By CLTure
January 19, 2026
Monday, January 19
MLK Family Day with Levine Museum of the New South at One Independence Center (10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.)
Tickets: Free
MLK Day at The Gantt (9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.)
Tickets: Free
The Harvey B. Gantt Center will honor the life and legacy of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. with a full-day celebration exploring the enduring relationship between art and activism. Running from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., the program centers creative expression as a catalyst for social progress, anchored by Jazz Greats: Classic Photographs from the Bank of America Collection, an exhibition capturing the cultural power of jazz from the 1920s through the 1980s. Throughout the day, visitors can enjoy film screenings, live music and dance performances, hands-on workshops, family-friendly activities, and thought-provoking panel discussions examining civil rights, affordable housing, and the role of contemporary artists in shaping change in Charlotte and beyond.
MLK Day Baseball Clinic at Richard “Stick” Williams Dream Fields (10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.)
Tickets: Free (with registration)
Problems, Ashley!, Boy A/C, and Jelly Diver at The Milestone (8:00 p.m.)
Tickets: $12.35
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, January 20
Intro to Lighting Workshop For Content Creators & Filmmakers at Loyd Studios (6:00 p.m.)
Tickets: Free
Spamalot at Belk Theater (January 20-26)
Tickets: $46.58 plus
Spamalot gallops into Charlotte this week at Belk Theater, bringing Monty Python’s Tony Award-winning musical comedy back to the stage. Lovingly ripped off from Monty Python and the Holy Grail, the show delivers nonstop laughs with flying cows, killer rabbits, cheeky French taunters, dancing girls, and the unforgettable Lady of the Lake, all set to beloved songs like “Always Look on the Bright Side of Life,” “The Song That Goes Like This,” and “Find Your Grail.” With a book and lyrics by Eric Idle and music by John Du Prez and Idle, Spamalot is a fast, ridiculous, and joyfully irreverent night at the theater.
Charlotte 49ers vs. Florida Atlantic (Women’s Basketball) at Halton Arena (6:30 p.m.)
Tickets: $7 plus
Billy Martin, Matt Glassmeyr, and Jonathan Goldberger at Visulite Theatre (8:00 p.m.)
Tickets: $20 plus
Menastree at The Evening Muse (8:00 p.m.)
Tickets: $17.06
Charlotte jazz-fusion collective Menastree returns to The Evening Muse for a night of genre-blending, improvisation-forward live music. Founded in late 2014 by Jesse Lamar Williams, DJ Lil Tone, and vocalist Jeremy Mayher, the group has grown into an all-star ensemble that seamlessly weaves together jazz, soul, hip-hop, and free-flowing improvisation. Featuring a rotating lineup that includes Braxton Bateman, Zach Wheeler, Malcolm Charles, Wenisha Massey, Curt Keyz, Stefan Kallander, and Marcus Jones, Menastree consistently delivers captivating, unpredictable live performances.
Wednesday, January 21
Skate and Date at Whitewater Center (6:15 p.m.)
Tickets: $75 plus
Johnson C. Smith Golden Bulls vs. Shaw University (Men’s and Women’s Basketball) at Brayboy Gymnasium (5:30 p.m.)
Tickets: $21.50 plus
The Magicians Table at Blume Studios (November 19 – February 15)
Tickets: $79.99 plus
The Magicians Table brings an unforgettable magic show experience to Blume Studios. Enjoy two hours of up-close magic, live theatre, and music that will leave you astonished and spellbound. Arrive early for an exclusive pre-show featuring breathtaking sleight-of-hand and mind-bending illusions, and during the main event, some of the world’s finest magicians will perform right at your table, each showcasing their own unique style.
Annie Hall at Independent Picture House (7:30 p.m.)
Tickets: $11.75
The Gaming Lounge Video Game Pop-Up at Divine Barrel Brewing (6:00 p.m.)
Tickets: Free
Charlotte Hornets vs. Cleveland Cavaliers at Spectrum Center (7:00 p.m.)
