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From symphony stages to amphitheater nights, a packed calendar brings legends, indie favorites and hometown sounds across the city through early summer
Juilliard-trained singer, songwriter, actress and recording artist Morgan James will perform June 6 at Middle C Jazz. (Photo courtesy of Julio Rodriguez)
by Jay Ahuja
Charlotte will not have a Lovin’ Life Music Festival this spring, but there is no shortage of concerts to choose from in the coming weeks and months.
TD Amp Ballantyne kicks things off today with a fun double bill of Government Mule with Larkin Poe opening. Also tonight, Ashley Kutcher is playing The Evening Muse with Bellah Mae opening. The 7 p.m. show is already sold out, but some tickets remain for the 10 p.m. show. Guitarist and composer Al Di Meola is also in Charlotte tonight, playing two shows at Middle C Jazz. The first show is at 6 p.m. and the second is at 8:30 p.m.
Charlotte Symphony Orchestra performs “Gershwin & Bernstein” at Belk Theater on April 24 and 25. Kwame Ryan, who recently earned his first Grammy award, will be conducting. Rounding out April, SATCHVAI arrives at Ovens Auditorium on the 29th. This rock supergroup features Joe Satriani and Steve Vai on guitar, Kenny Aranoff on drums, Marco Mendoza on bass and Pete Thorn on rhythm guitar.
Carolina Theatre is starting to ramp up its concert offerings, as blues rockers Robert Cray Band will be there on May 5. The following night, also uptown at Belk Theater, Herbie Hancock brings his electronic jazz fusion show to Charlotte. He may be 85 years old, but he’s still putting on fun shows and has earned 14 Grammy awards along the way. On Friday, May 8, Built To Spill brings its guitar-driven indie rock to the Neighborhood Theatre.
Truliant Amphitheater (which was known as PNC Pavilion until a few months ago) will have a stacked week in mid-May, with Godsmack bringing their “Rise of Rock” tour to the outdoor venue on Thursday, May 14. Stone Temple Pilots and Dorothy are also on the bill. Two nights later, Dave Matthews Band returns to the venue. And two days after that, Sting will perform his solo hits there, along with a few favorites from his days as frontman of The Police.
John Legend has not performed in Charlotte since 2015 but returns with “An Evening of Songs & Stories” at Ovens Auditorium on May 17. Knight Theater gets in on the act with the Punch Brothers, a Grammy-winning folk quintet, on Thursday, May 19. While I’m not a Journey fan, I know many people are, and the band is performing May 20 at the Spectrum Center on what it claims is its final tour. Hip-hop artist Chance the Rapper, also known as Chancellor Johnathan Bennett, will take the stage at TD Amp Ballantyne on May 22. Winston-Salem’s own TiaCorine is his opening act.
On May 31, you’ll have a choice to make: the Bach Festival Charlotte at the Sandra Levine Theatre at Queens University or Young the Giant and Cold War Kids at Skyla Credit Union Amphitheatre. Almost Monday opens the Skyla show.
Bach Festival, an annual series that features musicians recognized for expertise in Baroque-style classical music, actually kicks off on May 29 with The Early American Singing Tradition at a location to be determined. On Saturday, May 30, “Gloria! Bach, Handel, and Vivaldi” is a Baroque chorus and orchestra concert at Queens. On May 31, there is an organ recital of Johann Sebastian Bach's organ music with Avi Stein at St. Peter’s Episcopal Church.
Carbon Leaf, who last played locally at the Visulite Theatre, will be at the Cain Center for the Arts in Cornelius on June 5. The Black Crowes perform with Whiskey Myers at Truliant Amphitheatre on June 6. That same night and the next, Morgan James, a Juilliard-trained singer, songwriter, actress and recording artist, will perform at Middle C Jazz. The New York Times described her as “a phenomenal talent whose feel for classical soul music is bone deep.”
On June 9, Colorado jam band String Cheese Incident brings its improvisational, progressive bluegrass to TD Amp Ballantyne. June 11 offers another decision: Drivin N Cryin will bring its mix of electric and acoustic country-folk to the Visulite, while Spyro Gyra performs its brand of jazz, R&B, funk and pop music at Middle C Jazz.
Canadian alt-country/folk rockers Cowboy Junkies are at the Carolina Theatre on June 20. That same night, English synth-pop trio The Human League will be performing at TD Amp Ballantyne. And, speaking of English musicians, Sheffield’s own Joe Jackson + Band will be at the Knight Theatre on June 27.
So, while we certainly hope that a major music festival returns to Charlotte next spring, there is still plenty of live music to love in the months ahead.
Jay Ahuja has lived, worked and played in Charlotte since 1986. He has one wife, two stepsons and one dog. He’s had two sports travel guidebooks published and produced a documentary film, “Live From The Double Door Inn.” He retired from WDAV 89.9FM, the region’s classical public radio station.
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🎶 SPEAKING OF LOVIN’ LIFE …
This week on The Charlotte Ledger Podcast, The Ledger’s managing editor, Ashley Fahey, chatted with Rachel Black, a freelance journalist who frequently writes for The Ledger, about Black’s in-depth piece that was published in The Ledger last month about what happened with the Lovin’ Life Music Festival that abruptly went on pause this year.
