Erica Gimson Design’s chic scarves are the accessory of the summer.
We’re forecasting that summer scarves are going to be all the rage this season. Setting the trend locally is Erica Gimson, a Raleigh-based textile designer and founder of Erica Gimson Design. Gimson is an Atlanta native who studied fine arts and textile design at East Carolina University before starting her career in print design for a North Carolina textile manufacturer. Now, she’s making a mark on the neck of Raleigh’s fashionistas with her timeless, ethically made scarves in artful prints—from tie-dye to florals to more abstract patterns—that are inspired by the beauty of the natural world, as well as her love of fashion and historical textiles. Besides the neck, Gimson’s scarves are inventive enough to be worn as a sarong, bandana, headscarf and more, adding a splash of color and stylish sophistication to any summer ’fit. ericagimsondesign.com
Bubbly and brisket: an unlikely pairing that takes your typical summer ’Q next-level. On June 26, join the North Carolina Food & Beverage Podcast for its fun-filled Bubbles & Brisket event, where winemakers and sommeliers will be popping bottles alongside local chefs and pitmasters, including Marc Russell of Longleaf Swine BBQ, Carrie Schleiffer of Alley Twenty Six, Anthony Rapillo of V Pizza and Kyle Sutton of Bestow Baked Goods. “Bubbles & Brisket spawned from a conversation during the podcast,” says co-host Max Trujillo. “[Fellow co-host] Matt Weiss and I have discussed the various cooking techniques of brisket over the past year and a half, so it made sense to get some of our favorite pitmasters together, and—since we’re a food and beverage podcast—we’d better pair our favorite brisket with our favorite type of wine.” The event will also feature live music from George Hage and Tom Anderson. It’s sure to be one of the most delicious summer soirees to kick off the season. Tickets $75, ncfbpodcast.com
The June issue of Raleigh Magazine will be on stands around town and delivered to your doors and mailboxes next week! If you can’t wait until then, here’s a quick look at some of the stories we have in store.
BB’s Brings It
From just released It’s Always Freezer Season: How to Freeze Like a Chef With 100 Make-Ahead Recipes (co-written with wife Kaitlyn Goalen) to her exclusive announcement with Raleigh Magazine that she’s creating a restaurant empire beyond Raleigh (hey BB’s Crispy Chicken!), Ashley Christensen is having a moment. We get the scoop on her and Goalen’s new book and what you can expect from BB’s once it opens in June.
Fond Farewell
Joshua Steadman
As Raleigh Police Chief Cassandra Deck-Brown prepares to retire after 33 years of service, we reflect on her lasting legacy and the role she’s played for the community.
Rosé All Day
Stacey Sprenz Photography
With the help of bar managers, wine shop owners, wine directors and more, we round up 10 of our favorite pink picks from local restaurants and shops—from pizza wine to porch pounders—just in time for National Rosé Day on June 12.
It List
#SelfCare isn’t selfish, it’s a necessity—so you can be the badass you were born to be. Feed your body and soul with our roundup of Raleigh’s wellness best bets—from fitspo to food to hydration, hemp and more.
Roaring ‘20s—Take Two?
Photo courtesy of Warner Bros. Pictures
It’s been over 100 years since the last major pandemic, ensuing in a decade of prosperity and partying—aka the Roaring ’20s. Will history repeat itself? We parallel the two post-pandemic ’20s decades, from art, music and culture to fodder and fashion, to booze and dollar bills.
Anna Brescia, Laura Guidry, Melissa Howsam and Lauren Kruchten
Remember the day the (live) music died? Rendered but a sweet, sweaty melodic memory. March 2020: Venue doors were shuttered, stages relegated to ghost towns—recalling the fading photo from Back to the Future where the McFlys slowly disappear… as if they never existed. Erie. Ominous.
For over a year, live music was silenced; the venues and stages without sound, life, energy—empty. Then came executive order No. 195, effective Feb. 26, 5pm—the day the music returned. By March, with safety protocols squarely in place, doors reopened; amps rejuiced… and the bands, they played again. Leading the charge was The Pour House Music Hall, with local R&B band NiiTO as one of the first to take stage, with a bevy of bands and venues to follow—and executive order No. 204, effective March 26, further relaxing music hall restrictions.
To celebrate all things jamworthy, we take a look in the coming pages at all you need to know now on venues (think operational allowances, safety protocols, hours, ticketing and more); a band who played through the pandemic and is coming out on top (you guessed it: NiiTO); and big-name concerts to tap in your calendar now. Rock on, Raleigh.
Don’t Stop the Music
From left: VJ, Joshua, AJ, Aarik
When most bands hunkered down during the pandemic, Raleigh-based NiiTO pivoted and became a voice to help others.
Like the titanic bandthat played to keep everyone calm as the shipsank, Raleigh-based R&B-funk-jazz-blues band NiiTO found a way to keep the live music—and hope—alive during the pandemic, even as venues were shut down and concerts were canceled (or postponed indefinitely).
For seven years, NiiTO—a band of brothers formed by lead singer Aarik Duncan and saxophonist/vocalist Joshua Duncan, and later joined by AJ Daye and VJ Ratliff—has experimented with their sound, singing covers for much of the time they were together. They’ve since ditched the covers for original music, forming a clear voice that’s making a mark on the local soundscape with singles like “MoonDancin’,” a nuanced, emotive piece with an equally impressive music video (filmed on The Dillon rooftop!). Most recently, they rereleased their 2017 EP N’KOGNiiTO.
Over the past year, NiiTO became a balm for the city, delivering their soulful, modern cadence and genre-bending sound by leaning on their business savviness, creativity and ability to pivot.
