekky artists play at Hopscotch, as well as some recommendations of friends and allies that you won't want to miss. Get out yr calendars!

FRIDAY

Brice Randall Bickford
9:00PM at Berkeley Cafe

SATURDAY

The Blount Street Block Party
11:00AM-5:30PM at The Pour House & Tir Na Nog

Our joint day party with our friends from Hometapes Records. Come out and enjoy free treats from Crumb, coffee from Joe Van Gogh and the premiere of canned Fat Tire Beer, on sale all day. Bounce back and forth between the two venues and see almost a dozen amazing bands. For our party we're happy to have a spread of old and new Trekky artists, including NC expatriate Daniel Hart (of The Physics of Meaning, St. Vincent, John Vanderslice, The Rosebuds). We'll also have a special non-Trekky guest, our friend Cat Martino (of Sufjan Stevens, Sharon Van Etten). This is all FREE! Schedules below:

Trekky's DAY-DREAM @ The Pour House:
4:30 | Butterflies
3:40 | Embarrassing Fruits
2:50 | Daniel Hart
2:00 | Midtown Dickens
1:10 | Brice Randall Bickford
12:30 | Cat Martino

Hometapes' Friend Island @ Tir Na Nog:
4:00 | All Tiny Creatures
3:00 | The Caribbean
2:00 | Family Dynamics
1:00 | Matthew White
12:00 | Sunless

Embarrassing Fruits
9:30PM at The Union

Lost in the Trees
12:00AM at Fletcher Opera Hall

EXTRAS
Trekky Records' own Will Hackney will also be playing with Cassis Orange (Thursday, 9:30PM at The Union) and Mount Moriah (Friday, 12:00AM at Berkeley Cafe) as well as participating in Hoopscotch, the charity basketball game at 1:30PM on Friday.

Sony DADC and PIAS Warehouse Fire

2011-08-11T13:32:00.004-04:00

Our thoughts are with all those affected by the Sony DADC/PIAS warehouse fire in London this past Tuesday. Not only is it a tragedy for the workers and the families of the warehouse (thankfully no deaths or injuries), but also our fellow independent record labels like Jagjaguwar, Dead Oceans, Secretly Canadian, Asthmatic Kitty, Thrill Jockey, Sub Pop, Matador, 4AD, Drag City, Rough Trade, Soul Jazz, many more, and their artists who lost thousands and thousands of dollars worth of stock in the incident.

This is a hard hit, especially in the current shakey climate of physical media. Follow the links below for more info and how you can help out. The simplest way- go out and buy some records! Show your support for these amazing labels that work tirelessly to bring inspiring music to the world.

Association of Independent Music and PIAS relief fund

Pitchfork Article with more information, list of affected labels, reactions etc.

TRKfest schedule announced!

2011-08-08T12:50:00.000-04:00

Butterflies Take Georgia By Storm

2011-07-19T10:37:00.003-04:00

Butterflies will be taking their ever-evolving art-pop ensemble south for a string of shows in Georgia this week. Kimbrough and co. have been hard at work on various recording projects this summer. They recorded not one, but two songs for compilations, and have a third on the way. Stay tuned for more news soon from Butterflies, and don't forget to check out their latest album Residual Child.

Summer shows:
07-21 Atlanta, GA - The Music Room
07-22 Macon, GA - The Rookery*
07-23 Athens, GA - Flicker Theater
08-13 Pittsboro, NC - TRKFest%
09-10 Raleigh, NC - The Pour House^

*with The Bronzed Chorus
%with Bowerbirds, Mount Moriah, Midtown Dickens, more
^Trekky Records Day-Dream Party at Hopscotch Festival with Midtown Dickens, Embarrassing Fruits, Brice Randall Bickford

Lost in the Trees Announce Summer Shows

2011-07-13T09:18:00.003-04:00

Lost in the Trees have been quiet, but busy. Ari and company have spent the last six months recording and crafting their breath-taking follow-up to All Alone in an Empty House...but more on that soon! Lost in the Trees are stretching their legs and taking their ever-evolving live show on the road this summer. The band's travels kick off with a hometown performance tonight at Duke Gardens in Durham, NC, then off to Ontario for the Hillside Festival, followed by a detour at LouFest in St. Louis, and wrapping up with a concert at the Fletcher Opera Theater in Raleigh, NC as part of the second-annual Hopscotch Festival. It's totally acceptable if you want to wear your bathing suit to any of these:

07-13 Durham, NC - Duke Gardens
07-21 Philadelphia, PA - Danger Danger Gallery
07-22 Oneonta, NY - The Oneonta Theatre
07-23 Guelph, ON - Hillside Festival*
07-24 Guelph, ON - Hillside Festival*
07-25 Toronto, ON - The Drake Hotel
08-26 Carbondale, IL - The Hangar 9
08-27 Chicago, IL - Lincoln Hall
08-28 St. Louis, MO - Loufest#
09-10 Raleigh, NC - Fletcher Opera Theater (Hopscotch Festival)%

*with Kevin Drew & The Beauties, Little Scream, Doug Paisley, These United States
#with The Roots, TV on the Radio, Cat Power, Deerhunter, The Hold Steady
%with The Flaming Lips, Guided By Voices, Superchunk, Drive-by Truckers, The Dodos, The Love Language, Brice Randall Bickford, Embarrassing Fruits, Butterflies

New Butterflies song on Cicada Summer compilation

2011-06-30T11:20:00.002-04:00

Butterflies were recently asked by Special Passenger Records to write and record a song during the Great Cicada Infestation of 2011, which struck the South this Spring with an incessant whirring and a clutter of discarded exoskeletons. What came out was a stripped down, hyper literal account of a conversation with Special Passenger Records owner Amanda Rainey, and lead Butterfly Josh Kimbrough's subsequent internet search on the Cicada flavored ice cream of Columbia, Missouri. Listen below and download for free:

&amp;amp;amp;lt;a href="http://specialpassenger.bandcamp.com/track/yummy-pass-the-sprinkles"&amp;amp;amp;gt;Yummy! Pass the Sprinkles... by Special Passenger Records&amp;amp;amp;lt;/a&amp;amp;amp;gt;

Midtown Dickens tours with The Mountain Goats, joins Trekky Records

2011-06-13T10:06:00.002-04:00

We're excited to officially announce that we'll be joining forces with Durham folk group Midtown Dickens, releasing their upcoming third album and continuing a musical journey that began three years ago. We admired Midtown Dickens from afar for a while before Trekky Records' Will Hackney spontaneously joined the band for a benefit show in Durham, NC. That inviting and communal nature is why we love working with the band, and why we're excited to be a part of their next chapter. The untitled new album, a follow-up to the band's 2009 self-released Lanterns, is currently being recorded by acclaimed producer Scott Solter (The Mountain Goats, Superchunk, Spoon) and will be released in early 2012. In the meantime, fellow Durhamite John Darnielle has invited Midtown Dickens to join The Mountain Goats on a string of West Coast dates. Parties below:

06-16 Seattle, WA - The Showbox
06-17 Vancouver, BC - The Biltmore
06-18 Portland, OR - Aladdin
06-20 San Francisco, CA - The Fillmore
06-21 Costa Mesa, CA - Detroit Bar
06-23 Los Angeles, CA - El Rey
06-24 Santa Barbara, CA - Soho

TRKfest 2011 lineup and details announced!

2011-06-09T10:25:00.001-04:00

Trekky Records is proud to announce the return of TRKfest, our annual Summertime blissfest, on Saturday, August 13th at Piedmont Biofuels in Pittsboro, NC. This year's festival will build upon the framework of the last three years, growing from a fledgling annual event to an essential expression of the North Carolina music scene, as well as the broader underground community.

This will be the fourth annual TRKfest. The event began as a one-off fundraiser for the Trekky Records Collective in 2008, but has transformed into an annual event, returning each year by popular demand. As always, the festival will take place at Piedmont Biofuels, a charming industrial biodiesel plant and organic farm nestled into the beautiful Pittsboro countryside. With the help of Piedmont Biofuels and The Abundance Foundation, we will attempt to minimize the ecological impact of the festival, reducing waste and emphasizing local and sustainable foods and drinks.

In addition to the music, the day will be bursting with other activities. Attendees will be able to play games, cool off under the sprinklers, vibe out in the Bliss Tent, purchase local clothing and crafts, tour the biodiesel facility and dance til they collapse, all while listening to some of the finest music North Carolina has to offer.

Admission will be a $10 suggested donation. No person will be turned away. This is a family friendly event! The rain date is Sunday, August 14th, but, c'mon, its not going to rain on TRKfest!

Performers:
Bowerbirds
Mount Moriah
Midtown Dickens
Hammer No More The Fingers
Embarrassing Fruits
Ryan Gustafson
Yardwork
Brice Randall Bickford
Butterflies
Vibrant Green
and more to be announced!

Other Attractions:
Local art, crafts and clothing for sale
Pants-off Dance-off
Coffee Sack Race
Musical Chairs Cake Walk
Make Yr Own Tie-Dye TRKfest Shirt
Sprinklers and Water Things
Tour of Piedmont Biofuels
Free Haircuts
Shadow Puppets
Bliss Tent
...and probably more!

Video: LIVE! from Trekky House II: Brice Randall Bickford

2011-06-06T10:08:00.000-04:00

We continue our LIVE! From Trekky House video series today with a performance by Brice Randall Bickford. Bickford chose to play in the garden at Trekky House, strumming his electric guitar amidst the burgeoning tomoto plants and kale sprouts. Bickford's powerful voice pierces through the hypnotic wave of highway noise and the busy chatter of chirping birds as he plays "Songstress", the first single from his upcoming self titled album. The album will be out June 14, but if you're in NC, you can join us for the album release show this Saturday, and get your copy early!

MP3: Brice Randall Bickford - Songstress [from the Brice Randall Bickford LP]

Lost in the Trees selected for Jeff Mangum's All Tomorrow's Parties Festival

2011-06-01T09:32:00.002-04:00

We're very excited to finally announce that our resident folk orchestra, Lost in the Trees, has been selected to play this year's All Tomorrow's Parties Festival, curated by Neutral Milk Hotel legend Jeff Mangum. The UK music festival was able to pry Mangum from his well-known reclusion to personally curate 3 days of music this December, and we're honored that he deemed Lost in the Trees worthy. The band will be sharing the stage with Fleet Foxes, Low, Superchunk and Jeff Mangum himself, in a rare solo performance. Tickets are on sale now, and you can go ahead and wish the band luck on their first trip across the pond!

Video: LIVE! from Trekky House II: Phil Cook & His Feat

2011-05-26T12:10:00.000-04:00

We continue our LIVE! From Trekky House video series today with a performance by Phil Cook & His Feat. Phil chose to take advantage of his one-man-band size and play in the upstairs bathroom of Trekky House. The magic, reflective reverb of the washroom was a perfect setting for Phil's tender rendition of "Ballad of a Hungry Mother", a song from his new album Hungry Mother Blues. You can order the album now from the Trekky Records Online Store.

MP3: Phil Cook & His Feat - Ballad Of A Hungry Mother [from the Hungry Mother Blues LP]

Butterflies Announce June NC Dates

2011-05-24T19:23:00.004-04:00

Butterflies have announced a string of dates next month across the fair state of North Carolina! Make sure to stay tuned for some really exciting Butterflies developments, including more Summer dates!

Butterflies' latest album Residual Child is available now in the Online Store. Also make sure to check out the new Westfalia cassette, featuring new music by Josh, Joe Norkus (Embarrassing Fruits), and Robert Britt.

06-03 Winston Salem, NC - The Garage*
06-04 Chapel Hill, NC - The Cave*
06-17 Charlotte, NC - Visulite Theater*
06-24 Carrboro, NC - Jesse's#

*with Jon Lindsay
#with Birds and Arrows

Phil Cook performs with Bon Iver on Jimmy Fallon

2011-05-24T15:35:00.001-04:00

Last night, Phil Cook accompanied his dear friend and former bandmate Justin Vernon for Bon Iver's performance on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon. Phil played piano for a medley of covers, including Bonnie Raitt's "I Can't Make You Love Me" and "Nick of Time", as well as Donny Hathaway's "A Song For You". You can watch the video above. Phil Cook & His Feat's new album is out now and you can order it right here.

Trekky Records welcomes Brice Randall Bickford!

2011-05-18T13:33:00.001-04:00

We are thrilled to officially welcome Brice Randall Bickford to the Trekky Records family! Bickfords's new self-titled record will be released on June 14, 2011 in our signature 3-part package, featuring a vinyl record, CD and MP3 download, plus a beautiful hand-numbered jacket adorned with gold foil.

We've been friends and fans of Brice Randall Bickford for years, hanging on every word of every song on every album he's released as The Strugglers. We couldn't be more excited to release this gorgeous album and welcome BRB to the fold.

