Queen City Nerve - March 6, 2024

GuideSpring

Let’s take it outside

Arts: Flamingo Revue turns 5 pg. 10

Charlotte Bike

Polo players ask for opportunity to build community

Music: Springadelia settles in at Snug pg. 12

By Nellie Shortreed

PUBLISHER

JUSTIN LAFRANCOIS jlafrancois@qcnerve.com

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

RYAN PITKIN rpitkin@qcnerve.com

DIGITAL MANAGER

RAYNE ANTRIM rantrim@qcnerve.com

STAFF WRITERS PAT MORAN pmoran@qcnerve.com

ANNIE KEOUGH akeough@qcnerve.com

ART DIRECTOR

SIOBHAN aiden@triad-city-beat.com

AD

rwilson@qcnerve.com

ADVERTISING

amccormack@qcnerve.com

TABLE OF CONTENTS

NEWS & OPINION

4 Shoot Your Shot by Nellie Shortreed Charlotte Bike Polo players ask for opportunity to build community

6 Becoming Big Pat by Sam Spencer Charlotte’s young striker is an exciting player with an improbable story

8 Lifeline: Ten Cool Things To Do in Two Weeks ARTS & CULTURE

10 Bringing Sexy Back by Annie Keough The Flamingo Revue celebrates five years growing the burlesque scene in Charlotte MUSIC

12 The Rite of Springadelia by Pat Moran Snug Harbor’s multi-day event celebrates the season of growth

14 The Literary Songbook by Pat Moran Channeling Granny turns literature to music for Women’s History Month

16 Spring Guide 2024 Let’s take it outside

20 Soundwave FOOD & DRINK

22 Find the Sweet Spot by Dezanii Lewis Urban Sweets Co. readjusts after closing South End location

24 The Horticultural Urbanist by Ryan Pitkin Mariah Henry cultivates a shift in culinary thinking at The Urban Haven

LIFESTYLE

26 Puzzles

28 The Seeker by Katie Grant

29 Horoscope

30 Savage Love

Thanks to our contributors: Katie Grant, Nellie Shortreed, Dezanii Lewis, Sam Spencer, Ryan Allen, Alana McCallion, Taylor Banner, Josh Faggart, Kris Engelhart, Alex Carre,

SHOOT YOUR SHOT

Charlotte Bike Polo players ask for opportunity to build community

BY NELLIE S HORTREED

For more than 15 years, cyclists in Charlotte moved like nomads, traveling from court to court trying to find a permanent home for the game they love. With a lack of support and no place to lay down roots, local bike polo players eventually called it quits.

That is until about three years ago, when the Fixed Federation, a group of local fixed-gear cyclists, took a trip to Charleston, South Carolina, where bike polo maintained a strong presence. The journey reignited a passion for the sport that had all but disappeared from the courts of Charlotte, so they brought it back to the Queen City.

Since that fateful trip, the little-known subculture around bike polo has seen a rise in popularity in Charlotte, with pick-up games taking place every Wednesday and Sunday in east Charlotte.

“The Charlotte club as a whole has grown tremendously in the period of time I’ve been a part of the club,” said Eric Christopher, Charlotte club member since 2022. “Since [I joined] I’ve seen our numbers for pick-up increase substantially and the level of play has gone above and beyond. The passion for the sport has grown so much, and therefore so have we.”

Now, facing a lack of court access and hassles from pickleballers, local bike polo players are calling on local government to help them grow the sport that they say has cultivated a community in Charlotte.

So what’s bike polo and why are folks flocking to it? We spoke to some of the folks involved to get a better understanding of this niche community that’s growing in Charlotte and elsewhere.

What is bike polo?

Bike polo, sometimes referred to as cycle polo, was invented in County Wicklow, Ireland, in 1891 by Richard J. Mecredy, retired cyclist champion. The sport is similar to traditional polo, with players riding bicycles rather than horses.

There are two versions of bike polo: grass court and hardcourt, with the latter being more popular in Charlotte.

Traditional three-on-three hardcourt bike polo consists of three players on each team with games usually lasting around 15 minutes. Squad matches can feature teams of four to six players with games lasting anywhere between 30-40 minutes, allowing for substitutions in that time.

Both formats of hardcourt bike polo have a maximum of three players per team on the court at any given time.

At the beginning of each game, a ball is placed in the middle of the court while players holding mallets wait behind their goals. Following a countdown or whistle, one player from each team charges the ball in what is called a joust.

The player may hit the ball with a shot, made with either end of the mallet head, or a shuffle, hit with the side of the mallet. A ball hit into the opposing team’s goal with a shot is worth one point, but the point won’t be awarded if it’s deemed that the final touch was a shuffle or scored by a toss or wrist shot.

After a goal is scored, the scoring team returns to their own half of the court while the other team may cross the half-line and resume play. The game continues for a predetermined length of time, depending on the format.

A player who dabs, or touches a horizontal surface with their foot, must undertake some form of remedial penalty before making contact with the ball again. This usually involves tapping out, or riding to a designated point on the court and touching it with the mallet. Most players say, “foot down” or “dab” to let others know they are out of the play.

Contact during a game may vary, including “mallet to mallet,” “body to body,” or shoulder to shoulder, referred to as a “check,” if deemed safe by the referee. Rules may vary from city to city, though an official rule set for North America was created by the North American Bike Polo Association, which are the rules referenced above.

Today, hardcourt bike polo players use mallets with heads made of ultra-high-molecular-weight polyethylene and aluminum shafts similar to ski

poles, though they were originally made DIY-style. Balls used are usually made of PVC and are similar to street hockey balls, just a bit heavier and harder.

Any bike with a working brake is acceptable for use in bike polo, though there are many aspects of the bike to keep in mind when finding the right one for play. For a polo bike frame, the player will want to keep in mind the wheelbase; many players find that the lower the base, the better.

The top tube length needs to be an appropriate size compared to the player’s size. Ideally, a player will want a steeper head tube angle, similar to a mountain bike. The bike should also have a sensible gear ratio, a good front brake and a strong wheel set.

Some players upgrade their rides with wheel covers made of plastic, polycarbonate, netting or thick fabrics to protect the bike spokes and create a solid blocking surface. Customizing the wheel cover, frame color and adding personal touches can make players stand out and perform better.

Searching for a home

Bike polo has enjoyed a renaissance of sorts among its tight-knit community in Charlotte, although it has seen pushback from another community that seems to have appeared overnight, gaining widespread acceptance from the mainstream: pickleballers.

Over the last year, the city has welcomed the rise of pickleball with open arms, with developers opening spaces throughout the city ranging from

exclusive clubs located in Uptown office buildings to large, Topgolf-inspired venues where players can reserve a court and order food, drinks and coffee while they play.

Charlotte Bike Polo utilizes abandoned or neglected courts around Charlotte, taking the initiative to clean it themselves in order to play, but recently, pickleballers have started to butt heads with them, as the two sports can often utilize the same types of courts.

In 2023, the Charlotte Bike Polo crew saw its home court taken away by the county’s Park & Rec department after a single pickleballer complained, said Christopher.

“Every week we’d go out there and clean up the court,” they explained. “We would sweep and leafblow until the court was playable and we kept it in great running shape. We considered building benches for spectators. We picked up trash and kept the park clean, only to eventually get a single complaint from a pickleballer who wasn’t able to play on a Sunday, and removed [us] from the court.”

Christopher said it took Park & Rec just two days after the complaint to install “No Bicycles” signs on the court.

“This was not the first time that’s happened to us,” they told Queen City Nerve. “That court, almost every day of the week now, goes completely unused. It’s in mid-tier condition, and almost no one has given it the love it deserves since we were asked to leave.”

PHOTO BY RYAN ALLEN A LAX MOMENT BETWEEN ACTION IN A CHARLOTTE BIKE POLO MATCH

NEWS & OPINION FEATURE

That incident inspired Charlotte Bike Polo to engage with its elected leaders to ask for a place to play.

Christopher joined Chadwick Spence, an original member of Charlotte Bike Polo, to address the Mecklenburg Board of County Commissioners during a public budget hearing in January.

“The bike polo community has rehabilitated places to play but ends up having to haggle with pickballers and basketball players for court time,” Spence told commissioners.

He asked that the county work with Charlotte Bike Polo to guarantee regular court access for designated play times on Wednesday and Sunday nights, similar to the arrangements its sister clubs in Asheville and Raleigh have worked out with their respective local governments, offering to play at lesser-used facilities such as the Sugaw Creek Rec Center in north Charlotte.

Spence also requested that Charlotte Bike Polo be involved with any future city development of new multi-use sport courts in the county.

For their part, Christopher told commissioners how bike polo had impacted their life in their short time playing.

“I have traveled all over the country because of this sport,” they said. “It brings a large group of people together to play a sport for people of all ages, for people of all backgrounds and economic status, and it truly is a great way for the city to get involved with the people who live here.”

Building community

Despite the obstacles facing Charlotte Bike Polo, the group has been able to host some successful tournaments over the last year.

In December 2023, Charlotte Bike Polo had its time in the spotlight when it hosted the South by Southeast Tournament (SXSE), a classic three-onthree tournament with teams coming to compete from all around the country.

