Gifted guitar players young and old lead the way in the August edition of our Charlotte live music preview.  We also feature three free events along with incredible singer-songwriters, Charlotte’s top sax man, and shows that span rock, funk, jazz, and soul.

RevelWood Mission @ Camp North End
FRI – 8/9 | FREE Event

One of Charlotte’s top rock n’ roll bands, RevelWood Mission, is set to play Camp North End as part of their recurring music series Friday Nights at Camp North End.

Fresh off this past weekends closing set at the Confluence Music Festival at U.S. National Whitewater Center, expect gritty lead vocals, tightly woven lyrics, and serious rock n’ roll swagger.

They are one of several area bands to keep an eye on the remainder of 2019 and into 2020.

Brett Dennen w/Emily Sage @ First Ward Park
FRI – 8/9 | FREE Event

Another Confluence alum and Charlotte singer-songwriter Emily Sage will join forces with California singer-songwriter Brett Dennen.  They play a free show that’s part of ongoing Sounds of Summer Concert Series in First Ward Park.

While Emily Sage’s musical offerings lean jazz and soul, Brett Dennen brings a poet’s perspective, off-kilter vocals, insane sense of humor, and limitless musical freedom.  Many believe he has turned dancing like no one’s watching into a lifestyle.

John Mayer @ Spectrum Center
FRI – 8/9 | TICKETS

Fresh off a Dead & Co tour that sold almost half a million tickets on just 19 dates, Mayer rolls back in to Charlotte this month and brings his all-star cast of supporting musicians and without a tour opener.

His setup for his current solo run include David Ryan Harris (guitar), Isaiah Sharkey (guitar), Pino Palladino (bass), and two drummers.  Expect Mayer to cycle through songs across all of his albums and potentially a cover from the Dead catalog.

Suffice to say that Mayer has finally been embraced by the jam community and Deadheads alike at this point in his young career.

Adrian Crutchfield @ Booth Playhouse
SAT – 8/10 | TICKETS

Charlotte’s very own Adrian Crutchfield has taken the world by storm in recent years, not only as the last sax player to perform and record with Prince, touring the world and being featured on Prince’s last three albums, but also touring domestically and internationally with acts such as Lionel Ritchie, Bette Midler, and Cee Lo Green.

Experience a high-energy concert party featuring a fusion of live Jazz, R&B, and Funk anchored by Crutchfield, with special guest The Terrence Young Experience, and Break On Em Davis, led by drummer and jazz veteran Ocie Davis.

Eric Gales @ Romare Beardon Park
SAT – 8/10 | FREE Event

After picking up a guitar at age 4 and proceeding to learn to play the right-handed guitar “upside down”, Eric Gales has been a champion of the blues and psychedelic rock for his entire career.  He was born into a musical family and taught guitar by his older brothers in the style of Jimi Hendrix, B.B. King, and Albert King.

Gales has gone on to share the Woodstock ’94 stage with Santana and reel off 16 studio albums over his 28 year career.  He’s also played on countless studio albums and toured the world as a highly lauded sideman.

Gales will be in Charlotte supporting his most recent studio effort The Bookends.  He’ll be supported by Mississippi blues phenom Mr. Sipp.

Santana w/The Doobie Brothers @ PNC Music Pavilion
TUE – 8/13 | TICKETS

10 time Grammy award winner and Rock n Roll Hall of Fame member, Carlos Santana, makes a stop in Charlotte on his Supernatural Now tour.

This year marks the 20th anniversary of Carlos Santana’s groundbreaking album, “Supernatural,” not to mention the 50th anniversary of his legendary performance at Woodstock.

He’ll be joined by The Doobie Brothers, one of the most decorated bands to ever come out of Southern California in the 70’s.

While Santana’s sound is focused around latin-infused rhythms and psychedelic lead guitar, The Doobie Brothers emphasized their music around vocal and guitar harmonies (at one point using three guitarists in the Jeff “Skunk” Baxter years).  They’ll be lead by original founding members Tom Johnston (lead vocal/guitar) and Pat Simmons (guitar).

Gary Clark Jr w/Marcus King Band @ Charlotte Metro CU Ampitheatre
TUE – 8/20 | TICKETS

Two of the premier young guitar players in the scene join forces for a Tuesday night throw down on the 20th.

Greenville, SC natives the Marcus King Band (MKB) will be in support of Gary Clark Jr on his tour stop in Charlotte.

It will be the only opening slot that MKB will support Clark on this tour although they did collaborate back in April at the Byron Bay Blues Festival in Australia for a killer rendition of “I Don’t Owe You A Thing” that also featured Lukas Nelson, which you can check out here.

Chances are very good we get another sit-in on the 20th.

Steady Flow @ Heist Brewery
FRI – 8/23 | TICKETS

Midwest funk sextet Steady Flow returns to the Barrel Room at Heist on Friday the 23rd.

Steady Flow are in the third month of their 2019 summer run that has seen them play cities up and down the East Coast.

A fixture on many festival lineups, Steady Flow is constantly turning heads at every performance all while earning their reputation as one of the top funk acts that are touring today.

Travers Brothership @ Neighborhood Theatre
SAT – 8/31 | TICKETS

After touring part of Europe for the first time in early 2019, Travers Brothership will finish their current summer run at the Neighbohood Theatre on the 31st.

The Asheville natives are steeped in Southern Rock, Soul, and Blues.  They formed back in 2012 and have been in heavy touring mode the past 24 months. There is a reason Travers Brothership stands out among most acts on the scene today and they strive to make each concert a unique and unforgettable experience.

Utilizing the band’s unmatched live energy, instrumental prowess, and 3-part harmonies; they create a live atmosphere that transforms an audience into a community.

Charlotte’s own Swim In The Wild will be in support at the Theatre.

Other Notable Shows

Kat Hall Band @ Divine Barrel • 8/9

Wild Adriatic @ WWC • 8/15

Triple C Brewing 7th Anniversary feat. Liz Cooper & The Stampede @ Triple C Barrel Room • 8/17

The Menastree Jazz Jam @ Evening Muse • 8/20

Voodoo Visionary @ WWC • 8/24

Beck and Cage The Elephant @ PNC • 8/25