Gentleman Contender plays his last show

It’s only goodbye for now.

UNC senior Holland Gallagher will play his last show as his rap persona, Gentleman Contender, Saturday at Local 506 before he takes on a new project.

Although his days of Gentleman Contender are nearly over, Gallagher said his future in music is not. He said he has decided to focus his energies on an unnamed project that has been in the works behind the scenes.

“I’m actually not at liberty to talk about that right now, but it’s exciting,” said Gallagher.

He also said that looking back, he feels like he has finally established a level of respect in the local music scene.

Gallagher’s first concert as Gentlemen Contender was in the lobby of Ehringhaus Residence Hall. Since then, he has gone on to headline at Cat’s Cradle and other well-known local venues, like He’s Not Here, where he was the winner of multiple Battle of the Bands competitions.

“I feel a part of the music scene in Chapel Hill now,” he said.

The community was integral to his success.

Now, his last act as Gentleman Contender is one of generosity.

“I just wanted to give back a little bit. It’s all kind of been focused on me I think — probably a little too much,” he said.

“So for this one, I wanted to do something good.”

The concert will be sponsored by CommuniGift, a student-founded charity that allows donors to purchase gifts online for children in need. A portion of the ticket sales will benefit the local nonprofit First In Families of North Carolina.

Taylor Sharp, co-founder of CommuniGift and UNC senior, met Gallagher freshman year. The two became close friends through an entrepreneurship class together last fall.

Sharp said that a portion of the concert’s proceeds will be used to buy birthday gifts for a child with severe autism.

Sharp hopes fans will consider donating a gift on their own after the event.

For Gallagher, partnering with CommuniGift was an easy decision. Sharp was also excited to collaborate with his friend.

“This concert was an offer of collaboration that we couldn’t turn down because it’s a celebration of all that’s going on here in Chapel Hill and the UNC community,” Sharp said.

Clay Sutton, a friend of Gallagher and Sharp and a fan of Gentleman Contender, said he is proud of Gallagher’s musical journey.

“This is the end of one chapter, but his book is still going on,” said Sutton.

“That kid’s got amazing talent.”

arts@dailytarheel.com