By CLTure
August 25, 2025
Monday, August 25
The Bill Hanna Legacy Jazz Session at Petra’s (7:30 p.m.)
Tickets: $9.98
Celebrate the spirit of jazz at The Bill Hanna Legacy Jazz Session, every Monday night at Petra’s. A tribute to the late, great Bill Hanna, who was widely known as the godfather of Charlotte jazz. The weekly event brings together some of the city’s best musicians for a night of improvisational performances.
Tuesday, August 26
Brit Floyd: Wish You Were Here – 50th Anniversary at Ovens Auditorium (8:00 p.m.)
Tickets: $62 plus
Azul with opener Sapphire Monet at Snug Harbor (9:00 p.m.)
Tickets: $12.00
AJ McQueen with opener Ariel J. at Neighborhood Theatre (8:00 p.m.)
Tickets: $37.25 plus
Houston-based hip-hop artist, poet, and community leader AJ McQueen, originally from the west side of St. Louis, will perform at Neighborhood Theatre following the release of his new album When We Evolve. He’ll be joined by Mississippi hip-hop/neo-soul artist Ariel J., who will open the show.
Clemntine, Catchbliss, Warp Street, and Endless, Nameless at The Milestone (8:00 p.m.)
Tickets: $12.35 plus
Wednesday, August 27
Eladio Carrión at Skyla Credit Union Amphitheatre (8:00 p.m.)
Tickets: $42.50 plus
2025 Black Carolina Residency Reception at Harvey B. Gantt Center (6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.)
Tickets: Free (with registration)
Quentin Talley (Benefit Fundraiser) featuring Bluz at The Evening Muse (6:00 p.m.)
Tickets: $26.44
Quentin Talley, a multitalented artist and cornerstone of Charlotte’s arts and culture community, recently faced a major medical emergency. In response, friends, fans, and fellow artists are coming together for a special benefit concert to show their support and aid in his recovery. The evening will feature performances from some of Talley’s favorite local talents, including Jesse “Smoke” Williams, Harvey Cummings, Adrian Crutchfield, Curtis Hayes, Kenya Templeton, Lovell Bradford, and The Mighty DJ DR. The event will be hosted by Emmy Award-winning poet Boris “Bluz” Rogers.
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Jerry Richardson Stadium Expansion Groundbreaking Ceremony at Jerry Richardson Stadium (11:00 a.m.)
Tickets: Free (with registration)
Immediate Family at Booth Playhouse (July 29-August 31)
Tickets: $27.98 plus
Blumenthal Arts presents the regional premiere of Immediate Family, a bold and timely new play written by Hamilton alum Paul Oakley Stovall and directed by Tony Award winner Phylicia Rashad. Set on Chicago’s South Side, Immediate Family follows the Bryant family as they reunite for a wedding — only to have their carefully curated image disrupted when the middle son unexpectedly brings his Swedish boyfriend. What unfolds is a funny, heartfelt, and unflinchingly honest portrait of a family navigating love, loyalty, and generational change. Described as Modern Family meets Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner, the play tackles themes of race, sexuality, identity, and tradition through the lens of an African American family grappling with the evolving values of the 21st century.
Pleasure House, Madison’s Harley, and Little Mountain Kart Club at Snug Harbor (9:00 p.m.)
Tickets: $12.00
The Girls, True Lilith, and 77 Lies at The Milestone (8:00 p.m.)
Tickets: $12.35
Monolopy Lifesized: Travel Edition at Blume Studios (May 6 – September 21)
Tickets: $20 plus
A one-of-a-kind interactive gaming experience, Monopoly Lifesized: Travel Edition transforms the iconic board game into a 70-minute adventure at Blume Studios. Players navigate a giant Monopoly board featuring classic spaces like Boardwalk, Park Place, the railroads, and utilities. Along the way, you’ll solve puzzles, crack codes, collect properties, and try to outsmart opponents — all before time runs out. A guide will lead you through physical challenges and immersive rooms as you buy property, charge rent, and try to break out of jail in a race to win the game.
Thursday, August 28
Public Housing: Some Surprising History with Tom Hanchett at Charlotte Museum of History (6:00 p.m.)
Tickets: $5.00 (suggested donation)
Chromatic Roots at Arts+ (August 1-31)
Tickets: $48 plus
Arts+, the Charlotte-based nonprofit providing music and visual arts education through private lessons, group classes, camps, and community programs, presents Chromatic Roots — a multi-sensory experience featuring over 30 visual artists, five soundscape artists, and a two-person media team, all coming together to showcase the power of local creativity. Follow the story of a missing janitor as you explore vibrant biomes, collect stamps, and unlock clues along the way, with performances, musical acts, and artist-led workshops offered on select dates.
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Labor Day Kickoff Block Party at Town Brewing Co. (4:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.)
Tickets: Free
Freaquency360 Presents J-Live at Starlight on 22nd (8:00 p.m.)