It’s been a decade since Brice Randall Bickford began performing under the name “The Strugglers”. In this time, he has released five albums, toured the world, and earned a reputation as a master of subtle, narrative songwriting. Bickford's dense, poetic lyrics imbue his compositions with an enduring vitality, rewarding the listener with additional layers of meaning upon each successive listen. Now 32, he has cast off “The Strugglers” moniker and recorded his most focused and nuanced full length to date. Collaborating closely with acclaimed producer Scott Solter (The Mountain Goats, Spoon, John Vanderslice), Bickford created a lush and detailed sonic landscape for his painstakingly crafted lines to inhabit. The bare-bones Americana sound of The Strugglers is traded for the crisp, studio driven production style of late 70’s pop-folk, heightening the emotion and coloring the mood of each composition.

1. Kindling
2. Working Woman/Lazy Demons
3. The Lamberth Annex
4. Danville
5. Clay Divorcée
6. Into Our Covers
7. Songstress
8. Every Time They Tagged You
9. Up Against The Hem
10. On The Caesura Of Paying Attention

MP3: Brice Randall Bickford - Songstress [from the Brice Randall Bickford LP]

Phil Cook & His Feat's Hungry Mother Blues out today!

2011-05-10T08:35:00.001-04:00

Phil Cook & His Feat's new album, Hungry Mother Blues, is out today! You can order your copy from the Trekky Records Online Store, or if you live in the Triangle, you can pick it up at CD Alley, Bull City Records, All Day Records or Schoolkids. Only $12 for our signature 3-part package, which includes an LP, CD and MP3 download.

Order now!

MP3: Phil Cook & His Feat - Ballad Of A Hungry Mother [from the Hungry Mother Blues LP]

Video: Phil Cook & His Feat - "Alberta" @ All Day Records

2011-05-09T15:11:00.002-04:00

Phil Cook & His Feat played an intimate in-store performance yesterday at All Day Records in Carrboro, NC, in celebration of his new Hungry Mother Blues LP, which comes out tomorrow on Trekky Records. Here he plays a beautiful dobro rendition of "Alberta" a traditional song popularized by Bob Dylan. Stay tuned for more exciting Phil Cook & His Feat news!

Lost in the Trees tour West Coast

2011-04-19T14:26:00.002-04:00

Lost in the Trees are hitting the Left Coast this Spring, with fresh copies of the newly reissued Time Taunts Me LP packed neatly in the van. You can order the 3-part package (Red LP, CD & MP3) now from us, or pick it up at one of the West Coast shows below:

04-19 Los Angeles, CA - The Echo
04-20 San Diego, CA - The Loft at UCSD
04-22 San Francisco, CA - Hemlock Tavern
04-24 Portland, OR - Music Millennium
04-24 Portland, OR - Doug Fir Lounge
04-26 Seattle, WA - Tractor Tavern
04-27 Vancouver, BC - Media Club
05-13 Carrboro, NC - Cat's Cradle

MP3: Lost in the Trees - Tall Trees [from the Time Taunts Me LP]

Video: Lost in the Trees - "This Dead Bird Is Beautiful" (New Song)

2011-04-18T14:07:00.002-04:00

Lost in the Trees recently did a Violitionist Session in Denton, TX, sharing a new, unreleased song called "This Dead Bird Is Beautiful", a haunting composition from Lost in the Trees new album, currently being recorded in North Carolina. Watch above.

The Return Of Westfalia

2011-04-18T10:37:00.002-04:00

Before Butterflies and Embarrassing Fruits, there was Westfalia. Started as a side project from their other high school band, Westfalia was a beautiful mess of clever lyrics and guileless experimentation that in some ways may only be possible when you are a teenager, growing up and learning what music can be. Westfalia was one of the chief reasons the Trekky Records was created, when we saw the raw genius of our high school mates and wanted to make sure it was documented and distributed. Now, nearly 10 years later, members Josh Kimbrough, Joe Norkus and Bobby Britt are reforming, playing a reunion show and releasing a 2 song cassette tape. We were surprised to hear the news, but then again, its part of the reputation of Westfalia to expect the unexpected.

Sleep Talking / Worth The Wait will be released tomorrow, April 19. The cassette tapes are hand-numbered and feature two new Westfalia songs, one composed by Josh Kimbrough of Butterflies and one by Joe Norkus of Embarrassing Fruits. You can order one now from the Trekky Records Online Store, or pick one up in NC record stores tomorrow. The songs will also be available for download.

The band will be playing a single reunion show tonight in Carrboro, NC, at Johnny's, where the new tapes will also be available. For a intimate look into the process of the reformation and the creation of the new songs, scope this Trekky Records produced video experience:

And you can stream the songs here:

&amp;amp;amp;lt;a href="http://westfaliaband.bandcamp.com/album/sleep-talking-worth-the-wait"&amp;amp;amp;gt;Sleep Talking | Worth the Wait by Westfalia&amp;amp;amp;lt;/a&amp;amp;amp;gt;

New Butterflies Song On Blue Indian Complilation

2011-03-15T10:40:00.002-04:00

The Blue Indian, a Georgia Music Blog that periodically releases exclusive online compilations, recently asked Butterflies to contribute an unreleased song for their next comp, and the boys obliged. The compilations have featured artists like Karl Blau and LAKE and are completely free to download. "Bleak Was The Breeze" is Butterflies' retelling of the myth of Deadalus and Icarus and it was recorded in The Owl Room, Trekky Records' in-house recording studio. You can stream and download the song right now for free. Enjoy!

Trekky Records welcomes Phil Cook & His Feat!

2011-03-10T09:04:00.003-05:00

We are thrilled to officially welcome Phil Cook & His Feat to the Trekky Records family! Phil's new record Hungry Mother Blues will be released on May 10, 2011 in our signature 3-part package, featuring a vinyl record, CD and MP3 download.

We met Phil Cook five years ago, when our house band Auxiliary House played a show with Phil's band Megafaun. We became fast friends from the very beginning, sharing an ecstatic love for the experience of music. Over the years, we've collaborated in many ways, but since Megafaun already has an amazing home at Hometapes, we never were able to work together directly. When Phil started recording and performing as Phil Cook & His Feat, both parties saw the opportunity to collaborate. Phil asked us to release his new record, Hungry Mother Blues and we replied with a breathless "yes".

Hungry Mother Blues was recorded in a single day, during a rare North Carolina ice storm, in the back room of Phil's house. Its a beautiful, completly intrumental album that showcases what Phil does best: playing unbelievably complex songs with so much soul that they sound effortless. The vinyl record will be pressed at 45RPM for maximum sound quality, and the record jacket features original art from Catherine Edgerton of Midtown Dickens. We're offering a free download of "Ballad Of A Hungry Mother" to tide you over until the May 10 release date. Album cover and tracklisting below!

1. Frazee, Minnesota
2. Waiting 'Round The Oven Buns
3. Juniper
4. Lament and Lullaby (For The Sloane Sisters)
5. Sparrowander
6. Ballad Of A Hungry Mother
7. The Last Steam Engine Train
8. The Jensens

MP3: Phil Cook & His Feat - Ballad Of A Hungry Mother [from the Hungry Mother Blues LP]

Carolina Jubilee returns for SXSW 2011!

2011-03-07T15:22:00.002-05:00

Trekky Records is headed to Austin! That's right, its the annual South By Southwest Music Festival, an overstimulating Summer Camp fever-dream that we music types look forward to all year. This year we'll be reprising our very special SXSW day party, a celebration of the music of North Carolina called Carolina Jubilee. The party is also presented by The Independent's Hopscotch Music Festival, which many are already affectionately calling "South By Southeast". Hopscotch will return this September to Raleigh, NC to showcase more great music from The Old North State.

The lineup for this year's Carolina Jubilee is a mix of some of the most exciting bands from NC, as well as some of our comrades who have strong roots to the area. The event will be free to everyone, no SXSW cred needed. And for those who can't make the journey to Austin, we've partnered with the good folks at Lapcast TV to broadcast the event live on the internet, as well as most smartphones, so you can join us from anywhere in the world!

Also, just to sweeten the deal, we'll have some free beer for folks to wet their whistles while they watch. The party is co-sponsored by an amazing alliance of NC record labels, including Holidays For Quince, 307 Knox and Churchkey. Details below:

Trekky Records and Hopscotch present
CAROLINA JUBILEE
Friday, March 18. 1PM-6PM.
Gallery Black Lagoon. 4301 Guadalupe St. Austin, TX.
Free to all!

Lost in the Trees
Phil Cook and His Feat
Midtown Dickens
Daniel Hart
Hi Ho Silver Oh

Stay tuned for SXSW schedules for all Trekky Records artists, and see you in Austin!

Lost in the Trees Announce West Coast Dates

2011-02-16T13:57:00.009-05:00

Lost in the Trees have been quite the road warriors over the past year in support of their acclaimed album, All Alone in an Empty House. Our favorite folk orchestra is headed back out on the road to support Empty House, as well as the brand new Time Taunts Me LP+CD+MP3. You can order both albums now from the Trekky Online Store, or pick them up from the band on their upcoming West Coast tour. Also, stay tuned for SXSW appearances and more! Dates below:

03-11 Denton, TX - 35 Conferette Music Festival
03-21 Hot Springs, AR - Low Key
04-02 Lynchburg, VA - The Dell
04-19 Los Angeles, CA - The Echo
04-20 La Jolla, CA - The Loft at UCSD
04-22 San Francisco, CA - Hemlock Tavern
04-24 Portland, OR - Doug Fir Lounge
04-26 Seattle, WA - Tractor Tavern
04-27 Vancouver, BC - Media Club

Embarrassing Fruits announce East Coast tour + stream entire new album!

2011-02-11T15:10:00.004-05:00

Embarrassing Fruits are excited to embark on an East Coast journey this Spring, bringing Frontier Justice to every town they pass through. In celebration, we're now offerring a full stream of Fruits' latest album, for a limited time. Take a listen to the whole document, and if you like it, you can order the LP+CD+MP3 package straight from us.

In other Fruits news, the band has a brand new song, "Come Home", featured on DiggUp Tapes' new Cassingles Vol. 1 compilation. You can stream the song here and order the split cassingle from DiggUp Tapes.

Tour dates:

02-11 Raleigh, NC - Kings Barcade
03-09 Charlottesville, VA - Tea Bazaar
03-10 Richmond, VA - Gallery5
03-11 Baltimore, MD - The Windup
03-19 Greensboro, NC - Legitimate Business
03-23 Chapel Hill, NC - Nightlight

New Embarrassing Fruits song on tape compilation

2011-02-04T14:30:00.002-05:00

Embarrassing Fruits have been busy spreading the gospel of Frontier Justice across the land, now with new member Thomas Costello on board, holding down bass duties. The band now has a fresh new song for you to hear, a part of DiggUp Tapes' very special Cassingles Vol. 1 compilation boxset. DiggUp Tapes is a group of dedicated cassette documentarians in Raleigh, NC, committed to archiving some of the brilliant music coming out of the Triangle area of North Carolina. Cassingles Vol. 1 will be released as a multi-colored, six-tape box set, featuring one band on each side of tape. The compilation features some of NC's most exciting music makers, including Veelee, Lonnie Walker, Yardwork and Whatever Brains.

Fruits' contribution, "Come Home", is the band's most spacious effort to date, a laid back Southern rock anthem. You can stream the song now, and also come to see them play it live at the Cassingles Vol. 1 release party, February 11 at Kings Barcade in Raleigh.

Also, you can order Fruits' new album Frontier Justice now from the Trekky Records Online Store.

Video: LIVE! from Trekky House II: Lost in the Trees

2011-01-19T11:09:00.003-05:00

We continue our LIVE! from Trekky House video series today with a performance by Lost in the Trees. The folk orchestra chose to play in the foyer, where our antique pump organ resides, in order to lend its dulcet tones to "Time. It Will Not Erase Me", a beautiful track from the brand new Time Taunts Me LP. You can order the album now from the Trekky Records Online Store.

Lost in the Trees' Time Taunts Me reissue + tours with Neko Case and Butterflies

2011-01-12T14:02:00.006-05:00

Lost in the Trees had an amazing 2010. They joined forces with Anti- Records, released a powerful new version of All Alone In An Empty House, toured the USA and Canada, filmed a Take Away Show in Montreal with La Blogotheque, filmed an NPR Tiny Desk Concert and performed in front of the United States Congress in DC, recorded a Daytrotter Session, shot their first music video, and even had a custom ale brewed in their honor. But worry not, Lost in the Trees is gearing up for 2011 to be even more special and spectacular.

