Surviving the first year is a big accomplishment for small businesses, and breweries are no exception. And Crank Arm Brewing went all out with its celebration on Aug. 9.


Hundreds of people attended to show their appreciation for one of Raleigh’s breweries.

“I can’t believe it’s already been a year!" owner Adam Eckhardt exclaimed. "It’s gone by so quickly. It’s raining like [crazy] out here and there are three hundred people here in the rain. There are kids jumping around in the bouncy house getting soaked and it’s pretty amazing.”

Yep. A Disney bouncy house.

This family-friendly event was a hit. The Pit, Dump Pho King and Bulkogi Korean BBQ food trucks were on-site. Donatos Pizza, Brewmasters Bar and Grill and The Fiction Kitchen sat at tables to sell their wares. Crank Arm Brewing set up two satellite bars to ensure faster service. 919 Beer, a local group of craft beer enthusiasts, made an appearance to promote its Beericana festival on Sept. 18.



And live music reigned for ten hours.

Crank Arm Brewing spared no expense in bringing together some of Raleigh’s greatest talent. Six stellar local bands took the stage in a collaborative effort to incite attendees to get down and party.

Raleigh-based Crucial Fiya kicked off the music barrage at 1pm with their special blend of reggae, rock and pop.

Hot on their heels, the aptly named Trouble followed with some snarling Southern rock. Trouble features members of Donna the Buffalo and The Blue Rags.

Batting third was Tonk, out of Raleigh, playing, of course, classic country honky-tonk.

The Backsliders, fresh off their first record release in more than 15 years, played fourth. Featuring local legends Chip Robinson and Steve Howell, the band adds some rock ‘n’ roll sleaze to country tunes.

Acoustic Manner followed. A spin-off of famed Americana band Barefoot Manner, this incarnation plays frenetic bluegrass tunes with a variety of stringed instruments.

Blanko Basnet headlined. Blanko Basnet is the solo project of Joe Hall, who fronts the well-known indie rock band Hammer No More The Fingers. His signature intense vocals and explosive guitar riffs permeate his side project, a perfect close to the high-energy dance-a-thon put on by one of Raleigh’s favorite breweries.

Hats off to Crank Arm Brewing for its contribution to Raleigh’s music lore. Crank Arm Brewing threw a party of such magnitude that it rivaled the excellence of their beer, no easy feat for brewmaster Mike Morris and his widely acclaimed brews. Keep an eye on Crank Arm Brewing for future live music events and brew events!