By Shawn D. Allison, II
Happy Thursday Brothers and Sisters! It’s been a mighty long week, but we are finally here and there’s so much stuff to do in the QC this weekend! There’s all sorts of festivals, plays, concerts and art showcases for everyone to enjoy and if you’re like me, you’re probably going to have to find the nearest laboratory to make clones and experience multiple facets of fun all at once! If you want to know where the real heat in the streets will be this weekend, peep the dopeness on my “Hot List” and dig in!
- THURSDAY-SUNDAY – 8th Annual Charlotte Black Film Festival
- THURSDAY — NC Science Festival – “Queen of Katwe” Movie Screening at Char-Meck Main Library
- FRIDAY-MONDAY – CPCC’S 2018 Sensoria Arts Festival
- FRIDAY-SATURDAY – Legacy Theatre Company adaptation of “Single Black Female” at The Duke Energy Theater
- FRIDAY-SATURDAY – Community Launch of Sol Nation, Inc.
- FRIDAY – Blow Your Head at Salud Cerveceria
- FRIDAY — The SkyBreak/Stargazer Tour featuring Zo! and Carmen Rodgers
- SATURDAY-SUNDAY — Diggers Delight & Premium Sound Record Store Opening at Tip Top Daily Market
- SATURDAY – The Weirdo Lounge Grand Opening
- SATURDAY – Off The Wall: Aries Edition at Petra’s
- SUNDAY – Classic Black Cinema Series screening of “Princess Tam Tam” at The Gantt Center
- SUNDAY — Love Hour + Real Comedians Of Social Media Charlotte at Have Life Church
If you would like your event to be listed in “The Rundown” please send a detailed e-mail to me at: sdallison85@yahoo.com
——-THURSDAY, APRIL 5——-
This afternoon, head down to the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Main Library for the NC Science Festival – “Queen of Katwe” Movie Screening this evening. “Queen of Katwe” is a riveting biopic of Ugandan chess prodigy Phiona Mutesi traces her journey from the slums of Katwe, where she is forced to abandon her schooling at the age of nine, to the upper echelons of the chess world. This program starts with a 30 minute chess lesson. The NC Science Festival is a statewide multi-day annual celebration of STEM – science, technology, engineering and mathematics. Admission is FREE to attend and will begin at 5 p.m. 310 N. Tryon St. in Uptown.
This weekend, it’s all lights, camera and action at the 8th Annual Charlotte Film Festival! Bring your friends, fellow film enthusiasts and several Chocolate cinematic creatives for four days full of films, workshops, panel discussions, industry speakers, mini-competitions, an award showcase and much more! This year’s theme is “The Essence of Creativity” which incorporates the art, fashion, creation and the music of film. This festival will also showcase the work of emerging, actors/actresses, composers, screenwriters and directors featuring over 30 films. The mission of the Charlotte Black Film Festival is to educate, preserve, and promote African American cinema, as well as be a voice for independent filmmakers of color. Event schedule and additional info can be found here: http://charlotteblackfilmfestival.com. Tonight is the opening networking mixer with a screening of “Black Privilege” and “The Art of Journey.” Tickets can be purchased here: https://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/3320437. 6 p.m. at Studio Movie Grill. 210 E. Trade St. in Uptown. #CBFF2018
Dapper Street Productions invites you to start your weekend on an infatuated artistic vibe as they proudly present Ritmo Caliente – The Latin Jazz Experience this evening. Take a load off and come experience the passion of the Dapper Street Jazz Band setting the mood with a variety of classic and spicy Latin jazz numbers. Admission is FREE to attend, there will be light refreshments available and be sure to bring your dancing shoes! The event will begin at 6 p.m. and will be held at Albemarle Road Rec Center. 5027 Albemarle Rd.