On February 01, 2011, Trekky Records will release the deluxe, re-recorded and expanded reissue of Lost in the Trees' Time Taunts Me. Trekky initially released Time Taunts Me as a seven-song EP back in 2007, which served as many listeners' introduction to Ari Picker's hauntingly unique and compelling brand of orchestral folk. The EP won glowing reviews; Pitchfork Media called it "orchestral and ambitious...[an] intensely lush collection", while PopMatters likened it to "the soundtrack to your favorite indie film". Time Taunts Me quickly went out of print.

Over the past three years, between extensive touring and multiple releases, Picker found himself returning to the bedroom recordings of Time Taunts Me, fleshing out and augmenting the baroque compositions until they were as big as they sounded in his head. Picker also recorded three new songs, written during the Time Taunts Me sessions but never put to tape, expanding the seven-song EP into a proper full-length. This is Time Taunts Me the way Picker always envisioned it; and the way the world should hear it now. The album is a snapshot of a younger Ari Picker, searching for peace and shelter from external forces, discovering his musical voice and creating a vibrant, orchestrated sonic palette. Trekky Records is excited to present Time Taunts Me in our signature 3-part LP+CD+MP3 package. This is the first time the album will be available on vinyl, so we're celebrating by pressing the record on beautiful, red wax! Time Taunts Me can be pre-ordered now from Trekky Records' Online Store.

You can also download the first single, "Tall Trees" right now for free, and make sure to catch the folk orchestra live in a town near you, including dates with Anti- labelmate Neko Case and Trekky labelmates Butterflies:

01-13 Gainesville, FL - Common Grounds#
01-14 Jacksonville, FL - Underbelly#
01-15 Orlando, FL - The Social#
01-16 Fort Lauderdale, FL - The Monterey Club#
01-17 Tampa, FL - The Orpheum#
01-18 Tallahassee, FL - Club Downunder#
01-19 Charleston, SC - The Charleston Pourhouse#
01-20 Macon, GA - The 567#
01-21 Asheville, NC - Sage Cafe#
01-22 Charlotte, NC - Snug Harbor#
02-13 Atlanta, GA - The Earl#
01-28 Carbondale, IL - Hangar 9
01-29 Chicago, IL - Old Town School of Folk Music
01-30 Columbus, OH - Wexner Center
02-01 Woodstock, NY - Bearsville Theatre*
02-02 Providence, RI - Lupo's Heartbreak Hotel*
02-03 Boston, MA - Wilbur Theatre*
02-04 Northampton, MA - Calvin Theatre*
02-05 Westhampton Beach, NY - Westhampton Beach Performing Arts Center*
02-07 New York, NY - Mercury Lounge
02-09 Washington, DC - Black Cat

*= with Neko Case
#= with Butterflies

MP3: Lost in the Trees - Tall Trees [from the Time Taunts Me LP]

Butterflies tour Southeast with Lost in the Trees

2011-01-11T11:05:00.001-05:00

Butterflies will hit the road this Winter in support of their new album, Residual Child, supporting labelmates Lost in the Trees on a string of Southeast dates. Residual Child has been quietly winning the hearts of listeners all over North Carolina, and the boys are eager to share their intimate art-rock with comrades in other regions. In preparation for their arrival, please feel encouraged to download their infectious lead single, "Goodbye (Like A Stranger)" for free and watch them play the song acoustically on the porch of our label headquarters:

MP3: Butterflies - Goodbye (Like A Stranger) [from the Residual Child LP]

Tour dates:

01-12 Atlanta, GA - The Earl*
01-13 Gainesville, FL - Common Grounds*
01-14 Jacksonville, FL - Underbelly*
01-15 Orlando, FL - The Social*
01-16 Fort Lauderdale, FL - The Monterey Club*
01-17 Tampa, FL - The Orpheum*
01-18 Tallahassee, FL - Club Downunder*
01-19 Charleston, SC - The Charleston Pourhouse*
01-20 Macon, GA - The 567*
01-21 Asheville, NC - Sage Cafe*
01-22 Charlotte, NC - Snug Harbor*

*= with Lost in the Trees

Video: LIVE! from Trekky House II: Embarrassing Fruits

2011-01-04T14:24:00.002-05:00

We continue our LIVE! from Trekky House video series today with a seasonal treat from Embarrassing Fruits. The boys chose to play in front of the official Trekky House Christmas Tree, giving us an acoustic, holiday version of "Alien Bodies" the first track from the new album, Frontier Justice. You can order the album from the Trekky Records Online Store, or if you're in the Triangle, join us this Friday night at Nightlight to see Fruits play with Wesley Wolfe and Wood Ear.

TRK Best of 2k10

2010-12-20T15:23:00.006-05:00

As we look forward into 2011, its important to reflect on what brought us here: 2010! The tenth year of the century was the canvas for some of our favorite music in the history of the world. Here's some highlights from the TRK crew.

Martin Anderson (Trekky Records)

Records
01. Megafaun- Heretofore
02. Sharon Van Etten- Epic
03. Tallest Man on Earth- The Wild Hunt
04. Lost in the Trees- All Alone in an Empty House
05. High Places- High Places vs. Mankind
06. The War On Drugs- Future Weather
07. Des Ark- WXDU vol. III
08. Joanna Newsom- Have One On Me
09. Gayngs- Relayted
10. Butterflies- Residual Child
11. Veelee- Future Sight
12. Embarrassing Fruits- Frontier Justice
13. No Age- Everything in Between
14. William Tyler- Behold the Spirit
15. Menomena- Mines
16. Superchunk- Majesty Shredding
17. Jack Rose- Luck in the Valley
18. Breathe Owl Breathe- Magic Central
19. The Love Language- Libraries
20. Phosphorescent- Here's to Taking it Easy
21. Konono no. 1- Assume Crash Position
22. Sam Quinn- The Fake That Sank a Thousand Ships
23. Broken Social Scene- Forgiveness Rock Record
24. NAPS- Cassette
25. Oval- O

EPs/Singles/7"s
01. Mount Moriah- The Letting Go
02. High Places- Can't Feel Born
03. Wye Oak- My Neighbor/My Creator
04. Tallest Man On Earth- Sometimes the Blues is Just a Passing Bird
05. Sharon Van Etten- I'm Giving Up on You
06. Whatever Brains- Rappers Delight

Shows
Songs of the South - Hayti Heritage Center - Durham, NC
TRKfest 2010 - Piedmont Biofuels - Pittsboro, NC
Akron/Family - Pour House - Raleigh, NC
Lost in the Trees, Midtown Dickens, Sharon Van Etten, Embarrassing Fruits, Butterflies - Pour House - Raleigh, NC
GAYNGS - Cat's Cradle - Carrboro, NC
Tallest Man On Earth - The Bottletree - Birmingham, AL
Lost in the Trees, Stuart McLamb, Midtown Dickens, Butterflies - The Layabout house - Durham, NC
Megafaun, Breathe Owl Breathe, Hi Ho Silver Oh - The Echo - Los Angeles, CA
Bowerbirds, Sharon Van Etten - Iron Horse - Northampton, MA
Lost in the Trees, Veelee, Butterflies - Motorco - Durham, NC
Bowerbirds, Death Vessel, Des Ark - Bowery Ballroom - New York, NY
Megafaun, The War On Drugs - Mercury Lounge - New York, NY
Mountain Goats, Mount Moriah, Midtown Dickens - The Pinhook - Durham, NC
Phil Cook & his Feat, Catherine Edgerton - The Pinhook - Durham, NC
Driveby Truckers - Toronto, ON
Liars, Lost in the Trees - Antone's - Austin, TX

=====================================

Clare Connolly (Auxiliary House)

1. Ariel Pink's Haunted Graffiti - Before Today

2. Josephine Foster - Graphic as a Star

3. Joanna Newsom - Have One on Me

4. Sam Amidon - I See the Sign

5. Bonnie "Prince" Billy & the Cairo Gang - The Wonder Show of the World

6. Jack Rose - Luck in the Valley

7. Women - Public Strain

8. Richard Youngs - Beyond the Valley of the Ultrahits

9. Phosphorescent - Here's to Taking it Easy

10. Xiu Xiu - Dear God, I Hate Myself

11. Wild Nothing - Gemini

12. Mountain Man - Made the Harbor

13. Les Savy Fav - Root for Ruin

Things I love far too much, in too many ways, to compare them with anything else I listened to this year:

Butterflies - Residual Child

Cassis Orange EP

Embarrassing Fruits - Frontier Justice

=====================================

Wil Donegan (Auxiliary House)

Joanna Newsom- Have One On Me

Bill Callahan- Rough Travel For A Rare Thing (live)

V/A Night Slugs All-Stars Volume 1

Blake Mills- Break Mirrors

Actress- Splazsh

V/A: Smoke That Cigarette: Pleasure To Burn

Gil-Scott Heron- I'm New Here
Vex'd- Cloud Seed

William Tyler- Behold The Spirit

Home Blitz- Out Of Phase

Best Thing I Bought That Is Not New: Nina Simone-Live ('61 & '62) (DVD)

=====================================

Will Hackney (Trekky Records)

Top 16 Albums of 2010
1. Joanna Newsom - Have One On Me
2. Des Ark - Live on WXDU Vol. 3
3. Kanye West - My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy
4. Michael Hurley - Blue Hills
5. Joe Norkus - Soft Parenting EP
6. Sharon Van Etten - Epic
7. Arcade Fire - The Suburbs
8. Phil Cook and His Feat - s/t
9. Mount Moriah - The Letting Go
10. Drake - Thank Me Later
11. Big Boi - Sir Lucious Left Foot: The Son Of Chico Dusty
12. Veelee - The Future Sight
13. Schooner - Duck Kee Sessions
14. Superchunk - Majesty Shredding
15. Rick Ross - Teflon Don
16. Xiu Xiu - Dear God, I Hate Myself

Top 10 Shows I played in 2010
1. 03.12 Joanna Newsom + Bowerbirds @ Calvin College. Grand Rapids, MI.
Amazing show in a giant church opening for the genius Joanna.
2. 01.29 Bowerbirds + Julie Doiron @ Historic Brookdale Lodge. Brookdale, CA.
Somehow got booked to play in one of the most haunted buildings in America. Freaky ghost vibes. Look it up on Wikipedia!
3. 05.14 Lost in the Trees + Midtown Dickens + Stu McLamb + Butterflies @ The Layabout. Durham, NC.
Secret surprise show at Craig's was rowdy and electric. Can't believe we had so many people in such a small place.
4. 09.11 DAY-DREAM Hopscotch Day Party @ The Pour House. Raleigh, NC.
Our Hopscotch Day Party was surprisingly packed but unsurprisingly awesome, with all of our bands plus some dear friends.
5. 06.23 Bowerbirds @ Duke Gardens. Durham, NC.
We were hit with a brutal rain and wind storm about an hour before we played, soaked to the bone. But of course the sun came out and made it all better.
6. 10.14 Lost in the Trees + Midtown Dickens @ Legitimate Business. Greensboro, NC.
Incredible energy in one of my favorite venues. LITT Misfits cover and "Love On My Side" sing-along were crucial.
7. 01.19 Bowerbirds + Sharon Van Etten @ Varsity Theater. Minneapolis, MN.
Giant warehouse "theater" in Minneapolis with the most rockstar light show you've ever seen. Intense vibe after Sharon played, as always.
8. 06.26 TRKfest @ Piedmont Biofuels. Pittsboro, NC.
Blissfest.
9. 11.16 Amy Ray Band + Mount Moriah @ Lizard Lounge. Cambridge, MA.
Intimate storytellers simulation in the basement of a nice restaurant in Boston. People were sitting about 2 feet next to me. Close encounters.
10. 07.31 The Mountain Goats + Mount Moriah + Midtown Dickens @ The Pinhook. Durham, NC.
Group sing-along on "This Year". Perfect.

Top 3 Shows I Attended in 2010
1. 03.20 Broken Social Scene @ SXSW. Austin, TX.
Relentless 2.5 hour set in a small club. No cameras allowed. Amazing!
2. 09.11 Tortoise @ Lincoln Theater. Raleigh, NC.
My first Tortoise show. Tortoise transcends time and space.
3. 04.27 Gillian Welch @ Cat's Cradle. Carrboro, NC.
Gillian has one of the best voices I've heard and writes some of the best songs I've ever heard. This show was great despite drunk people whooping everytime Dave Rawlings played a solo.

