This is an edited summary of an interview with Michelle Blume, Recreation Supervisor and Catherine Lazorko, Communication and Engagement Director for the Town of Carrboro, that aired live on WCOM 103.5 on May 11. They discussed both the logistical side of the series and its cultural importance to our town. You can listen to the recording here.
What is the Freight Train Blues concert series?
The Freight Train Blues concert series, now officially named the "Elizabeth Cotten Freight Train Blues Concert Series," is a free outdoor music series held at Carrboro Town Commons on Friday evenings in May and June. It was created to honor the musical and cultural legacy of Elizabeth Cotten, the renowned folk and blues musician who was born in Carrboro and who composed the iconic song “Freight Train.”
Over 12 seasons, the series has grown into more than a set of concerts. As Michelle Blume explains, it’s become a community ritual: a place where families gather on picnic blankets, kids run around, neighbors catch up, and everyone shares live music in a welcoming public space. The concerts are free and everyone can attend.
How did this concert series get started, and what has helped it endure for 12 years?
Ms. Blume traces the series back a dozen years, when Carrboro launched it specifically to celebrate the town’s “rich musical and cultural history” through the lens of Elizabeth Cotten’s legacy. That origin story still shapes the decisions they make.
Longevity, she says, has come from collaboration. The town partners with Music Maker, which curates the lineup; with local media such as WUNC and WCOM; and with sponsors like The Forest at Duke. The Town of Carrboro hosts the series at Town Commons. These relationships allow the town to keep the concerts free, while maintaining a high-quality line‑up that feels authentic to the region.
Equally important is the community experience: food trucks, beverages, room to dance, and space to linger when the concert ends. The series has endured, she suggests, because it is not just about hearing music—it’s about feeling part of a community tradition.
She noted a shift in audience demographics over the years. Early on, she recalls the crowd leaning more middle‑aged. Recently, she’s seeing more younger adults, children, and entire families making an evening of it. She attributes this to the welcoming atmosphere at Town Commons: a space where people listen, dance, unwind, and build a sense of shared place—something that may explain why the event continues to feel relevant across generations.
Ms. Blume noted that some people even plan their vacations around the concert schedule, timing trips to visit relatives so they can attend the shows—an indication, she says, of just how deeply the series has embedded itself in people’s lives.
There’s mention of a rebrand. What changed about the way the series is presented this year?
Ms. Lazorko explained that, for years, the series visually referenced Elizabeth Cotten—her photo and image were present—but her name wasn’t actually built into the logo or title. This year, they made that recognition explicit by renaming it the "Elizabeth Cotten Freight Train Blues Concert Series" and updating the branding accordingly.
That shift is more than cosmetic, she explains. It is a way of affirming that the series is anchored in Cotten’s life and work, not just generically in “blues.” She notes that the new branding, which you can see in the flier (and also on p. 13 of the May print edition of The Carrborean) aligns the visual identity with the town's history and the present day concert series.
How are the performers chosen each year and what are organizers looking for in a lineup?
Ms. Blume describes the lineup process as something that starts months in advance, well before the first concert. The town relies heavily on its partner Music Maker, which works closely with them to identify artists whose work “honors the spirit of 'Freight Train Blues'.” The curators seek a balance:
- Nationally recognized performers who can draw attention and lend prestige
- Regional artists connected to the Carolinas’ traditions and scenes
- Emerging performers whose music grows out of the same roots that shaped Elizabeth Cotten—Piedmont blues, folk, and related traditions
The criteria extend beyond name recognition. They are looking for musical excellence, cultural diversity, and a range of genres that resonate with Carrboro’s audience while keeping the series fresh from year to year.
Taken together, the selections preview a season that stretches from Piedmont blues to gospel, roots, folk, funk (with performers such as Leroy Harper Jr.), and Latin music (from groups like Orquesta K'Che), reflecting both tradition and the living diversity of North Carolina’s music scene.
This season opens with a special event connected directly to Elizabeth Cotten’s family. What’s planned for that night?
The opening concert, on Friday, May 15th, will be especially meaningful. Ms. Lazorko shared that descendants of Elizabeth Cotten will be on stage: Brenda Evans, Cotten’s great‑great‑granddaughter, three of Brenda’s nephews, and her son, Derek Fennell.
They’ll perform and also present a Martin guitar that belonged to and was played by Elizabeth Cotten to the Town of Carrboro. The guitar will be accepted by Mayor Foushee and Town Manager Patrice Toney. Lazorko describes the gesture as a piece of music history returning home to Carrboro, physically embedding Cotten’s story in the town’s public life. The guitar will most likely be housed somewhere at the Drakeford Library complex.
Beyond this concert series, what other community events are coming up this summer?
Bike Month (May)
Carrboro hosts a series of group bike rides and activities. The annual Bike Breakfast takes place on May 12 along the Elizabeth Cotten Bikeway, linking active transportation back to Cotten’s name and legacy in another way.
Juneteenth Celebration – June 19
A joint event between Carrboro and Chapel Hill at Hargraves Community Center, starting at 4pm. It’s free, with live music and line dancing. Ms. Blume tells people to bring both their dancing shoes and their fans—it’s likely to be hot, but the goal is to have a genuinely festive, inclusive afternoon.
Orguello Pride Dance Party – June 26
Carrboro’s annual Pride event, organized with El Centro Hispano. The evening begins with a parade, rolling the Rainbow Ram down Weaver Street from El Centro Hispano to Town Commons. From there, it becomes a festival with food trucks, dance music, drag shows, and a family‑friendly atmosphere that runs until 9 pm.
Playlist
Throughout the interview, we heard music from artists who will appear on the stage, illustrating the musical breadth of the series.
- Gail Caesar – “Ramblin on My Mind” and “Guitar Woman Blues,” representing Piedmont blues.
- Elizabeth Cotten and Brenda Evans – performing “Shake Sugaree,” a recording from when Brenda was around 11 years old, offering a direct line to the family’s musical continuity.
- Kelly Breiding – “Party Hat.”
- David Childers – “Don’t Be Scared,” paired on May 29 with
- Lightnin’ Wells – “That Old Familiar Tune,” showcasing traditional styles.
- Dedicated Men of Zion – with “Coming Up Through the Years” and “Can’t Turn Me Around.”
- And finally, a special live version of Elizabeth Cotten singing “Freight Train,” recorded in 1998 when she was 85.