The good people of Liberate Your Palate CLT invite you to start your weekend by pouring some deliciousness in your glass with the “Whiskey & Bourbon Cocktail Class!” In this class you will venture into the artistry of whiskey and bourbon cocktail creations. Experience American Whiskey through the lens of the craft cocktail, as you take a trip through time and learn the rich history of Bourbon & Rye. We will learn how to make a few of your favorite whiskey based cocktails and a few twist to convert the non-believers. You will get to enjoy four full-sized cocktails, live music and appetizers paired with each cocktail. Tickets can be purchased here: http://www.liberateyourpalate.com/passbook/charlottecocktailclass-9tm6t-nxwzl-32j9x-63yb7-b294b-tabzm. The event will begin at 6:30 p.m. at Nest Restaurant & Lounge. 505 E. 6th St. in Uptown.
Get ready to lose yourself in laughter at The Morehead Tavern this evening as they present to you, “Laff It Up Thursdays!” This first-Thursday-of-every-month comedy jam is full of nonstop humor with a list of comedians and comediennes ready to clear your heart’s cholesterol with laughter. Tonight’s headliner is the riotous Marvin Hunter and will be hosted by none other than homegrown and legendary funnyman Tone-X. Tickets can be purchased here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/laff-it-up-thursdays-with-tone-x-tickets-44109011240. The event will begin at 7 p.m. The Morehead Tavern is located at 300 E. Morehead St. in Uptown.
This weekend, catch some more theatrical action as Theatre Charlotte proudly presents a stage adaptation of John Grisham’s gripping drama, “A Time To Kill.” This intense play tells the story of a young, idealistic lawyer, Jack Brigance, defending a black man, Carl Lee Hailey, for shooting two white men in the courtroom where he now stands trial. Brigance sees this act of vengeance against the two racists that violently attacked Hailey’s young daughter as a desperate bid for justice and he’s willing to risk everything to defend his client’s life. The community is torn apart in this gripping adaptation of John Grisham’s novel about race, crime and family in small-town America. This play is recommended for persons 13+. Tickets can be purchased here: https://www.carolinatix.org/events/detail/a-time-to-kill. There will be three performances this weekend: Thursday (4/5) at 7:30 p.m., Friday (4/6) and Saturday (4/7) both starting at 8 p.m. and Sunday (4/8) at 2:30 p.m. Theatre Charlotte is located at 501 Queens Rd. in the Cherry Neighborhood.
——-FRIDAY, APRIL 6——-
CPCC is proud to welcome each and everybody out to the 2018 Sensoria: A Celebration of Literature & The Arts! Filled with a multisensory landscape of art, theatre, music, poetry and food, this festival is sure to bring out the beauty of humanity from a host of featured local and national creatives. Event info, features and ticket purchases can be found here: https://sensoria.cpcc.edu/.
Everyone is invited down to First United Presbyterian Church as they present another soul-stirring edition of their United In Jazz Concert Series. Enjoy a delicious dinner, good fellowship, and live jazz from Shableek Henderson! The bellowing sounds of a saxophone that fills the air with a pulsating rhythm cannot adequately describe the music of this world-renowned artist. He soulfully changes his instrument into a vocal imitating a powerful scale of escalating notes that cannot be duplicated. This is an encore performance from a musician who fills the room with the sultry sounds of a high voltage heat wave of entertainment. Admission is $20 for the concert and dinner or just $10 for the concert. All ages are welcome. Dinner will be served starting at 5:30 and the music starts at 7 p.m. First United Presbyterian Church is located at 406 N. College St. in Uptown.
Ladies, get ready to “werk” your way to a healthier lifestyle at the “Trap Out: The Werk Out” exercise session this evening! Now I bet you’re wondering what in the world is Trap Out – The Werk Out? It’s an interactive workout party fully stocked with Hip Hop, Soca, twerking and majorette-style dancing routines that’ll set your course to a healthier size-sexy fit lifestyle. What’s unique about this class is that you will be taught by four instructors at once who specialize in their designated field of dance. If you want to be healthy and have fun at the same time, this is the class for you! Please feel free to encourage your friends to join! Tickets can be purchased here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/trap-out-the-werk-out-tickets-42767928024. The session will begin at 7 p.m. and will be held at Noda@28th Creative Arts Studios. 2424 N. Davidson St. in the NoDa District.