Tickets: $7.70 plus
Independent hip-hop stalwart J-Live brings his lyrical, DJ, and producer talents to Charlotte on Thursday night at Starlight on 22nd. The veteran indie rapper will headline a night of beats, bars, and timeless hip-hop, joined by Kil Ripkin, Jah Freedom, Swift, and DJ Wisdom.
Collective Soul, Live, and Our Lady Peace at Skyla Credit Union Amphitheatre (6:30 p.m.)
Tickets: $54.50 plus
Ghost at Carolina Theatre (7:00 p.m.)
Tickets: $16.05
A timeless supernatural romance that captured the imagination of a generation will screen this week at Charlotte’s historic Carolina Theatre as the finale of their Lost Years Summer Blockbuster Series. Starring Patrick Swayze, Demi Moore, and Whoopi Goldberg, Ghost was the highest-grossing film of 1990, and earned Goldberg her first Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress. Celebrated for the iconic pottery scene and its unforgettable use of “Unchained Melody,” the film remains a beloved cultural touchstone decades after its release.
Flow Tribe at Whitewater Center (7:00 p.m.)
Tickets: Free (parking: $12)
Yesterday’s Clothes, Rohna, briZB, and Camisole at Amos’ Southend (8:00 p.m.)
Tickets: $14.86 plus
Cirque du Soleil: OVO at Bojangles Coliseum (August 28-31)
Tickets: $67 plus
Cirque du Soleil has transformed live performance for more than 40 years, replacing traditional animal acts with storytelling, acrobatics, original music, costumes, and cinematic sets. The company has staged over 40 shows for more than 200 million people worldwide. This week, Cirque brings one of its most whimsical productions to Charlotte: OVO. Meaning “egg” in Portuguese, OVO immerses audiences in a colorful insect world. Crickets leap from trampolines, ants juggle oversized kiwis, a spider twists inside her glittering web, and a mysterious egg becomes the heart of an unexpected love story. Directed by Brazilian choreographer Deborah Colker, the first woman to helm a Cirque du Soleil show, OVO features 53 acrobats and musicians from 25 countries. The show celebrates its 15th anniversary with reimagined sets, new acts, updated costumes, and a refreshed live musical score by Berna Ceppas.
Dawn Landes with opener Ali Forrest at Petra’s (9:00 p.m.)
Tickets: $19.14
Dustin Nickerson (Comedian) at The Comedy Club at Duckworth’s (August 28-30)
Tickets: $34.85 plus
Stand-up comedian, author, and podcaster Dustin Nickerson will play multiple shows at The Comedy Club at Duckworth’s this week. Known for his clean, observational humor centered on family, marriage, and parenting, the Seattle native released his first comedy special, Overwhelmed, on Amazon Prime Video in 2020. In 2023, he released his second special, Runs in the Family, on YouTube, and has also appeared on Comedy Central Presents and The Late Late Show, performed at the Netflix Is a Joke Festival, and opened for comedians Taylor Tomlinson and Nate Bargatze.
Ryan Ellis with opener Lee Vasi at The Evening Muse (7:30 p.m.)
Tickets: $25.88 plus
Shuler King (Comedian) at The Comedy Zone (August 28-31)
Tickets: $36.35 plus
Bob James at Middle C Jazz (August 28-29)
Tickets: $57.65 plus
Bob James, the Grammy Award-winning jazz keyboardist, composer, arranger, and producer, is widely recognized as a pioneer of smooth jazz and is also a founding member of the acclaimed jazz fusion group Fourplay. He composed the iconic theme song “Angela” for the television show Taxi, and his tracks, including “Nautilus” and “Take Me to the Mardi Gras,” have been widely sampled in hip-hop. This week, James and his quartet will perform four shows at Middle C Jazz.
Friday, August 29
Mario Kart Tournament at The Chamber by Wooden Robot in NoDa (5:30 p.m.)
Tickets: Free
Music As An Image: Photographs by Daniel Coston (1995-2025) Exhibit Opening at Arts+ (6:00 p.m.)
Tickets: Free
Matthews Alive Festival in Downtown Matthews (August 29 – September 1)
Tickets: Free
The Matthews Alive Festival returns this weekend to Stumptown Park in downtown Matthews. This beloved community event features live music across multiple stages, a festive parade, carnival rides, kids’ activities, more than 150 arts and crafts vendors, and a wide variety of food options. Over the years, Matthews Alive has contributed more than $2.1 million to local non-profits, making it a celebration that supports the community while providing fun for all ages. The festival is free and family-friendly, with plenty of parking and easy access from downtown Matthews.
Emanuel Wynter and King Noli at The Evening Muse (7:30 p.m.)
Tickets: $17.06
Shovels & Rope with special guest Angela Autumn at Cain Center For The Arts (7:30 p.m.)
Tickets: $52.88 plus
Charlotte 49ers vs. Appalachian State at Bank of America Stadium (7:00 p.m.)
