With jam torchbearers Phish and Dead & Co making their way through Charlotte in June, we touch on several pre and after parties around those shows, a few album release parties, and several home-grown music festivals that highlight some of Piedmont’s top musical talent. Without further ado, here is your June live music preview.
AKITA Presents Culture Shift 4 @ Snug Harbor
SAT 6/1 | TICKETS
The boys from AKITA are back at it with the 4th installment of their successful Culture Shift series. The funk ensemble has recruited rising Charlotte act The Hawthornes and Doctor Ocular from Johnson City, TN.
Expect a jam heavy night that infuses everything from rock, funk and soul, to elements of jazz fusion and electronica. The Culture Shift series aims to continually grow the Funk, Hip-Hop, Jam, Reggae, Jazz, R&B and Soul scene in the entire southeast.
We’ve Got The Jazz Fest @ Bechtler Museum of Modern Art
SUN 6/2 | TICKETS
Created by CLTure and the Bechtler, We’ve Got The Jazz Fest was curated to bring the arts to unexpected places by sharing the joy of jazz music to our community in uptown Charlotte. It returns on Sunday, June 2nd with performances by Harvey Cummings Project, The X Men, Greg Cox, Groove 8, Brut Beat, Bria Alexander and more.
This all-day event runs from noon until 6 p.m. and will feature live performances from several local bands across two stages (both indoors and out); hands-on art activities, a record shop, local vendors, food trucks Papi Queso and What The Fries, and a cash/credit bar sponsored by Tito’s and NoDa Brewing.
Brit Drozda (Album release) @ Visulite Theatre
FRI 6/7 | TICKETS
Brit Drozda is a dynamic folk-rock singer-songwriter based in Charlotte and hits the Visulite on Friday, June 6th for her Make Something Beautiful album release party. Brit has graced stages from The Evening Muse to Rockwood Music Hall in New York. With a full band or solo behind a piano and an acoustic guitar, Brit commands the attention of the room with her tantalizing vocals and commanding stage presence.
Influenced by singer-songwriters like Sheryl Crow, Brandi Carlile, Patty Griffin, and Norah Jones, Brit brings a soulful voice and poetic lyrics to her listeners. On her most recent EP You Can’t Take It With You When You Go, Drozda presents catchy, upbeat, rock tracks accompanied by dreamy ballads. In these songs, Brit’s voice shines with a depth and intensity that immediately hooks listeners and draws them to her well-crafted lyrics.
She’ll be supported by Charlotte folk and soul rockers Courtney Lynn & Quinn.
Modern Moxie (Album release) @ Snug Harbor
SAT 6/8 | TICKETS
Indie pop/rock act Modern Moxie hits Snug Harbor on Saturday, June 8th to celebrate the release of their debut LP Claw Your Way Out.
The band is known for their alt-inspired rock and pop sound but have moved to a more synth-driven electronica sound on their recent release. Ryan Pitkin of Queen City Nerve recently caught up with them and feature their title track in a recent article which you can check out here.
Modern Moxie consists of front woman Madison Lucas (keys and vox), Harry Kolm (bass) and original Serfs members Phil Pucci (guitar) and Charlie Weeks (drums).
Modern Moxie will be supported by local acts Faye, Future Friend, and Sweat Transfer.
GroverFest Music Festival @ Fiddler’s Grove in Union Grove, NC
FRI – SUN 6/14-6/16 | TICKETS
GroverFest Music Festival returns for the 13th installment and while it doesn’t actually take place in Charlotte (about an hour north at Fiddler’s Grove in Union Grove, NC), it features several area music acts we felt should be highlighted. Fiddler’s Grove is a full-service campground featuring a beautiful country landscape with pond, permanent stages, RV hookups, bath houses and much more!
Headlined by the Statebirds (Jeff Sipe, Mike Seal, Neal Fountain, Bryan Lopes) and Town Mountain, the 3-day festival includes local arts and craft vendors, workshops, and plenty of kid activities. The music at the festival will be jam heavy and feature everything from bluegrass, funk, blues, rock, americana, and more.