From the creative mind of the lovely Kenya Phifer-Jones of The Legacy Theatre Company comes a special adaptation of Lisa B. Thompson’s “Single Black Female” this weekend! Single Black Female is a two-woman show with rapid-fire comic vignettes that explore the lives of thirty-something African American middle-class women in urban America as they search for love, clothes, and dignity in a world that fails to recognize them amongst a parade of stereotypical images. SBF 1, an English literature professor, and SBF 2, a corporate lawyer, keep each other balanced as they face their fears of rejection, hopes for romance, and reminisce about black girlhood wounds. While embodying a variety of characters, the girlfriends discuss the absurdities of interracial dating, the lure of recreational shopping, and the merits of college reunions for bolstering one’s self-esteem. After reviewing their escapades in past relationships and confessing their own mounting anxieties about commitment and the possibility of motherhood, the pair realize their best chance at love may be found closer than they ever imagined. Tickets can be purchased here: https://www.carolinatix.org/events/detail/single-black-female. There will be three performances this weekend: Friday (4/6) at 7:30 p.m. and Saturday (4/7) at 2:30 and 8 p.m. All shows will be held at the Duke Energy Theater at Spirit Square. 345 N. College St. in Uptown.
This weekend, get energized for good measure and come out for the launch of grassroots environmental activism collective Sol Nation, Inc.! Environmental concerns, social issues and justice now has a new habitat and they invite you out to experience this new progressive green movement! Tonight, come out for Mosaic Live First Fridays — “Sol Edition” at BLKMRKT beginning at 6 p.m. and Saturday’s “Inaugural Sol Summit” at the McColl Center starting at 2 p.m. You will celebrate the community through arts, culture, storytelling, music, networking with Sol Nation founder Nakisa “Sista Sol” Glover and other community environmental organizations. Admission is FREE for both events. BLKMRKT is located at 1824 Statesville Ave. at Camp North End. The McColl Center is located at 721 N. Tryon St. in Uptown.
It’s time for another first Friday edition of Jazz at the Bechtler and tonight’s listening experience, in-house soundmasters, The Ziad Jazz Quartet teams up with renowned trumpeter Justin Ray to the Bechtler stage to pay homage to jazz great Horace Silver. Horace Silver was one of the most prolific and influential composers and musicians in jazz history. Tonight’s performance will showcase Horace Silver’s 1965 album “Song for My Father.” These compositions represent the quintessence of the hard bop style–an alternative to the light, cool West Coast sound of the day. The instrumentation of his quintet served as a model for many small jazz groups from the mid-1950s until the late 1960s. Tickets can be purchased here: https://30796a.blackbaudhosting.com/30796a/tickets?tab=2&txobjid=32c9e5e0-01bb-492a-8673-c901b2c3f49d. There will be two performances this evening at 6 and 8:15 p.m. The Bechtler is located at 420 S. Tryon St. in Uptown.
For some different sonic flavor in the QC this weekend, come out to Salud Cerveceria for the April session of “Blow Your Head!” Join local musicians and cultural activists DJs Flock of Slagles and Jah Freedom spinning an entire vinyl set of Funk, Soul, Boogie, Garage, House and Rare Grooves for your listening pleasures! Also, be sure to be camera ready as renowned photographer Jonathan Cooper with be abroad snapping fun still shots throughout the night! Admission is FREE to attend and be ready to dance! The event starts at 8 p.m. Salud Cerveceria is located at 3306 N. Davidson St., Suite “C” in the NoDa District.