=====================================

Daniel Hart (The Physics of Meaning)

Albums
Sufjan Stevens: "The Age of Adz" and "All Delighted People"
Beach House: "Teen Dream"
Efterklang: "Magic Chairs"
Queen Sea Big Shark: "Wave"
Owen Pallett: "Heartland"
Arcade Fire: "The Suburbs"
Toro y Moi: "Causers of This"
Konono No. 1: "Assume Crash Position"
Lost in the Trees: "All Alone in an Empty House"
Scott Pilgrim Vs. the World: "Soundtrack"

Shows
Sufjams at McFarlin Auditiorium (Dallas), October 20th
Dirty Projectors and Sharon Jones at Les Nuits Des Fourvieres, (Lyon, France), mid-July
TuNe-YaRdS at Central Park, August 1st
Vampire Weekend and Beach House at the Palladium Ballroom (Dallas), September-ish
Debashish Bhattacharya and Man Man and Konono No. 1 at Calgary Folk Festival, July 24-25

Videos
LCD Soundsystem: "Drunk Girls", dir. Spike Jonze
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1xT6cdfP_cM

FM Belfast: "Underwear", dir. The Daniels
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DUWVCEVv7oE

Big Boi: "Shutterbug", dir. Chris Robinson
http://www.outkast.com/news/big-boi-shutterbug-video

Here We Go Magic: "Fangela", dir. Snejina Latev
(yep, I know it's old but it's AMAZING and I slept on it until the '10)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cpxZvQsQH8Y

=====================================

Patrick Jones (Butterflies)

1. Mice Parade - What It Means to Be Left-Handed
2. The Black Keys - Brothers
3. Zeus - Say Us
4.Tame Impala - Innerspeaker
5. Broken Social Scene - Forgiveness Rock Record
6. Veelee - The Future Sight
7. Jaga Jazzist - One-Armed Bandit
8. Stereolab - Not Music
9. Javelin - No Mas
10. Twin Shadow - Forget

=====================================

Josh Kimbrough (Butterflies)

01. Javelin- "No Mas"

02. Embarrassing Fruits- "Frontier Justice"

03. Lost in the Trees- "All Alone in an Empty House"

04. Phosphorescent- "Here's to Taking it Easy"

05. Adam Thorn and the Top Buttons- "S/T"

06. Cuddle Magic- "Picture"

07. Joanna Newsom- "Have One on Me"

08. Veelee- "The Future Sight"

09. The Dead C- "Patience"

10. Darwin Deez- "S/T"

=====================================

Joe Norkus (Embarrassing Fruits)

Ariel Pink's Haunted Graffiti: Before Today
Deerhunter: Halcyon Digest
Sharon Van Etten: Epic
Beach House: Teen Dream
Toro Y Moi: Causers of This
Crystal Castles: II

Local
Wesley Wolfe: Storage
Secret Message Machine: Orphanville
Butterflies: Residual Child
Wild Wild Geese: Sorry, Earth
The Moaners: Nocturnal
Veelee: Future Sight
Free Electric State: Caress

=====================================

Ari Picker (Lost in the Trees)

National:
Jonsi - Go
Beach House - Teen Dream
Phosphorescent - Here's to taking it easy
Gorillaz - Plastic Beach
Blonde Redhead - Penny Sparkle

Local:
Veelee - The Future Sight
Butterflies - Residual Child
Embarrassing Fruits - Frontier Justice

Best Concerts:
Blonde Redhead @ Cat's Cradle
Aux House @ Nightlight
Midtown Dickens @ Duke Coffee House
Sharon Van Etten @ Black Cat

=====================================

Lee Shaw (Embarrassing Fruits)

1. Blag'ard - Mach II
2. Secret Message Machine - Orphanville
3. Wild Wild Geese - Sorry Earth
4. Veelee - Future Sight
5. The Moaners - Nocturnal
6. Butterflies - Residual Child
7. Spermcount - Live Spunk

=====================================

David Straughan (Endless Mic)

1. Big Boi - Sir Luscious Left Foot (Son of Chico Dusty)

2. The Tallest Man on Earth - The Wild Hunt

3. Cee-Lo Green - The Ladykiller

4. The Black Keys - Brother

5. Deerhunter - Halcyondigest

6. Gorillaz - Plastic Beach

7. Best Coast - Crazy For You

8. Janelle Monae - Archandroid

9. The Tallest Man on Earth - Sometimes The Blues Is Just a Passing Bird EP

10. Elvis Costello - National Ransom

=====================================

Stephen Tunnell (Vibrant Green)

The National- High Violet
Lost in the Trees- All Alone in an Empty House

Phosphorescent- Here's to Taking it Easy

Butterflies- Residual Child
Embarrassing Fruits- Frontier Justice

Raffle Prizes Announced for Christmas at the Cradle

2010-12-09T12:14:00.001-05:00

Our giant, annual holiday show is just one week away, and we've got a sleigh full of reasons for you to join us. We'll have some of North Carolina's finest bands playing their favorite Christmas tunes, a visit from Sinterklaas, snacks and drinks, decked halls with boughs of holly, and the legendary Christmas at the Cradle Raffle! Every year, we ask the wonderful local businesses of the Triangle to donate something special for the raffle, and every year they provide. All proceeds from raffle tickets directly benefit the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, so you can win a wonderful gift and help out a great cause. Here's some of the prizes this year:

The Lantern - Dinner for 2 with Wine Pairings
Townsend Bertram - Free Weekend Camping Equipment Rental ($150 value)
Holidays For Quince Records - Record Package (10 Albums!)
Odessa Records - Record Package
CD Alley - $15 Gift Certificate + Shirt
Nightlight - $15 Gift Certificate
Moshi Moshi - Deluxe Facial
Orange County Social Club - $25 Bar Tab
The Pinhook - $20 bar tab and Unicorn Drawing
Cat's Cradle - Free pair of tickets + Gift Basket
Local 506 - 4 free tickets to Any Show
Acme Restaurant - Dinner for 2
Carrburritos - 2 Free Burrito Vouchers

You can go ahead and get your tickets for Christmas at the Cradle now, either ordering online, or stopping by Cat's Cradle or any of our fine local record stores. See you in a week!

Video: Butterflies - "Forklift" @ Motorco

2010-12-08T15:12:00.002-05:00

Butterflies played a packed house at Motorco in Durham, NC last weekend, opening up for labelmates Lost in the Trees. Here's a clip of the band playing "Forklift", a song from their brand new full length, Residual Child.

Lost in the Trees announce tours with Neko Case, Butterflies

2010-12-06T12:21:00.001-05:00

Lost in the Trees had a pretty amazing 2010. They joined forces with Anti- Records, toured with Plants and Animals, released a powerful new version of All Alone In An Empty House, performed a Take Away Show in Montreal, a Tiny Desk Concert in DC, and recorded a Daytrotter Session, filmed their first music video, and even had a custom ale brewed in their honor. But worry not, Lost in the Trees are gearing up for 2011 to be even more special and spectacular, starting off with a string of dates with Anti- labelmate Neko Case and Trekky Records labelmates, Butterflies. Mark yr calendars! Dates below:

01-07 New York, NY - Joe's Pub
01-12 Atlanta, GA - The Earl#
01-13 Gainesville, FL - Common Grounds#
01-15 Orlando, FL - The Social#
01-16 Fort Lauderdale, FL - The Monterey Club#
01-17 Tampa, FL - The Orpheum#
01-18 Tallahassee - Club Downunder#
01-19 Charleston, SC - The Charleston Pourhouse#
01-22 Charlotte, NC - Snug Harbor#
01-28 Carbondale, IL - Hangar 9
01-29 Chicago, IL - Old Town School of Folk Music
01-30 Columbus, OH - Wexner Center
02-01 Woodstock, NY - Bearsville Theatre*
02-02 Providence, RI - Lupo's Heartbreak Hotel*
02-03 Boston, MA - Wilbur Theatre*
02-04 Northampton, MA - Calvin Theatre*
02-05 Westhampton Beach, NY - Westhampton Beach Performing Arts Center*

* with Neko Case
# with Butterflies

Video: Lost in the Trees cover Misfits + "Love On My Side" with Midtown Dickens

2010-12-03T13:59:00.003-05:00

Nice video moment from a show in Greensboro a few months ago: Lost in the Trees playing an uncharacteristic cover ("Skulls" by the Misfits), followed by a group sing-a-long version of "Love On My Side" featuring Midtown Dickens. This is a nice reminder of what can happen at Lost in the Trees shows. Join us tonight in Durham to see Lost in the Trees, Veelee and Butterflies play Motorco Music Hall. The show will also be the debut of Lost in the Trees' new, custom beer, as well as their new music video for "All Alone In An Empty House". Good times are bound to happen!

Lost in the Trees feature in The Independent

2010-12-01T17:55:00.002-05:00

The Independent published a revealing look into the life of Ari Picker of Lost in the Trees this week. The article delves into Ari's childhood and how he's turned his band into his second family. Read the article here and also check out the song-by-song comparison between the first release of All Alone In An Empty House, and 2010's expanded reissue. Also, please join us this Friday as Lost in the Trees plays Durham's finest new venue, Motorco Music Hall, with friends Veelee and labelmates Butterflies. You can buy tickets here.

Holiday Sale in Trekky Records Online Store!

2010-11-30T10:33:00.003-05:00

We're getting in the holiday spirit over here at Trekky Records! We just put up a giant Christmas tree and you can bet the egg nog has been flowing at TRK Headquarters. In honor of the season, we're having a huge sale in our Online Store. We've created some sweet package deals and cut some prices to celebrate our favorite gift-giving time of the year. Its a great time to pick up something for your music-loving friends and family, or finally pick up that record you've been meaning to get for weeks. Here's some of the specials we're offering:

Various Artists - Trekky Records Starter Pack
The latest records from 5 Trekky Records artists for just $50!

Butterflies & Embarrassing Fruits - Residual Justice
Butterflies' Residual Child and Embarrassing Fruits' Frontier Justice for just $22!

American Apparel Trekky Records Shirts (Various Colors).
Rep for TRK for only $10

The Trekky Yuletide Orchestra - 5 for $50 Package.
A copy of A New Old Fashioned Christmas for all of your friends and family!

Butterflies - Nothing's Personal.
Now only $8!

Embarrassing Fruits - Community / Exploitation.
Now only $8!

Vibrant Green - Artless Yet Excellent.
Now only $8!

Screen Printed Posters (Including Fleet Foxes, Blitzen Trapper, Bowerbirds, Castanets, and all Trekky Bands).
Now only $3!

The dB's play Christmas at the Cradle, tickets on sale now!

2010-11-29T12:34:00.001-05:00

Trekky Records is honored to announce that legendary jangle-pop veterans The dB's will play this year's annual Christmas at the Cradle show. Initially, we were lucky enough to snag dB's member and super-producer Chris Stamey for the show, but he was kind enough to assemble more dB's for the occasion. The dB's join an already stellar bill of extremely diverse North Carolina artists, who will all share their unique takes on Holiday music.

Tickets for the show are now on sale for the show, and we generally sell out every year, so we highly recommend that you go ahead and order tickets online, or pick some up at the Cat's Cradle or any of our fine local record stores. Proceeds benefit the National Multiple Sclerosis Society.

Full details below:

Christmas at the Cradle 2010
December 16, 2010 at Cat's Cradle in Carrboro, NC

The Trekky Yuletide Orchestra
The dB's
The Old Ceremony
Filthybird
Phil Cook and His Feat
The Tender Fruit
Yardwork
Cassis Orange
In The Year Of The Pig
Hosted by Billy Sugarfix

Doors at 7PM. Show at 7:30PM.
$8 Advance. $10 Day Of.
Proceeds benefit NMSS.

Butterflies album out today!

2010-11-23T10:26:00.003-05:00

We are honored today to release Butterflies' new album, Residual Child! The album is being released in one "everything-you-could-ever-need" package, complete with a vinyl record, a compact disc and an MP3 download code. The whole package is just $12, and as an added bonus, the first 25 copies come with a free Residual Child poster!

We're very excited for you to hear this album, so for a limited time, we'll be streaming Residual Child in its entirety, so you can have a full preview. Click here to hear the whole album right now!

Order Now!

You can also get the record at some of North Carolina's finest record shops, including CD Alley, All Day Records, Bull City Records and Schoolkids.

In case you missed it, here's a lovely video of Butterflies performing "Goodbye (Like A Stranger)", one of the most infectious tracks from Residual Child:

Butterflies have a couple special North Carolina appearances in December, and will be touring the South with Lost in the Trees in early 2011. Those dates will be announced soon. Come say hi to Butterflies!:

12-03 Durham, NC - Motorco Music Hall*#
12-10 Greensboro, NC - Legitimate Business#
12-11 Charlotte, NC - The Evening Muse
01-17 Tampa, FL - Orpheum*

* with Lost in the Trees
# with Veelee

MP3: Butterflies - Goodbye (Like A Stranger) [from the Residual Child LP]

Video: Lost in the Trees on NPR's Mountain Stage

2010-11-22T09:16:00.002-05:00

Our resident folk orchestra, Lost in the Trees, has become a true darling of National Public Radio. After NPR music guru Bob Boilen awarded All Alone In An Empty House a prestigious "First Listen" honor, and featured the group on his Tiny Desk Concert series, he invited the group to help lobby for public radio on Capitol Hill. The band recently kept the NPR action going by playing on their Mountain Stage, a concert which was broadcast live, all over the USA. Here's an interesting interview with Lost in the Trees mastermind Ari Picker, including some clips of the band playing the Mountain Stage. Enjoy!