“It’s not easy to throw together a tournament, but every last second of work was so worth it to see it all come together,” said Christopher. “We had 14 teams from all over the United States and Canada come out to play.”

Local and international companies sponsored SXSE, including local breweries, Pabst Blue Ribbon, Liquid Death and bike polo-specific sponsors.

“We truly would be unable to do it at the scale we did if not for companies who supported us,” said Christopher. “It was a community effort, and

everyone in the club put their hearts and souls into putting it together.”

At the end of the three-day tournament, awards were given out to teams and individual players, including classic podium awards and niche ones like Best Up-and-Comer, MVPs, Craziest Crash and DFL (Dead Fucking Last).

A team called Trash Bandicoot took the championship over the Crop Top Jocks in the SXSE final, and following the successful event, the Charlotte Bike Polo Instagram page (@cltbikepolo) stated that it will be announcing more events like it in the spring.

In May 2023, the local crew was able to come together to help a bike polo club in Norfolk, Virginia that lost its court just before its planned shuffle tournament, Fish and Sticks, was set to take place, showing that the lack of accessible courts is a nationwide issue.

Charlotte Bike Polo invited the involved teams down to Charlotte to participate in Sardines and Twigs, an impromptu tournament hosted in homage to Fish and Sticks. Ten teams from North Carolina and neighboring states came out to play and show support for Norfolk.

Charlotte Bike Polo also hosted JoJo Pollo Loco from July 21-23, 2023, a bike tournament hosting over 10 teams from the southeast region to celebrate the birthday of Joe Morrison, a Charlotte bike polo

player who is, as Christopher put it, “an absolute local legend who everyone in Charlotte Bike Polo would kill and die for.”

Morrison won the “best up-and-comer” award at SXSE and was awarded a new Enforcer bike frame, which he proudly plays on to this day.

While awaiting an official answer from the county, Charlotte Bike Polo continues to host pickup games every Wednesday and Sunday at Eastway Middle School. In the meantime, the group is looking to form an official league.

On the first and third Monday of each month Charlotte Bike Polo also hosts WTF Night for women, transgender, femme and nonbinary players to come together and play bike polo in a safe and inviting environment.

Christopher encourages anyone interested in joining the Charlotte Bike Polo crew to show up, regardless of skill level. It’s all family, ater all — no judgment on the court.

“Joining the club is as simple as coming out,” they said. “We’re extremely beginner-friendly and welcome anyone who wants to come try — doesn’t matter if you don’t have a bike or a mallet when you start, we just want to see your faces. I know it’s intimidating, but it’s well worth the leap of faith.”

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BECOMING BIG PAT

Charlotte’s young striker is an exciting player with an improbable story

BY SAM SPENCER

Charlotte Football Club’s Patrick Agyemang is comfortable and relaxed. He’s just come out of a post-practice massage, and in a couple minutes head coach Dean Smith will tell the members of the media assembled for the coach’s Thursday press conference that Agyemang is available for Charlotte’s match in two days in Vancouver.

Because of a minor injury, he missed the first match of the season.

“Big Pat” — he’s listed as 6’4” on the roster — looks on as I set up my recording equipment in an office in the new Charlotte FC headquarters south of Monroe Road. Looking out on a huge bullpen of Charlotte FC sales and support staff, most employees are on their phones, surrounded by club merch and assembling gifts for season ticket holders as they work to pack the stadium for future matches.

The player I’m sitting next to is one of their biggest selling points.

A breakout year

2023 was Patrick Agyemang’s first year with the Charlotte FC organization.

“I went to preseason with the first team,” says Agyemang. “I knew I needed a little more play time and they let me play with the second team and just develop there.”

Agyemang started in the first regular season match for Crown Legacy FC, which plays in the MLS NEXT Pro league. He had his first goal for Legacy in his fifth start, and quickly drew the attention of fans who follow the club.

“Whenever we stepped on the field, it’s like, ‘Let’s make the fans enjoy the game we play,’” said Agyemang. “I loved [playing for Crown Legacy] because [coach Jose Tavares] allowed me to play my game and really be composed and not as tense as I once was … once I got going and the goals started coming, it’s like, ‘This is how I want to feel.’”

By May, Agyemang was appearing on Charlotte FC’s roster as a reserve player, and by the end of the month he was coming off the bench, albeit in extra

time with only seconds left in the match.

“Once I got the chance I just wanted to take it,” said Agyemang. “It was a good process for me.”

The next week, in June, Agyemang started for the first time in MLS play in an otherwise unremarkable 4-2 loss in Columbus.

“I want to play for the first team, so when I got the opportunity it was all I was asking for,” said Agyemang. “I was just hoping to take advantage.”

It didn’t take long for that to happen. The week after the loss to Columbus, during Charlotte’s June 10 home match against the Seattle Sounders, Agyemang came off the bench in the 75th minute. Big Pat entered the pitch right after the Sounders scored a third goal to go ahead 2-3.

In the closing minutes of the match, Charlotte was pressing Seattle but couldn’t break through.

Midfielder Brandt Bronico, outside of the left corner of the penalty box, passed the ball back to defender Nathan Byrne.

Byrne, seeing Agyemang with the height advantage at the penalty spot, chipped the ball at just the right height for the young striker to take advantage.

Agyemang’s head connected with the pass, putting the ball in the right corner of the net for an equalizer that would turn a loss into a draw for Charlotte.

In the 89th minute of play, Big Pat had just scored his first MLS goal.

Most soccer players would call that an accomplished weekend. The very next day, however, Agyemang traveled with

Crown Legacy to Ohio to play Columbus Crew 2, the team he scored his first MLS NEXT Pro goal against.

In the 10th minute, Columbus goalkeeper Stanislav Lapkes came out of the box to block a long pass from Crown Legacy captain David Poreba. The keeper tried to clear the ball, but it ended up on the foot of Agyemang far outside the box.

The keeper, however, left an open goal. Agyemang blasted the ball into the net from the midfield, becoming the first player ever to score in an MLS match and an MLS NEXT Pro match in the same weekend — a feat that is yet to be matched.

He would continue to make an impact with two goals in the Leagues Cup competition, winning the Soccer Sheet fan vote for Breakout Local Star.

This year, he’s joined some of his Crown Legacy teammates as fixtures in Charlotte FC’s first team squad.

All of that seems improbable for someone who was a Division III college soccer player just a couple of years ago. Agyemang’s hometown paper, the Hartford Courant, called him a late bloomer “who made up for lost time.”

It’s an unlikely story that brought him to Major League Soccer — and to Charlotte.

A Ghanaian soccer family in the Nutmeg State

Born and raised in East Hartford, Connecticut by Ghanaian parents, the young Patrick was always interested in soccer, an interest nurtured by his father and two older twin brothers, Enoch and Emmanuel.

“Both my brothers, we’re a soccer family, we enjoy the game so it [was always part of our lives] growing up,” says Agyemang. “I played starting in the backyard with my dad [and] my two brothers.”

I spoke to Patrick’s brother, Enoch, and his father, Patrick Sr., together on the phone.

“He was very energetic,” Enoch said of Patrick. “Every single day we used to play soccer in the backyard.”

Patrick Sr. said his son’s interests growing up were soccer and books, with Enoch describing the books as motivational ones. Patrick Sr. told me his son Pat loved soccer so much that one time at a department store, when the family was shopping for basketball clothes, toddler Pat refused to take the basketball clothes and instead put on soccer clothes.

He developed a strong work ethic by watching his parents work to support their family.

“My dad and my mom, they worked multiple jobs, and for my brothers and I it was tough to see,” said Agyemang. “You see them working, and you see

PHOTO BY TAYLOR BANNER/CHARLOTTE FC

PATRICK AGYEMANG ON THE PITCH DURING WARM-UPS

how tired they are, and always in your mind, it’s like, ‘I want to help them.’”

Patrick Sr. told me his goal when he moved from Ghana to the United States was to make sure his sons had opportunities. He recalled making numerous sacrifices — including working up to three jobs to make ends meet — to give his sons the chance to play soccer competitively.

“My dream was to get my children in a good position,” said Patrick Sr. “They were very good kids so we sacrificed for them.”

Patrick is clearly grateful for the sacrifices his parents made to allow him to play soccer, as he was then.

“I think at that point was where my mind was set … I want to do whatever it takes to help my family, and give back to them,” says Agyemang. “I have a drive, and [my parents] are a big part of it.

Agyemang’s youth soccer career grew from the backyard into rec soccer, then travel leagues where Patrick learned that he “really loved the sport.” He played in middle school, at East Hartford High School, and at the club level in Hartford.

“They’re like my family, still to now,” Agyemang says of the Hartford Soccer Club, where he played for five years.

Brian Gallagher, club president and coach with Hartford Soccer Club told me, “Patrick was a great young player. He was fast, skilled, and a very hard worker. He was not tall though until he was in college.”

Enoch remembers his brother a little differently, with 5’8” Patrick getting a growth spurt in his junior year and not stopping until he reached 6’4”.

The road to and from Rhode Island

In his senior year of high school, Agyemang accepted an offer to play soccer at Eastern Connecticut State University, in NCAA Division III. In his first year with the team, he scored nine goals in 18 appearances and won Little East Rookie of the Year.

“I thought that was the best fit for me,” said Agyemang. “I honestly thought I was going to stay there, but COVID hit.”

