Cat's Cradle
Cat's Cradle is an independent live music venue operator founded in 1970 in Carrboro, North Carolina, running a five-venue portfolio across the Triangle region including Haw River Ballroom and Motorco Music Hall, serving concert attendees and touring/local artists through ticketed shows, bar and merchandise sales, and venue rentals.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1970
- HeadquartersCarrboro, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Cat's Cradle does
Cat's Cradle is an independent, privately held live music venue founded in 1970 in Carrboro, North Carolina, operating within the Research Triangle region. Its flagship is a 750-capacity main room at 300 E Main St., less than a mile from the UNC-Chapel Hill campus, supplemented by the Cat's Cradle Back Room (smaller all-ages space), the Cat's Cradle Back Yard (outdoor venue), Haw River Ballroom in Saxapahaw (a historic multi-level venue in a former cotton mill dye house, solar/geothermal-powered), and Motorco Music Hall in Durham (a showroom with the Garage Bar and Parts & Labor restaurant). The operator presents concerts across indie rock, folk, punk, Americana, and adjacent genres, and has hosted legacy acts including Nirvana, Public Enemy, John Mayer, Joan Baez, and Iggy Pop.
The business generates revenue from four streams: (1) ticket sales primarily through the ETIX online platform with cash door sales, (2) bar sales of beer, wine, and at the Back Room/Motorco also mixed drinks, (3) artist merchandise booth operations, and (4) private venue rentals. Distribution is omnichannel but regional, relying on the company website (catscradle.com), an email newsletter, and social media (Facebook, Twitter/X, Instagram, YouTube) for marketing, ETIX for ticketing, and Square for merchandise e-commerce. The company employs 11-50 people and does not disclose revenue. Strategic positioning centers on intimate-scale, all-ages programming as an alternative to arena-scale touring, with a multi-venue portfolio that lets the operator present local, regional, and touring acts across different audience sizes and Triangle-area geographies.
The underlying technology stack is intentionally light: a WordPress-based website, ETIX for ticketing, Square for merchandise, Homebase for HR/scheduling, and a presence within the Venue Together booking network. There is no proprietary technology, no mobile app, no API, no documented AI/ML capability, and no patents or proprietary trademarks listed. Operating moat rests on brand heritage (50+ years of continuous operation and a documented roster of iconic acts) and a multi-venue distribution footprint within a defined North Carolina geography, rather than on any technology or data advantage.
Cat's Cradle firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Cat's Cradle
- Legal name
- Cat's Cradle
- Website
- https://catscradle.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1970
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Cat's Cradle is an independent live music venue operator founded in 1970 in Carrboro, North Carolina, running a five-venue portfolio across the Triangle region including Haw River Ballroom and Motorco Music Hall, serving concert attendees and touring/local artists through ticketed shows, bar and merchandise sales, and venue rentals.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Cat's Cradle industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Live Music Venue
- NAICS
- Promoters of Performing Arts, Sports, and Similar Events with Facilities (71131), Performing Arts Companies (7111), Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation (71)
- SIC
- Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Music Venues & Venue Operators (Clubs, Theaters, Arenas) (MPAIAFAB)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Live Music Clubs & Venues (MPAGAIAB), Concert Halls & Music Venue Operations (Symphony Halls, Recital Venues) (MPAGALAC), Live Music Venues & Concert Bars (THAFAEAD), Live Music Bars & Venues (CRANACAH)
Keywords
Where Cat's Cradle is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Carrboro
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices4 records
Markets served
Cat's Cradle business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Supply Chain
Revenue model
- Ticket Sales: The venue sells tickets for concerts and events primarily through ETIX online ticketing platform, with cash sales at the door for remaining inventory.
- Bar Sales: Main Room bar serves beer, wine, sodas, water, and juices. Back Room has a full bar with mixed drinks in addition to beer, wine, water and sodas. Cash only at Main Room bar; Back Room accepts cash and credit cards.
- Merchandise Booth: The venue operates a merchandise booth for artists, with payment terms varying by artist (some cash only).
- Venue Rental: The venue accepts inquiries for private party rentals and venue rentals through email.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Transaction based/ take rate | Pay-as-you-go | General admission shows with optional donation |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels7 records
Cat's Cradle product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Cat's Cradle operates a portfolio of live music performance venues in the North Carolina Triangle, anchored by a 750-capacity main room in Carrboro and supplemented by the Back Room, Back Yard, Haw River Ballroom (Saxapahaw), and Motorco Music Hall (Durham). The company books musical artists for ticketed concerts, sells alcohol at on-site bars, operates merchandise booths for performers, and rents venue space for private events.
