Live music heats up Charlotte’s winter calendar
Plus: Top news of the week — City’s affordable housing gap grows; Capital One announces airport lounge; Sycamore erases its branding; PNC Music Pavilion renamed; Panthers host playoff game
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From intimate theaters to arena shows, a look at the concerts coming to Charlotte in the months ahead
by Jay Ahuja
If you’re like me, there’s little need for more stuff. But one thing I can never get enough of is live music, and these next few months are stuffed. Here are the shows on my radar.
Ovens Auditorium is bringing Jason Isbell back to the stage for a night of storytelling and a rare solo performance on Friday, Jan. 16. I’ve seen Isbell with and without his band. Either way, it’s a fun night. Donna the Buffalo returns to the Neighborhood Theatre on Friday, Jan. 23, performing original modern country songs and beloved rhythm and roots covers. On Saturday, Jan. 24, Columbia, S.C.’s Blue Dogs are bringing their Americana groove to the Booth Playhouse. This is one of my favorite intimate local venues, and Blue Dogs are sure to fill the place.
On Friday, Feb. 6, you have a decision to make. Pete Yorn is performing a solo acoustic show to mark the 25th anniversary of his breakout album, “Music For The Morning After,” at Booth Playhouse. Up in NoDa, Langhorne Slim is touring in support of his ninth album, “The Dreamin’ Kind.” This new album is more rocking than previous Nashville-twanged efforts, and this show at the Neighborhood Theatre promises to get loud.
Speaking of loud, Trent Reznor’s industrial rock band, Nine Inch Nails, brings their Peel It Back tour to the Spectrum Center on Tuesday, Feb. 10. Boys Noize is the opening act. On the other end of the music spectrum (no pun intended), Dar Williams will be at Booth Playhouse the following night, Wednesday, Feb. 11, where she’ll perform her blend of folk and country tunes with Seth Glier, a Grammy-nominated multi-instrumentalist in his own right.
Four legendary artists will perform at the Spectrum Center on Friday, Feb. 13. Billed as “The Queens: When Legends Gather, History Happens,” Gladys Knight, Chaka Khan, Patti LaBelle and Stephanie Mills will perform their classics. I suspect this show is going to be a popular Valentine’s date night. Uptown will be busy that night as the Charlotte Symphony Orchestra performs Tchaichovsky’s Symphony No. 5. Kwame Ryan conducts, and Gabriel Kahane will be featured on piano and vocals. A repeat performance follows the next night.
Wilner Baptiste and Kevin Sylvester — high school orchestra classmates from Fort Lauderdale, Fla., turned Grammy nominees — will perform as Black Violin at Belk Theater on Wednesday, Feb. 18. Their blend of classical meets hip-hop has resulted in six albums and a loyal following.
The very next night, on Thursday, Feb. 19, Keb’ Mo’ brings his sizzling guitar licks to Knight Theater. Born as Kevin Roosevelt Moore, this 74-year-old blues artist has earned five Grammy awards to date and shows no signs of slowing down anytime soon.
Railroad Earth will share their progressive brand of bluegrass, folk and Celtic music. This talented septet also has rock, country and jazz influences that blend into a smooth Americana performance. They’ll be at Neighborhood Theatre on Thursday, Feb. 19. Jupiter Coyote is doing something right, having played more than 5,000 shows and sold more than 1 million records. On Friday, Feb. 20, they bring their mountain rock — a mix of bluegrass-infused funk-rock that some call South Appalachian boogie — to the Visulite Theatre.
The Spectrum Center is staging another ’80s throwback R&B/pop collaboration with New Edition, Boys II Men and Toni Braxton performing Friday, Feb. 27. That same night, trumpeter and composer Chris Botti launches a three-night residency at Middle C Jazz Club. He plays two shows each night, and some are already sold out.
Eric Gales will be at the Cain Center in Cornelius on Saturday, March 7. I had the pleasure of seeing Gales perform at The Double Door Inn, and he nearly tore the roof off of the place. This is another potential sold-out show as tickets are going fast. Internationally acclaimed, contemporary jazz pianist and composer Keiko Matsui performs four shows in two nights, March 13 and 14, at Middle C Jazz. A petite, soft-spoken Japanese woman, she is a powerhouse and commanding presence at the piano.
Roger McGuinn, former leader of The Byrds, is a Rock & Roll Hall of Famer. Seeing him in a venue as small as the Cain Center will be a treat. He’s sure to play a litany of hit songs from The Byrds and his solo guitarist career that spans 10 albums. He’ll be there for one night on Saturday, March 21. Jazz guitarist Pat Metheny brings his Side-Eye tour to the Knight Theater on Tuesday, March 24. Metheny has earned 20 Grammy Awards and been nominated 39 times. He has three gold records, so there is no shortage of material to share in concert.
Hailing from Nederland, Colo., Yonder Mountain String Band is a five-piece progressive bluegrass group that has released 11 studio albums and six live LPs. They’ll be at Neighborhood Theatre on Friday, March 27.
Finally, Herb Alpert & Tijuana Brass perform their hits at Belk Theater on Saturday, March 28. Alpert is 90 years old, and not only is he an incredible trumpet player, but in the 1960s, he founded A&M Records with Jerry Moss.
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 works for WDAV 89.9FM, the region’s classical public radio station.
