Big things are coming to the Queen City. In a few days time, Blumenthal Performing Arts will kick off the inaugural Charlotte International Arts Festival, which will run from Sept. 16 through Oct. 2.
The festival’s focus is to bring local and international artists together to highlight up-and-coming talent as well as established, household names. A number of previously held events, such as Charlotte Shout and the Charlotte Jazz Festival, sparked the idea that the city was ready for something bold. What sets Charlotte International Arts Festival apart, however, is Blumenthal’s emphasis on creating accessible, welcoming spaces for all.
In addition to several art installations built throughout the city and a range of family friendly entertainment available from Uptown to Ballantyne, here is a list of things to do each day of the festival:
Friday, September 16
- Levine Artist Stage: Live Music & Biergarten
- 500 S. Tryon Street
- Free Event
- 11:30 am – Shelley Ruffin
- 6:30 pm- A Sign of the Times
- 8:00 pm – Orquesta Mayor
- 9:30 pm – Kobie Watkins Grouptet
- Grid
- Romare Bearden Park, 300 South Church Street, 5:45pm – 6pm
- Free event
- Local contemporary dance company Baran Dance in conjunction with Charlotte based artist, Sweat Transfer, will put on an improvised show that explores the themes of chance, coincidence, and collective pattern making. This will be a recurring event with each performance taking on its own unique spin.
- Additional shows: Sept. 23 6:30 – 6:45pm and Sept. 30 6:30 – 6:45pm
- Little Feat: Waiting For Columbus Tour
- Knight Theater, 430 S. Tryon Street, 8pm
- Ticketed Event, $59.50
- Although labeled as a rock group, Feat has been blending rock and roll, blues, country, folk, and various other genres since their formation in 1969. The group’s lineup has undergone many changes in those years but their unique blend of music continues to dazzle audiences.
- Mike Phillips: Charlotte Album Release Party
- Booth Playhouse, 130 N. Tryon Street, 8-9:30pm
- Ticketed Event, $29.50
- The late Prince once said “one man breathing into an instrument, and the whole room feels alive.” He was speaking about Mike Phillips who’s resume leaves little room for doubt as to how much talent he displays with a saxophone in hand. Collaborations with Prince, Steven Wonder, and Michael Jackson. Multiple Billboard chart topping albums. Performances at the Super Bowl, Grammy’s, and Soul Train Awards. He is also the first artist signed by Michael Jordan to the Nike Jordan Brand.
Saturday, September 17
- Levine Ave Artist Stage: Live Music & Biergarten
- 500 S. Tryon Street
- Free Event
- 7:30 pm – Rawllty with Erin Blue
- 9:00 pm – Lady S, Tecoby, Frenchie & Phaze Gawd
- Bassem Youssef: Jon Stewart of the Arab World
- Booth Playhouse, 130 N. Tryon Street, 7-8:30pm & 9:30-11pm
- Ticketed Event, $39.00
- Cardiologist, Bassem Youssef, began making politically themed videos in the aftermath of the revolution that swept his home country, Egypt, in 2011. Inspired by Jon Stewart, he recorded five minute videos in his laundry room and garnered millions of views in a few months. That success led to the Middle East’s first internet to television conversion, millions of loyal fans, and the harsh scrutiny of his country’s ruling class. That scrutiny and the threat of imprisonment eventually forced Youssef and his family to the United States though his influence is now felt globally.
- Drag Story Hour:
- Romare Bearden Park, 300 S. Church Street, 11am – 12pm
- Free Event
- Drag Queen Story Hour is a local organization that encourages children to buck rigid gender roles and allow their unique personalities to shine through a love of literature.
- Will also be hosted same place and time on September 18th
- We Are Hip Hop: Battles & Block Party
- Knight Theater & Levine Ave Stage, 550 S. Tryon Street
- Sept 17: 4-8pm, Sept 18: 12-5pm
- Free Event
- We Are Hip Hop is a collaboration of several Charlotte artists across various disciplines – visual, dance, poetry, and graffiti – that celebrates hip hop culture. This festival within a festival will feature DJ battles, dance performances, and an after church block party over the course of two days.