From there, Agyemang reevaluated his priorities, and sought a bigger challenge. Agyemang credits his faith, his family, and the drive he got from his parents for inspiring him to take the next step.

The pandemic became a training opportunity for the then-19-year-old Agyemang, who joined training groups with other players — including Division I players. He made friends, one of whom put

in a good word with the coach at the University of Rhode Island. When Agyemang entered the college transfer portal, he ended up in the state next door — at a Division I program.

During our interview, when we get to Patrick’s time with the Rhode Island Rams, I jokingly mention that I have to disclose I went to Davidson College — one of their conference rivals in the Atlantic 10.

Laughing, he responds, “Davidson beat me my last official college game, so that was tough.”

Despite that bittersweet ending, Agyemang’s time at Rhode Island included a lot of highlights, including a hat trick in his first full season.

“I think my favorite memory [from Rhode Island] was when I scored a hat trick against Brown [University],” says Agyemang, recalling that in the previous match against Providence, he missed a chance at a gamewinner in overtime, then missed a penalty kick.

a quick change of emotions and how I felt. I was down for I don’t even know how many days and then played a game and now I’m back up. So, I think that was a big one and it did make me realize … ‘I’m good enough to be here.’”

Despite the transfer and a shortened season due to COVID, Agyemang finished his career at Rhode Island with 19 goals over three years. In 2021, during the offseason between his junior and senior years, he played for the USL League 2 Western Mass Pioneers on the fourth tier of the American football pyramid, scoring six goals as the team finished first in the Eastern Conference.

Combined, this impressive record led Agyemang to be picked 12th in the MLS SuperDraft by Charlotte FC, making him the first-ever Rhode Island player to be picked in the first round.

Smith said Agyemang reminded him “straight away” of Tammy Abraham, the England national team player who scored 25 goals under Smith at Aston Villa, helping to secure the club’s promotion to the Premier League in 2019. When I told Enoch about that comparison, he told me he had been comparing his brother to Abraham during the latter’s time at Chelsea.

For a coach that evaluates players by personality, Agyemang is a good fit for Smith.

“[Patrick has] got attributes that can really help at this level of football,” continued Smith. “He’s still got a lot of work to do, I think he’s only been in the pro game now a year, so he needs to tidy his feet up a little bit, but he knows where to run … [and] he knows how to score goals. Consistency is going to be the key for him now.”

The coach sees the striker as someone who’s coachable, and who wants to learn; someone who is inquisitive and asks questions — all attributes Agyemang will need to sharpen his game and make it to the next level.

“I don’t know [what the ceiling is for Patrick] to be honest, until he starts starting games and getting involved in the team … until he really starts getting himself into that starting 11, we won’t know.”

Big Pat, for his part, is confident in his style of play.

“I like to be a force up top. So if the ball’s behind, and I’m running, you better hope you’re in front of me or it’s going to be a long day,” said Agyemang. “Whatever I have to fight for, I’m going to fight for it. I always think when it comes to the crunch time, if I’m there, I’m always going to create something.”

All of his goals for the first team have come in the 80th minute or later, making him indisputably a crunch-time player. Many local soccer pundits think Agyemang has already earned a permanent place on the pitch.

On the afternoon when we’re chatting, a moment from Charlotte FC’s previous match is still fresh in everyone’s mind: Kerwin Vargas’ missed penalty kick in the 2024 season opener. None of the players are mad at Vargas — winning the match helps a lot. Instead, they have sympathy because they’ve all been there, including Agyemang.

“So we tied one-one, where I had two opportunities to score,” says Agyemang, still recalling the Providence match “That game tore at me, it bothered me for so long. So then my next game was Brown, and I end up scoring a hat trick against Brown. And it was one of the most memorable things, because it was such

The ceiling is the roof

When I spoke with Charlotte FC head coach Dean Smith later in the day, he made it clear why other MLS sides should fear Big Pat this season — even if he still needs to improve his dribbling.

“I was actually more impressed [with Patrick] when I saw him personally on the training pitch than I was on the film,” said Smith. “I’d seen him make an impact from the subs bench a few times for the team last season, but then when you start working with him — and I always look at it, as a player, who I wouldn’t want to play against, and he’s one I wouldn’t want to play against.”

“I first realized what Patrick was capable of when I saw him playing for Crown Legacy, his combination of size and speed was instantly impressive but it was the ideas he looked to execute with the ball at his feet that really stood out the longer I watched,” said Daniel Bramlette, co-host of the Charlotte Soccer Show podcast. “Once I saw how great he was engaging with kids at Legacy Lawn, he had a fan for life.”

“It’s simple: whenever Big Pat plays, goals are scored,” Bramlette concluded.

“I really think this season is his season for sure,” Enoch told me before his dad chimed in over the phone, “I’m hoping for the best.”

PHOTO BY ALANA MCCALLION/CHARLOTTE FC PATRICK AGYEMANG ENGAGES WITH FANS.

3/5 - 3/25

WOMEN’S HISTORY MONTH FILM SCREENINGS

Building on its mission to change lives through the power of motion pictures by celebrating film education, filmmakers and film literacy, nonprofit VisArt Video is celebrating Women’s History Month with free film screenings on Mondays and Wednesdays all month. The names of films have yet to be announced as of press time, but the genres include drama (March 6), biography (March 11, March 18), director’s spotlight (March 13), adventure (March 20), and comedy (March 25). Attendees are encouraged to arrive at the store early to learn about that week’s film. Concessions can be purchased from VisArt Cafe before the screening begins.

More: Free; March 6-25, times vary; VisArt Video, 3104 Eastway Drive; visartvideo.org

THE CAMPFIRE, JAY HOFF, SAINT LOGIC

Petra’s curates an eclectic bill of local pop and rock. Coloring their alt-rock with shadings of folk, Charlotte foursome The Campfire weave a skein of jangling cross-stitch guitars and keening vocals on tunes that are wistful (“Love Will Win You Back”) and hard-charging (“Breathing by Wires”). On sundappled swaying single “Quite Like This,” Queen City singer-songwriter Jay Hoff evokes a lithe update on late ’70s yacht rock. Charlotte’s Saint Logic unleashes catchy and energetic guitar-driven pop rock that racks up a string of adjectives: freewheeling, fun, unbridled, unaffected, clashing and clangorous. More: $7; March 7, 8 p.m.; Petra’s, 1919 Commonwealth Ave.; petrasbar.com

ROCKHOUSE MYSTERY BUS BAR CRAWL

Part of a countdown that will run right through St. Patrick’s Day weekend and lead to their last day of operation in the current building, Tyber Creek Pub is hosting a 25-day celebration with events planned every day. In partnership with RockHouse Events, Tyber Creek will serve as the kickoff point for the Rockhouse Mystery Bar Crawl, where attendees will not know which bars they will visit until after they start the crawl. Those attending will anonymously submit a bar on arrival and pull bars out of a hat to see which one’s they’ll go to throughout the night. Live music with Bourbon Sons will start at 8 p.m. Follow along on Facebook for daily Tyber Creek events as St. Paddy’s Day nears, culminating with a blowout party on March 17.

More: $25; March 8; Tyber Creek Pub, 1933 South Blvd., tinyurl.com/MysteryBusCrawl

VTGCLT SPRING MARKET

Local small business incubator and large-scale popup event organizer Vintage Charlotte hosts the 2024 VTGCLT Spring Market, a pop-up event in the historic Ford Building at Camp North End with more than 90 of the region’s best vintage and handmade vendors offering vintage and handmade clothes, accessories and more for purchase. General admission is $3, but early bird entry is available if you want first pick. Drinks and food can be purchased from Camp North End vendors, including HEX Coffee and Free Range Brewing.

More: $3-$8; March 9, 11 a.m.-5 p.m.; Camp North End, 300 Camp Road; vintage-charlotte.com

CHARLOTTE TATTOO ARTS FESTIVAL

Celebrate tattoo culture and world-class ink at the third annual Charlotte Tattoo Arts Festival all weekend long. Featured artists include Jack Hatchet and Flip Shades as well as special guests James Vaughn, Manifest Mark Matthres, Caroline Evans, Trocon Talhouk, Mystical Mike, Charles Whitfield, Anwon Boneface Johnson and Al Fliction. International artist Filip Kotarlic from Italy will also be in attendance. Attendees can enjoy entertainment from Cenobyte Suspension, Alakazam the Human Knot, America’s Got Talent stars Captain and Maybelle, Ringling Brother’s star James Maltman and Veronica Fink.

More: $20-$40; March 8-10, times vary; Park Expo Liberty Hall, 800 Briar Creek Road; tinyurl.com/ CLTTattooFest

HEALTH, KING YOSEF, PIXEL GRIP

On “Unloved,” L.A. industrial trio HEALTH lures listeners with rifle-fire rim-shot drums, melancholy synths and sensuous/androgynous vocals. Metal trio King Yosef combines industrial, hardcore and trap on bludgeoning single “Power.” The phrase “Hell bent for leather” describes Chicago’s Pixel Grip, if the leather implement in question is a riding crop slapping a bare ass. On “ALPHAPUSSY,” kink goddess Rita Lukea’s taunting vocals swagger through melting-icicle synths and stuttering beats. The trio is advertising for local subs and gimps to join them onstage, so now’s your chance to check that off your bucket list.