Video: LIVE! from Trekky House II: Butterflies

2010-11-12T17:40:00.001-05:00

Back in 2008, we started a live video project called LIVE! from Trekky House, the purpose of which was to capture musical performances taking place at our homebase, a giant complex in Chapel Hill that was our home, office, recording studio and workshop. We captured some wonferful moments: Lost in the Trees in the meadow, Embarrassing Fruits by the fire pit, Vibrant Green in the attic. We've since relocated to a new giant house, and now that we're settled here, we've decided to revive the series. So here's the first installment of LIVE! from Trekky House II: a lovely, acoustic, backporch rendition of "Goodbye (Like A Stranger)", the infectious new song from Butterflies. Butterflies' new album, Residual Child will be released on November 23 in our signature LP+CD+MP3 package, but you can get your copy sooner by attending the album release show, a packed-bill blowout occuring at Cat's Cradle in Carrboro, NC, on November 20. The show is free, and will feature performances by The Strugglers, Erie Choir, Cassis Orange and Wes Phillips as well as Butterflies. For now, enjoy the video, and please feel free to download the studio version of "Goodbye (Like A Stranger)".

MP3: Butterflies - Goodbye (Like A Stranger) [from the Residual Child LP]

Fullsteam Brewery to unveil Lost in the Trees beer

2010-11-11T13:49:00.001-05:00

Fullsteam Brewery in Durham, North Carolina, announced today that it would unveil an original, custom made, Forager beer in honor of Lost in the Trees, our resident folk orchestra. The Belgian Session Ale will be brewed with local figs picked from Raleigh's New Grass Gardens. Ari Picker of Lost in the Trees is a home-brewer himself, so this is an exciting honor for the band. The brew will be unveiled at Lost in the Trees' upcoming hometown show with Veelee at Motorco Music Hall on December 3. Starting that date, it will also be available at Fullsteam Brewery itself, so plan to stop by this winter to try it out!

Christmas at the Cradle 2010!

2010-11-11T10:54:00.001-05:00

We are very pleased to announce the details for this year's Christmas at the Cradle celebration, our fifth annual Christmas show. We think we have the most exciting bill we've ever had and can't wait to see how these excellent bands interpret Christmas tunes. As always, we'll have The Trekky Yuletide Orchestra, our 25+ member Christmas super-group, as well as free snacks and drinks, a charity raffle with prizes from wonderful local businesses, classic holiday films, and a visit from the Bearded One himself, Santa Claus. Every year the show is a benefit for the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, and we are proud to keep that tradition alive this year. Here's the bands and details:

Trekky Records presents:
Christmas at the Cradle 2010
December 16, 2010 at Cat's Cradle in Carrboro, NC

The Trekky Yuletide Orchestra
Chris Stamey
The Old Ceremony
Filthybird
Phil Cook and His Feat
The Tender Fruit
Yardwork
Cassis Orange
In The Year Of The Pig
Hosted by Billy Sugarfix

Doors at 7PM. Show at 7:30PM.
$8 Advance. $10 Day Of.
Proceeds benefit NMSS.

Embarrassing Fruits' "Vanishing Frontier" Music Video Premiere!

2010-11-08T16:10:00.007-05:00

The time has come. Here is the world (wide web) premiere of the music video for "Vanishing Frontier", the swampy second single from Embarrassing Fruits' brilliant Frontier Justice LP. The video features a trio of skateboarding grim reapers causing havok in all sorts of places. Filmed and edited by Trekky Records' Will Hackney and starring Ross Connolly and TJ Maiani of Butterflies and Thomas Costello of Mount Weather, the production was extremely DIY: an in-house project made by friends. We hope you enjoy it, and after you're done watching it, please download the MP3 for free! You can also order the album, a beautiful LP+CD+MP3 package, for just $12 from the Trekky Records Online Store.

Catch the Fruits live all over the Triangle:

11-11 Durham, NC - Motorco Music Hall (w/ Aminal and Duncan Webster)
11-18 Raleigh, NC - Tir Na Nog (w/ Americans in France and Kid Future)
12-04 Durham, NC - The Pinhook (w/ Cassis Orange, HOG, Hammer No More The Fingers)
01-07 Chapel Hill, NC - (w/ Wesley Wolfe and Wood Ear)

MP3: Embarrassing Fruits - Vanishing Frontier [from the Frontier Justice LP]
MP3: Embarrassing Fruits - Long Distance Breakup Summer [from the Frontier Justice LP]

Lost in the Trees support public radio on Capitol Hill

2010-10-19T14:27:00.002-04:00

Lost in the Trees recently joined Bob Boilen of NPR Music on Capitol Hill to show the US Government how important public radio is for music, culture and life. The band played a few songs, and the engineers at NPR were nice enough to record the set for posterity. Listen here and read about the event on NPR's All Songs Considered blog.

New Butterflies album announced!

2010-10-13T12:50:00.002-04:00

Today we are pleased to share with the world the first taste of Butterflies' new album Residual Child! This album is the secret we've been dying to share with you, and in a few short weeks, we can. Residual Child will be released on November 23 in Trekky Records' signature 3-part package, with a vinyl record, compact disc and MP3 download. The album is a true studio album, painstakingly crafted over the last 8 months by lead Butterfly Josh Kimbrough and producer Patrick Jones. Jones became such an integral force in the recording process, that he actually ended up joining the band, bringing his expert ear for synth textures and dynamics to Butterflies' jazzy brand of guitar pop. Kimbrough's songwriting has never been more focused, dealing intimately with his personal thoughts, struggles and philosophies. Residual Child is a record about finding joy in simplicity, letting the complications of life melt away and reveling in simple, poignant gestures.

The band will celebrate the release of the album with a very special release show on November 20 at Cat's Cradle in Carrboro, NC. Butterflies will be joined by an incredible group of North Carolina bands: The Strugglers, Erie Choir and Cassis Orange. The show is absolutely FREE. Below is the album cover, tracklist and first single from Residual Child. The song is called "Goodbye (Like A Stranger)" and we hope it will be your Autumn anthem. Enjoy!

1. Serious Fun
2. Sunday Afternoon
3. Goodbye (Like A Stranger)
4. Forklift
5. Guitarist's Theme
6. Guitarist
7. Sleepless
8. Tired Pose
9. Nothing To Lose
10. Canteen

MP3: Butterflies - Goodbye (Like A Stranger) [from the Residual Child LP]

Butterflies cover Erie Choir for Musical Chairs

2010-09-28T16:35:00.002-04:00

Butterflies have a song on a new cover compilation curated and organized by Nightsound Studios, a recording workshop in Carrboro, NC. The studio invited over a dozen North Carolina bands to cover songs by each other. The selection process was random, but Butterflies were lucky enough to draw Erie Choir, one of our many favorite bands from NC. Led by Eric Roehrig of Sorry About Dresden, Erie Choir is responsible for some of our favorite acoustic pop songs, including "Seaside Arms", the song Butterflies chose to reinterpret. You can download the song for free here. Butterflies also got the cover treatment, as The Big Picture (led by Jonny Tunnell of The Never) shared their take on Butterflies' "Mind Games". The whole compilation is available for free download here.

Lost in the Trees Interview + Video on The Bottom String

2010-09-23T14:08:00.005-04:00

We are still getting over all of the revelry that went down at Hopscotch earlier this month. A personal highlight for us was our day party at The Pour House on Saturday. During the hectic celebration, Lost in the Trees' Ari Picker and Emma Nadeau did an interview and recorded a short video for The Bottom String. Ari and Emma touched on Project Symphony, the North Carolina music community, touring, and much more. Check it out.

Lost in the Trees are currently out on the road in support of their new album, All Alone in an Empty House. Dates below:

09-23 State College, PA - Chronic Town
09-24 Schenectady, NY - Proctor's
09-25 Hamilton, ON James Street North Supercrawl
09-26 Waterloo, ON - Starlight
09-27 Toronto, ON - The Drake Hotel
09-29 Montreal, QC - Casa del Popolo
10-01 Worcester, MA - Clark University*
10-02 Northampton, MA - Iron Horse Music Hall
10-03 Cambridge, MA - TT The Bear's*
10-05 Philadelphia, PA - Johnny Brenda's*
10-06 New York, NY - Joe's Pub
10-07 Brooklyn, NY - The Bell House*
10-09 Charlottesville, VA - Tea Bazaar^
10-10 Baltimore, MD - Metro Gallery^
10-12 Washington, DC - Black Cat#
10-13 Charlotte, NC - The Evening Muse*
10-14 Greensboro, NC - Artistika*
10-15 Columbia, SC - The House 5 Points*
10-17 Charleston, SC - Culture Center Theater

* with Midtown Dickens
# with The Love Language
^ with Elf Power

Video: Embarrassing Fruits - "Drunkland" @ CD Alley

2010-09-22T10:10:00.003-04:00

Yesterday was release day for Frontier Justice, the new album from Chapel Hill's Embarrassing Fruits, and to celebrate we had an in-store performance at one of our favorite record stores, CD Alley. Hammer No More The Fingers opened up with a rare acoustic performance of their near-perfect pop songs. Fruits followed suit with a stripped down, acoustic set. Here's a version of "Drunkland", Fruits new inebriation anthem. If you haven't yet, head on over to the Trekky Records Online Store to order your LP+CD+MP3 package of Frontier Justice for just $12. If you are one of the first 25 orders, you'll receive a free poster. It'll be like Christmas in September.

Embarrassing Fruits album out now!

2010-09-21T09:45:00.002-04:00

We are honored today to release Embarrassing Fruits' new album, Frontier Justice! The album is being released in one "everything-you-could-ever-need" package, complete with a vinyl record, a compact disc and an MP3 download code. The whole package is just $12, and as an added bonus, the first 25 copies come with a free Frontier Justice poster!

Order Now!
You can also get the record at some of North Carolina's finest record shops, including CD Alley, All Day Records, Bull City Records and Schoolkids.

We are hard at work putting the finishing touches on the music video for "Vanishing Frontier", one of the tracks from Frontier Justice. We'll release that to the world in a couple weeks, but here's a preview of what sinister insanity you can expect:

And here's a look at the process of recording the album:

Please join us today for a special, acoustic, release day in-store at our favorite local record store, CD Alley in Chapel Hill. Our friends Hammer No More The Fingers will also be playing and its completely free. More Fruits dates below:

09-21 Chapel Hill, NC - CD Alley (Release Day In-Store Acoustic Show!)*
09-23 Greensboro, NC - The Green Bean
10-07 Pittsboro, NC - Shakori Hills Music Festival
10-15 Raleigh, NC - NC State University
10-23 Raleigh, NC - Kings Barcade#
11-18 Raleigh, NC - Tir Na Nog

* with Hammer No More The Fingers
# with The Moaners

MP3: Embarrassing Fruits - Long Distance Breakup Summer [from the Frontier Justice LP]

Lost in the Trees play Tiny Desk Concert for NPR

2010-09-20T14:53:00.002-04:00

Lost in the Trees swung by NPR Music guru Bob Boilen's office to perform a Tiny Desk Concert on their last tour. They play three songs, packed tightly between stacks of records and office supplies. See the video and read Bob Boilen's words here.

The folk orchestra is excited to hit the road again in a few days for an East Coast tour, featuring dates with Midtown Dickens, The Love Language and Elf Power. Check the dates below:

09-21 Pittsburgh, PA - Thunderbird Cafe
09-22 Oberlin, OH - The Cat in The Cream
09-23 State College, PA - Chronic Town
09-24 Schenectady, NY - Proctor's
09-25 Hamilton, ON James Street North Supercrawl
09-26 Waterloo, ON - Starlight
09-27 Toronto, ON - The Drake Hotel
09-29 Montreal, QC Casa del Popolo
10-01 Worcester, MA - Clark University*
10-02 Northampton, MA - Iron Horse Music Hall
10-03 Cambridge, MA - TT The Bear's*
10-05 Philadelphia, PA - Johnny Brenda's*
10-06 New York, NY - Joe's Pub
10-07 Brooklyn, NY - The Bell House*
10-09 Charlottesville, VA - Tea Bazaar^
10-10 Baltimore, MD - Metro Gallery^
10-12 Washington, DC - Black Cat#
10-13 Charlotte, NC - The Evening Muse*
10-14 Greensboro, NC - Artistika*
10-15 Columbia, SC - The House 5 Points*
10-17 Charleston, SC - Culture Center Theater

* with Midtown Dickens
# with The Love Language
^ with Elf Power

Photos: Butterflies' Album Cover Photo Shoot

2010-09-20T13:06:00.002-04:00

We're putting the final, behind-the-scenes touches on Butterflies' brand new album, coming out in November on Trekky Records. Last week we got together to take photos for the album art at Josh Kimbrough's childhood home. Here's a sneak preview of what will become the art for the new album. Photos by Clare Connolly and Will Hackney. More details coming soon!