- A ticketed Dance Showcase will be hosted at the Knight Theater from 8-10pm on the evening of the 17th. Tickets are $19.50
- Tablao Flamenco: Dance Pop Ups
- Romare Bearden Park, 300 S. Church Street, recurring
- Free Event
- Some of the world’s most sought after flamenco dancers will converge on Romare Bearden Park for a series of improvised dance performances that bring the heat of this passionate dance form here to the Queen City.
- Sept 17: 12:20-12:50 pm / 2:30-3pm / 5-5:30pm
- Sept 18: same times
Sunday, September 18
- Levine Ave Artist Stage: Live Music & Biergarten
- 500 S. Tryon Street
- Free Event
- 4:30 pm – Justin Fedor & The Denim Denim
- 6:00 pm – Kaska Sun
- 7:30 pm – Emanuel Wynter
- Project Full Out: Second Chance Dance
- Booth Playhouse, 130 N. Tryon Street, 1:30-3:30pm / 7-9pm
- Ticketed Event, $15-25
- It’s never too late to live out your dreams. That is the concept behind Project Full Out which brings together local dancers in a 6-8 week program that pushes them both physically and mentally and encourages them to leave nothing behind when pursuing their dreams. The program will culminate in a hip hop showcase combining dance, comedy, and audience participation.
Monday, September 19
- Levine Ave Artist Stage: Live Music & Biergarten
- 500 S. Tryon Street
- Free Event
- 11:30 am – The Marcel Portilla Band
- Tablao Flamenco:
- Stage Door Theater, 155 N. College Street, 7:30-9:30pm
- Ticketed Event, $35
- Tablao Flamenco returns and this time they are turning the Stage Door theater into a Spanish dance club filled with the sensual music and moves of this dramatic art form.
Tuesday, September 20
- Levine Ave Artist Stage: Live Music & Biergarten
- 500 S. Tryon Street
- Free Event
- 11:30 am – Reggie Graves – Jazz Theory
- 5:30 pm – Voices of the Blumeys
- 7:00 pm – Acoustic Autumn
- 8:30 pm – Best of Open Mic
Wednesday, September 21
- Levine Ave Artist Stage: Live Music & Biergarten
- 500 S. Tryon Street
- Free Event
- 11:30 am – Chelsea Locklear
- 4:45 pm – Live Art Demo with Ricky Singh
- 5:30 pm – Dances of India
- 6:15 pm – Fastest Steed and Jessica Macks
- 7:00 pm – The Barefoot Movement
- 7:45 pm – HipShack
- 8:30 pm – Coddle Creek
- Wednesday Night Live: Kickoff Block Party
- Multiple Locations
- Free Event
- First off if you didn’t already know, the Bechtler Museum of Modern Art, Harvey B. Gantt Center for African American Arts & Culture, and Mint Museum host admission free evenings every Wednesday from 5-9pm. To kick off their 2022-23 season they are throwing a block party for the whole city to enjoy.
- 4:45-5:30 pm: Live Art Demo with Ricky Singh @ Gantt Plazads
- 5:30-6:15 pm: Dances of India @ Levine Ave Stage
- 6:15-6:35 pm: Fastest Steed Drummers Performance @ Mint Plaza
- 6:35-6:55 pm: Jessica Macks Performance @ Mint Plaza
- 7:00-7:45 pm: The Barefoot Movement Performance @ Levine Ave Stage
- 7:45-8:30 pm: HipShack Performance @ Bechtler Plaza
- 8:30-9:30 pm: Coddle Creek Performance @ Levine Ave Stage
Thursday, September 22
- Headphone Disco: Silent DJ party
- Bechtler Plaza, 420 S. Tryon Street, 8-10pm
- Ticketed Event, $10
- Three separate DJs will be broadcasting over FM channels but you get to choose the vibe of your night. Stick with one or cycle through them all, at this silent disco you’ll get to march to the beat of your own headphones.