The coolest crew known as Radio Rehab Carolinas along with Jazz N’ Soul Music is back with some more goodness for your souls this evening as we proudly present The SkyBreak/Stargazer Tour featuring Zo! and the beautiful Carmen Rodgers! Get ready to step into a world full of multisensory musical magic that you will be able to experience on various levels. Piloted by Zo! and his masterful sense of musicianship, there will be an creative agent that will ultimately drive your senses to the brink of euphoria. Add Carmen Rodgers’ sultry and timeless vocal stylings, trust me when I say that you will not want her to leave. Two separate artists who come together on the same stage, at the same time performing songs from each other’s vast discographies with a high energy live show that is NOT to be missed. Don’t miss this show! Tickets can be purchased here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/zo-carmen-rodgers-the-skybreakstargazer-tour-tickets-42823022814. The host for the evening is none other than the great Quentin Talley with some fly sonic accompaniment provided by The Mighty DJ DR. Doors open at 8 and the show will begin at 9 p.m. at The Morehead Tavern. 300 E. Morehead St. in Uptown.
The weekend has arrived and now it’s time to relax as Buck Long & Friends proudly presents another installment of Feel Good Fridays featuring sax man Derwin Friday! Known as the front man of the band 5th & York, Derwin has managed to carve his own rhythmic riff with immeasurable skills on the saxophone making sure to give the crowd a strong dose of supreme showmanship. Admission is $10 per person. Doors open at 8 and the band strikes at 9 p.m. The show will be held at ROC’s Jazz Bar. 1000 NC Music Factory Blvd. near Uptown.
The Sol Kitchen invites you out to ‘Stache House Bar & Lounge this evening for the April edition of #ThankGawdIts1stFriday! Relax with some Hip Hop and R&B tunes of today and yesteryear with DJ Loui Vee on the wheels of steel. There will be drink specials all night long and the event jumps off at 10 p.m. Admission is FREE. ‘Stache House is located at 1520 South Blvd. #TheSolKitchen
——-SATURDAY, APRIL 7——-
Celebrate Jazz Appreciation Month at The Gantt Center and bring the entire tribe out for the April Family First Workshop Series! Today’s session is filled with colorful melodies, rousing energy and some “on the one” precision as local sax man and my friend Harvey Cummings II hosts “The Standard Jazz Series – An Interactive Music Demonstration.” The Standard Jazz Series creates an opportunity for fans and students alike to enjoy, learn and explore the building blocks and instruments used in jazz music. Master class Bro. Cummings will invite participants of all levels to engage with the band as they trace the story of America’s classical music – jazz – in a live performance workshop and discover everything-you-ever-wanted-to-know-about-jazz with a Q&A session and interactive musical demonstrations. Please be sure to RSVP here: https://61686.blackbaudhosting.com/61686/Family-First-Presented-by-Novant-Health-The-Standard-Jazz-Series?_ga=2.197547311.1692641710.1522795614-1853223122.1522795614. The session will begin at 11 a.m. The Gantt Center is located at 551 S. Tryon St. in Uptown.
The 90s Block Party was off the hook last night for sure and today, Moxie Society keeps the energy going with the “I Still Love The 90’s: The Show, The Afterparty, The Brunch” social today! Gather all your friends and step back down memory lane and give a warm welcome to the lovely DJ Micki Blendz for her first spin at Charlotte’s best brunch experience! Then, be sure to stick around as the party continues with Charlotte staple DJ Tramare rockin’ out the best of Hip Hop and R&B! There will be plenty of food and drink specials, including $5 mimosas. Admission is FREE to attend and the jump off is at 11 a.m. at Sports One Bar & Lounge. 521 N. College St. in Uptown. #MoxieSociety
Get ready for some mouth-watering satisfaction this afternoon as Prosocialites invites you out to the Charlotte Brunch Festival! Come and let your palates roam free as over twenty local restaurants and chefs provide fresh, hot samples ranging from $2-$6. Each food vendor will have three menu items to choose from, offering a wide variety of options. In addition, commercial vendors will be stationed throughout to share fun samples and giveaways. Tickets can be purchased here: https://www.universe.com/events/charlotte-brunch-festival-tickets-charlotte-VZ9RQK. The event will be at The Fillmore starting at 12 noon. 820 Hamilton St.
