The Carrboro Music Festival: The Town’s favorite time of the year

The Carrboro Music Festival, which was held on Sunday, hosted 100 bands at 20 venues, creating a day which supported the local community, businesses and musicians. The festival has been active for 26 years.

“It's my favorite day of the year. For any of us who have lived in Carrboro for a long time or played music here, it's like our own version of Christmas," Justin Ravary Ellis, a 33-year-old music teacher at School of Rock and Music Coordinator of the festival, said. 

The festival was established in 1998 as an official affiliate of the international organization Fête de la Musique, or “Make Music Day.” The purpose was to make all genres of music more accessible through free concerts. 

In recent years, the festival has moved from summer to fall, becoming what is now the independent Carrboro Music Festival, and the bands are now compensated for their time. 

At 2 p.m., the streets of Carrboro erupted into song. 

A jazzy R&B rhythm flowed from 401 Main, and a sorrowful, funky rock track came from Luna Rotisserie. On the other end of town, Sound System Seven, a six piece ska punk band, spread their lively horns and danceable rhythms across the lawn of the Town Commons. Down the road, Manic Third Planet, a three piece punk rock band, played for a small crowd in the parking lot outside of Pizzeria Mercato. 

“It's about appreciating all the little bands that we have already, and the massive amount of talent that is here in our area,” Jackie Helvey, one of the founders of the music festival, said.

That talent has a massive breadth of genres and experience, from emerging artists to local residents. 

“Part of the fun of the Carrboro Music Festival is that you get the Mailman Surf band that plays one thing a year, and it's Carrboro Music Festival, and that rules,” Ellis said. “But you also get to feature bands that make records and tour regionally and are actively trying to pursue this more than just a hobby.”

The festival is not only for musicians but a time for businesses to gain exposure as well. Lisa Oskardmay, a member of The Find Your Own Voice Singers, walked with her husband on East Weaver Street — which was closed off to cars for the festival — after her and her group performed. 

Oskardmay said that visiting different small businesses in this area allows community members to go to events they might not have otherwise attended, things they might not know about unless they went to listen to live music played at many of these local spots. 

Steve Burham, also known as "Burns," a vetted member of the Carrboro music scene, said that he considers the festival his favorite time of the year.

“I get to play music, I get to see my friends play music, I get to play music with my friends, I get to see people I haven’t seen all year sometimes because we’re all busy with our own projects,” he said. 

At around 5 p.m., the lawn of Weaver Street Market epitomized what the festival is all about. Hundreds of people from diverse backgrounds dotted the area as the Onyx Club Boys, a gypsy jazz band, performed under a tent in the center. 

Some people sat with their friends, drinking and socializing, while others formed a dance floor. In this moment, the community was connected through music, without having to spend a dime — except maybe for booze. 

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