Embarrassing Fruits Album Release Show Tonight

2010-09-17T10:58:00.001-04:00

Tonight we celebrate the release of Frontier Justice, the new album from Embarrassing Fruits. Release shows are amazing events. They represent an inherent turning point for a band (and a label). It is the perfect night to reflect on where you've been, what it took to get there
and where you may go in the future. We hope you'll join us tonight at Duke Coffeehouse in Durham, NC, for this very special release show. Frontier Justice will be available in stores and online on Tuesday, but we'll have the first copies available tonight. The album comes with a vinyl record, compact disc and MP3 download, all for only $12. The first 25 copies will also come with a free Frontier Justice poster, so make sure to get there early tonight!

Another reason to arrive early tonight is to catch the two amazing bands who will be sharing the stage with the Fruits. Durham's Midtown Dickens and Raleigh's Lonnie Walker complete this amazing trinity of Triangle music. After the fantasy that was the Hopscotch Music Festival this past weekend, this bill is proof that the overwhelming amount of music coming from North Carolina never stops. It happens every weekend. Every night, even. The show is free and BYOB, so we're all in for a good time.

Fruits have been all over the papers this week, here's a sample of some interesting reviews and interviews:

The Independent Review
The Daily Tar Heel Review
The Mill Interview
Mann's World Interview

MP3: Embarrassing Fruits - "Vanishing Frontier"

2010-09-15T10:07:00.003-04:00

Embarrassing Fruits' new album Frontier Justice comes out in less than a week! We are brimming with excitement over here at the Trekky office. The package looks beautiful, the record sounds great, and we're having a free release party this Friday with some amazing bands. In order to help you get as pumped as we are, we are releasing the second single from Frontier Justice today! The song is called "Vanishing Frontier" and its a brooding jam that showcases one of Fruits' great strengths: being aggressive and laid back at the same time.

Look for the grim music video for "Vanishing Frontier" late next week and we'll see you this Friday as we celebrate our new album! If you missed it, here's a video of Fruits working on Frontier Justice in the studio:

MP3: Embarrassing Fruits - "Vanishing Frontier" (from the upcoming Frontier Justice LP)

Photos: Hopscotch Music Festival 2010

2010-09-14T15:40:00.011-04:00

Members of Midtown Dickens at panel on North Carolina music.
Photo by Abby Nardo.

Lost in the Trees at DAY-DREAM, our Hopscotch day party.
Photo by Lalitree Darnielle.

Sharon Van Etten outside of The Pour House during DAY-DREAM.
Photo by Abby Nardo.

TRK Banner at DAY-DREAM.
Photo by Agatha Donkar.

Butterflies at DAY-DREAM.
Photo by Agatha Donkar.

Martin Anderson and Brad Cook of Megafaun.
Photo by Derek Anderson.

Midtown Dickens in downtown Raleigh.
Photo by Derek Anderson.

Catherine and Jonathan of Midtown Dickens watch Pattern Is Movement.
Photo by Derek Anderson.

Folks in the stairwell at DAY-DREAM.
Photo by Graham Tolbert.

Mark Daumen of Lost in the Trees joins Midtown Dickens at DAY-DREAM.
Photo by Graham Tolbert.

Catherine Edgerton of Midtown Dickens loads in for DAY-DREAM.
Photo by Lalitree Darnielle.

Kym Register of Midtown Dickens.
Photo by Graham Tolbert.

Martin Anderson and Phil Cook of Megafaun.
Photo by Derek Anderson.

Trekky Records' Guide to Hopscotch 2010

2010-09-09T09:03:00.003-04:00

2010 is a very special year for music in North Carolina. The overwhelming amount of quality music being created and played in the area has given way to a teeming network of artists, labels, publications, documentarians and appreciators. For this reason, local newspaper The Independent decided to organize a giant music festival right in the middle of North Carolina, and we are very excited about it. In addition to the 60 or so excellent local bands playing the Hopscotch Music Festival, we have heavy hitters like Public Enemy, Broken Social Scene and Tortoise visiting our fair Piedmont. And whether they intend to or not, they are shedding a national light on some of the great, overlooked music from around here. Hopscotch starts today, and we're not expecting to sleep much until its over. There are hundreds of great things to see, but here are our recommendations for your Hopscotch journey.

THURSDAY

12:30PM-5PM | Knox With An X Day Party (Kings)

The amazing round of free day parties starts off Thursday with 307 Knox Records' Knox With An X. Many great bands are playing short sets, including Midtown Dickens, Phil Cook and North Elementary. Great way to start off the festival.

4PM-6PM | Superchunk Listening Party (Foundation Bar)

One of the bands responsible for our incredible music scene, Superchunk, is releasing a new album this year, and this is an opportunity to hear it before it comes out. Listening parties are underrated and oft forgotten rituals, so take advantage of this opportunity.

10PM | Midtown Dickens (Deep South)

Midtown Dickens are some of our best friends and favorite musicians. Their shows always feel like family gatherings. Their songs are the backporch tunes you never sung. But now you get the chance. Midtown Dickens are also playing the Trekky Records day party on Saturday, but they'll play more songs at this show, so plan to catch both!

11:30PM | Pattern Is Movement (Busy Bee)

Pattern Is Movement are dear old friends of ours from Philadelphia, PA. Over the years, we've seen them develop from an angular, experimental 5-piece guitar rock band, to a virtuosic, math-soul duo. These fellas make some very challenging and beautiful music. Highly recommended.

12:30AM | Akron/Family (Pour House)

If you have never seen Akron/Family before, you are in for the party of your life. You've been warned.

FRIDAY

11AM-6PM | Friend Island Day Party (Pour House)

One perk of Hopscotch is that so many friends from out of town have a reason to come visit! Hometapes is one of our favorite record labels outside of NC, and we're very happy that they will be in town and also have their very own day party. Come show these Portland folks some NC love, and enjoy music from Megafaun and Pattern Is Movement. Free!

7PM | Broken Social Scene (Raleigh City Plaza)

Broken Social Scene are unbelievably awesome, both on record and live. Good job, Hopscotch for getting these Canadian geniuses. Maybe a guest appearance from John McEntire, who produced BSS' latest album and is in town with Tortoise? Hope so.

10:30PM | Veelee (Busy Bee)

Veelee is from Carrboro, but any chance to see them play should be taken. Matt Park and Ginger Wagg cover a lot of ground for two people, accumulating guitars, drums, keyboards, samples and loops to make dense, textural pop songs. Can't wait to hear their new record, out soon on Grip Tapes. This show is at the same time as Sharon Van Etten, who we also recommend, but she's also playing at our free day party on Saturday, so you could see both!

11:30PM | Bowerbirds (Pour House)

More hometown heroes! There's many great bands from out of town, but objectively, we still feel like many of the local bands are the must-see shows at Hopscotch. Bowerbirds make beautiful woodland folk music. For this show, their usual guitar/accordion setup will be augmented by a small string section, marimba and mandolin.

SATURDAY

2PM-5:30PM | DAY-DREAM Day Party (Pour House)

Our very own day party! We're thrilled to host this free day party, with a bill that is a true dream come true for us. Lost in the Trees, Midtown Dickens, Sharon Van Etten, Embarrassing Fruits and Butterflies will all play in the same place. We'll keep things moving swiftly and there'll be free popsicles, so we hope that you'll party with us all afternoon!

12AM (Midnight) | Tortoise (Lincoln Theatre)

Another brilliant choice for Hopscotch to bring to NC. Tortoise is probably the best instrumental band of all time. These Chicago post-rock legends possess that magic combination of technical ability and restraint that creates music that is endlessly rewarding. Great way to close out the festival.

See you in Raleigh!

Video: Lost in the Trees on Austin City Limits' Sattelite Sets

2010-09-06T10:16:00.002-04:00

During South By Southwest earlier this year, Lost in the Trees played on the Austin City Limits stage for their Satellite Sets series. See the band play "Tall Trees", "Icy River" and "Fireplace" on the historic stage here.

Arrival: Embarrassing Fruits' Frontier Justice

2010-09-02T09:49:00.004-04:00

One of the most exciting and inspirational moments in the life of a musician is the moment that a new release arrives in the mail. Its the culmination of hours of writing, rehearsing and recording songs, drafting and finalizing art, and thinking about how it will all come together. We make music to share with people, but the simple pleasure of finally holding a copy of your new album in your hands is something that really makes all of the work worth it.

Embarrassing Fruits' new album, Frontier Justice, arrived last night while we were finishing the last few shots for the music video for "Vanishing Frontier". It was like Christmas morning. The album is a full, three-part package, with a vinyl record, compact disc and MP3 download. The album cover, featuring a colony of penguins on a desert, was created by Joe Norkus and John Neville of Embarrassing Fruits. We'll be releasing this wonderful album on September 21, but you can get your copy first at the album release party on Friday, September 17 at Duke Coffeehouse, with Lonnie Walker and Midtown Dickens. The show is absolutely free (and BYOB), but make sure to bring some cash to pick up a copy of Frontier Justice!

Lost in the Trees record Daytrotter Session

2010-08-30T10:09:00.001-04:00

Lost in the Trees recently stopped by the famed Daytrotter Studios in Rock Island, Illinois, to record a few songs. The band performed a few tracks from the new All Alone In An Empty House album, as well as an unreleased song called "An Artist's Song". Listen to the whole session here and download "An Artist's Song" here.

The Physics of Meaning announce North Carolina dates

2010-08-25T17:00:00.005-04:00

The Physics of Meaning have announced a short run of North Carolina dates this month. Physics leader Daniel Hart has been busy crisscrossing the globe with his other band, St. Vincent, but has found time to take an extended trip to The Physics of Meaning's state of birth. Daniel is hard at work on the next Physics record and will undoubtedly be debuting new material at these performances. Get ready!

08-26 Chapel Hill, NC - Wallace Plaza*
08-27 Greensboro, NC - Legitimate Business
08-28 New Bern, NC - Broad St. Music
08-29 Wilmington, NC - Satellite Bar

*with Lost in the Trees

PHOTOS: Embarrassing Fruits Video Shoot

2010-08-25T14:26:00.000-04:00

SPOILER ALERT!! Below are some photos from the Embarrassing Fruits video shoot for the song "Vanishing Frontier" off of their upcoming album Frontier Justice. Get ready y'all this one's gonna be wild!

Lost in the Trees Press Round-up

2010-08-18T15:46:00.003-04:00

The dog days of Summer have been busy times for all of us over here at Trekky Records. While we've been finding time to swim in the quarry and throw cookouts, we've also been gearing up for a whirlwind Fall/Winter season. There's so much exciting news we can't wait to share with y'all! Stay tuned!

It's been a week now since the national release of Lost in the Trees' All Alone in an Empty House and we have been humbled and honored by the overwhelming positive response. Thank you to everyone who bought the record, came out to a show, wrote about the band, and sent us good vibes over the past week (and always). We can't thank you enough! Below we've gathered some of the nice things folks have had to say about Lost in the Trees this week.

Paste Magazine featured the band in their Best of What's Next section.
Last Friday, 'Song For The Painter' was KCRW's Top Tune.
eMusic posted a nice feature and interview with Ari.
Gapers Block has photos and a review from the band's recent Millenium Park performance in Chicago.
Heeb Magazine did an interview with Ari, touching on religion and classical music.
Amanda Stovall over at Venus Magazine wrote a very warm review of the new record.

Lost in the Trees have been crisscrossing the country all season and still have a few more summer dates planned, including a stop in New York and a hometown show at Wallace Plaza with Trekky labelmates The Physics of Meaning:

08-23 New York, NY - Mercury Lounge
08-26 Chapel Hill, NC - Wallace Plaza*

*with The Physics of Meaning

Lost in the Trees music video premiere!

2010-08-13T12:11:00.000-04:00

We're very happy to share with you Lost in the Trees' very first music video, a haunting visual companion for "Walk Around The Lake", the lead single from the new All Alone In An Empty House album. The video was filmed in the backyard of Trekky House I, our old headquarters, by our friend Jerry at Creato Destructo. Filming day brought some unexpected weather for the band, which actually ended up being perfect for the video, adding a desperate chill to the images. Hopefully this icy video will cool your hot, Summer days. If you haven't yet, click on over to Spinner to stream the new album in its entirety, and then click on over to order the album on vinyl or CD.

