Craig Zearfoss Collection, 1988-2008

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Summary

Creator:
Zearfoss, Craig
Abstract:

The Craig Zearfoss Collection consists of live video recordings, audio recordings, posters, photographs, and papers affiliated with the Triangle's indie rock music scene from 1988 to 2008. The majority of the collection consists of live video recordings created and compiled by videographer and documentarian, Craig Zearfoss, from 1993 to 2005. The videotapes, which feature live performances and interviews from local and touring musicians, were recorded at various concert venues in the Triangle, including the Brewery in Raleigh, N.C., the Cat's Cradle in Carrboro, N.C., the Cave in Chapel Hill, N.C., the Local 506 in Chapel Hill, N.C., the Duke Coffeehouse in Durham, N.C., and Pine Hill Farm in Durham, N.C. Notable musicians and bands featured on the live video recordings include, Ben Folds Five, Peter Case, Drive By Truckers, Alice Gerrard, Man or Astro-man?, Tift Merritt, Old 97's, Pipe, Southern Culture on the Skids, Squirrel Nut Zippers, Superchunk, Two Dollar Pistols, and Whiskeytown. Many of the materials found in the collection correspond to Sleazefest, an annual local music festival that Zearfoss documented from 1994 to 2004. These materials consist of live video recordings, papers, photographs, and posters. The collection also contains music videos, 1992-1998, privately released and commercial audio recordings, 1988-2004, as well as broadcast video material, 1994-1999, related to the Triangle based public access shows Live Around Town,Wide Angle, and Radiovision. Also included are posters and papers related to Zearfoss' live video recordings and the Triangle music scene at large, including concert posters and flyers, letters, press clippings, video tape logs, video release forms, and zines.

Extent:
1450 items (18.0 linear feet)
Language:
Materials in English
Library Catalog Link:
View UNC library catalog record for this item

Background

Biographical / historical:

Craig Zearfoss (1964-) was born in Fort Dix, N.J., but grew up in York, Pa. Upon graduating from the Penn State University in 1992 he moved to Chapel Hill, N.C., where he soon became immersed in the local music scene, not as a musician but as a fan. After purchasing his first video camera later that year he became a fixture at area clubs and house concerts where he videotaped hundreds of live shows over the next decade. He started with only a single camera and progressed to more elaborate live multiple camera productions.

While the video recordings Zearfoss made were only for personal, non-commercial, reasons, he did help create several public access television shows that aired in Raleigh, Durham and Chapel Hill. The shows included the local live music shows, Live Around Town,Wide Angle,Live @ the Cave, and Radiovision, as well as Z-TV, a variety show hosted by Mr Mouse and Bandelirum, a music trivia game show hosted by Chris Bess.

Zearfoss also organized the video production of Southern Culture on the Skids' annual Sleazefest music festival from 1994 to 2004. An album and full length video of the first Sleazefest was released in 1995.

The public access television shows and other video productions created or compiled by Zearfoss were largely D.I.Y., or "Do-It-Yourself," affairs that were made possible by volunteers who contributed their time, talent, and equipment. While he taped many regional and national musicians, the vast majority of musicians were local. Some of his personal local favorites include Zen Frisbee, Squirrel Nut Zippers, Ben Folds Five, Superchunk, Southern Culture on the Skids, Trailer Bride, Pipe and Dexter Romweber.

Scope and content:

The Craig Zearfoss Collection consists of live video recordings, audio recordings, posters, photographs, and papers affiliated with the Triangle's indie rock music scene from 1993 to 2008. The majority of the collection consists of approximately 600 live video recordings on VHS, Hi8, Betacam SP, MiniDV and DVD. Shot and compiled by Zearfoss, the video recordings feature live indie rock music and interviews recorded at various concert venues in the Triangle, including the Brewery in Raleigh, N.C., the Cat's Cradle in Carrboro, N.C., the Cave in Chapel Hill, N.C., the Local 506 in Chapel Hill, N.C., the Duke Coffeehouse in Durham, N.C., and house concerts at Pine Hill Farm in Durham, N.C. Notable musicians and bands featured on the live video recordings include, Ben Folds Five, Peter Case, Drive By Truckers, Alice Gerrard, Man or Astro-man?, Tift Merritt, Old 97's, Pipe, Southern Culture on the Skids, Squirrel Nut Zippers, Superchunk, Two Dollar Pistols, and Whiskeytown.

Many of the materials found in the collection correspond to Sleazefest, an annual music festival that Zearfoss documented from 1994 to 2004. These materials consist of approximately 375 live video recordings on VHS, Hi8, Betacam SP and 1 live audio recording on audiocassette. Also included are papers, color photographic prints, and promotional posters. Other music festivals documented by Zearfoss include Mergefest, Elvisfest, and S.P.I.T.T.L.E. Fest, among others.

The collection also contains 29 music videos, 1992-1998, on VHS and Hi8, 23 privately released and commercial audio recordings, 1988-2004, on audiocassette and compact disc (CD), and approximately 95 broadcast videotapes, 1994-1999, related to the Triangle based public access shows Live Around Town,Wide Angle, and Radiovision. Broadcast video materials are on VHS, Hi8, and Betacam SP. Also included are posters and papers related to Zearfoss' live video recordings and the Triangle music scene at large, including concert posters and flyers, letters, press clippings, video tape logs, video release forms, and zines.

Acquisition information:

Received from Craig Zearfoss in July 2015 (Acc. 102271) and July 2016 (Acc. 102625).

Processing information:

Processed by: Brad San Martin and Anne Wells, September 2016

Encoded by: Amanda Loeb, July 2015

Updated by: Anne Wells, September 2016, March 2019

Archival processing of the Craig Zearfoss Collection was made possible through a grant from the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation.

Diacritics and other special characters have been omitted from this finding aid to facilitate keyword searching in web browsers.

Sensitive materials statement:

Manuscript collections and archival records may contain materials with sensitive or confidential information that is protected under federal or state right to privacy laws and regulations, the North Carolina Public Records Act (N.C.G.S. § 132 1 et seq.), and Article 7 of the North Carolina State Personnel Act (Privacy of State Employee Personnel Records, N.C.G.S. § 126-22 et seq.). Researchers are advised that the disclosure of certain information pertaining to identifiable living individuals represented in this collection without the consent of those individuals may have legal ramifications (e.g., a cause of action under common law for invasion of privacy may arise if facts concerning an individual's private life are published that would be deemed highly offensive to a reasonable person) for which the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill assumes no responsibility.

Access and use

Restrictions to access:

Use of audiovisual materials may require production of listening or viewing copies.

Access to streaming audio or moving image materials may be restricted to researchers who can authenticate with an ONYEN or who are physically present on campus. For further information about access to streaming audiovisual materials, contact Research and Instructional Services staff at Wilsonlibrary@unc.edu

Library use only for digital files found in this collection. Contact wilsonlibrary@unc.edu to discuss access options.

Restrictions to use:

Copyright is retained by the authors of items in these papers, or their descendants, as stipulated by United States copyright law.

Preferred citation:

[Identification of item], in the Craig Zearfoss Collection #20509, Southern Folklife Collection, Wilson Special Collections Library, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Location of this collection:
Louis Round Wilson Library
200 South Road
Chapel Hill, NC 27515
Contact:
(919) 962-3765
wilsonlibrary@unc.edu