- Recurring Event, additional shows: Sep 30, Sep 29, Oct 01 all at the same time
Friday, September 23
- Levine Ave Artist Stage: Live Music & Biergarten
- 500 S. Tryon Street
- Free Event
- 11:30 am – Shemaine and Crimson Soul
- 5:30 pm – Nate Brown
- 7:00 pm – Car’olina JazzGrass
- 8:30 pm – Mac Arnold & Plate Full O’ Blues
- Color Play: an Immersive Multimedia Experience
- Booth Playhouse, 130 N. Tryon Street, 7:30-9pm
- Ticketed Event $5
- A 12’x15’ canvas. The paintbrush is a live dancer. Oversized tools such as a mop, leaf blower, and broom help to craft this piece of art as the audience is encouraged to participate. This event is hosted by Moving Poets, an international community of artists representing various disciplines that was founded here in Charlotte in 1996.
- Additional shows Sep 24 1:30-3pm & 7:30-9pm
- Headphone Disco: Silent DJ Party
- 400 S. Tryon Plaza, 8-10pm
- Ticketed Event $10
- The silent disco returns, this time to South Tryon Plaza. Grab your headphones, pick your music, and dance like no one is listening or watching!
- Returns the next day same place and time.
Saturday, September 24
- Levine Ave Artist Stage: Live Music & Biergarten
- 500 S. Tryon Street
- Free Event
- 4:30 pm – The Belfast Boys
- 6:00 pm – Borinquen Sublime
- 7:30 pm – Chinobay
- 9:00 pm – Furia Tropikal
- International Slam
- Knight Theater – Lobby, 430 S. Tryon Street,
- SLAM Preliminary Round #1 @ 12pm
- SLAM Preliminary Round #2 @ 2:30pm
- SLAM FINALS @ 8pm
- Ticketed Event, $10-25
- Some of the most recognizable names in the poetry world will be descending on Charlotte for one of this year’s biggest international poetry slams…and you the audience will decide who gets crowned.
Sunday, September 25
- Levine Ave Artist Stage: Live Music & Biergarten
- 500 S. Tryon Street
- Free Event
- 4:30 pm – Solomon Fox
- 6:00 pm – Cannoli
- 7:30 pm – Zoocrü
- MINTy Fresh World Music Party
- Mint Museum, 500 S. Tryon Street, 8pm-12am
- Ticketed Event, $25
- No passport is required to transport you to this international music festival. Come and jam out to the sounds of the top artists from around the world.
Monday, September 26
- Levine Ave Artist Stage: Live Music & Biergarten
- 500 S. Tryon Street
- Free Event
- 11:30am Groove Masters
Tuesday, September 27
- Levine Ave Artist Stage: Live Music & Biergarten
- 500 S. Tryon Street
- Free Event
- 11:30 am – Matt Kelly
- 5:30 pm – Free Planet Radio
- 7:00 pm – Reinaldo Brahn
- 8:30 pm – UltimaNota
Wednesday, September 28
- Levine Ave Artist Stage: Live Music & Biergarten
- 500 S. Tryon Street
- Free Event
- 11:30 am – The Bryan Anderson Project
- 5:30 pm – The Ladysticks Show
- 7:00 pm – Hamiltunes (sing along event based on the Broadway musical)
- Urban Bush Women’s Legacy:
- Booth Playhouse, 130 N. Tryon Street, 7:30-9pm
- Ticketed Event, $20
- Founded in 1984, Urban Bush Women is a professional dance company run by African descended women and focused on telling their stories through movement. After gracing stages from Africa to South America to Europe, this New York City based group is bringing their show to Charlotte for two evenings of Black empowerment and inspiration.
- Additional show September 29th at the same time.