More: $35.25; March 12, 7:30 p.m.; The Underground, 820 Hamilton St.; fillmorenc.com

CHARLOTTE

Courtesy of Tattoo Arts Festival 3/8-3/10

MACHINE 13, CANDY COFFINS, XOR, DJ DEATHFLOWER

Air raid siren synths and distorted vocals provide the piercing sonic backdrop for Machine 13’s relentless cyber-industrial single “Jai.” “Another Kiss” off Candy Coffins’ Once Do it With Feeling LP may be the Columbia goth-rock five-piece’s finest achievement to date. James Lathren’s yearning vocals barely keep anguish at bay as he relates a relationship in dissolution. Tom Alewine’s ricocheting guitars provide a soaring and devastating coda. With his electronic flowing/crawling soundscapes, Asheville solo artist XOR spins webs of uplift and unease. Fashionista, bassist, vegan and goth/punk DJ Deathflower rounds out the bill.

More: $12.50; March 14, 9 p.m.; Snug Harbor, 1228 Gordon St.; snugrock.com

‘CATCH THE BUTCHER’

Comedy Arts Theater of Charlotte presents Catch the Butcher by Adam Seidel, an Off-Broadway dark comedy about a single woman who is fascinated by a serial killer’s collection of poems he wrote to his victims. Nancy’s curiosity and infatuation gets the best of her as she positions herself as bait to lure the Butcher right to her. When Nancy finds herself in the Butcher’s basement, she likes it. “A dark comedy that almost shouldn’t be as funny as it is,” Catch the Butcher blends romance, comedy and horror as Nancy settles into her self-induced Stockholm syndrome.

More: $20; March 15-24, times vary; Comedy Arts Theater of Charlotte, 4128 South Blvd., Suite A3; catch.theater

RHETT MILLER, CLINT ROBERTS

Best known for the crackling, countrified, powerpop he seems to effortlessly conjure with his ragged band of West Texas tornadoes, Old 97’s, Rhett Miller has featured his literate barstool laureate songwriting as a solo artist for decades. On his 2022

LP The Misfit, the post-sobriety Miller spotlights his idiosyncratic pop chops in tunes imbued with the evocative atmosphere of Big Star’s Third/ Sister Lovers plus heart-shattering honesty. With burnished vocals Western NC native Clint Roberts crafts tactile storytelling songs ranging from aching autobiography of unrequited love (“The Drifter”) to wry political commentary (“Nero’s Waltz”).

More: $33; March 17, 8 p.m.; Neighborhood Theatre, 511 E. 36th St.; neighborhoodtheatre.com

‘THE MAGICKAL HEART OF TREES’ BOOK SIGNING/READING

Trees are sentient beings that communicate through networks of roots and fungi, but how do they forge connections with us, what insights can they convey and what can we learn from them? In The Magickal Heart of Trees, author Cathy Moran explores the nature of our complex relationship with trees through the lens of metaphysics, folklore, art and intuitive experiences. Moran will tell the stories behind the stories that make up her book and sign copies, which sell for $12 (cash or Venmo). A portion of proceeds go to One Tree Planted.

More: Free; March 19, 7 p.m.; Bart’s Mart, 3042 Eastway Drive; facebook.com/Bartsmart.clt

CANDY COFFINS

Photo by Lauren Ellis 3/14

PIXEL GRIP

Photo by Alex Carre 3/12

Photo

BRINGING SEXY B AC K

The Flamingo Revue celebrates five years of growing the burlesque scene in Charlotte

BY ANNIE KEOUGH

The Visulite Theatre spotlight comes down on Shirley Sweet, gracefully swaying to the timeless jazz rendition of “Pink Panther” as she slowly and cheekily sheds her handmade pink costume to reveal tassel pasties and a glittery thong underneath her fuzzy boa.

For those whose knowledge of burlesque doesn’t stray further than Christina Aguilera and Cher’s 2010 film Cabaret — an entirely different medium of performance, to be clear — burlesque is an art form where the human body is used to convey stories.

Performers depict satire, political statements or personal narratives through their songs, costumes and characters.

“[Burlesque is] people recognizing that they can use their own body, their own talent to make statements and empower themselves,” said Troy Thresher, co-producer and emcee with The Flamingo Revue, a burlesque troupe based in Charlotte.

Established on April 6, 2019, The Flamingo Revue started as a way for friends to have fun together, explained Thresher. It was never meant to be what it turned into: a post-pandemic catalyst for the revival of burlesque in Charlotte.

In the lead-up to its fifth anniversary Greatest Hits show scheduled for April 6 at Visulite, we spoke to a number of Flamingo Revue performers and organizers about how they have since made it their mission to cultivate burlesque in the Queen City.

Bringing burlesque back

Around 2009, the burlesque scene in Charlotte was scarce. There was a larger troupe in town called Mandyland, but it served more as a variety show that featured some burlesque.

The few smaller shows and individual performances in the city were monthly gigs, nothing like New York, where you can catch a show on every other corner some nights. Even other North Carolina

cities like Raleigh, Asheville and Durham housed a vibrant burlesque scene, so what made Charlotte different?

“In terms of the larger North Carolina burlesque scene, Charlotte, at the time, was kind of an afterthought,” Thresher said.

“I think that maybe somebody just needed to want to build it,” added Sweet.

The Flamingo Revue team — affectionately referred to as “the Flock” — heeded that call. A main goal in establishing the Flamingo Revue in 2019 was to turn Charlotte into a burlesque hub, attracting national and international industry professionals. Over the past five years, they’ve made great bounds in accomplishing that goal.

Many burlesque troupes and performers couldn’t survive the pandemic because their venues shut down, but the Revue weathered the pandemic and came out stronger, Thresher said.

The troupe put on virtual shows for a low fee during the height of COVID-19, and when restrictions started lifting, the Revue supported local venues by hosting virtual benefit shows at local dives like Hatties, Petra’s and Tommy’s Pub to support the venues.

“Right now is the first time that Charlotte has seen such growth in our industry, where we have a lot more performers who are actively performing [and] booking,” Shirley said.

Edie Edison, associate producer and performer with Flamingo Revue, told Queen City Nerve the scene is growing because of the troupe’s regular shows, both large and small, bringing in outside talent to build connections and cultivate the evolution of the community in Charlotte.

“It’s small but mighty,” Edison said of the city’s burlesque community. “It’s definitely growing … [but] having one group and little baby shows sprinkled around to fill the void is still not enough to

create the consistency of a scene.”

Prior to burlesque’s comeback in Charlotte, Sweet, Edison and other burlesque performers were taking most of their shows out of town, needing to travel to perform.

This is why Sweet believes that, as big of a city as Charlotte is, it deserves to have a creative space to showcase different forms of art without leaving city limits.

That includes variety within the burlesque genre. With Flock members plucked from across the country performing in solo shows, each person brings their own expertise and niche talents from their experiences outside of the troupe.

“I look up to the Flamingo Revue because we genuinely do have this amazing blend of individuals, because that’s not true with every troupe,” Edison said.

In a recent show in Philadelphia, Edison’s performance in a classic burlesque show fed the crowd only a sliver of what is available to them in the art form.

“Whereas with [the Revue’s] shows … each show is going to be very unique,” she explained. “You’re going to be seeing a lot of different types of performances that you wouldn’t get from every typical show.”

Sterling Maxwell, a drag king out of Raleigh, performed an emotionally vulnerable piece about coming to terms with their gender identity in a show called “Rising” in 2021.

Thresher said audience members approached Sterling after the show in tears, saying Sterling gave them perspective on their own internal struggles.

This is not a singular experience. In the same way music and different art forms speak to those who partake, burlesque and its performers evoke powerful emotions from their audience, Thresher said.

“My favorite part of burlesque is that you are watching somebody’s one-man production,” said Ebony Delight, a Knoxville-based performer. “They made their costumes. They designed their act, they’ve done their choreography. They picked their music, they made their own mixes. This is one person’s full production of themselves.”

Empowered performers empower audiences

The culmination of individual pieces of identity makes for a show that is always different but with one constant: empowered performers empower their audience.

Delight called it a transference of energy between

PHOTO BY JOSH FAGGART

SHIRLEY SWEET PERFORMS AT A FLAMINGO REVUE SHOW.

ARTS FEATURE

performer and audience, each feeding off of and gaining conviction from the other.

“They don’t even realize that that’s what they’re doing,” she said. “They’re just swapping this energy back and forth and they feel rejuvenated after the show. It’s a fantastic experience.”

“It’s like shedding your skin,” Revue member Ducky Delight said about performing. “It’s like all of your flaws, they’re gone. They’re not there because that’s not what people are seeing and that’s not what you’re feeling.”

As a plus-sized performer, Ducky never saw their body represented on stage, so she decided to become the representation they wanted to see.

“All bodies are burlesque bodies,” she said. “I can show other big-bodied people that [they’re] sexy and [they’re] worthy of being naked and being adored.”

Ebony and Ducky have both been on the receiving end of their audience’s genuine love and gratitude, each with their own stories of crowd members thanking them for giving them confidence simply by having the courage to be seen.

Ebony noted how one-sided entertainment can be; there is a constant expectation that only certain bodies are meant to appear on stage. Burlesque challenges those conventional beauty standards.