In filling the void of live music, they were able to give a voice to the voiceless and provide a sense of peace, calm and optimism for better days ahead. While the last year left most silenced and audiences begging for as much as a busker, NiiTO was here for us, performing pop-up in-person shows at Little City and Southern Charred. They also maintained relevancy and built a larger fan base through a free hourlong livestreamed Christmas special at the Garner Performing Arts Center.
“A consistent phrase in the prayer [we do before each show] is to help people who don’t feel comforted, help comfort them,” says Aarik. “People who don’t feel free, help make them feel free, realize that they are free. People who don’t feel loved, help them feel loved.”
Unlike most bands itching to get back onstage, NiiTO never left, becoming for some, the music that got them through the pandemic—something to bop their heads to, even if they were masked.
“We want to be that band for Raleigh—that hope that we give them,” says band manager Saul Good, who’s been working with NiiTO since 2019. “It’s all about our fans—we’re working hard to spread positive vibes in the community. We want to show that love.”
Now, NiiTO is perfectly positioned to keep going strong in a post-pandemic world, in March kicking off NC’s recently eased venue regulations as one of Pour House Music Hall’s first concerts when the space reopened for live shows.
And almost any day of the week, the band has a gig booked around town. Find them Wednesdays at Clockwork for open-mic night, where anyone can sign up to sing live karaoke with the band. And stay tuned for another livestreamed concert with Garner Parks & Recreation in June (with more pop-up shows to be announced to boot).
A truth through which we can mend: “Music is what brings people together,” says Good. “Music is therapy. Music is love. There is a movement going on, and we’re right in the middle of it.”
Venue 411
To view the image in full size, open it in a new tab.
In Concert
RDP3 Photography
Remember fan-girling (or boying)? Concert tees? Hot summer nights drenched in dulcet memories? The feeling that quells from throngs of people (!) singing in unison—or belting all the words to your fave tune? Well, live music is back. Here, we round up a mostly local—and some statewide—set of 2021 shows you may want to ticket up for—and get that T-shirt ready. (All dates are confirmed as of press time.)
July 2 | The Black Crowes | Coastal Credit Union Music Park at Walnut Creek | theblackcrowes.com
July 16 | Jamey Johnson | Red Hat Amphitheater | redhatamphitheater.com
July 23 | Dave Matthews Band | Coastal Credit Union Music Park at Walnut Creek | davematthewsband.com
Aug. 7 | Louis the Child | Red Hat Amphitheater | redhatamphitheater.com
Aug. 11 | Styx | DPAC | dpacnc.com
Aug. 17 | Wilco | Salvage Station, Asheville | salvagestation.com
Aug. 18 | Michael Bublé | PNC Arena | pncarena.com
Aug. 20 & 21 | The Avett Brothers | NC Azalea Festival, Wilmington | theavettbrothers.com
Aug. 22 | Alanis Morissette | Coastal Credit Union Music Park at Walnut Creek | alanis.com
Aug. 24 | Goo Goo Dolls | Red Hat Amphitheater | redhatamphitheater.com
Sept. 3 | Kane Brown | Greensboro Coliseum | greensborocoliseum.com
Sept. 4| Primus | Red Hat Amphitheater | redhatamphitheater.com
Sept. 4 | Glass Animals | Charlotte Metro Credit Union Amphitheatre | livenation.com
SPONSORED CONTENT Ready to hit the road for your next family vacation? Rock Hill, South Carolina is the perfect getaway. Just a few hours away and so much history, culture and thrill-seeking adventures for every family to explore. Here’s six ideas to get you started!
No boat, no problem! Head to SouthTown Wake Park and get your family on a wake board! This wake park offers beginners and experts alike an opportunity to try your hand at the popular water sport. Get out on these man-made lakes while being pulled by a cable system. For the whole family, jump on one of their inflatable water parks.
Don’t want to drive all the way to the coast for a beach day? Head to the newly renovated Ebenezer Park with the whole family. For just $8 a car, you can relax on the brand new beach shoreline of Lake Wylie with a designated swim area. Relax on the brand-new fishing pier and swinging benches – you can cast a line and watch the boats zip by. The park also offers kayak/canoe launches, boat ramps, and 67 camp sites with lake front views.
Farms
Looking to connect the family with country roots? Windy Hill Orchard and Cidery offers an orchard experience with apple cider donuts and even hard cider for the parents! Looking to pick your own produce? Head to Bush-N-Vine or Black’s Peaches for U-pick strawberries and peaches. Find fresh ice cream and slushies along with playground equipment for the kids. Don’t miss the free South Carolina Ag + Art Tour of York County the first two weekends in June.
Have a thrill-seeker in your family? Carowinds reopens to the public May 22nd! For the younger kids, visit Camp Snoopy or try the new Boogie Racers at Carolina Harbor, Carowinds’ water park. Make sure and book your reservation slot for the perfect day at the park.
Looking for a state park-esque adventure with great amenities? Head to the Anne Springs Close Greenway in Fort Mill, a 2,100-acre nature preserve that offers hiking, mountain biking, kayaking, and guided horseback riding! You don’t even have to pack snacks. The Greenway Canteen offers and incredible farm-fresh menu with things for kids and adults alike, including beverages for mom and dad!
Explore two parks in one day! Experience Kings Mountain National Military Park (free) and then camp next door at Kings Mountain State Park! Home to hiking, kayaking and horseback riding trails!
Does ziplining over the treetops sound like the perfect adventure? Book your next ziplining trip at Canaan Zipline. Take off from a 70 foot tower and zip more than 900 feet across the Catawba River. Too hot during the day? Book your night zipline for an extra fun experience.
Ready to plan your trip? Book a night in one of our preferred hotels. Don’t forget to download the free Visit York County, SC app and share your vacation with us #VisitYorkCounty!