- Arturo O’Farrill: Afro-Latin Jazz Concert
- Knight Theater, 430 S. Tryon Street, 7:30-9:30pm
- Ticketed Event, $24.50
- Born in Mexico but raised in New York City, pianist and composer Arturo O’ Farrill had already established himself as a solo performer before forming Afro Latin Jazz Alliance in 2007. The non-profit organization is dedicated to performance, education, and preservation of Afro Latin music. The son of big band legend Chico O’Farrill who was known for his undeniably Afro-Cuban style, Arturo has built on his father’s legend and has been more open to experimenting with other styles. His unique blend has won him Grammy awards, taken him to stages around the world, and earned him collaborations with household names such as Dizzy Gillespie, Wynton Marsalis, and Harry Belafonte.
Thursday, September 29
- Levine Ave Artist Stage: Live Music & Biergarten
- 500 S. Tryon Street
- Free Event
- 11:30 am – Arsena
- 5:30 pm – Rarity Standard
- 7:00 pm – Mitch Butler Quartet
- 8:30 pm – Jazz IS LED
- Brooklyn: The Collective Memory
- Studio 229, 229 S. Brevard Street, 5-9pm
- Ticketed Event, $5
- This past summer what was formerly known as Stonewall Street was renamed Brooklyn Village Avenue to commemorate the once thriving Black community that covered most of Charlotte’s Second Ward. A 1958 redevelopment plan led to the displacement of over 1000 families and destruction of over 1400 buildings that had been a city within a city for over 100 years. The Collective Memory project is an interactive,immersive experience that will transport viewers back to Brooklyn through life sized photos, archived materials, and video recordings from former residents.
- Additional shows September 30th 5-9pm, and October 1st 10am-4pm
- VS Guitar Duo & Friends:
- Stage Door Theater, 11 N. College Street, 7:30-9pm
- Ticketed Event, $35
- Vadim Kolpakov and his nephew Sasha Kolpakov are third generation Russian-Gypsy artists. With seven-string guitars they have traveled the world sharing their heritage through music that began in the Romani camps of Europe centuries ago. Combining their Gypsy music with influences as varied as American Jazz and Spanish Flamenco, this is sure to be a unique and energetic show.
- Additional shows September 30th 8-10pm and October 1st 8-10pm
- Birdmen: Larger than Life Bird Puppets
- Romare Bearden Park, 300 S. Church Street, 5-5:45pm
- Free Event
- Founded in 1991, Close Act Theatre brings together designers, actors, dancers, musicians, and choreographers to create large-scale interactive street theater. For a few nights come witness the migration of giant illuminated birds through the city streets.
- Recurring shows: September 30th 5-5:45pm, October 1st 3:45-4:30pm, October 2nd 3:45-4:30pm
- The Wood Brothers: Soulful Folk Band Concert
- Knight Theater, 430 S. Tryon Street, 7:30-9:30pm
- $36.50
- Brothers Chris and Oliver Wood grew up listening to their dad sing songs at family gatherings while their mom’s love of spoken word poetry instilled in them a love of storytelling. They developed differing tastes in music and were both established artists for over 15 years until a joint performance in 2001 sparked the idea that they were actually better together. With the addition of drummer Jano Rix, The Wood Brothers have gone on to release 8 studio albums and garnered a fandom that stretches far past their Nashville base.
- Blue Lapis Light:
- Government Center, 600 E. 4th Street, 7:30-8pm & 9-9:30pm
- Free Event
- The grace and athleticism of professional dance meet the head turning inspiration of high rise architecture in Blue Lapis Light. Bridges, towers, and other urban architecture become the dance floor whereupon physical limitations are tested and wonder and inspiration flourish. Through these ultimate tests of the human body, founder Sally Jacques hopes to create art that without adhering to any religion still offers a prayer to the planet we all inhabit.
Friday, September 30
- Levine Ave Artist Stage: Live Music & Biergarten
- 500 S. Tryon Street
- Free Event
- 11:30 am – Søelle
- 5:30 pm – Swim In The Wild
- 7:00 pm – TBD
- 8:30 pm – Southside Watt
- Zydeco Party: A Celebration of Creole Music & Food
- Booth Playhouse, 130 N. Tryon Street, 7:30-8:30pm
- Ticketed Event, $40
- For one evening the vibrant sounds and flavors of Louisiana’s Creole culture will fill the Booth Playhouse. Grammy award winning Zydeco artist, Terrance Simien, will be joined by Zydeco singer and accordion player Rosie Ledet for a Bayou bash filled with music, dancing, and food.
