A
walk down Chapel Hill St. in Durham takes one past historic buildings, beloved
restaurants, acclaimed bars, hair salons, and more. Make the walk without
looking closely, one might just walk right by number 409 without seeing the
logo on the door, that familiar Merge Records rectangle.
Founded
by Laura Ballance and Mac McCaughan of Superchunk back in 1989, Merge is
celebrating their 25th anniversary this year. The label began in Chapel Hill
and moved to its current Durham home 13 years ago, where they're still
releasing acclaimed music from artists like Arcade Fire, Dinosaur Jr., Neutral
Milk Hotel, and Spoon.
It's
been a fruitful relationship for both Merge and Durham. The ranks of Merge
artists are being filling out by local acts like Mount Moriah and longtime
Merge artists like the Mountain Goats have relocated to Durham, where they've
found a creative, welcoming community that fosters an artistic spirit.
”While quiet in Durham,
Merge has been loud about Durham and put this place on the map for a lot of
people,” said Sam Poley, Director of Public Relations for the Durham Convention& Visitors Bureau, the organization that markets Durham. “We appreciate
their investment in Durham, and hope they have another 25 great years here,”
Poley added.
Fans
can celebrate Merge's history with them at the Merge 25K on March 22. They'll be
following their own past, running from Chapel Hill to Durham and ending up at
Motorco, where there will be a party featuring musical acts, food trucks, and
more. It's a great way to celebrate one of the country's most renowned indie
record labels and its relationship with the Bull City.
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