Product overview
Cat's Cradle operates a portfolio of live music venues in the North Carolina Triangle area. The core offerings include Cat's Cradle (main room, 750 capacity), Cat's Cradle Back Room, and Cat's Cradle Back Yard, all located in Carrboro, NC. The company also manages sister venues Haw River Ballroom in Saxapahaw and Motorco Music Hall in Durham. Services include event ticketing via Etix, venue rental and booking for artists and private events, and merchandise sales via Square. The venues host established and emerging musical acts across various genres in an intimate concert setting.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Cat's Cradle (Main Room) Primary live music venue with 750-person capacity located at 300 E Main St., Carrboro, NC. Hosts established and up-and-coming bands in an intimate setting with professional sound and staging.
- Cat's Cradle Back Room Smaller adjacent venue at 300 E Main St., Carrboro, NC. Hosts all-ages shows and events with general admission seating available on the balcony.
- Cat's Cradle Back Yard Outdoor venue space at 300 E. Main St., Carrboro, NC, used for outdoor events and festivals.
- Haw River Ballroom Sister venue located at 1711 Saxapahaw-Bethlehem Church Rd., Saxapahaw, NC. Historic music venue set in a former cotton mill dye house with three levels, riverside deck, concessions bar, full-service stage and sound system; solar and geothermal powered.
- Motorco Music Hall Entertainment venue in Durham, NC at 723 Rigsbee Ave., featuring a large showroom, Garage Bar, and Parts & Labor restaurant with full NC liquor licenses. Located in the Central Park district near Downtown Durham.
- Event Ticketing Service Online and at-door ticket sales for all events via the ETIX ticketing platform, with box office services for phone and in-person purchases (cash, Visa, Mastercard, American Express).
- Venue Rental & Booking Private event booking and venue rental services for artists and private parties. Booking inquiries are accepted via email.
Companies that use Cat's Cradle
Customer profileNamed customers2 records
Segments2 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Cat's Cradle technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration2 records
Cat's Cradle partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- ETIXcoreETIX is the primary online ticketing platform for Cat's Cradle events. Tickets are purchased through etix.com with links provided on the venue's website and Facebook events. ETIX handles all ticket transactions, including will call and any ticket-related inquiries.
- Haw River BallroomcoreHaw River Ballroom is a historic music venue in Saxapahaw, NC, operated in association with Cat's Cradle. Located in a former dye house at a historic cotton mill, it features three levels, riverside deck, and full service stage. Cat's Cradle presents shows at this venue.
- Motorco Music HallcoreMotorco Music Hall is a Durham-based entertainment venue partnered with Cat's Cradle for event presentations. Features large showroom, Garage Bar, and restaurant Parts & Labor. Cat's Cradle presents select shows at this venue.
- ArtsCenterminorThe ArtsCenter is adjacent to Cat's Cradle in the shared shopping plaza. Both venues are located in the same commercial complex, with the ArtsCenter anchoring one end and Cat's Cradle at the opposite end.
Scale indicators3 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Cat's Cradle competitors and assessment
Company assessmentMarket position
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat3 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Cat's Cradle social profiles
Digital presenceCat's Cradle financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Cat's Cradle leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Cat's Cradle subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries5 records
Cat's Cradle funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Cat's Cradle M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Cat's Cradle
What does Cat's Cradle do?
Cat's Cradle operates a portfolio of live music performance venues in the North Carolina Triangle, anchored by a 750-capacity main room in Carrboro and supplemented by the Back Room, Back Yard, Haw River Ballroom (Saxapahaw), and Motorco Music Hall (Durham). The company books musical artists for ticketed concerts, sells alcohol at on-site bars, operates merchandise booths for performers, and rents venue space for private events.
Is Cat's Cradle a public or private company?
Cat's Cradle is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Cat's Cradle founded?
Cat's Cradle was founded in 1970. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Cat's Cradle based?
Cat's Cradle is headquartered in Carrboro, United States, in the North America region.
How does Cat's Cradle make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Ticket Sales are the primary driver. The others are bar Sales, merchandise Booth and venue Rental.
Does Cat's Cradle have an API?
No public API is recorded for Cat's Cradle.
What industry is Cat's Cradle in?
Cat's Cradle's product category is Live Music Venue. Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPAIAFAB, Music Venues & Venue Operators (Clubs, Theaters, Arenas), with a secondary code of MPAGAIAB, Live Music Clubs & Venues. Its NAICS code is 71131 and its SIC code is 7900.