Calling all music heads—a new rotation is on the horizon in the QC! Everyone come out to Tip Top Daily Market for the Diggers Delight & Premium Sound Record Store Opening this weekend! You’ve seen these purveyors of wax on the grind in various spots and now join them as they celebrate the grand opening of their brand new concrete placement! This weekend will be filled with all sorts of performances from DJs FoundACEtion, Jah Freedom, Flock of Slagles, Ghost Trees, Luke Stemmerman and much more! And while you’re enjoying the live sounds, be sure to scoop up some sounds from their newly-added vinyl section! It’s a party you don’t want to miss! Admission is FREE all weekend and the jump off is at 2 p.m. 2902 The Plaza Rd. in the Plaza-Midwood District.
Jazz Around Town and The Sol Kitchen invites you out to The McGlohon Theater for a very special and soulful eulogy in song to two of our greatest voices as they present “A Tribute to Marvin Gaye & Luther Vandross!” While their names are often referenced and revered in an eponymous style, their legendary voices add much more value to their beings. Tonight, join one of the QC’s baddest ensembles, The XMen along with the beautiful vocalist Ahji Love as they take your souls on a journey with a bevy of ballads from these two crooners. It’ll be an evening of musical romance you won’t forget! Tickets can be purchased here: https://www.blumenthalarts.org/events-performances/coming-performances/detail/a-tribute-to-the-music-of-marvin-gaye-and-luther-vandross. Showtime is at 8 p.m. The McGlohon Theater is located at Spirit Square. 345 N. College St. in Uptown. #JazzAroundTown #TheSolKitchen
Charlotte and surrounding areas, there’s some BRAND NEW flavor in our midst and it’s definitely different than the norm – in fact, it’s a little weird! Gather all your crew, ride down to the Gas House (Gastonia) and get ready to step into the world of The Weirdo Lounge! Join owner and chief rocker DJ Taz Infinite for a night of eccentric vibes full of funk fo’ yo’ soul! As Taz spins some fly sounds on the wheels of steel, prepare yourselves for some more audible delight from the VKC Band. Admission is FREE all night long and there will be lots of drink specials! So come out, show your love, spread the word and get ready to get weird! The jump off is at 9 p.m. 251 W. Main Ave. in Gastonia. #WeirdoLounge
Need a jolt of sonic juice to spring your body into action tonight? Head out to The Morehead Tavern this evening for RELEASE! Classic & Soulful House Party – Spring Kickoff! Join the Deep House Providers (DJ Marcus, Gary “Jackmaster” Wallace, Badala B and DJ Tony Cutlass) and special guest House Station Radio Italy/NYC Giulio Bonaccio as they provide nothing but the best of House, Downtempo, Soul and Funk grooves all night long! Admission is $10. The party starts at 9 p.m. The Morehead Tavern is located at 300 E. Morehead St. in Uptown. #HouseMusicLives #DeepHouseProviders
Alright everyone, it’s time once again to get down with all the flyness as The JETA Team returns for the April session of Off The Wall! Join two of Charlotte’s finest — DJ Justice and The Mighty DJ DR rockin’ the essential sounds for your Spring ears! Golden Era Hip Hop, R&B, Funk, Rock, Pop, Reggae and more! Admission is $5 before 11 p.m. and $10 after. The tables start turning at 9 p.m. Petra’s is located at 1919 Commonwealth Ave. in the Plaza-Midwood District. #TheJETATeam
GET MOVING AT THE 2ND ANNUAL TWIRL ’N SWIRL 5K 2018 AND CELEBRATE THE HEALING POWER OF THE ARTS
