Obama's got a friend in Taylor

The rumors are true — James Taylor will play five free concerts in North Carolina next week on behalf of the Obama campaign.

Times, venues and tickets are still being worked out, David Menconi reports in his On the Beat blog. But the days and cities go like this:

Sunday: Charlotte, Asheville
Monday: Chapel Hill
Tuesday: Raleigh, Wilmington

Word on the street is that the Raleigh show will be noon Tuesday at Moore Square. Further details to come.