Published July 17, 2026 at 12:24 PM EDT

We're officially half way through 2026, and it's been another great year for local music.

In case you need a quick rundown, WUNC music reporter Brian Burns compiled a list of some of the most noteworthy new records from North Carolina artists that we haven't featured yet.

GRRL - Beetle (PC Music)
March 13

In March, Durham-based electronic producer and DJ GRRL released "Beetle" on the influential London-based label PC Music. Clocking in at over an hour, it's a relentless collection of densely layered and hypnotic beats that sound just as good in a crowded club as they do in your personal set of headphones.

Magic Tuber Stringband - Heavy Water (Thrill Jockey)
May 22

On "Heavy Water," the Durham-based Magic Tuber Stringband pays tribute to Ellenton, South Carolina, a farming community that during the Cold War was seized by the U.S. Atomic Energy Commission in order to build a plant for nuclear weapons. Incorporating both traditional and avant-garde stylings, "Heavy Water" is a cinematic collection of folk tunes; designed to help keep an important American story alive.

Natalie Jane Hill - Hopeful Woman (Dear Life Records)
March 6

In March, Asheville-based singer-songwriter Natalie Jane Hill released "Hopeful Woman," her third album for Philadelphia's Dear Life Records. It's a beautiful and reflective collection of songs, built perfectly for your Friday evening porch hang. Fans of Angel Olsen and Jessica Pratt should take note.

River Shook - s/t (self-released)
June 26

A year after disbanding their former country-rock band Sarah Shook & The Disarmers, River Shook is starting over fresh. Shook got sober in 2019, and since then their writing has reflected that fact. The lyrics have gotten more contemplative and now recording as a solo artist, it feels like a new chapter in their life has officially begun. "Today I am cutting all ties with my past," they sing on the opening track "Free At Last." It's a grand reintroduction from an artist that we've watched grow over the past decade plus.

Sluice - Companion (Mtn Laurel Recording Co.)
March 27

Sluice's new album "Companion" finds principal songwriter Justin Morris working through traumas both big and small. On "Torpor," he recalls a real-life home invasion where he was robbed at gunpoint while living in New York. Then on the track "Zillow," in the face of flooding his character contemplates a move from Hillsborough to Mebane or Efland. "Companion" is the type of record that feels like a collection of personal short stories, and Morris is one of the most compelling authors out there today.

Verity Den - IX XVI MMXXV Instrumentals: Live and Improvised (Three Lobed Records)
April 3

Verity Den has been one of the most exciting Triangle-based rock bands to keep an eye on for the past few years. In April, they released their third record and first with no vocals, "IX XVI MMXXV Instrumentals: Live and Improvised." As the title implies, it consists of two atmospheric long-form pieces of music that the band recorded and mixed live at various venues around town.