Tickets: $27 plus
Coming home from a five-game West Coast road trip in which they won three games — including a 55-point blowout of the Jazz, an 18-point win over the Lakers, and a 23-point victory against the Nuggets — the Hornets enter this matchup playing their best basketball of the season. Charlotte currently owns the second-best offensive rating in the NBA over its last 10 games, with all four core players — LaMelo Ball, Brandon Miller, Miles Bridges, and Kon Knueppel — healthy and on the floor together, along with Grant Williams back after returning from a torn ACL suffered in November 2024. The Hornets are shooting 48.1% from the field and 39.5% from three-point range during that stretch, while back-to-back Rookie of the Month Knueppel continues his high-efficiency campaign, shooting 50.8% from the field and 44.8% from beyond the arc while leading all rookies with 19 points per game. As the season passes the midpoint and the February 5 trade deadline approaches, Charlotte appears to be finding its rhythm with much of its core healthy and clicking.
Davidson Wildcats vs. Fordham (Men’s Basketball) at John Belk Arena (7:00 p.m.)
Tickets: $21.34 plus
Pollyvanna, This Island Earth, Between Two Trees, Paper Pills, and Oh! You Pretty Things at The Milestone (8:00 p.m.)
Tickets: $17.65 plus
54 Ultra at Amos Southend (7:30 p.m.)
Tickets: $33.03 plus
Tom Hamilton with opener Joe May at Neighborhood Theatre (8:00 p.m.)
Tickets: $27.50 plus
Don Broco, Dropout Kings, and Sace6 at The Underground (7:30 p.m.)
Tickets: $30.80 plus
Thursday, January 22
Wim Tapley & The Cannons with Atticus Roness at The Evening Muse (7:30 p.m.)
Tickets: $20.38
Athens-based Wim Tapley & The Cannons and Atlanta’s indie alternative artist Atticus Roness take the stage at The Evening Muse for a night of genre-blending, high-energy performance. Tapley, who released his latest album, Red Door, in 2024, offers a distinctive Americana-rock sound infused with neo-soul grooves, while Roness, fresh off his 2025 release, Power Pop World Domination, delivers melodic alternative pop. Both acts have built strong followings through regional tours and standout performances at notable venues across the Southeast.
Erin Jackson at The Comedy Zone (7:00 p.m.)
Tickets: $30.76 plus
Just Fine: MJB Tribute Band at Middle C Jazz (7:00 p.m.)
Tickets: $37.75 plus
Mo Betta Thursdays One-Year Anniversary at Great Wagon Road Distilling Company (8:00 p.m.)
Tickets: $10.00
Mo’ Betta Thursdays is a weekly jazz experience curated by Braxton Bateman in collaboration with A-part[meant]. Hosted at Great Wagon Road Distilling Company, the series showcases some of Charlotte’s finest musicians, blending jazz, R&B, soul, and hip-hop through dynamic live improvisation and genre-bending grooves.
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AGH! A Variety Show For A Cause at Petra’s (8:00 p.m.)
Tickets: $15.70
Friday, January 23
Seth Meyers at Ovens Auditorium (7:30 p.m.)
Tickets: $63.03 plus
Fantasia & Anthony Hamilton at Spectrum Center (8:00 p.m.)
Tickets: $85.50 plus
Two of North Carolina’s beloved musical legends — Grammy winners and North Carolina Music Hall of Fame inductees — Fantasia Barrino and Anthony Hamilton will share the stage in Charlotte on a co-headlining tour for the first time in nearly a decade. Barrino, a High Point native and 2004 American Idol winner, has captivated audiences with her powerful, gritty vocals and gospel-infused energy, releasing multiple platinum albums throughout her career, including Free Yourself and Back to Me, and earning acclaim for her Broadway and film work in The Color Purple. Charlotte-born Hamilton rose to prominence in the late ’90s, writing for artists like Donell Jones and serving as a background vocalist for the late D’Angelo before his 2003 album Comin’ From Where I’m From brought him widespread recognition. The album spawned hits such as “Charlene,” “I’m a Mess,” and the title track, earning Hamilton three Grammy nominations. Together, they honor the soulful Southern sound of a region and an era of R&B that continues to resonate, promising a night of emotionally charged, nearly spiritual music for fans across the Carolinas.
Matcha & Chill with Micki Blendz at Loyd Studios (7:00 p.m.)