The family-friendly event unites the community in Honor of Child Abuse Prevention Month and Benefits The Arts Empowerment Project’s Judge Bill Jones Memorial Scholarship Fund. The Arts Empowerment Project, a nonprofit that connects court-involved and at-risk youth to the transformative power of the arts, in conjunction with Charlotte Country Day School, will host Twirl ‘N Swirl 5K and Kids Fun Run at 8:30AM at the Carmel Commons Shopping Center in South Charlotte.For more information on the event, to volunteer, register or become a sponsor, visit https://runsignup.com/Race/NC/Charlotte/TwirlNSwirl5K . 5K: 8:30am + Kids Fun Run: 9:30am, $25.00 (5K); $10.00 (Kids Fun Run) Carmel Commons Shopping Center (7520 Pineville-Matthews Rd. Charlotte, NC US 28226)
——-SUNDAY, APRIL 8——-
This afternoon, get your film fix in with Mr. Felix Curtis of Classic Black Cinema Series as he hosts a special screening of “Princess Tam Tam” at The Gantt Center! This 1935 classic features the legendary Josephine Baker portraying a young African woman living in (white) North Africa. She is “civilized” by Max, a French novelist – just as Henry Higgins trains Eliza Doolittle in the movie “My Fair Lady” – but in this film, Max’s training is for purely selfish reasons, it’s done an attempt to get back at his wife in France, whom he suspects of cheating on him. Tickets are $9 for nonmembers and FREE for Gantt Center members. The film will begin promptly at 2 p.m. and refreshments will be provided. 551 S. Tryon St. in Uptown.
Put a soulful cap on your weekend and join LG Productions at Three Spirits Brewery for Jazz Sundays this afternoon! It’s Craft Beer Week in the QC and if you want an extra taste of something fresh, come and feel the mellow smoothness of guitarist Paul Dozier with the beautiful Ashanti Munir on vocals! Admission is FREE to attend and there will be a food truck on hand to satisfy your stomach’s needs. 2 p.m. 5046 Old Pineville Rd. #LGProductions
Get ready to laugh yourselves silly this evening and come out for Love Hour + Real Comedians Of Social Media Charlotte! The Love Hour is a live discussion on love, relationships, and happiness. Based on the podcast “The Love Hour” Kevin and Melissa Fredericks will spend an hour and half talking about Love in a new fresh way as only they can. Couples young and old, married or seriously dating can stand to learn a lot from this seminar. The game has changed and social media, DMs, and the internet have shifted the playing field. Kevin and Melissa are going to help you navigate the ups and downs of your relationship in a unique and fresh way. After the knowledge is dropped, it’s time to lose your sides as Tony Baker, Tahir Moor and KevOnStage give you a strong and serious dosage of clean comedy! Tickets can be purchased here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/love-hour-real-comedians-of-social-media-charlotte-tickets-38711518193. The event will begin at 6 p.m. at Have Life Church. 3165 Zion Renaissance Ln. in the Derita area.
——-MONDAY, APRIL 9——-
The weekend may be over, but now it’s time to get revved up again for the 2018 Charlotte Jazz Festival! Today is the start of six full days of nonstop jazz performances featuring a blend of local and globally-renowned jazz instrumentalists, ensembles, bands, vocalists and more! Performance schedules, event info, artist bios, ticket purchases can be found here: https://www.blumenthalarts.org/assets/doc/2018CLTJazzFest_color-Playbill_v1_FINAL-6bdf33c0e5.pdf.
COMING SOON…
4/13 – Soul Sessions w/ Mercury Carter
4/14 – The Sol Kitchen presents Bobbito Garcia aka “Kool Bob Love”
4/14 – AfroPop Charlotte Vol. 20
4/21 – Living With PRIDE Home Buying Seminar
4/21 – Purple Reign: Prince vs. King of Pop
4/20 -4/22 – 3rd Annual BOOM Charlotte
4/29 – Open Streets 704
4/29 — WCOS presents “The Ladies & Gents Forgiveness Luncheon”
5/5 – 2018 Euphoria in the Park
Have a great weekend everyone! Peace!
Live. Laugh. Love. Learn. Listen. Give.
#WeekendWarrior #TheBlackFerrisBueller #EarsToDaSkreets #CommunityFirst