“In burlesque, it can be anyone,” Ebony said. “If you have the drive and the push to put something on a stage, you can be on that stage.”

After her troupe in Knoxville lost their venues due to the pandemic, Ebony joined the mass of individual performers traveling the U.S. for gigs and festivals.

In her experience, troupe environments can feel insular and isolating after being around the same people all of the time.

“I love how [the Flamingo Revue] are completely willing to evolve into more but not push it, it feels very natural,” she said.

“They bring other people in … and they want people to see other types of burlesque outside of even their troupe.”

Thresher told Queen City Nerve that Charlotte needs to know these experiences are out there for them, waiting to be consumed by a wider audience.

“It’s an art form that I don’t think people expect to love as much as they’ll love it once they see it,” Ebony said.

“On the surface, burlesque is so much fun. It’s an entertaining experience,” added Shirley Sweet. “But under all the rhinestones, burlesque is an important art form … [that] celebrates diversity, promotes body positivity, challenges societal norms and provides a platform for expression and empowerment.”

One hell of a future

The fifth anniversary event titled Greatest Hits, commemorated by an appropriately dramatic countdown clock on the Revue’s website, will be

held on April 6, the same day Flamingo Revue launched its first show five years ago.

“In many ways, it very much feels like a celebration not just of what the Revue’s accomplished, but where our local burlesque scene is now,” Thresher said.

Performers will bring back favorite acts from the past five years and beyond, per request from producers and fans alike, for one night only, bringing talent from Chicago, Knoxville and Atlanta.

According to the Revue’s website, the show will feature acts “from classic to gritty, dinosaurs to pizza and everything in between.”

The momentum built in the past five years will not end with the Greatest Hits show.

In November 2025, Thresher and his fellow Flock members hope to host the Buzz City Burlesque Festival, welcoming nationally and internationally recognized burlesque entertainers and instructors to share knowledge and deepen connections within the industry.

According to Sweet, not only will the festival allow Charlotte performers and audiences to learn from burlesque professionals through classes and workshops, but will introduce global talent to our city, furthering the Flamingo Revue’s goal of turning Charlotte into a burlesque hub.

“We’re not the only game in town, there are other shows,” Shirley said. “There’s a lot of [burlesque] here and I think that people just need to know that it’s here in order to find it.”

Some newcomers already have. In the fall of 2023, the Revue held a five-week burlesque course called Flight School, with participants performing in a premier up-and-coming talent show called Taking Off.

The performance oversold and became the Revue’s highest value per act they’ve ever had.

Thresher said the success and excitement built up from previous and upcoming performances shows the art form has “one hell of a future in this city.”

The sky’s the ceiling for Flamingo Revue as they continue to reach more audience members from around the Charlotte area.

Besides, as Ducky Delight eloquently put it: “Who doesn’t love glitter?”

PHOTO BY KRIS ENGELHART

FLAMINGO REVUE PERFORMER DRAVYN IN ACTION.

THE RITE OF SPR INGA DELIA

Snug Harbor’s multi-day event celebrates the season of growth

BY PAT MORAN

If he had been able to pull it off, Zach Reader’s very first music festival would have been wild beyond imagining. It was 2010 in a far more limitless and less developed NoDa where Reader and his friend and roommate Casey Malone were eyeing a wide open field to hold the festival in.

“It felt like it was a lawless land,” Reader says. “Nobody really was controlling it, so we thought why couldn’t we do an outdoor festival there?”

The undeveloped parcel was near Brooks Sandwich Shop, tucked away in a patch of woods right up against the train tracks. As Reader speaks, I conjure images of the festival that never was, a gathering of Charlotte’s most interesting artists and bands along with a scattering of national acts amid the moonlit electro-pagan bacchanalia of MGMT’s “Electric Feel” video.

“It felt like [we] could have pulled it off if we wanted to take the chances,” Reader says, “but we didn’t want to roll the dice that hard.”

That show never happened, but 14 years later Reader is an undisputed yet unassuming high roller. As Snug Harbor’s longstanding talent buyer, he’s preparing to pull off an event much larger and more eclectic than his earlier imaginings.

Featuring 30 musicians and seven visual artists spread across two stages, Springadelia will take place over four days from March 7-10 at the venerable Plaza Midwood music venue. Thursday through Saturday nights’ bills start at 8:30 p.m. while Sunday afternoon’s program begins at 2 p.m.

The multifaceted event celebrates the vernal equinox and the sun-dappled, blossoming high that the season of growth brings to humankind, with the most ambitious show Reader’s ever booked at Snug Harbor.

Each night, Snug Harbor’s main stage will host a headliner, including Patois Counselors on March 7, Dipstick on March 8 and Bravo Pueblo on March 9.

At the same time, another set of headliners will play Snug Harbor’s second stage on the venue’s patio. These artists are Axnt on March 7, Dirty Art Club on March 8 and DJ Shrimp and DJ NPC on March 9, the latter two being members of Lofidels, a band that’s also on the March 9 bill, playing energetic DJ sets.

“I didn’t want to have something going on for hours and hours at one place,” Reader says. “I know that can get boring. So, I was trying to make this a condensed, concise thing.”

Aided by Snug Harbor’s crack staff, production manager Ian Pasquini and owner Scott McCannell, Reader’s task is to move the performers on and off alternate stages smoothly with only minimal musical overlap between the two stages. To facilitate the process, each act gets an hour to set up, play and break down.

“Every [artist] will have a comfortable 30 to 40 minutes,” Reader says. “The headliners will run a little longer.”

The timetable is set so audience members can hop back and forth between the stages and not miss too much.

“There will constantly be something going on between the two areas. It’s supposed to satisfy the senses constantly,” Reader says. “I wanted to make it as interesting and busy as possible.”

Despite its scope and scale, one thing Springadelia isn’t, Reader says, is a festival, a label Reader saves for multi-venue events.

Whatever you want to call it, Springadelia should make for an epic entrance into spring at Snug Harbor.

From indie booker to Snug surroundings

A transplant to Charlotte by way Maryland and Orlando, Reader started booking shows at an early age. He was still attending Independence High School when he booked a heavy-metal band called

Reflux at a venue called The Room. In conjunction with the show, Reader wrote a paper about how to book a show for his creative writing class.

When Reader was 21, he and Malone became partners and moved in together. They also formed a band called Blossoms. After discarding their plan to hold a festival on the undeveloped NoDa lot, Reader and Malone launched their independent music festival Recess Fest, a multi-day concert series held at venues all over Charlotte, in 2010.

“We didn’t do it every year but we operated for about three years,” Reader says. He and Malone even ran a condensed version of the fest called Grab Bag Weekend. (Malone will play Springadelia with her swooning alt-pop project Zodiac Lovers.) Recess Fest reached its height in 2013 with a bill at Tremont Music Hall featuring Archers of Loaf.

“After that it just kind of fizzled out,” Reader says. In the meantime, he had formed friendships with McCannell and Snug Harbor co-owner Jason Michel. Reader came onboard as the venue’s talent buyer in 2013. At first, Reader felt like the new kid of the block, so he resisted his instincts to diverge from Snug Harbor’s then-established pattern of booking rock ‘n’ roll. With time, Reader started to sprinkle more diverse genres and eclectic artists into the mix to test the waters.

“We started to embrace different crowds and crossovers,” Reader says. The practice eventually cemented Snug Harbor’s reputation as a haven for diversity and Charlotte’s most vital independent music venue.

Reader also began to spread his wings. A longtime attendee of Raleigh’s multifaceted Hopscotch Music Festival, Reader worked the fest last year as its club production manager, putting together several club shows. That experience provided the spark for Snug

Harbor’s vernal multi-day event.

“I got to see the inner workings of a world that I knew about, but on a bigger scale,” Reader says. “It made me feel a little more comfortable about trying something like ‘Springadelia.’”

To psych or not to psych

Strictly speaking, Springadelia may not even be a psychedelic music show.

“I wanted to make it colorful and not just what you think of as straight ahead psychedelic rock ‘n’ roll,” Reader offers. He says he likes mashed-up compound words. “Springadelia” just popped into his head and he liked the sound of it.

Just how much psychedelia will be heard throughout Springadelia may be in the eyes of the beholders, the ears of the listeners and minds of the musicians playing the event.

Given her all-encompassing definition of the genre, Liza Ortiz considers both Springadelia and her band, Latin electronic trio Bravo Pueblo, full-on psych.

“It’s music that amplifies or inspires a mental voyage that takes you beyond your physical surroundings,” Ortiz says.

Brendan Grove, guitarist for Boone-based heavy cosmic-rock trio Rugg, considers the event at Snug Harbor and his band as hardcore psychedelia.

“The category covers a lot of ground. That’s what makes it so fun,” Grove says. “We can play heavy nasty riffs [and] breakdowns … while keeping roots in lighthearted spaces and not take ourselves too seriously.”

On the other hand, William Schoonmaker of Charlotte instrumental math-rock outfit Cuzco sees little point in distinguishing music and bands as

CUZCO WILL PERFORM ON MARCH 8 AS PART OF SPRINGADELIA.

PHOTO BY HANNAH JOHNSON

psychedelic or not; what matters instead are the eclectic strands of sound woven into Springadelia, he insists.

