Double Barrel Benefit
Double Barrel Benefit, is WKNC-FM's annual fundraiser that provides for two nights of music from local North Carolina–based bands. The benefit series was first organized by former General Manager Jamie Procter and held January 4–5, 2004, in Raleigh, North Carolina. The benefit changed locations for the first time in 2008, when the venue changed from Kings Barcade to The Pour House. The concert returned to the newly reopened Kings Barcade in 2011 and then returned to The Pour House in 2012. In 2014, the show split weekends and venues, holding the event at Lincoln Theatre in Raleigh and Cat's Cradle in Carrboro. The event returned to the same weekend and venue in 2017. There was no Double Barrel Benefit show held in 2021, due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
In 2011, each attendant to either night was given a CD of material from each artist that performed, with the exception of Inflowential, who had to cancel their appearance. The album featured new material from the acts, and the majority was recorded on the campus of North Carolina State University.
In 2016, during the second night of the 13th annual Double Barrel Benefit, Charlotte rapper, Baby Jesus—now known as DaBaby—had a surprise guest performance at the beginning of Deniro Farrar's set.
In 2022, Double Barrel returned to The Pour House after Kings shutdown due to the COVID-19 pandemic. WKNC returned to Kings in 2023 when the venue reopened.
| Name | Date | Location | Bands: Night 1 | Bands: Night 2 |
| Double Barrel | January 4–5, 2004 | Kings Barcade Raleigh, NC | Proof, The Greatest Hits, The Cartridge Family, The Pink Slips, Schooner | The Kickass, The Dynamite Brothers, Strange, Shadow of a Great Name, Sedona |
| Double Barrel 2 | January 14–15, 2005 | Kings Barcade Raleigh, NC | Kapow! Music, TV Knife, We Versus The Shark, El Boa, All Astronauts | American Aquarium, Monsonia, The Prayers & Tears of Arthur Digby Sellers, The Talk, The Fashion Brigade |
| Double Barrel 3 | February 3–4, 2006 | Kings Barcade Raleigh, NC | The Capulets, DeYarmond Edison, TV Knife, The Dynamite Brothers | A Rooster for the Masses, Cinemechanica, We vs The Shark, The Trousers |
| Double Barrel 4 | February 2–3, 2007 | Kings Barcade Raleigh, NC | The Mountain Goats, The Old Ceremony, The Prayers & Tears of Arthur Digby Sellers, Megafaun | Future Islands, TigerBearWolf, Annuals, The Nein |
| Double Barrel 5 | February 1–2, 2008 | The Pour House Raleigh, NC | Annuals, The Never, The Future Kings of Nowhere, North Elementary | Red Collar, Fin Fang Foom, Sorry About Dresden, Tooth |
| Double Barrel 6 | February 6–7, 2009 | The Pour House Raleigh, NC | Bowerbirds, Schooner, Lost in the Trees, Lonnie Walker | Polvo, Birds of Avalon, Violet Vector and the Lovely Lovelies, I Was Totally Destroying It |
| Double Barrel 7 | February 5–6, 2010 | The Pour House Raleigh, NC | Max Indian, Bellafea, Veelee, The Light Pines | Roman Candle, Spider Bags, Midtown Dickens, The Tender Fruit |
| Double Barrel 8 | February 4–5, 2011 | Kings Barcade Raleigh, NC | The Old Ceremony, Bright Young Things, Luego, Cassis Orange | Hammer No More the Fingers, Yardwork, King Mez, HaLo, Kid Future |
| Double Barrel 9 | February 3–4, 2012 | The Pour House Raleigh, NC | The Future Kings of Nowhere, Birds and Arrows, Organos, MAKE | The Kingsbury Manx, Gross Ghost, Naked Gods, Heads on Sticks |
| Double Barrel 10 | February 1–2, 2013 | The Pour House Raleigh, NC | J Kutchma and the Five Fifths, Lilac Shadows, Jenny Besetzt, The Lollipops | Spider Bags, Wesley Wolfe, Some Army, Oulipo |
| Double Barrel 11 | February 7 & 14, 2014 | Cat's Cradle Carrboro, NC & Lincoln Theatre Raleigh, NC | The Love Language, Hammer No More The Fingers, T0W3RS, GHOSTT BLLONDE | Mount Moriah, Bombadil, Loamlands, Daniel Bachman |
| Double Barrel 12 | February 7 & 14, 2015 | Lincoln Theatre Raleigh, NC & Cat's Cradle Carrboro, NC | Spider Bags, Lonnie Walker, Mac McCaughan, No Love | Eternal Summers, Elvis Depressedly, Museum Mouth, Body Games |
| Double Barrel 13 | February 13 & 20, 2016 | Kings Barcade Raleigh, NC & Cat's Cradle Carrboro, NC | Des Ark, Schooner, Museum Mouth, Naked Naps | Deniro Farrar, Professor Toon, SkyBlew, Earthly |
| Double Barrel 14 | February 24 & 25, 2017 | Kings Raleigh, NC | DJ Paypal, Ace Henderson, ZenSoFly, Sand Pact | Sarah Shook & The Disarmers, See Gulls, Astro Cowboy, Infinity Crush |
| Double Barrel 15 | February 2 & 3, 2018 | Kings Raleigh, NC | Well$, Diaspoura, Jooselord, RGB | The Future Kings of Nowhere, Pie Face Girls, The Muslims, Drugcharge |
| Double Barrel 16 | February 1 & 2, 2019 | Kings Raleigh, NC | Kate Rhudy, Max Gowan, Real Dad, Das Drip | Young Bull, M8ALLA, GRRL, Moon Racer |
| Double Barrel 17 | February 7 & 8, 2020 | Kings Raleigh, NC | Pat Junior, Dotwav Media, King Gino, Vacant Company | DET, Black Surfer, Junior Astronomers, Truth Club |
| Double Barrel 18 | March 11 & 12, 2022 | The Pour House Raleigh, NC | Black Haus, BANGZZ, Basura, Sweet homé | Elijah Rosario, NunAfterHours, Kenny Wavinson, Permanent |
| Double Barrel 19 | February 3 & 4, 2023 | Kings Raleigh, NC | Juxton Roy, Fading Signal, Austin Royale, Chainletter | Pictures of Vernon, KHx05, Teens in Trouble, MEGABITCH |
| Double Barrel 20 | February 16 & 17, 2024 | Kings Raleigh, NC | Saphron, Jasmyn Milan, Jiu-Jitsu, Persimmon | Jooselord, Sayurblaires, Rachel Hirsh, mxllghxst |
| Double Barrel 21 | February 14 & 15, 2025 | Kings Raleigh, NC | Boy Named Sue, applefield, Stan Y Dengy, Vivider | My Sister Maura, Carpenter / Cohen, Sk the Novelist,.memoria |
| Double Barrel 22 | February 6 & 7, 2026 | Kings Raleigh, NC | Girl Brutal, Khalil Nasim, Survival Tactics, Monsoon | Petrov, Sunshower, Ajena and CJ Monet |