Today's sponsor is Carnegie Private Wealth. At Carnegie Private Wealth, we bring clarity to complexity. Through thoughtful planning and personal attention, we help you pursue opportunities and reclaim time for what matters most.
This week in Charlotte: What airline merger would mean for Charlotte; CMS to hire fewer employees next year; How Gaston widened a highway without tolls; Data center tax breaks targeted; Hornets' season ends
On Saturdays, The Ledger sifts through the local news of the week and links to the top articles — even if they appeared somewhere else. We’ll help you get caught up. That’s what Saturdays are for.
Education
UNC Charlotte construction school: (UNC Charlotte) UNC Charlotte is launching a new construction school — the first in North Carolina focused on the full construction pipeline. It’s named after alumni Craig and Darla Albert, who provided the founding gift.
CMS to hire fewer employees next school year: (Ledger 🔒) Charlotte Mecklenburg Schools officials say they will hire about 200 fewer new employees next year as the school district adjusts to declining enrollment and a tighter state budget.
Magnet school restructuring: (Observer, subscriber-only) Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools plans to revamp its magnet programs by consolidating them into six K-12 pathways and expanding offerings in arts, STEM and language immersion.
Politics
Stein targets data center tax breaks: (WRAL) Gov. Josh Stein is proposing to eliminate long-standing state subsidies for data centers, arguing they shift energy costs onto residents. The move could impact more than $50M a year in tax breaks, though support in the legislature remains uncertain.
Debates over street vendor rules: (Ledger🔒) City leaders agree Charlotte needs clearer, citywide regulations for street vendors, but remain divided over enforcement, particularly whether repeat violations should carry criminal penalties.
Local news
Teen jobs program seeks more employers: (Ledger) The city’s Mayor’s Youth Employment Program saw a record 1,200 applicants this year and is now looking for more companies to hire teens for summer internships.
Car-free housing gains traction: (Ledger 🔒) A small but growing number of Charlotte developers are building apartments without dedicated parking, betting some residents will embrace car-light lifestyles.
NCDOT forms advisory group for I-77 project: (Press Release) The North Carolina Department of Transportation is creating a community advisory group to gather input on the I-77 South toll lane project, with applications open through April.
Business
CEO of SouthPark Mall owner dies: (Retail Dive) David Simon, the longtime CEO who built Simon Property Group — owner of SouthPark Mall, Concord Mills and Charlotte Premium Outlets — into the world's largest retail real estate company, died at 64 from cancer late last month. His son Eli Simon took over as CEO.
BofA CEO upbeat: (CNBC) Bank of America’s 1Q earnings beat analysts’ expectations, and net income rose 17% to $8.6B, the bank said. CEO Brian Moynihan said the bank is doing well and that consumers are still spending.
Sports
Hornets’ season ends in big loss: (ESPN) The Charlotte Hornets were annihilated by the Orlando Magic on Friday night, 121-90, ending the Hornets’ season just one win shy of what fans hoped would be the team’s first appearance in the full NBA playoffs since 2016.
Panthers name new training facility: (Observer, subscriber-only) The Carolina Panthers announced their new practice space will be called the Atrium Health Training Facility, part of a broader stadium overhaul. The 100,000+ square foot complex is set to open before the 2027 season.
From the Ledger family of newsletters
How realistic is ‘The Pitt’? Plus: Airport forecasts almost zero passenger growth; Toppman reviews Davidson 'Fact' play; City seeks teen employers; Guv suggests eliminating data center incentives; American raises bag fees
Wednesday (🔒)
Airline merger talk: What it means for Charlotte. Plus: Hornets clinch thrilling victory in overtime; Data center regulations coming soon; Council divided over how to manage street vending; Why Charlotte's lack of identity could be an asset; Charlotte Ballet artistic director's vision; First budget for new transit sales tax
Friday (🔒)
A neighborhood in the airport’s shadow. Plus: NC lawmakers hold off on property tax break cuts for hospitals; Lessons from car-free developments; Scout Motors' temporary HQ; CMS to hire fewer employees next year; Toppman reviews 'Stereophonic'; Voluntary water restrictions; Mooresville ordered to release pantless mayor video
Ways of Life (🔒)
In memoriam: Lariah Stephens, a short life with a lot of sass. Also remembered: A director at the American Recorder Society; the founder of Dikadee’s Front Porch restaurant; an architect for a development firm
Gaston is widening a highway without tolls. Charlotte isn’t. Plus: A closer look at N.C. data centers
Time ticking on Zaha. Plus: Berchimas shines in Charlotte FC's blowout vs. Charlotte Independence, matching mullets, aces for Westwood and advancing start of upcoming road swing in New York
‘Stereophonic’ finds gold in a drawn-out studio grind: The show runs through April 26 at Knight Theater, 430 S. Tryon St.
Car-free isn’t always carefree. Plus: Mass-timber office project; Diving into Charlotte’s Q1 office market; Rezoning filed for CLT’s front door; Scout Motors has a temporary Charlotte HQ office; Capital One Cafe’s Charlotte debut?