Lost in the Trees album out today!

2010-08-10T09:40:00.000-04:00

Lost in the Trees' new album, All Alone In An Empty House, hits record stores today, courtesy of Anti- and Trekky Records. So please take a few minutes to stop by your favorite independent record store and pick up a copy on vinyl or CD. The album is also now available in Europe, for our across-the-pond friends, as well. If downloading is your thing, the album is also available in MP3 form from Amazon and iTunes. If you'd like to preview the album before you buy it, the good folks at NPR Music have the entire record streaming right now. For our Los Angeles friends, the band is playing an in-store show at Amoeba Music at 7PM tonight for free. Enjoy the album!

Lost in the Trees Take Away Show on La Blogothèque

2010-08-05T12:08:00.003-04:00

Lost in the Trees played two songs for the world renowned La Blogothèque while on tour in Montreal earlier this year. Here's the video proof of two beautiful acoustic performances. The band plays "Time Taunts Me" a song from the EP of the same name, as well as "Icy River", a heartbreaking new song that will be on the next Lost in the Trees album.

Embarrassing Fruits in the studio + album release party

2010-08-04T09:27:00.001-04:00

We're gearing up for the release of the brand new Embarrassing Fruits LP, and we can't wait for you to hear it! Frontier Justice will be out on September 21 in our signature LP+CD+MP3 package, but before you hold the record in your hands, we wanted to give you a glimpse on the recording process for the album. Recorded over four days in late June at Duck Kee Studios in Mebane, NC, Frontier Justice was a two-speed affair. After ripping through tracking for 12 songs in one day, the Fruits spent 3 days meticulously adding vocals, extra guitars, toy pianos and sitars. "Sweetener" as guitarist Joe Norkus would say. Check out this short behind-the-scenes documentary of the Frontier Justice experience.

We are also happy to announce the album release party for this magical LP, with a bill featuring an amazing triumvirate of Triangle music: Chapel Hill's Embarrassing Fruits, Raleigh's Lonnie Walker and Durham's Midtown Dickens. The party will be on Friday, September 17 at the centrally located Duke Coffeehouse and admission will be absolutely free. This will be the first chance for you to get your hands on a copy of the album, four days before the official release date. Also, folks will be able to take advantage of the Coffeehouse's wonderful BYOB policy. How's that for Frontier Justice? Mark your calendars!

The Never's Noah Smith and Jonny Tunnell star in online series

2010-07-28T14:10:00.003-04:00

Noah Smith of The Never has spent the year attending North Carolina School of the Arts for film, his second passion, next to music. He's directed and filmed various fine projects, but here's one he actually stars in. We never knew Noah was such a fine actor, but apparently his colleagues at NCSA did, and he was asked to portray the main character in an episodic series called Leveled. Noah's bandmate, Jonny Tunnell also appears in the series, and took some time to compose and record the theme music, as well. Also, keep your ears open for songs from The Physics of Meaning and Endless Mic, in the background. Here's the first episode, and we'll share future episodes here as they are released.

Stream new Lost in the Trees album on NPR

2010-07-26T08:54:00.001-04:00

In a little over two weeks, Lost in the Trees' new album All Alone In An Empty House will be available from Anti- Records and Trekky Records. A remixed and expanded version of the album we released in 2008, Empty House is a haunting mix of classical and folk music, centered around the intensely personal songwriting of Ari Picker. You can pre-order the album now, but if you can't wait to hear it, you can now stream the album in its entirety over at NPR Music. You can also download "Walk Around The Lake", absolutely free. Be sure to catch Lost in the Trees live, and check back soon for even more tour dates to be announced:

08-07 Santa Monica, CA - McCabe's Guitar Shop
08-09 Los Angeles, CA - Spaceland
08-10 Los Angeles, CA - Amoeba Music
08-12 Los Angeles, CA - Hotel Cafe
08-16 Chicago, IL - Millennium Park
08-17 Nashville, TN - James K. Polk Theater*
08-19 Raleigh, NC - North Carolina Museum of Art*
08-20 Charlotte, NC - Knight Theater*
08-21 Charlottesville, VA - Jefferson Theater*
08-23 New York, NY - Mercury Lounge
08-26 Chapel Hill, NC - Wallace Plaza^

* with Neko Case
^ with The Physics of Meaning

New Embarrassing Fruits album announced!

2010-07-20T10:00:00.002-04:00

Trekky Records is thrilled and honored to announce the details for the release of Frontier Justice, the new album from Embarrassing Fruits. In many ways, Frontier Justice is the first fully realized album from the band. After a series of line-up changes, album delays and promising EPs, this will be the first timely artistic statement from a now permanent trio: Joe Norkus, Lee Shaw and John Neville. Bassist Lee Shaw has risen to become an equal creative force in the band, which was previously an outlet for only Joe Norkus' catchy, textural rock songs. Shaw composed almost half of the songs on Frontier Justice, bringing his love for classic rock and aggressive pop into the deepening inventory of Fruits' strengths as rock songwriters. Both Norkus and Shaw expound upon the frustrations and joys of navigating the nebulous world of late 20s life in the over saturated, vanishing frontier of America.

Frontier Justice will be released on September 21 in Trekky Records' signature 3-part package, including a vinyl record, a CD and an MP3 download. This "everything you could ever need" package is an active attempt to prove that hard copy music is still important, and that taking the time to sit down and listen to a record is still a fulfilling experience. The CD and MP3 download are included so that you can successfully envelop yourself in the blissful distortion of Embarrassing Fruits' songs whether you're in your car, at your computer, or walking around town with your MP3 player.

If you can't wait until September 21 to hear some of Fruits' new songs, we sympathize, so we're happy to release the first single from Frontier Justice, "Long Distance Breakup Summer", a brooding love-circle anthem featuring lead vocals from bassist Lee Shaw. Full tracklist and video preview below:

1. Alien Bodies
2. Long Distance Breakup Summer
3. Car
4. Soda Jerk
5. Vanishing Frontier
6. Still Waiting
7. Someday
8. 2 Birds
9. Illuminati Rock
10. Drunkland
11. Slow Down
12. Total Betty
13. Sugar Train
14. Can't Love

MP3: Lost in the Trees - "Walk Around The Lake"

2010-07-15T12:09:00.000-04:00

We are very pleased to share with you the new single from the upcoming Lost in the Trees LP, All Alone In An Empty House out August 10th on Anti- and Trekky Records. Its the scariest thing the band has ever recorded and we're very excited for you to hear it. Download it now, pre-order the album, and make sure to check the band's tour dates below to see if they'll be in a town near you:

08-07 Santa Monica, CA - McCabe's Guitar Shop
08-09 Los Angeles, CA - Spaceland
08-12 Los Angeles, CA - Hotel Cafe
08-16 Chicago, IL - Millennium Park
08-17 Nashville, TN - James K. Polk Theater*
08-19 Raleigh, NC - North Carolina Museum of Art*
08-20 Charlotte, NC - Knight Theater*
08-21 Charlottesville, VA - Jefferson Theater*
08-23 New York, NY - Mercury Lounge
08-26 Chapel Hill, NC - Wallace Plaza^
09-11 Raleigh, NC - Trekky Records Hopscotch Day Party

* with Neko Case
^ with The Physics of Meaning

Help! Phosphorescent's Van/Gear Stolen in Brooklyn Last Night

2010-07-09T21:50:00.003-04:00

Our dear brother Jesse Ainslie (of Barghest, Straight No Chaser - one of the founding members of the Trekky crew) also plays in the phenomenal band Phosphorescent. Last night after a show in Brooklyn they had their van stolen along with all of their gear and merchandise. This is truly a nightmare for any touring band and we really feel for our friends right now. Below is a letter written by the band's manager:

Last night, after an amazing show at Pier 54 in New York City, Phosphorescent's rental van -along with all of their equipment - was stolen from outside a residence in Greenpoint, Brooklyn. Last night's show was the first night of their scheduled six-weeks US Tour. Among the stolen items was Matthew Houck's custom, irreplaceable 1955 Gibson ES-125 guitar, vintage amplifiers, and a vintage pedal steel with losses totaling around $40,000. If anyone has ANY information or leads on what might have happened, or if you see any of this gear in pawn shops, on Craigslist, etc, please call the NY Police Department, Vector Management, or anyone you think might be able to help recover this gear. The van rental company is insured - they are covered for their van and are therefore not greatly concerned with recovering it. Phosphorescent DOES care though, greatly, about recovering any of this gear possible, and figuring out how to rally up and make this US Tour happen. Anything anyone can do to help would be simply amazing. We have set up a Paypal account for anyone wishing to donate funds to help replace gear - anything helps. We will be sending updates about the upcoming tour dates ASAP. Thanks in advance for any goodwill and assistance and thank you for your support over the years.
Paypal donations can be made here:
https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_s-xclick&hosted_button_id=U3W83W68KFTXW
Vector Management:
Nick Stern

Please help our friends out by donating at the link above, or checking out the gear list and keeping an eye out for it on Craig's List, pawn shops, etc. Thanks so much, we know the band really appreciates your time, support, and generosity.

Trekky Records Announces Hopscotch Day Party

2010-07-09T09:32:00.001-04:00

By now you've probably heard of Hopscotch, the incredible, three-day music festival that will overtake Raleigh, North Carolina this September. In its first year, the festival seems already to be the Southeast's answer to South By Southwest. Public Enemy, Broken Social Scene and Panda Bear top the bill of over 120 bands playing the festival. Hopscotch offered Trekky Records the opportunity to organize a day party during the festival, and we jumped at the chance. So, we are proud to unveil the details for DAY-DREAM, our very special day party.

The party will be held at The Pour House, one of the official Hopscotch venues, on Saturday, September 11 from 2PM to 5:30PM. Admission will be free for everyone, no wristbands required. Our bill is a combination of bands on our record label and friends who will be in town specifically for the festival. More details and surprises to be announced!

DAY-DREAM
A Hopscotch Day Party
Saturday, September 11. 2PM-5:30PM.
Free.

Lost in the Trees
Midtown Dickens
Sharon Van Etten
Embarrassing Fruits
Butterflies
+ special guests Justin Ruggiano

Lost in the Trees tour with Neko Case + pre-order new album!

2010-07-07T09:08:00.000-04:00

Lost in the Trees have been spreading the gospel all over the US and Canada this Summer, in support of their new album All Alone in An Empty House, out August 10 on Anti- and Trekky Records. If you don't get the chance to see the band live before that fateful date, you can pre-order the new album right now and you'll get it as soon as it comes out! Lost in the Trees just played a mesmerizing set at our TRKfest and have just added a few more dates, including a run with Neko Case, so mark your calendars!

08-07 Santa Monica, CA - McCabe's Guitar Shop
08-09 Los Angeles, CA - Spaceland
08-12 Los Angeles, CA - Hotel Cafe
08-16 Chicago, IL - Millennium Park
08-17 Nashville, TN - James K. Polk Theater*
08-19 Raleigh, NC - North Carolina Museum of Art*
08-20 Charlotte, NC - Knight Theater*
08-21 Charlottesville, VA - Jefferson Theater*
08-23 New York, NY - Mercury Lounge
08-26 Chapel Hill, NC - Wallace Plaza^
09-11 Raleigh, NC - Trekky Records Hopscotch Day Party

* with Neko Case
^ with The Physics of Meaning

Also, here's a short video of Lost in the Trees getting ready to play their show at Cat's Cradle in Carrboro, NC.

Summer Sale in Trekky Records Online Store!

2010-07-02T15:00:00.000-04:00

After the Summertime bliss-fest that was TRKfest, we're in a pretty summer-y mood over here at Trekky Records. We've been kicking back, drinking lemonade, catching baseball games, driving around with the windows open and enjoying just how directly the sun's rays are falling here in North Carolina. We've decided to pay it forward and hold a Summer Sale in our online store, because we want y'all to have plenty of tunes to soundtrack your Summer memories. So now's a good time to pick up that Embarrassing Fruits album you've been meaning to get, stock up on some fresh Trekky Records shirts to shield your skin from that Summer sun, or pick up some screen printed posters to decorate the walls of your new domicile. Here's some of the specials we're offering:

Butterflies - Nothing's Personal.
Now only $8!

Embarrassing Fruits - Community / Exploitation.
Now only $8!

Vibrant Green - Artless Yet Excellent.
Now only $8!

American Apparel Trekky Records Shirts (Various Colors).
Now only $10!

Screen Printed Posters (Including Fleet Foxes, Blitzen Trapper, Bowerbirds, Castanets, and all Trekky Bands).
Now only $3!

