Overview

Cat’s Cradle is a music venue located in Carrboro, North Carolina about one mile from UNC-Chapel Hill. The building itself is at the end of a strip mall next to Carrboro’s ArtsCenter. The entrance is located around the back. The venue opened about 40 years ago and features up-and-coming acts as well as established artists.

The venue has a capacity of 750 people. Most shows are general admission and open to all ages unless otherwise advertised. There is a parking lot available in front of the building, as well as a parking deck located at the east end of the building complex. The venue is also accessible by bus on the Chapel Hill Transit J, F and CW routes.

In 2015, Main Street Partners, a development company, proposed a redevelopment plan to Carrboro’s Board of Aldermen for the strip mall in which Cat’s Cradle is located. The plans, according to a News & Observer article, did not include a space for Cat’s Cradle. Frank Heath, the music venue owner, said Main Street Partners told him the venue would be involved in the $12 million project. Heath said no one from the company talked to him about moving locations. He also said Cat’s Cradle is maxed out at its current location and needs to move to compete with other live music venues. Cat’s Cradle is still at its strip mall location as of April 2018.

Location & Contact Information

300 East Main Street
Carrboro, NC 27510

(919) 967-9053

Facebook: Cat’s Cradle

Twitter: @CatsCradleNC

Upcoming Events

The best way to find information about upcoming events at Cat’s Cradle is through its website at Upcoming Events. For each show, the page lists the date, time and ticket prices, as well as a link to purchase tickets online.

Tickets

Advanced tickets can be purchased in person or via phone during box office hours every day from 3 p.m. to doors every day there is show.

Tickets can be purchased online anytime through Etix.com.

The best place to purchase tickets in person is at Schoolkids Records in Chapel Hill, Raleigh or Durham.

A $1.00 processing fee is added to each ticket ordered over the phone.

The box office accepts primarily cash, VISA and Mastercard (both credit and debit).

Be sure to bring a photo ID to the door on the night of the show in order to pick up tickets ordered in advance.

Famous people who have played there

• Nirvana played at the venue on May 1, 1990 and Oct. 4, 1991.

• Pearl Jam played on Oct. 14, 1991.

• John Mayer played on June 2, 2001.

• Iggy Pop played on Oct. 19, 2001.

• Sonic Youth played multiple concerts at the venue in the early ‘00s. Their song “Chapel Hill” references Cat’s Cradle in the line, “Throw me a cord and plug it in / Get the cradle rocking.”

• Joan Baez will play there on Sept. 29, 2018.

News

Cat’s Cradle is featured frequently in publications such as The News & Observer, The Herald-Sun, The Daily Tar Heel and The Chronicle at Duke University.

The music venue is mentioned in The New York Times’ “36 Hours in Chapel Hill-Carrboro, N.C.”