And now, without further ado, here's our 2009 class of Eight Great Local Acts. Check out the online package, which has truly spectacular performance and interview footage (kudos to Jason Arthurs, Travis Long and Lamonte Garrett from the N&O's multi-media department for doing such a bang-up job on it). There's also an alumni report on what past Great Eight classes are up to; and here's an interview about how we set this up.
There's a Great Eight showcase next Friday, Feb. 13 at Local 506, featuring Hammer No More the Fingers, Double Negative, Violet Vector & the Lovely Lovelies and Lonnie Walker. You can win free tickets to that show, or recorded works of Great Eight acts past and present, by taking the quiz below. Read this year's Great Eight profiles, answer the following questions and send your answers to adrienne.johnson@newsobserver.com. We'll choose the winner from a random drawing of correct entries. Entry deadline is noon Tuesday.
--The 2007 closing of what Raleigh nightclub reunited the Loners?
--At what Raleigh restaurant did Alesana members Shawn Milke and Dennis Lee meet?
--Which Great Eight band played December's All Tomorrow's Parties Festival in England?
--Which Great Eight band has an artist onstage drawing while it performs?
--Before catching on as a soundtrack composer, Jason Graves played in what local band?
ADDENDA: Of course, it just wouldn't be Great Eight without somebody taking pot shots. But the boss seems content. As does the WKNC crew.