“Psyche is a genre of music that incorporates so many different paths,” Schoonmaker says. “What Springadelia brings is the most interesting avenue everyone [who is] a part of it decided to take.”

“I’ve [been] listening to things [and thinking], ‘Does this feel psychedelic?” says Reader. “Is there psychedelic influence in [the music] or things that have influenced psychedelic-type music?”

At the end of the day, what really matters to Reader are how well the disparate strands of music and performance weave together at over the four nights.

“I’m always about the crossover, connecting different crowds together and exposing them to other bands,” Reader says. “There’s a chance that several of these bands playing might not have even had the same people watching them as the band before or after them.”

In a sense, eclecticism is psychedelic, a multifaceted prism through which sounds are heard, sights are seen and experiences are processed.

“There’s a psychedelic essence to the whole thing,” Reader says of the event. “With the springtime thing, like blooming and new life and good energy, it’s [like] transcendentalism.”

Reader feels the “spring” portion of the event’s name evokes positive energy to tie into the time of

year and the season of new growth. Meanwhile, the psychedelia portion creates “a chance to play around with the look and sound.”

Blinded by the light

To bolster the event’s psychedelic or psychedelicadjacent sensory allure, Springadelia boasts no less than seven visual artists devoted to enhancing the neural impact of performers on the bill. These artisans of light and motion include NA$A, Adam Cope, Vision.Stains, Sweat Transfer, Splat Daddy, Thomas Miller and Hemi Sync.

“We’re having a lot of visuals by some local and area projector-visual-type people,” Reader says. “They’ll be running simultaneously in the main room and out back on our big patio wall.”

“There are two schools of thought for these live visuals,” says Grove. There are the old school liquid lights with pigment and oil on curved glass employed by Pink Floyd during psychedelia’s heyday. Then there is a newer approach where analog videosynthesis creates feedback loops mixed with analog video gear.

Grove’s band Rugg employs both approaches, having already collaborated on its own shows with some of the visual artists at Springadelia, including Thomas Miller, Splat Daddy and NA$A.

“This adds unbelievable amounts of texture to our live shows and allows people to enter this creative trancelike state where we are all traveling outside of the venue and our own bodies and ego to absorb the energy around us,” Grove says.

Splat Daddy is the quintessential liquid lightshow artist, Grove offers. In contrast, Thomas Miler manipulates and mixes digital clips live.

“Splat Daddy and Thomas have been a team now for a handful of years,” says Grove. “They blend their favorite styles when teaming up, [like] power rangers.”

Ben Verner and Chris Walters, of Charlotte neopsych outfit The Wormholes, couldn’t be more pleased with the prospect of Springadelia light shows.

“We’re lucky Zach reached out to us,” Verner and Walters write in an email. “With the theme of the fest centering around psychedelic audio-visuals, we know we’ll fit right in. Oftentimes, we’re the only band on the bill with our own live visuals, so we’re very excited to see how this aspect of the fest will inevitably elevate the entire weekend experience.”

With any hallucinatory or mind-expanding experience, there is an inevitable a comedown. Springadelia makes it a gentle deceleration in the form of a tiki-themed patio party on Sunday, March 10. With fast, coiling twanging guitars, and thundering drums, celebrated surf-rock guitar slingers The Aqualads head an afternoon bill including TBD Brass Band and Rene Escarcha, The Queen City’s legendary Filipino-born Elvis Presley impersonator known as RenElvis.

A fixture of the Charlotte music scene in the 1990s and early 2000s, RenElvis has long been out of the limelight for some time.

“[Escarcha] has a good relationship with our general manager Chris Burns, and it just so happened that RenElvis messaged Chris, asking if … he could play sometime soon.”

Reader felt the early afternoon timeslot and the tropical/Martin Denny-style exotica theme would be a perfect fir for the Charlotte icon.

“I don’t think [Escarcha] is planning to play too much more, so this was the best thing I could think of,” Reader says.

The patio bill also boasts three DJs for the tikithemed finale to Springadelia: Bo White of Patois Counselors, Marta Moons, and Zzzzaappp, the latter being Reader’s tiki DJ alter ego.

“Between Bo, Marta and myself we all love that stuff and have records and music to share,” Reader says. “I wanted a nice afternoon hangout, just to kind of wind down.”

Wherever audiences drop in during the four-day Springadelia extravaganza, Reader hopes attendees have a fun weekend characterized by building musical bridges, audience crossover and artist exposure.

“There’s intentionally a few well-known names mixed with some not-so-known,” Reader says. “Hopefully that will mutually benefit everyone involved.”

Eclectic and experimental singer-songwriter Joshua Cotterino plays March 9 and looks forward to many of the event’s performances, including sets by Patois Counselors, Zodiac Lovers, Lofidels and Dead Tooth.

‘I hope [attendees] … will feel some of that indefinable magic that live music can bring,” Cotterino says.

“For a brief moment in time, we hope the audience gets transported to a realm of cosmic energy and temporarily forgets that a world outside even exists,” The Wormholes’ Verner and Walters write. The pair declines to pick favorites among the event’s lineup.

“Every single show is special to us,”The Wormholes write. “A bill this solid means we’ll be ready to crush.”

Cuzco’s Schoonmaker says audiences will ideally come away from Springadelia with “a ‘love you forever’ mentality, with a melancholic idea.”

He’s excited to Hitoshi Jaguar, “because that name is sick.”

“I just hope they don’t hate us for not being as good as all these other amazing bands we get to play with,” says Kevin Kinne of densely layered Charlotte shoegaze rockers The Mother Superior. Kinne says he’s stoked to see Palomino Blond, Rugg and Ego Death Machine.

“We hope [the audience] connects with [Springadelia] and walks away with joy and a sense of fulfillment from the whole event,” says Bravo Pueblo’s Ortiz, who looks forward to catching performances by Clarity, Dirty Art Club, The Wormholes and Top Achievers among others. Bravo Pueblo’s new single, “Cambural,” drops March 9, the same day at the trio’s headlining Springadelia set.

After wishing that everyone at Springadelia “will melt into hyperbolic primordial ooze and return back to their physical state by the end of the set,” Rugg’s Grove turns serious.

“We hope that the people see that there is amazing music all around them, and that the psych-rock scene here is just getting started,” Grove says. He puts Springadelia artists Hot Garbage and Seismic Sutra on his “must see” list.

“Ideally Springadelia is a unique experience that people want to have again,” Reader says, before obliquely touching on the event’s springtime theme of growth. “Hopefully we can expand on it next year.”

THE WORMHOLES WILL PERFORM ON MARCH 8 AS WELL.

PHOTO BY JUSTIN SMITH

THE LITERARY SONG BOOK

Channeling Granny turns literature to music for Women’s History Month

BY PAT MORAN

The mandolin-driven filigree transforms from delicate madrigal to folk-inflected psychedelia, while entwined voices spin a yarn about preparations for war and shadowy riders:

“The drums will shake the castle wall/ The ringwraiths ride in black/ Ride on...”

Guitars tangle, spinning a spidery web around a tale of chaotic monkeys thrown in cages as hard liners crack down:

“They’re numbering the monkeys … They’ve gathered up the cages, the cages and courageous/ The followers of chaos out of control...”

Stately violin gives way to pensive coiling guitar as a quavering vocal praises a renowned writer’s self-discovery, resilience and legacy:

“And so it was for you/ When the river eclipsed your life/ And sent your soul like a message in a bottle to me...”

Each of these storytelling songs share a common literary thread, linking music with the captivating worlds imbued in books. Led Zeppelin’s “The Battle of Evermore” references characters and incidents depicted in J.R.R. Tolkien’s medievalist fantasy series The Lord of the Rings, particularly the third and climactic volume in the trilogy, The Return of the King. R.E.M.’s “Disturbance at the Heron House” draws inspiration from George Orwell’s powerful political allegory Animal Farm. In Indigo Girls’ “Virginia Woolf,” the vocalist/protagonist details how she draws strength from the pioneering novelist’s persistence in the face of misogyny, misunderstanding and crippling depression.

These three songs are also just a sampling of the music featured in Literally Music!, the literary-themed concert series, set amid a broader celebration of reading, kicked off on March 4, with shows scheduled for every Tuesday in March at VisArt, the nonprofit community arts/performance hub and video store in east Charlotte.

Fittingly for Women’s History Month, March 1-31, the band taking the stage at the listening room at 3102 VisArt is Channeling Granny, an all-woman group launched by VisArt executive director Gina Stewart and Brenda Gambill, both of whom perform in groundbreaking feminist and LGBTQ-supporting alternative Americana band Doubting Thomas.

“We’re [playing] songs in reference to books or writers,” Gambill says of the band assembled for Literally Music!

She adds that the group’s name, Channeling Granny, refers to the membership of the combo, which takes a vigorous swipe against the ageism prevalent in the local and national music business.

“We just loved the idea of women of a certain age coming together to play music,” Gambill offers.

To achieve that goal, Stewart and Gambill assembled a sextet including guitarist and vocalist Liz Howell, bassist Laurie Smithwick, percussionist Rochelle Coatney and multi-instrumentalist Lenore Prisco on keyboards, banjo, mandolin and vocals.

