Anti-House Bill 2 concert series closes out with more than 20 artists

The Stand Against HB2 - North Carolina Musicians United for Equality NC and QORDS concert was held at Cat’s Cradle yesterday, featuring an extensive lineup of bands and musicians along with speakers like Sen. Mike Woodard.

The concert started at noon and was scheduled to end at midnight, with over 20 artists and bands to fill the entire time.

The concert was the last of the six concert series organized against House Bill 2.

“A week after the law was passed I got a call from Rod Abernethy, a musician friend of mine,” said Mike Allen, the concert’s organizer. “And he had talked to some other musicians who wanted to make a statement about their opposition to the law, and asked me if I would organize a concert, and I said sure.”

Allen said, although he wished the series had been able to raise more money for Equality NC than it did — the first concert made around $20,000 and all concerts have averaged around 300 to 400 people each — he was happy with the awareness it spread about the bill.

“It’s about education and it’s about music,” he said, “I want people to learn something and I want people to hear the issues that we are facing in this election. It’s kind of an advocacy education music festival.”

Cameron Cook, saxophone player for Matt Phillips and the Back Pocket, said he enjoyed performing with a political message.

“It’s a great thing to benefit and put our energy towards and just get people out to spread awareness and get donations,” Cook said.

Cook’s sentiment about the concert was a shared one among the performers at the concert.

And it was not just the musicians who came to the concert in support of repealing House Bill 2 — Democratic Sen. Mike Woodard attended the concert and spoke out against Gov. Pat McCrory while telling people how important it was for them.

“It’s just a lot of fun because I enjoy the music so it’s a good way to bring people together who are like-minded and we can enjoy the music.” Woodard said, “Hopefully, it inspires us to get out and work a bit harder and combine our efforts to repeal HB2.”

Woodard praised Allen and the other organizers for making the concert series a reality.

The crowd at the concert was made up of mostly Chapel Hill and Carrboro residents with some Chapel Hill students attending.

Sam Straughan, a bartender at Cat’s Cradle and a UNC student, said the ability of the concert to bring a community together was important.

“I think it’s great there is a venue for people to come together over a cause,” she said.

“It’s something that is able to bring the community together in a face-to-face way for a cause that social media can’t really do.”

@sethpyle22

swerve@dailytarheel.com