Photos: TRKfest 2010

2010-06-30T10:46:00.002-04:00

Relive the memories:

Heather McEntire of Mount Moriah
Photo by Mike Gray.

Phil Cook (Megafaun), Heather McEntire (Mount Moriah), Catherine Edgerton and Kym Register (Midtown Dickens)
Photo by Karen Mann.

Butterflies
Photo by Linnie Greene.

Brad Cook of Megafaun
Photo by Linnie Greene.

Phil Cook of Meagafaun
Photo by Linnie Greene.

Embarrassing Fruits
Photo by Linnie Greene.

Embarrassing Fruits
Photo by Linnie Greene.

John Neville of Embarrassing Fruits
Photo by Linnie Greene.

Lost in the Trees
Photo by Linnie Greene.

Duncan Webster of Hammer No More The Fingers
Photo by Linnie Greene.

Midtown Dickens
Photo by Linnie Greene.

Will Hackney of Midtown Dickens
Photo by Linnie Greene.

Lost in the Trees
Photo by Agatha Donkar.

Midtown Dickens
Photo by Agatha Donkar.

Ginger Wagg of Veelee
Photo by Agatha Donkar.

Audio: TRKfest on The State of Things

2010-06-25T19:54:00.002-04:00

Earlier today we were interviewed by Frank Stasio on his radio program, The State of Things, on WUNC 91.5FM. The magic of technology now makes it possible for you to listen to it already! Click here to here us talk about TRKfest, and to hear Veelee play some songs live.

TRKfest 2010 tomorrow!

2010-06-25T16:09:00.002-04:00

Join us tomorrow for our long awaited blissfest. You probably know the story, but you can find lots of info here and here. We are in awe of the energy wave that has been building up to the date of the festival. It feels like anything could happen. And it probably will. See you tomorrow!

The Independent on TRKfest

2010-06-24T08:49:00.002-04:00

Our wonderful local newspaper, The Independent, published a lengthy and detailed article on TRKfest yesterday. Check out the print edition, or read it online here. Thanks to writer Brian Howe for conducting so many interviews and composing a very eloquent profile of our little music festival.

There were a few more articles posted today as well: A great Daily Tar Heel feature, 5 Questions with Diversions, and 5 Questions with local blog Mann's World. Get out yr reading glasses!

Video: Interview with Lost in the Trees

2010-06-22T12:01:00.002-04:00

Ira Haberman of ExploreMusic recently talked to Lost in the Trees' Ari Picker about touring, his album, basketball and music that inspires him. Watch above. Lost in the Trees just returned home from a five week tour, and they'll play their homecoming show at this year's TRKfest.

TRKfest Profiles: Hammer No More The Fingers

2010-06-20T17:19:00.002-04:00

Photo by Agatha Donkar, from TRKfest 2009.

As we near the fateful date of this year's bliss-tacular TRKfest, we'll be periodically profiling each band that will be gracing the stage. We'll tell you who they are, why they're special and why we invited them to play.

Artist: Hammer No More The Fingers
Hails from: Durham
Played TRKfest?: Twice before

Hammer No More The Fingers are the most unassuming rock stars you'll ever meet. They're the kind of band that can have an audience in the palm of their hands, willing to do anything, slaves to the infectious energy of their live show. But when they step off the stage, there's no delusions of grandeur. They'll shrug and and say "That was fun." and then its on to the next one. This is a incredibly admirable attribute, because Hammer's technical proficiency, dynamic, and instincts are second to none. They could be total jerks, for how consistently excellent they are, but instead they are just themselves: friendly, humble and interested. We first met Duncan, Jeff and Joe about 7 or 8 years ago, in the days of The Droogies. We were also there for Hammer's first show at the now closed 305 South in Durham. Last night we saw them headline the This Machine Kills Cancer benefit like they were headlining Bonnaroo. We've seen these guys grow into supernaturally talented musicians and songwriters, and we can't wait to see how much everyone in the world loves Hammer, as soon as they get a chance to hear them. The guys have been generous enough to play TRKfest every year, and we can't thank them enough, because they are always a highlight. We've scheduled them to play right after the Pants-off Dance Off, so make sure to get fueled up, hydrated and ready to party for that killer one-two punch.

MP3 | Hammer No More The Fingers - Shutterbug [from the Looking For Bruce LP]

TRKfest Profiles: Embarrassing Fruits

2010-06-18T13:09:00.002-04:00

Photo by Agatha Donkar, from TRKfest 2009.

As we near the fateful date of this year's bliss-tacular TRKfest, we'll be periodically profiling each band that will be gracing the stage. We'll tell you who they are, why they're special and why we invited them to play.

Artist: Embarrassing Fruits
Hails from: Chapel Hill
Played TRKfest?: Every year

Joe Norkus and John Neville of Embarrassing Fruits have been a part of the Trekky Records story from the very beginning. Their high school band Straight No Chaser helped usher us into the world of indie rock in our formative years, and determined the style and attitude of our early output. A few years after moving to Greensboro, NC, for college, the boys debuted their new band at a dark, hot basement show and it instantly filled an absence we didn't even know was there. They were loud, aggressive, immediate, and fun. The songs felt like something we could share right away, anthems we'd known for years. Joe and John soon relocated back to their hometown of Chapel Hill and met bassist Lee Shaw, who added a depth and technical ability that really brought the songs to life. They've been pretty unstoppable ever since. We've released a full length and an EP with the Fruits, and the fellas are heading into the studio in two days to record their new LP. Its been an amazing journey watching this band grow and we can't wait to see what they do next. For now, we are just excited to watch them slay as the sun sets at TRKfest on June 26th.

MP3 | Embarrassing Fruits - Corner [from the Community / Exploitation LP]

Video: Lost in the Trees - "Stand By Me" (Ben E. King cover) @ Layabout

2010-06-18T09:12:00.003-04:00

Before Lost in the Trees left for a five week tour that they are just finishing up now, we organized a very special surprise house show in Durham, NC. Lost in the Trees, Stu McLamb of The Love Language, Midtown Dickens and Butterflies all played at the Layabout house, with only about 12 hours notice. Spontaneous shows lead to spontaneous moments, and we had plenty of those. In this video, Lost in the Trees closes out the night by stumbling through one of the best songs ever written, "Stand By Me" by Ben E. King. It was a magical moment for anyone who was there, and hopefully some of that feeling transfers through the video. Thanks to Eric Chen for filming. As a bonus, here is a video of Drew Anagnost and Dan Westerlund of Lost in the Trees working up "Long Black Veil" with Midtown Dickens.

TRKfest Profiles: Midtown Dickens

2010-06-17T10:09:00.002-04:00

Photo by Prachi Guariar, from TRKfest 2009.

As we near the fateful date of this year's bliss-tacular TRKfest, we'll be periodically profiling each band that will be gracing the stage. We'll tell you who they are, why they're special and why we invited them to play.

Artist: Midtown Dickens
Hails from: Durham
Played TRKfest?: One and a half times. Part of Megafaun & Friends in 2008.

We asked Midtown Dickens to play our other annual show, Christmas at the Cradle, in 2007 and we could tell right away that we would be fast friends. Kym Register and Catherine Edgerton, the founding members of Midtown Dickens, have the sort of infectious enthusiasm about life and that you want to be around all the time. We found ourselves trying to book them on every bill we put together, sure that as soon as they were singing "It's Alright" or "Old Dogs" at the top of their lungs, everyone at the show would be having the night of their lives. Since then, Kym and Catherine have become our best musical friends outside of the Trekky Collective. We've played house shows with them, toured with them, marched in birthday parades and chilled at hippie festivals. There was no question about asking them to play TRKfest again this year, in fact it would've felt wrong if they weren't playing.

MP3 | Midtown Dickens - Old Dogs [from the Lanterns LP]

Video: Daniel Hart covers INXS with Beck, members of Os Mutantes, Liars

2010-06-17T09:15:00.002-04:00

In March, we posted a video of Daniel Hart (the man behind The Physics of Meaning) taking part in Beck's Record Club project, in which a batch of unlikely collaborators are assembled to cover a classic album in one day. In this case, Beck got Liars, Sergio Dias of Os Mutantes, and St. Vincent (which Daniel is a member of) to cover INXS' Kick in its entirety. Beck has periodically released videos of each song, and you can catch them all here. Posted above is the most recent video, featuring Daniel's magical violin playing. Enjoy!

Video: TRKfest 2010 | Building a Stage

2010-06-16T12:12:00.003-04:00

At Piedmont Biofuels, the wonderful biodiesel plant and organic farm that is the location of every TRKfest, there is a sturdy stage, built right in front of a giant facade, solitary and majestic. We figured it was getting lonely, so we decided to build it a sibling. Also, this means the bands at TRKfest can have longer sets and the fine folks that attend won't have to endure as much "transition time" in between bands. Here's a little video of us building our brand new stage, the Mahalo Stage!

TRKfest 2010 Schedule and Vendors

2010-06-14T10:32:00.002-04:00

Our annual blissfest is rapidly approaching, and the pieces of the puzzle are really coming together. Today, we are happy to share with you the order of events at TRKfest, as well as some of the wonderful vendors we will have down at Piedmont Biofuels to provide you with food, drink and keepsakes.

We have built a second stage this year, to maximize set times and minimize transition times, and there will be enough food for everyone to party with us ALL day and catch ALL of the amazing music. We really encourage everyone to get down there early, as the sets from Vibrant Green, Ezekiel Graves and Yardwork promise to be beautiful, revelatory experiences. Seriously. Also, make sure to drink your organic energy drink a good 15 minutes before the Pants-Off Dance Off, because you'll want to give it some time to take effect! Times below:

2:00 - VIBRANT GREEN
2:50 - EZEKIEL GRAVES
3:25 - YARDWORK
4:05 - Tour of Piedmont Biofuels
4:15 - RYAN GUSTAFSON
5:00 - BUTTERFLIES
5:40 - Musical Chairs Cake Walk
5:50 - VEELEE
6:35 - MOUNT MORIAH
7:15 - Tour of Piedmont Biofuels
7:25 - MIDTOWN DICKENS
8:10 - EMBARRASSING FRUITS
8:50 - Pants Off Dance Off
9:10 - HAMMER NO MORE THE FINGERS
10:00 - LOST IN THE TREES
10:50 - MEGAFAUN

In order to make your festival day as pleasant as possible, we've asked some of our favorite food-makers, drink-mixers and thing-creators from the Triangle to come down and do what they do best: PROVIDE. We'll have delicious burgers and fries from OnlyBurger, handcrafted beers from Carolina Brewery, fresh, local Greek fare from Angelina's Kitchen, beautiful repurposed clothing from Riverbasin Outfitters, boutique screen-printed apparel from Flytrap Studios, and more! Make sure to bring some extra cash so you can patronize these fine local entities. We'll also have official TRKfest tie-dyed shirts and pint glasses!

More details will be trickling out every day! Make sure to check the TRKfest website for the most up to date information. Namaste.

TRKfest Profiles: Mount Moriah

2010-06-11T11:07:00.002-04:00

Photo by Prachi Gauriar, from TRKfest 2009.

As we near the fateful date of this year's bliss-tacular TRKfest, we'll be periodically profiling each band that will be gracing the stage. We'll tell you who they are, why they're special and why we invited them to play.

Artist: Mount Moriah
Hails from: Chapel Hill
Played TRKfest?: Indeed, last year.

Mount Moriah is one of the many collaborations between Heather McEntire and Jenks Miller. The pair became friends while working together at Chapel Hill's legendary (now closed) record store, Schoolkids, and formed Holidays For Quince Records and the vintage pop group Un Deux Trois. Since then, HFQ has become one of the most consistent and exciting labels in the Triangle, Un Deux Trois has gone on temporary hiatus, and Heather has written a handful of gorgeous, patient, ghostly country songs. Jenks offered his old band name, Mount Moriah, for the new project, and it fit well. The first incarnation of the band, featuring Jenks on guitar and vocals, traveled similar swampy territory as the current iteration, and was one of our favorite undiscovered treasures in the local scene, so we're glad that the name has been given new life. With the addition of James Wallace and Jeff Crawford from the Drughorse Collective as a rhythm section, and the spotlight now on Heather's distinctive vocals, the band takes a new, mightier form. Heather and Jenks embody everything that we love about our incredible musical community. They are prolific, dedicated, supportive and have good taste. It is not rare to find these qualities in musicians around here, but to subsume all four so comprehensively is indeed special. Last year, in the bright glaring sun, Mount Moriah played a beautiful set at TRKfest, and we can't wait to have them do it again so we can re-live something new, like an annual family reunion.

MP3 | Mount Moriah - Lament [from the HFQ Compilation Vol. 1 LP]