Tickets: $87.15 plus
The Charlotte 49ers and Appalachian State Mountaineers are set to face off to kick off the college football season on Friday night at the Duke’s Mayo Classic at Bank of America Stadium. Charlotte enters the 2025 season under new head coach Tim Albin, who previously led Ohio University to a MAC championship. The team features a largely overhauled offense, minimal returning starters, and significant roster turnover, including several transfers. In 2024, the 49ers finished with a 5-7 overall record and a 4-4 mark in the American Athletic Conference. Appalachian State finished the 2024 season with a 5-6 overall record and a 3-5 mark in the Sun Belt Conference. The Mountaineers have been a dominant force since moving to the FBS in 2014; however, the program finished with its first losing record at the FBS level last season. Dowell Loggains, a longtime NFL offensive coordinator and former South Carolina OC, takes over as the new head coach.
Friday Nights at Camp North End (6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.)
Tickets: Free
Deaf Andrews at Whitewater Center (7:00 p.m.)
Tickets: Free (parking: $12)
Te’Jani – Life Of the Party Album Release Show with Petrov at Neighborhood Theatre (8:00 p.m.)
Tickets: $22.27 plus
Indie-pop singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Te’Jani celebrates the release of his latest project, Life of the Party. It follows his 2022 debut album, GIMP, and his 2023 EP, ON PROZAC. Te’Jani will be joined by Charlotte-based indie rock band Petrov, who released their self-titled debut album on May 2.
Me Like Bees, The Wonderlands, and The Orderlys at Petra’s (9:00 p.m.)
Tickets: $19.14
Breakaway Pre-Party ft. Ship Wrek at The Music Yard (6:00 p.m.)
Tickets: $27.62
Tropa Magica, Noir Noir, Rugg, and Vision Stains (Visuals) at Snug Harbor (10:00 p.m.)
Tickets: $17.00
Saturday, August 30
Mimosa Land Mimosa Festival at Romare Bearden Park (12:00 p.m.)
Tickets: $47.65 plus
Wine + Jazz Tasting with: Mindi Abair at Middle C Jazz (3:30 p.m.)
Tickets: $34.65 plus
Labor Day Celebration at Whitewater Center (August 30-31)
Tickets: Free (parking: $12)
The Whitewater Center’s annual Labor Day Celebration is back, offering trail races, yoga sessions, outdoor activities, and live music. Charleston’s Dangermuffin takes the stage Saturday night, while Sunday features The Psycodelics — blending funk, blues, gospel, and R&B — performing in the afternoon, followed by blues/Americana artist Jesse Roper in the evening. Sunday also includes Wildwoods Special Programming, with crafts, games, and activities for kids of all ages. Highlights include a word scramble scavenger hunt, patriotic windsock and bubble wand crafts, bubble blower art, and a relay water balloon spoon race. Participation requires a Wildwoods Activity Pass or Annual Pass.
Seismic Summer at The Milestone (3:30 p.m.)
Tickets: $28.25
Umphrey’s McGee at The Fillmore (8:00 p.m.)
Tickets: $42.50 plus
Su Casa Labor Day Weekend at Rozzelles Ferry Landing (10:00 p.m.)
Tickets: $15.00
Tim Meadows (Comedian) at Cain Center For The Arts (7:30 p.m.)
Tickets: $52.88 plus
Tim Meadows, one of the longest-running cast members on Saturday Night Live with ten seasons under his belt, brings his wit and decades of comedic experience to the Cain Center for the Arts in Cornelius on Saturday night. Meadows is also known for his role as John Glascot on The Goldbergs and Schooled, and has appeared in films and TV shows including Mean Girls, Grown Ups, Brooklyn Nine-Nine, The Office, Bob’s Burgers, and The Mandalorian.
Off The Wall: Annual Michael Jackson Tribute at Snug Harbor (10:00 p.m.)
Tickets: $12.00
Passengers Unknown and The Ransom Brothers at The Evening Muse (10:30 p.m.)
Tickets: $17.06
Souled Out Dates at Camp North End (3:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.)
Tickets: $30 plus
Sunday, August 31
Around the Crown 10K at Truist Field (7:30 a.m.)
Tickets: $71.53
Manuel Turizo at Ovens Auditorium (8:00 p.m.)
Tickets: $65 plus
Men I Trust with opener Strongboi at Skyla Credit Union Amphitheatre (8:00 p.m.)
Tickets: $40.99 plus
Montreal indie pop trio Men I Trust headlines Skyla Credit Union Amphitheatre Sunday night as part of their expansive Equus Tour. Fronted by singer-songwriter and guitarist Emmanuelle Proulx, the band is known for its dreamy, ethereal sound that has helped define the indie dream-pop scene. Following their 2021 release, Untourable Album, Men I Trust recently unveiled two new albums, Equus Asinus and Equus Caballus. With cult hits like “Show Me How,” “Numb,” and “Sugar,” the trio continues to captivate fans with hypnotic melodies and lush sonic landscapes. They’ll be joined by German indie pop and lo-fi electronic duo Strongboi as the opening act.
Sam on Someday at The Evening Muse (7:30 p.m.)
Tickets: $11.55
Closing Celebration for Annie Leibovitz / Work at Mint Museum Uptown (1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.)
Tickets: Free (with registration)
DOAP Concert (The Cookout) at Crown Station (6:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.)
Tickets: $22.99
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