Tickets: Free
Charlotte Restaurant Week (January 23 – February 1)
Tickets: $30 plus
Charlotte Symphony: The Music of Motown at Knight Theater (January 23-24)
Tickets: $52.56 plus
The Charlotte Symphony brings the soulful rhythms of Motown to life at Knight Theater this weekend for a celebration of one of the most influential eras in American music. Under the baton of conductor Christopher James Lees, the orchestra honors the iconic sound of Detroit, recreating the timeless hits made famous by The Temptations, Diana Ross, Michael Jackson, Marvin Gaye, Stevie Wonder, and more.
Breaking Free: An evening with Paul Oakley Stovall at Booth Playhouse (7:30 p.m.)
Tickets: $52.14 plus
Joe List at The Comedy Zone (January 23-24)
Tickets: $30.74 plus
Camisole, Backhouse, and Wilmot at Snug Harbor (9:00 p.m.)
Tickets: $12.00
Coming off the release of their latest EP, Vertigo, in November, Charlotte indie rockers Camisole — featuring Justin Thompson (guitar), Briella Violet (vocals), Ryan Bunge (bass), and Amar Donepudi (drums) — will perform at Snug Harbor on Friday night. Also on the bill are Backhouse, an alternative rock band from Bradley Beach, New Jersey, and Wilmot, an indie-pop ensemble from Charleston, South Carolina, who released their debut EP, Daydream, in August.
Justin Clyde Williams with opener JD Graham at The Evening Muse (7:30 p.m.)
Tickets: $23.69
Benny Benassi at Trio (9:00 p.m.)
Tickets: $37.20
Willingdon, Grace Lucia, and Horse Island at Petra’s (9:00 p.m.)
Tickets: $13.42
Charlotte alternative rockers Willingdon headline a night of high-energy live music, joined by Wake Forest’s rising star Grace Lucia, whose genre-blending sound fuses dreampop, goth, pop-punk, and classic rock. Opening the show is Horse Island, a Charlotte-based four-piece indie emo band, who released their debut project, Grape Cigarette, in August.
Donna The Buffalo at Neighborhood Theatre (8:00 p.m.)
Tickets: $52.75 plus
Protect Ya Neck (Classic Era Hip Hop Party) with DJ Aktive and Friends at Crown Station (9:00 p.m.)
Tickets: $10.56
American Theory, Infinxty, Ham Radio, ColorMeKrazy, and Empty Room at The Milestone (8:00 p.m.)
Tickets: $14.47 plus
D.O.D at Blackbox Theatre (10:00 p.m.)
Tickets: $72.69 plus
Mary English at Goldie’s (9:00 p.m.)
Tickets: Free
Charlotte pop‑country singer-songwriter Mary English performs with her band at Goldie’s on Friday night. A graduate of the University of South Carolina, where she earned both a bachelor’s and master’s degree in Marketing and Sport & Entertainment Management, English previously worked in public relations with the Carolina Panthers before pursuing a career in country music. She has released more than 20 original songs, including her latest single, “Trust in You,” in December 2025. English has co-written with Nashville songwriters such as Jeff Cohen (The Band Perry), Pete Sallis (Maddie & Tae), Zach Abend (Dylan Marlowe), and Elliot James (Hey Monday), and she performed at the Carolina Country Music Festival in 2024.
Saturday, January 24
Charlotte Symphony: The Orchestra Games at Knight Theater (11:00 a.m.)
Tickets: $22.95 plus
Big Charlotte Anime (January 24-25)
Tickets: $40.60 plus
The Thirsty Beaver’s 18th Anniversary Weekend (January 24-25)
Tickets: Free
The Thirsty Beaver Saloon, a beloved Plaza Midwood institution owned and operated by brothers Brian and Mark Wilson since 2008, celebrates 18 years this weekend. The Loose Lugnuts, the brothers’ own band — Mark on rhythm guitar and lead vocals, Brian on drums — will perform both nights (Saturday at 8:00 p.m. and Sunday at 5:00 p.m.). A one-story dive bar that has withstood the rapid redevelopment of the neighborhood, the Thirsty Beaver — dwarfed by apartments on three sides — stands as a testament to the community’s effort to preserve its character and local charm.
Charlotte Hornets vs. Washington Wizards at Spectrum Center (12:00 p.m.)
Tickets: $27 plus
Jason Moss and The Hosses at Petty Thieves Brewing (6:00 p.m.)
Tickets: Free
Big HBCU Southern Classic: Battle of the Bands at Bojangles Coliseum (5:00 p.m.)