Violinist and harmonica player Gambill also sings, while Stewart serves as the combo’s vocalist and lead guitarist.

The title of the recurring event is a good clue to what the band’s set list will look like, says Smithwick, best known for her day job as an illustrious abstract artist, printmaker and muralist.

“Literally Music [means] our entire playlist is songs about books or authors,“ Smithwick says. “So, we’re playing ‘Virginia Woolf’ by The Indigo Girls, ‘1984’ by David Bowie, ‘Paperback Writer’ by the Beatles, ‘Disturbance at the Heron House’ by R.E.M., ‘Sylvia Plath’ by Ryan Adams and more.”

There are original songs on the bill as well, Smithwick says, including tunes like “Bruise Across the Sky” that were written previously by Stewart and Gambill for Doubting Thomas, and “Shine,” a song written Howell and inspired by “This is How

It Always Is,” a novel by Laurie Frankel that depicts how a family strives to understand and support a transgendered child.

The program also features immersive art by Kellee Stall.

“Kellee is set design,” Gambill says. “She’s coming into the theater to dress it up and give a look to the whole scenario.”

While the cornerstone of Literally Music! is Channeling Granny’s spirited set, the program offers a broader celebration of reading. To that end, VisArt has partnered with the Charlotte Mecklenburg Library, Queens University and Park Road Books.

Charlotte Mecklenburg Library’s partnership signifies ongoing support from the library, which has already teamed with VisArt on an event series called Who Told it Best: Book vs. Film. The book club/film series screens and compares cinematic adaptations of books like The Shining and The Wizard of Oz with their counterparts on the printed page.

Queens University’s partnership links Literally Music! with the university’s celebration of Women’s History Month, Gambill says.

“[Queens] said, ‘Yes, we’d love to be involved and support VisArt in any way we can,’” Gambill says. “We’re lucky to have them on board as well.”

“Park Road Books is going to let us pick up some books and sell them [at VisArt] and square them directly to the company,” Gambill says. “[From Park Road Books] we’ve got Jill McCorkle’s book Old Crimes that just came out. It’s a series of short stories [by] a great Southern writer. Over the month we’re

going to be getting some more books in. So, we’re encouraging people to crack open a book.”

VIP and general admission tickets for the series’ inaugural event and concert are available here.

A band apart

An earlier iteration of Channeling Granny formed six years ago and played gigs at venues including The Great Aunt Stella Center and Symphony Park, Gambill says. That lineup eventually drifted apart and the project was shelved.

The band revived in time for the HEARTS Harvest 23 at the Hugh Torance home in Huntersville, featuring local historic farmlands, conservation efforts and artist Elizabeth Bradford as well as Channeling Granny.

Stewart and Gambill currently play with Prisco in Doubting Thomas, so recruiting her for Channeling Granny was a no-brainer. Howell came into the fold because Prisco knew her from a band they both played in called Inside Joke. Gambill met and recruited Coatney when both women played in the all-women eclectic-roots combo Christy Snow Band. Smithwick had only played bass onstage once when Stewart approached her to join Channeling Granny.

“Out of the blue I got a text from Gina that said, ‘I hear you play bass. True?’” Smithwick says. “I answered that I had taken lessons for about a year. She said, ‘Want to play sometime?’ and I said, ‘Sure.’”

Smithwick says she has always had two primary loves — music and art. Although she followed a

CHANNELING GRANNY BASSIST LAURIE SMITHWICK

PHOTO BY KAREN WALROND

career in art, music was never far away. Smithwick learned guitar well enough to play “American Pie” in her dorm while everybody sang along, she remembers. Then, 30 years later, Smithwick was an empty nester with her twin daughters off to college.

She began taking lessons with Krystle Baller at We Rock Charlotte. A year and a half into those, Smithwick switched to bass. In November 2023, she performed her onstage “graduation project” with We Rock, an exhilarating two-song set with fellow graduates at Starlight on 22nd in Optimist Park. That was the extent of Smithwick’s onstage experience when she joined Channeling Granny.

“The clock is ticking for me to be able to try new things, so I may as well try them all,” Smithwick says.

The gig at the Hugh Torance house in Huntersville went well; all the players agreed they had a lot of fun, so they all agreed when Stewart suggested they get together to play some more.

“It’s a lot of fun,” Smithwick says, “being literary rock stars.”

She notes the difference in the band’s repertoire since the Huntersville show.

“For the gig that we played at the Torance House, it was all old time music — ‘Will the Circle be Unbroken,’ ‘I’ll Fly Away’ and that type of music,” Smithwick says. “For [Literally Music!] there is honestly no genre.”

Smithwick says Channeling Granny’s literary approach to music has actually changed how she hears it. She points to a song in the band’s set, “Wuthering Heights” by Kate Bush, as an example.

“How many times when you hear that song, do you actually think about the book?” she says.

“It’s such a crazy song vocally that you don’t really think about the fact that she’s actually singing, ‘Heathcliff.’”

Gambill says that people attending Literally Music! will find that Channeling Granny has an eclectic, unique and even experimental sound. Although the band boasts some classic rootsmusic instrumentation, including Prisco’s banjo and mandolin, Stewart switches it up sonically by shifting between acoustic and electric guitars.

Similarly, Coatney eschews a standard drum kit. Instead she will pay hand drums, a mix of congas, bongos and cajone, a box-shaped percussion instrument originally played in 18th-century Peru.

“I call Channeling Granny Americana with blood harmonies and a soul feel,” Gambill says. “We’ve got a bit of an edge.”

For Smithwick, Literally Music! and Channeling Granny’s set encourage listening to music in a more holistic way.

“It’s saying that music is part of writing, which is part of a broader world,” she says. “What if our music can pay homage to all these books that we all know so well, and find some synchronicity or symmetry? [Literally Music] is really saying, ‘Yes, we’re musicians, but we also love to read, and books are worth celebrating.’”

At the end of the day, Gambill says both band and the concert program at VisArt are there to entertain people with music that gives a shoutout to books.

“The idea is to get people back on the page,” she says. “It’s a challenge but we’re having a blast.”

CHANNELING GRANNY REHEARSES FOR LITERALLY MUSIC!

PHOTO BY BOB SMITHWICK

SpringForward

A guide to 2024 spring events in Charlotte

As the weather warms up and false spring turns into the real thing, we have compiled this list of ways to get outdoors this season no matter your interests.

Sports

Charlotte FC

Bank of America Stadium, 800 S. Mint St.; charlottefootballclub.com

March 23 vs. Columbus Crew

March 30 vs. FC Cincinnati

April 13 vs. Toronto FC

April 21 vs. Minnesota United FC

May 4 vs. Portland Timbers

May 11 vs. Nashville SC

May 18 vs. Los Angeles FC

May 25 vs. Philadelphia Union

June 15 vs. DC United

Charlotte Independence

American Legion Memorial Stadium, 1218 Armory Drive; charlotteindependence.com

March 28 vs. Spokane Velocity

April 12 vs. Greenville Triumph SC

May 11 vs. Forward Madison FC

May 17 vs. Union Omaha

June 1 vs. South Georgia Tormenta FC

June 14 vs. Chattanooga Red Wolves SC

Charlotte Knights

Truist Field, 424 W. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.; milb.com/charlotte-knights

April 2-7 vs. Norfolk Tides

April 16-21 vs. Syracuse Mets

April 30-May 5 vs. Memphis Redbirds

May 14-19 vs. Durham Bulls

May 28-June 2 vs. Worcester Red Sox

June 4-9 vs. Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp

College Baseball at Truist Field

Truist Field, 424 W. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.; tinyurl. com/TruistField

April 9: University of South Carolina vs. UNC Chapel Hill

May 7: Clemson vs. UNC Charlotte

ACC Baseball Championship

Celebrate the ACC’s 50th championship game with a weekend pass granting ticketholders access to four games as well as both semifinal contests on Saturday and Sunday. For more, buy an All Session Pass to attend games throughout the week or shop for solo tickets.

More: $50 and up; May 21-26, times vary; Truist Field; 324 S Mint St.; tinyurl.com/ACCTruist2024

Charlotte Motor Speedway

5555 Concord Pkwy. S; charlottemotorspeedway.com

April 4-7: Charlotte AutoFair

April 26-28: NHRA Four-Wide Nationals

May 24: NC Education Lottery 200

May 25: NASCAR Xfinity Series Race

May 26: Coca-Cola 600

Wells Fargo Championship

The top names in golf return to Charlotte to battle it out over a week while Wyndham Clark defends his championship.

More: $15 and up; May 6-12, times vary; Quail Hollow Club, 3700 Gleneagles Road; linktr.ee/wellsfargogolf

Arts, Culture & Retail

Uptown Farmer’s Market: Spring Market

Buy local produce and home-grown food from farmers.

More: Free to attend; April 13 through the end of spring, Saturdays, 8 a.m.-12:30 p.m.; 300 S. Davidson St; uptownfarmersmarket.com

South End Spring Fling

Live music, vendor market, coffee and food trucks and more.

More: Free; March 23, 10 a.m.-noon; Pritchard at South End; 1117 South Blvd.; tinyurl.com/se-spring-fling

No Man’s Land Festival

Celebrate all women with hands-on workshops, breakout sessions, and photo ops while supporting small womenowned businesses based in Charlotte.

