A look into Cat’s Cradle’s storied history

For over 55 years, Cat’s Cradle has been the leading concert venue within UNC’s vicinity, hosting a variety of events including musicians, philanthropic benefits, stand-up acts and more. That status is not likely to change any time soon.

“Every night at the Cradle is a different crowd, different vibe,” Cat’s Cradle owner Frank Heath said. “So, for the people that work there, what keeps it fun is just having that variety and never really knowing what happens.” 

Located on Main Street in Carrboro, the club acts as a doorway between Carrboro and Chapel Hill. However, Cat’s Cradle didn’t always have this prime location. 

The club opened in 1969 in a much smaller venue: a basement that couldn’t hold more than 30 concert-goers. 

After the basement, it moved to a narrower venue that couldn’t hold more than 250 people, and after that, to a venue once located where Might As Well Bar & Grill is now. For UNC class of ’93 alum Becky Mohr, this location in particular was convenient because it was on Franklin Street. 

“We would follow these bands, we would see them wherever they were,” she said. “So it was always a huge treat when they were coming right to Chapel Hill.”

Mohr claims she attended a Cat’s Cradle concert every two weeks while in college. This enthusiasm for the venue’s concerts continues among UNC students today, as current senior Adelaide Jones has attended around 10 Cat’s Cradle shows over the past four years. Some of the most notable performances for her were Kate Bollinger, Houndmouth and The Wrecks. 

None of these previous venues have stood the test of time like its current venue, which they moved to in 1993. It has two main rooms, combined to hold a capacity of just under 1,000 attendees.

Despite Cat’s Cradle’s popularity, there is an openness to all artists, no matter how small. If Cat’s Cradle thinks a group has potential, there’s a great chance they will be showcased and publicized.

“A lot of times when a famous person plays here, it’s as an opening act for someone else before they’re famous,” Heath said. “Chappell Roan played at the Cradle three years ago. Noah Kahan did the same thing. You never know what’s gonna happen on a given night.”

Heath bought Cat’s Cradle in 1986, just before Chapel Hill was referred to as the “Next Seattle,” meaning Chapel Hill’s music scene was booming.

The 1990s and early 2000s were prime years for Cat’s Cradle, as many music legends took the stage: Phish in 1991, Radiohead in 1995, The Smashing Pumpkins in 2000, John Mayer in 2001, Joan Baez in 2003, not to mention Widespread Panic’s recurring shows at the venue. 

“The main band I remember there that was always so exciting was Widespread Panic,” Mohr said. “Imagine the stadiums and stuff that Widespread plays in now, and they were just at this little, tiny Cat’s Cradle. That was really, really fun.”

One of Cat’s Cradle’s most notable shows includes Nirvana’s 1991 show, which took place 10 days after the release of their most famous studio album, “Nevermind.” 

“There was a restaurant, Peppers Pizza, on Franklin Street where they played Nirvana non-stop for years,” Heath said. “So we had Nirvana on the tour before they were really well known. It was definitely at the behest of some local super fans.”

The success of Nirvana couldn’t be predicted at the time. However, audience members must have been privy to the group’s potential — especially after hearing “Smells Like Teen Spirit” live. Ten days after Nirvana’s performance, Pearl Jam took the stage.

Some of the more recent and upcoming performances include popular indie artists such as Mt. Joy, Harvey Street, Houndmouth, Penelope Road and Kate Bollinger.

The venue recently had their first “Study Hall” on April 5, a one-night festival where they showcased UNC student bands. Heath said that they plan on continuing these events in the future. 

Cat’s Cradle is a Chapel Hill staple, and for many students, including Jones and Mohr, is foundational to their college experience. 

“[Cat’s Cradle] has taught me a lot about the music in North Carolina, specifically, and just having access to live music that’s affordable for college students is really special,” Jones said. 

CLARIFICATION: A previous version of this article stated that Cat's Cradle is located off of Rosemary Street. While it is near East Rosemary Street, it is technically on East Main Street in Carrboro. The Daily Tar Heel apologizes for the error. 

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