Tickets: $38.60 plus *Rescheduled for March 15*
The 2026 Big HBCU Southern Classic Battle of the Bands brings a festive night of music, Black culture, and Southern pride, featuring powerhouse marching bands from Alcorn State University, Hampton University, North Carolina A&T State University, North Carolina Central University, Johnson C. Smith University, and more, delivering electrifying drumlines, precise drill formations, and high-energy choreography. Hosted by DJ Envy and Loren LoRosa of The Breakfast Club, with a special live performance by Sunshine Anderson, the evening is both a competition and a celebration of HBCU tradition. Fans can also enjoy a Fanfest with food trucks, vendors, and opportunities for high school students to connect with college recruiters.
Davidson Wildcats vs. VCU (Men’s Basketball) at John Belk Arena (5:00 p.m.)
Tickets: $21.34 plus
The Ocho with opener Will Slater and the 53 at The Evening Muse (7:30 p.m.)
Tickets: $20.38
Kokoroko at The Underground (8:30 p.m.)
Tickets: $37.10 plus
London-based Afrobeat and jazz collective Kokoroko brings its electrifying fusion of funk, highlife, and West African rhythms to The Underground this weekend. Led by trumpeter and vocalist Sheila Maurice-Grey and percussionist Onome Edgeworth, the septet first gained international attention with their viral track “Abusey Junction,” which has amassed 57 million views on YouTube and won Track of the Year at Gilles Peterson’s Worldwide Awards in 2019. Named “ones to watch” by The Guardian that same year, Kokoroko went on to win Best Group at the Urban Music Awards in 2020 and performed at the BBC Proms at London’s Royal Albert Hall. Their name, an Urhobo word meaning “be strong” or “hard to break,” reflects the band’s dynamic energy and resilience. Kokoroko’s debut album, Could We Be More (2022), was hailed by The Guardian as one of the year’s top ten jazz albums, and the band was nominated for Band of the Year at the Jazz FM Awards.
Blue Dogs at Booth Playhouse (8:00 p.m.)
Tickets: $55.97
Braxton Bateman at Eighty Eights (7:00 p.m.)
Tickets: $15.00
Bored Teachers: “Is It Friday Yet?!” Comedy Tour at Ovens Auditorium (7:30 p.m.)
Tickets: $50.93 plus *Postponed*
The funniest teacher-comedians in the world are back with Bored Teachers: “Is It Friday Yet?!” Comedy Tour, bringing all-new jokes and even bigger laughs. Having sold out over 200 theaters across 49 states, five countries, and three continents — and entertained more than 200,000 teachers worldwide — Bored Teachers have become the ultimate voice of classroom humor, amassing over 1 billion views, 10 million followers, and hosting the top teacher-comedy podcast on the planet. From savage truths and side-splitting stories to relatable classroom confessions, this show promises an unforgettable night of laughter and solidarity for teachers, parents, and anyone who’s survived school life.
Silent Shout. at Petra’s (8:00 p.m.)
Tickets: $10.00
Lofidels, MIDS, and Patois Counselors at Snug Harbor (9:00 p.m.)
Tickets: $12.00
Battle of the Bands After Party at Headliners Uptown (10:00 p.m.)
Tickets: $23.90 plus
Sunday, January 25
Charlotte 49ers vs. Tulane (Men’s Basketball) at Halton Arena (2:00 p.m.)
Tickets: $13 plus
Ghost at Spectrum Center (6:00 p.m.)
Tickets: $60.55 plus *Canceled*
Swedish theatrical rock icons Ghost bring their Skeletour World Tour to Spectrum Center Charlotte on Sunday. The Grammy-winning band, led by the enigmatic frontman Papa Emeritus, will perform hits from their sixth studio album, Skeletá, including singles such as “Satanized,” “Lachryma,” and fan favorite “Mary on a Cross,” alongside classic Ghost anthems. Known for their immersive, costumed performances and surreal stage production, the show will be a 100% phone-free experience, with devices secured in Yondr pouches to ensure an uninterrupted ritual.
Anthony Robustiano at The Comedy Zone (6:00 p.m.)
Tickets: $30.76 plus *Rescheduled for July 12*
Stephen Kellogg & The Homecoming with opener Gutter Sinatra at Neighborhood Theatre (7:00 p.m.)
Tickets: $49.85 plus *Event canceled*
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