- Salsapalooza:
- Knight Theater, 430 S. Tryon Street, 7:30-9:30pm
- Ticketed Event, $15
- Legendary Salsa musician Andy Montanez, popularly known as El Godfather de la Salsa, gained fame during his time with the internationally known El Gran Combo group, a Puerto Rican salsa orchestra based in San Juan. Though much younger, Charlie Cruz has also established himself in the Puerto Rican salsa scene since his debut in 1997. Together they will bring the Knight Theater alive with an evening of Latin hits guaranteed to get everyone on the dance floor.
Saturday, October 1
- Levine Ave Artist Stage: Live Music & Biergarten
- 500 S. Tryon Street
- Free Event
- 4:30 pm – Al Strong
- 6:00 pm – Stephen Gordon Quartet
- 7:30 pm – NiiTO Band
- 9:00 pm – Cosmic Collective
- Musical Chairs on the Green:
- The Green, 425 S. Tryon Street, 3:30-4:30pm
- Free Event
- The music plays, The people walk hesitantly in a circle. Between them one less chair than is needed wait for the music to stop and the real fun to begin. Come let your inner child loose at the city’s largest game of this childhood classic.
- I Am Queen Charlotte:
- Knight Theater, 430 S. Tryon Street, 8-10pm
- Ticketed Event, $19.50
- Originally produced as part of Queen Charlotte week this live show is back telling the stories of Black women by Black women through stunning visuals and sound. Written by Hannah Hasan and directed by Chanel Blanchett, this duo have been telling stories of marginalized communities for over a decade but their stories about blackness form the core of their work and this production in particular aims to shine a light on what it means to be a Black woman from their own perspective.
- Lady Alma’s Live House Music Party:
- Booth Playhouse, 130 N. Tryon Street, 8-10pm
- Ticketed Event, $30
- Philly is in the house and bringing all the good vibes. Setting the mood is singer/songwriter Lady Alma. Internationally known for her powerhouse vocals she’ll be accompanied by award winning band, Vertical Current, who’s beats have complimented some of Philadelphia’s biggest names such as Jill Scott, Jazmine Sullivan, and The Roots. Host Nuff Cedd will guide the night as it transitions from live performance to a dj set from the legendary Marley Marl.
- Tabitha Brown: Cooking from the Spirit
- Belk Theater, 130 N. Tryon Street, 8-10pm
- Ticketed Event, $44.50
- Tabitha Brown’s rise from small town Carolina girl to worldwide fame has gained her millions of loyal fans and not just because of the warmth of her personality and voice but because it came about in the most unexpected way. After years of failed attempts to make it big in Hollywood and ailing health due to a hectic schedule her daughter introduced her to veganism to aid in her recovery. It was her review of a vegan WholeFoods BLT sandwich that went viral which launched her into the spotlight. Now a household name and an ambassador for vegan cooking, guests will have a chance to hear first hand her rags to riches story and pick up a few tricks she didn’t include in her first cookbook that was recently released.
Sunday, October 2
- Levine Ave Artist Stage: Live Music & Biergarten
- 500 S. Tryon Street
- Free Event
- 4:30 pm – Violet Bell
- 6:00 pm – Vadim Kolpakov
- 7:30 pm – Sadie Rock and the Mad Ryans
- Lost In Space: Your Neighborhood Orchestra
- Booth Playhouse, 130 N. Tryon Street, 7-9pm
- Ticketed Event, $20-$35
- Who knew that the Queen City was home to a spaceport? Charlotte based Your Neighborhood Orchestra invites you to blast off with them on a journey to the stars set to chamber music, crafted beats, and a bit of spoken word. New perspectives will be unveiled as this original production rounds out our city’s first International Arts Festival.
