Chapel Hill and Carrboro’s first annual Juneteenth Celebration wraps up with our Juneteenth edition of our Save the Music outdoor performance series. Join us on Franklin Street from 4 p.m.-8 p.m. on June 19th.
Juneteenth, also known as Emancipation Day, commemorates the emancipation of enslaved people in the United States. The Towns of Chapel Hill and Carrboro proclaimed the observance and commemoration of Juneteenth on June 19, 2020 and encourage residents and employers to recognize the holiday.
We are thankful to our Black community leaders for their work organizing and planning this week of education and celebration. Partners at the Chapel Hill-Carrboro NAACP, EmPOWERment, the Marian Cheek Jackson Center, Chapel Hill Community Arts & Culture, Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools, the Towns of Chapel Hill and Carrboro, and our own Director of Arts & Culture, Kevin “Kaze” Thomas worked together to create a Black Business Alliance and a weekend+ of virtual and in-person events that inspire, honor and educate about Black excellence in our community.
Here is the full Chapel Hill-Carrboro Black business list, put together by our local NAACP chapter.
These musicians continue the celebration and the standard with their performances downtown Saturday!
DJ Shizz
A proud Charlotte, North Carolina native and North Carolina Central University Alumni. DJ Shizz gained her momentum from rocking campus events, campus parties, college house parties, and homecomings. After graduating from North Carolina Central University with a major in Physical Education and concentration in Fitness and Wellness, she furthered her DJ career while joining the radio industry, Hot 97.9FM. She has Dj’d for MC Lyte, Saint Augustine’s University and DJ Luke Nasty. She has Dj’d all over North Carolina, including in Charlotte, Greensboro, Raleigh, Burlington, Durham, and Mount Holly.
XOXOK
Keenan Jenkins’ musical career began during his Ph.D. studies at UNC-Chapel Hill, where he played open mics and local showcases between long days on the third floor of the psychology building. By the time he’d finished his degree, drained and discontent, his musical moonlighting had meanwhile bloomed in full color.
Jenkins now performs as XOXOK, crafting atmospheric soul music that is conceived on the fretboard, cultivated at the microphone, and cradled in headphones. The guitar and vocal influences are far-flung, but cohesive—see Jeff Buckley, Moses Sumney, and Anna Calvi, among others. His live performance is a model of intimacy and presence; armed with “sweet, ringing vocals” (Queen City Nerve), XOXOK delivers impassioned songs with unabashed conviction.
Learn more about XOXOK by visiting his website.
Sonny Miles
Sonny Miles is a multi-instrumentalist and performer from Winston-Salem. Miles has been focusing on music since moving to Raleigh in 2014. With consistency, Miles’ music has continued to grow into an eclectic catchy style. During undergrad at NC State, Miles stuck to his studies, developing his craft in music.
“I’d like to think I was in the shadows,” Miles wrote, introducing himself as part of Chapel Hill Community Arts & Culture’s TRACKS series in the fall of 2020. “But I was given incredible chances to shine.”
Miles opened up for Tori Kelly and T.I. (during his sophomore and junior years, respectively for the annual Homecoming Concert, the latter in Reynolds Coliseum in front of thousands).
Miles continued to sharpen his skills as a performer through a cappella and regular open mics but upon graduation, he hit the Triangle on a mission. Miles was asked to be on a bill in the Backroom of Cat’s Cradle in September of 2018 and is thankful to say he hasn’t stopped since.
“It’s an incredible feeling to look at what I’ve been fortunate to accomplish in a little over a year, especially while still feeling so new in the craft.,” Miles writes. “It’s been an even bigger blessing to have been treated right and received for who I am in these spaces. Although I love my city of Winston, meeting and learning from the locals, bar owners and long term inhabitants of the Triangle have made for an incredible experience.”
Allie Capo
Allie Capo — soulful, raw, unplugged artist in the RDU area. Keep up with all the shows and local events by following her on Facebook and Instagram.
Listen to Allie’s music across platforms by clicking the image above or here.
Sway & Smooth
Rony Thomas “Smooth,” is the pianist in the duo Sway & Smooth. Avery Linderman “Sway,” plays guitar
Avery Linderman is a professional guitarist/musician and a UNC graduate with a Bachelors Degree in music (Jazz Guitar Performance). Avery plays regularly in the Triangle area doing solo guitar, duo, trio, and quartet sets with bandmates. Avery has performed several shows at the Sharp 9 jazz gallery, The Carolina Inn, Circa 1888 and the Station.
Follow Rony on Instagram. Follow Avery on Instagram.
Tre Charles
Tre. Charles is a singer-songwriter who dives into the depths of his soul to try to bring you into his world with an expressive blend of warm and soulful undertones. Tre. Charles’ musical style is self-described as “alt Indie Soul.”
“His singing, slow as oil yet light as air, suffuses the arrangement with an atmosphere of weary resilience, as if Charles is casually carrying the weight of the world.” (Stressin.) – Brian Howe “INDY Week“