Merge 30 Festival

Merge Records 30th Anniversary Fest begins (final lineup, set times, and a Spinanes reunion)

Though it might be too late to buy tickets in advance, there’s still time to get the nut butter and yourself to North Carolina for the festivities. As previously mentioned when tickets went on sale, MRG30 begins today!

More than 30 bands from the NC label’s roster are playing Cat’s Cradle, the Carolina Theatre, and Motorco Music Hall on Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday, starting with a Mountain Goats-headlined show this evening (limited tickets at the door, Mac says), and ending with an after-midnight Ex Hex show on Saturday night. There’s usually at least one special reunion at these Merge anniversaries, and this year it’s Rebecca Gates’ band The Spinanes whose debut album, Manos, was reissued by Merge in 2018. For this show, she’s joined by the band’s second drummer, Jerry Busher, who took over in the group after Scott Plouf left for Built to Spill. That’s part of a free Saturday Day Party that also includes Wye Oak drummer Andy Stack’s new project Joyero, The Tip Tops (featuring Greg Cartwright), and Apex Manor.

The rest of the MRG30 lineup represents a great cross-section of the label’s past, present and future, from Superchunk, Fucked Up, Imperial TeenWaxahatchee, The Essex Green and Destroyer, to Ibibio Sound Machine, UK band Sacred Paws, and recent signing Torres. Check out the full schedule — Will Butler of Arcade Fire included (his main band is a bit too big for this fest) — and a brand new Fruit Bats video, below…

MERGE 30 in 2019

WEDNESDAY, JULY 24
MRG30 Opening night at the Carolina Theatre, Durham

Co-presented by Duke Performances & The Carolina Theatre

Doors open at 7pm
7:30pm H.C. McEntire
8:10pm Hiss Golden Messenger
9:10pm the Mountain Goats

After-party at Motorco Music Hall
$10 at the door; free entry with MRG30 festival pass

Doors open at 10pm
11pm Escape-ism
11:45pm The Rock*A*Teens

THURSDAY, JULY 25
Cat’s Cradle, Carrboro

Doors open at 7pm
Main Room:
8pm Swearin’
9pm Lambchop
10pm Sacred Paws
11pm Fucked Up
12am Superchunk

Back Room:
7:45pm Little Scream
8:30pm Fruit Bats
9:30pm Will Butler

FRIDAY, JULY 26
1pm–4pm (new time) Fan-organized (potluck + kickball) at Wilson Park, Carrboro

Cat’s Cradle, Carrboro

Doors open at 7pm
Main Room:
8pm William Tyler
9pm Imperial Teen
10pm A Giant Dog
11pm Wye Oak
12am Titus Andronicus

Back Room:
7:45pm Telekinesis
8:30pm The Essex Green
9:30pm Mike Krol

SATURDAY, JULY 27
MRG30 Day Party at Orange County Social Club, Carrboro

Free & open to the public

2pm The Tip Tops featuring Greg Cartwright
2:45pm Joyero (Andy Stack of Wye Oak)
3:30pm Apex Manor
4:15pm The Spinanes

Cat’s Cradle, Carrboro
Doors open at 7pm
Main Room:
8pm Destroyer
9pm Gauche
10pm Waxahatchee
11pm Ibibio Sound Machine
12am Ex Hex

Back Room:
7:45pm Sneaks
8:30pm Spider Bags
9:30pm Torres