Notable local acts on the festival bill: Coddle Creek, AKITA, Bobby’s Jorts, Marcus Horth Band, Wright Avenue, and Duk Tan.
Crown Town Get Down 2 @ Heist Brewery
SAT 6/15 | Tickets are $12 DOS at the door
Time2Fly Music and Velvet Productions return with the 2nd annual Crown Town Get Down. The all-day event features bands exclusively from the Charlotte area and span genres ranging from singer-songwriters, blues rock, americana, hip-hop, and indie rock.
“We had such an incredible response last year that we decided to keep this event going” says Ryan Williams, promoter and co-founder of Time2Fly Music. “The music scene in Charlotte is astounding, people just don’t realize the talent we have here yet. I am trying to showcase all of the incredible talent we have in Charlotte that spans over many genres. Hopefully Crown Town Get Down can help bring bands, promoters, and music lovers together to unite over their love of good music”
Charlotte hip-hop phenom ReeCee is set to headline the event and you can read more details on the full lineup here.
Steep Canyon Rangers w/Acoustic Syndicate @ NoDa Brewing Co
SUN 6/16 | TICKETS
Bluegrass ensemble Steep Canyon Rangers return to Charlotte to play NoDa Brewing Company on Father’s Day as part of the live music series curated by the team at Midwood Entertainment and MaxxMusic.
The Grammy award-winning sextet will be in support of their most recent LP Out In The Open, which reaffirms their place as one of the most versatile bands in contemporary American music. The band has spent nearly two decades bending and shaping the bluegrass aesthetic, fusing elements of pop, country, and folk rock to create something original and highly sought after.
Since Steep Canyon Rangers came together in 2000, they have developed a remarkable catalog of original music that links them to the past while also demonstrating their ambitious intent to bring string-based music into contemporary relevance.
They will be supported by Americana and Roots veterans Acoustic Syndicate.
Phish after party w/Chachuba @ Heist Brewery
FRI 6/21 | FREE SHOW
Chicago based quartet Chachuba are set to play an after party following the Phish performance at PNC Music Pavilion on Friday, June 21st.
Chachuba is an electronic/trance-fusion jam band that does not let the notion of “genre” limit the styles and influences found in their live shows. The band is influenced by electronic dance music, with improvisation as a key component. Their jams are fueled by heavy and melodic guitar riffs, synths, and funky beats.
The band has hit some major festivals over the past 2 years including SummerSet, Summer Camp (Grassroots stage), Backwoods Music (x2), Great North, Hyperion Music and Arts Festival (x2) and many more.
Dead & Co pre-party w/Mimi Naja(Fruition) and Jack & Adam Lawrence @ Heist Brewery
FRI 6/28 | FREE SHOW
With Dead & Co rolling through town on Friday night June 28th, things kick off with a pre-party at Heist Brewery featuring Mimi Naja (mandolin, guitar, and vocalist) of jamgrass band Fruition along with Jack & Adam Lawrence.
Jack Lawrence is a bluegrass guitarist and was a long-time member of Doc Watson’s band since the early 80’s. His son, Adam Lawrence, is currently a member of local bluegrass band Coddle Creek as a guitarist and vocalist.
Dead & Co after party w/The Grass Is Dead @ Heist Brewery
FRI 6/28 | TICKETS
Heist Brewery will have bluegrass outfit The Grass Is Dead in house following the Dead & Co show at PNC Music Pavilion.
The Grass Is Dead are a force of nature in bluegrass and Grateful Dead music. More than merely paying tribute to the Dead, these hot pickers have been seamlessly weaving bluegrass, blues, rock and funk into a unique sonic experience.
Pulling from such diverse influences as Bill Monroe, Earl Scruggs, John Hartford, Allman Brothers Band, Pink Floyd and so many others, The Grass Is Dead have created a sound that not only pays homage to roots music and the songs of the Dead and Jerry Garcia, but expertly travels through time and space to explore the galactic and psychedelic nature of music itself.