Today’s Charlotte Ledger is sponsored by Arts+:
Reminder: Sign up for ‘How to Recognize and Respond to Changes in Aging Adults,’ a free webinar
The holidays may have given you some extra time with the older adults in your life. Sometimes that togetherness comes with questions: a little more forgetfulness, a mood shift or a home that doesn’t look quite the same. Are these typical signs of aging — or signals that it’s time to step in?
Next week, The Charlotte Ledger is hosting a free, virtual webinar with Caregiving Corner to help families make sense of those moments. It’s designed for anyone supporting an aging loved one, as well as adults thinking ahead about their own long-term care.
When: Wednesday, Jan. 14, 2026
Time: Noon–1 p.m.
Where: Online
➡️ Register for free: https://www.cltledger.com/aging-adults-webinar
This week in Charlotte: CMS lottery results spur confusion; Elon announces merger leader; NC has more Republicans than Democrats; Sycamore sales plunge; Petition to oust county sheriff
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
CMS school choice lottery results: (Ledger🔒) Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools acknowledged confusion after releasing school choice lottery results that appeared to overlook sibling guarantees, continuation status and transportation-zone priority.
New leader for university merger: (Business North Carolina) Elon University named longtime administrator Jeff Stein as chief integration officer to lead work on its pending merger with Queens University of Charlotte, with Stein returning to Elon after two years as president of Mary Baldwin University.
Most NC districts can’t replace student laptops: (WFDD) A new report finds 88 of the state’s 115 school districts lack funding to update aging student devices after federal Covid aid ended.
Politics
A first in NC politics: (WFAE) North Carolina now has more registered Republicans than Democrats for the first time on record, according to new data from the North Carolina State Board of Elections.
Petition aims to remove sheriff: (Charlotte Observer, subscriber-only) State Representative Carla Cunningham and former chief deputy Kevin Canty are among five former employees who filed a court petition seeking to oust Mecklenburg County Sheriff Garry McFadden, alleging threats, retaliation and the misuse of official resources.
Local news
Charlotte’s affordable housing gap grows: (Ledger🔒) Charlotte faces an estimated shortage of more than 40,000 homes affordable to its lowest-income households — the largest gap in recent years — as city leaders weigh new strategies to expand affordable housing.
Historic designations eyed as development shield: (Ledger🔒) West Charlotte neighborhoods McCrorey Heights and Oaklawn Park are pursuing National Register of Historic Places status.
A new airport lounge: (Charlotte Observer, subscriber-only) Credit card issuer Capital One will open a 14,000 sq. ft. airport lounge at Charlotte Douglas International Airport.
Concert venue gets a new name: The 20,000-capacity outdoor amphitheater previously known as PNC Music Pavilion will now go by Truliant Amphitheater after Truliant Federal Credit Union signed on to be the venue’s naming rights partner.
Business
Instagram account for sale: (Tiny Money) ExploreCLT — the ultra-popular Instagram account with 259,000 followers — is officially on the market for $215,000, as owner Rich Moyer looks to pass the profitable, six-figure-revenue social media machine to a new caretaker while he focuses on his other ventures.
Sycamore sales plunge: (Ledger) New retail data shows Sycamore Brewing’s grocery and convenience-store sales in the Carolinas fell 85% after co-founder Justin Brigham was arrested on sex-crime charges last month.
Knight Foundation alters DEI language: (The Objective) The Knight Foundation — a longtime backer of Charlotte projects ranging from local journalism and arts groups to west Charlotte community development and cultural institutions — quietly removed explicit diversity, equity and inclusion language from its “About” page this fall.
Sports
Panthers tease a surprise return: (WBTV) On Wednesday, the Carolina Panthers posted a video to social media that hinted franchise icon Cam Newton could return to Bank of America Stadium as the “Keep Pounding” drummer ahead of today’s NFC wild-card game against the Los Angeles Rams.
Playoff weekend: (Charlotte Business Journal, subscriber-only) With the Carolina Panthers set to host their first playoff game in nearly a decade, Charlotte bars, restaurants and hotels are gearing up for a busy weekend.
From the Ledger family of newsletters
A strong year for Charlotte stocks. Plus: Sycamore’s beer sales slid 85% after arrest; Airport demolishes historic landmark; Sign up for webinar on aging; ‘Dry January’ options for nonalcoholic drinks
Wednesday (🔒)
Charlotte’s townhouse glut. Plus: CMS lottery spurs confusion; Impacts on Caribbean travel amid Venezuela unrest; Review of ‘Assembly Lines’ Bechtler exhibit
Friday (🔒)
Holding the line at Garinger. Plus: City’s affordable-housing deficit climbs; Sycamore Brewing is disappearing across the city; Why big office investors are buying small
Ways of Life (🔒)
In memoriam: Don Moricle, a consummate handyman who could fix almost anything. Also remembered: A machine technology instructor at CPCC; fundraiser at the Charlotte Rescue Mission; longtime chaplain at Presbyterian Hospital
When machines dazzle, menace — and maybe outgrow us: “Assembly Lines” runs through Feb. 2 at the Bechtler Museum of Modern Art, 420 S. Tryon St.
A big buy for bite-sized office. Plus: Neighborhoods pursue national historic district recognition; Johnny Harris on Charlotte’s past and future; A sometimes overlooked part of property management; Sprouts shopping center sells
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