Charlotte had its fill of incredible music in January. While the cold weather had many believing it was the end of the world, the venues across town were slammed full of raging concert goers. Here’s to keeping it going in February…
The Lil’ Smokies @ Neighborhood Theatre
Tues 2/5 | TICKETS
Progressive bluegrass outfit The Lil’ Smokies had a busy year in 2018 and 2019 is shaping up to be their best yet. Their 2019 winter run makes a stop in Charlotte on the 5th and the famed WinterWonderGrass Festival in Colorado from the 21st-24th. The Smokies also landed an opening slot for Greensky Bluegrass show in September at Red Rocks Ampitheatre.
The first incarnation of The Lil Smokies got together in Missoula, Montana, during the winter of 2009. Through the years, the band transformed and settled into the current lineup – Scott Parker on bass; Jake Simpson on fiddle; Matt Rieger on guitar; Matt Cornette on banjo and Dunnigan on dobro.
Previously, the band has won the 2015 Telluride Bluegrass Band competition and took home the 2016 IBMA Momentum Band of the Year award. They’ve also wowed fans at the High Sierra, FreshGrass, Telluride Bluegrass, Grey Fox, Del Fest, Floyd Fest and String Summit festivals, to name a few.
The Smokies will be supported by folk-rockers the Michigan Rattlers.
TAUK @ The Visulite Theatre
Fri – 2/8 | TICKETS
TAUK is no stranger to the Charlotte market having played the Chop Shop, Neighborhood Theatre, and The Visulite over the years. Fresh off of Jam Cruise 17 where they mesmerized the jam band family of onlookers, the rock-fusion quartet are supporting their recent release Shapeshifter II: Outbreak which follows up their early-2018 EP, Shapeshifter I: Construct.
For their most recent release, the band ditched the traditional studio setup and instead setup in a 100-year old Long Island home that played directly into the overall feel of the album. The free-flowing studio effort incorporates elements of the sci-fi narrative, extraterrestrial life, and artificial intelligence.
Expect the live show to contain an instrumental mix of post-rock, prog, funk and jazzy improvisations that’s been their overall sound since their incarnation as a band in 2011.
TAUK will be supported by Peoples Blues of Richmond.
Spafford @ The Visulite Theatre
Tue – 2/12 | TICKETS
Improvisational journeys.
That’s something you can count on when Spafford hits the Visulite on the 12th.
Spafford’s meteoric rise into the jam scene has been nothing short of spectacular. While they have been around for nearly a decade, the cohesiveness of the group paired with the unique ability to accurately feel a crowd has lead to the steadily growing fanbase for the band over the past few years.
Spafford released their self-titled debut back in 2012 and followed that up with a string of live offerings. One particular album, Abaculus, finds the band stretching out for 60 straight minutes of improvisational music that would make any devoted jam band fan take pause. They released their second LP in early 2018 entitled For Amusement Only.
Spafford covers a wide range of genres focusing primarily on rock, funk and electronic influences with surprises from everything else sprinkled in between. Their claim to fame, however, is in their undeniable ability to seamlessly transition from their classics into purely improvisational jams.
Steady Flow @ Heist Brewery
Thur 2/14 | TICKETS
Steady Flow returns to The Barrel Room at Heist for a Thursday night funk throwdown of epic proportions.
Hailing from the Midwest, Steady Flow brings a unique style of powerful funk music like you’ve never heard before. Formed in 2012 by 18 year old, soul guitarist extraordinaire, Tanner Brown, and his older brother, Ky “Goonie-Mom” Brown on bass guitar, the group has now transformed into a six-piece funk-powerhouse, quickly claiming their spot as one of the best live acts around.
In their relatively short existence, the band has taken on music festivals such as North Coast, Summer Camp, Phases of the Moon, and the list goes on. Steady Flow will make their return to Summer Camp Music Festival in May with prominent jam acts Umphrey’s McGee and moe. pegged as the headliners.
Steady Flow will be supported Dallas funk ensemble TryMoreMOJO.
The Trongone Band @ Free Range Brewing
Thur 2/14 | TICKETS
Richmond, VA based The Trongone Band is led by brothers Andrew and Johnny Trongone and blends influences from rock, soul, roots, and jam music into its sound.
While relatively unknown to most, the band has made their presence known over the last few years with appearances at Sweetwater 420, Rhythm N’ Blooms, Rooster Walk, and is scheduled to play this years Whigfest in Tampa, FL along with Tyler Childers, Flow Tribe, and many more.
The band initially made a name for themselves in the Richmond market by playing entire shows of classic rock giants such as Grateful Dead, The Rolling Stones, The Doors, Jerry Garcia Band, and Little Feat. From there they released their debut album in 2017, Keys to the House. Honest Tune described the album as “a boogie-woogie shot of whiskey delivered with a deep taste of southern rock & soul.”
Anderson .Paak & The Free Nationals @ The Fillmore
Tues 2/19 | TICKETS
California native Anderson .Paak makes a stop in Charlotte in support of his most recent critically acclaimed album Oxnard.
Producer, singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist, Paak grew up playing drums in his church band. After watching his family be torn apart by domestic abuse and prison stints, he moved to L.A. and where he formed his band The Free Nationals while attending music school.
After years of grinding in the L.A. music scene, .Paak made a splash in 2015 on Dr. Dre’s Compton and quickly followed that up with his own 2016 album, Malibu — mixing ’70s funk, speakeasy soul and R&B elements with intricate, immersive songwriting. Malibu and earned him a reputation as a legitimate artist and received a nomination for Best Urban Contemporary Album at the Grammy Awards.
Paak released his third studio album Oxnard in November of 2018. The album is executive produced by Dr. Dre and is a homage to Paak’s hometown in California. The album has a heavy funk theme throughout the project and features artists such as Kendrick Lamar, Snoop Dogg, J. Cole and Q-Tip.
Adrian Crutchfield reimagines the music of Grover Washington Jr.
Stage Door Theatre at Blumenthal | Thur – 2/21 | TICKETS
Charlotte native and world renowned saxophonist Adrian Crutchfield plays the Stage Door Theatre at Blumenthal for a night of music that finds the musician reimagining the catalog of jazz/funk/soul saxophone pioneer Grover Washington Jr.
Grover Washington Jr’s body of work spans 20+ years and his early albums on Kudu Records produced hits “Inner City Blues”, “Reed Seed”, “Mr. Magic” and “Black Frost”. After signing to Elektra Records in the late 70’s, Washington released his most commercially successful album in 1980 entitled Winelight.
Crutchfield is best known as the leader of the 11-piece horn section for Prince’s last backing band, the New Power Generation.
When Crutchfield spoke with the Charlotte Observer in 2017 ahead of his tribute to Prince at the Neighborhood Theatre, he explained his feelings about his role in the band when Prince approached him to play saying — “What I wanted was to be the signature sideman, like Clarence Clemmons. The Maceo Parker to his James Brown. I was content.”
After being featured on Prince’s last three albums, Crutchfield also toured domestically and internationally with acts such as Lionel Ritchie, Bette Midler, and Cee Lo Green — all the while writing and building his 2017 release titled Leap.
Other Notable Shows
Rayland Baxter – 2/7 @ Visulite Theatre
Perpetual Groove – 2/8 @ Neighborhood Theatre
LITZ w/Akita and tomatoband – 2/15 @ Skylark Social Club
Taj Mahal Trio – 2/15 @ McGlohen Theatre
Big Sam’s Funky Nation – 2/21 @ Neighborhood Theatre
Fleetwood Mac – 2/24 @ Spectrum Center