More: $10-$50; March 23, 11 a.m.-7 p.m.; Ford Building, Camp Road, Camp North End; nomanslandclt.com

Charlotte SHOUT!

Charlotte SHOUT! is back again, showcasing local artists, musicians, dancers, poets, photographers, chefs and more with interactive installations and panels.

More: Free; March 29-April 14; times vary; locations vary; charlotteshout.com

The Charlotte Fair

Say hello to that fresh spring air with thrilling rides, carnival games, food, live performances and more entertainment.

More: $6-$12; April 11-21, times vary; Route 29 Pavilion; 5650 Sandusky Blvd. Concord; queencharlottefair.com

Paws in the Park

Give a pup a new forever home with the Paws in the Park festival and enjoy food trucks, arts/crafts, photo booths, a playground and dog contests.

More: Free; April 13, 10 a.m.-3 p.m.; Pineville Park; 1000 Johnston Drive; charlotteblackdogs.com

PHOTO COURTESY OF WFC

WELLS FARGO CHAMPIONSHIP

PHOTO COURTESY OF CHARLOTTE CENTER CITY PARTNERS CHARLOTTE SHOUT!

Carolina Tiny House Festival

Discover the world of tiny houses to see innovative designs, creative solutions and sustainable living.

More: Free to $50; April 13-14, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.; Charlotte Motor Speedway; 5555 Concord Parkway South; tinyurl.com/tiny-home-fest

Holi Color Festival

This event immerses participants in the vibrant hues of Holi — literally.

More: April 14, noon-3 p.m.; Hindu Center of Charlotte, 7400 City View Drive; tinyurl.com/holi-color-fest

‘Tawba Walk Arts & Music Festival

See over 100 local artists and vendors, drink beers from local craft breweries, eat good food, participate in giveaways and more.

More: Free; April 27, 2-8 p.m.; Oak Street Mill, 19725 Oak St., Cornelius; tinyurl.com/tawba-walk

BOOM Charlotte

The 7th annual BOOM Charlotte arts festival returns with a multifaceted and immersive experience. Attendees will be met with an eclectic mix of dance, theatre, poetry, visual art, film and more with ticketed performances indoors and outdoors.

More: Prices vary; April 26-28, times vary; Camp North End; 300 Camp Road; boomcharlotte.org

Garibaldi Festival

Be part of Charlotte’s vibrant art community and saturate yourself with creativity, culture, expression, craftsmanship and more. Walk around to see the openair gallery, chalk art and artisan vendors to the sounds of live music.

More: Free; April 27, noon-10 p.m.; downtown Belmont; 24 S. Main St.; downtownbelmont.org

Regional Festival of India @ Matthews

Experience Indian art cuisine, culture and community with dance performances, street food, a marketplace, saree draping, henna tattoos and a visual art gallery.

More: Free; April 27, noon-6 p.m.; Stumptown Park; 120 South Trade St.; tinyurl.com/festival-of-india

Reel Out Charlotte

See stories written and made by those within the LGBTQ+ community through independent film at a local scale.

More: Price TBD; May 15-19; times vary; The Independent Picture House; 4237 Raleigh St.; charlottepride.org/reelout

Hippie Daze Festival

This family-friendly event will have everything ranging from live entertainment and a petting zoo to facepainting and a buggie show.

More: $5 for parking; June 1-2, noon-7 p.m.; Dallas Lavender Lane Farm; 937 Old Willis School Road, Dallas; dallaslavenderlane.com/festivals

PHOTO COURTESY OF CHARLOTTE CENTER CITY PARTNERS

CHARLOTTE SHOUT!

PHOTO COURTESY OF HCF

HOLI COLOR FESTIVAL

Outdoor Wellness

Walks, Runs & Races

March 16: Lucky Day 7k

April 6: Charlotte Racefest

April 13: The Sarcoma Stomp

April 20: HEARTest Yard + Showmars 5k

April 28: Water For People Annual 5k

May 5: Wings For Life World Run Charlotte

May 9: River Jam Run

May 18: Trailblaze Challenge

May 19: Mental Health Matters 5k

June 1: NoDa 5k

Spring Landscaping Workshop

At this Cabarrus County Cooperative Extension Spring Landscaping Workshop, you’ll learn tips on preparing your garden, choosing the right plants, composting and more.

More: Free; April 1, 10 a.m.-noon; 715 Cabarrus Ave. W, Concord; tinyurl.com/landscaping-workshop

Get Started Growing Herbs at Home

Bring your own pot to get started on learning how to grow herbs at home, no matter how small or big your space is. Soil, seeds and seedlings will be provided.

More: $7; April 7; 2-4 p.m.; Charlotte Swim & Racquet Club; 1000 Lomax Ave.; tinyurl.com/herb-gardening

Baby Goat Yoga

Be one with nature as you work out in the beautiful gardens of the Historic White Home alongside cuddly baby goats.

More: $30; April 7, 5-6:30 p.m.; Historic White Home, 258 East White Street, Rock Hill, SC; tinyurl.com/baby-goat-yoga

USNWC Tuck Fest

This festival celebrates all outdoor lifestyles with cash prize competitions, exhibitions, demos and live music.

More: Prices vary; April 19-21, times vary; US National White Water Center; 5000 Whitewater Center Pkwy; tuckfest.whitewater.org

Earth Day at the Gateway Trail

Located near Crowders Mountain, the Gateway Trail will be the site of this family-friendly Earth Day celebration featuring a butterfly release, petting zoo, concessions, woodworking and more.

More: Free; April 20, 11 a.m.-3 p.m.; Gateway Trail; 807 S. Battleground Ave., Kings Mountain; tinyurl.com/kings-mountain-earth-day

Earth Day Hike

This family-friendly 1-to-2-mile hike is slow and easy, perfect for folks at all levels of hiking to connect with nature.

More: Free; April 22; 10-11:30 a.m.; Reedy Creek Nature Center; 2986 Rocky River Road; tinyurl.com/earth-day-hike

Spider Lily Kayak Tour

Have you ever wanted to paddle through a sea of flowers? Catawba River is home to the rocky shoals spider lily, which you can see in full bloom on this excursion.

More: $75; May 26, 10 a.m.-1 p.m.; Landsford Canal State Park, 2051 Park Drive; tinyurl.com/lily-kayak-tour

Live Music

PNC Music Pavilion

707 Pavilion Blvd., tinyurl.com/PNCMusicPavilion

April 23: Hozier

April 25: Need To Breathe

May 9: Foo Fighters

May 14: Judas Priest

June 1: Pixies and Modest Mouse

June 5: Niall Horan

June 6: 21 Savage

June 9: A Boogie Wit Da Hoodie

Skyla Credit Union Amphitheatre

1000 NC Music Factory Blvd., tinyurl.com/SCUAmphitheatre

April 11: Dustin Lynch

May 2: Jordan Davis

May 3: Jacob Collier

May 9: Chase Rice w/ Conner Smith & Brooke Lee

May 15: Sum 41

June 7: Brothers Osborne

The Music Yard at SouthBound 2433 South Blvd., eatsouthbound.com/the-music-yard

March 15: Eli & Fur

March 21: Surfer Girl w/ Sitting on Stacey, Ryan Wright

March 22: Pacific Dub

March 29: Coco & Breezy

April 5: Late Night Radio & Maddy O’Neal

April 27: Forester Moonlight

May 10: Austin Millz

May 11: Bumpin Uglies w/ TreeHouse

June 7: Cassian

Olé España

Celebrate authentic Spanish cuisine and culture featuring live performances, a paella cooking demonstration, wine and more.

More: Free; Mar 23, noon-5 p.m.; 300 Camp Road, Boileryard, Camp North End; tinyurl.com/ole-espana

Lovin’ Life Music Festival

One of the biggest musical festivals to hit Charlotte brings national acts like Post Malone, Stevie Nicks and Noah Kahan plus local artists such as Natalie Carr, Oceanic, Deaf Andrews, Petrov and more.

More: $300 and up; May 3-5; times vary; First Ward Park, 301 E. 7th St.; lovinlifemusicfest.com

Breakaway Presents: Another World 2024

This electronic and hip-hop music fest features acts including Excision, NGHTMRE, Of The Trees, Svdden Death and Zomboy.

More: $35 and up; May 3-4, times vary; Charlotte Motor Speedway, 5555 Concord Pkwy. S; charlottemotorspeedway.com/events

Beach Fest Matthews

Matthews hosts this festival featuring great beach music, shag dancing, carnival rides, food vendors, craft beer and more.

More: Free; May 10-11, times vary; Stumptown Park, 120 S.Trade St., Matthews; tinyurl.com/beach-fest-matthews

Cornelius Jazz Festival

Get swept away by the blues and tunes of local jazz bands from Cornelius and the greater Charlotte area with food trucks, craft beer, local vendors and more.

More: Free; May 18, 5-8 p.m.; Smithville Park, 19710 S. Ferry Street; tinyurl.com/cornelius-jazz

Music on the Green

Enjoy live music from local bands at an outdoor green space with food and ice cream all within walking distance.

More: Free; May 24, 6-8 p.m.; Get Some Green, 3555-1 Matthews-Mint Hill Road; tinyurl.com/music-on-green

PHOTO COURTESY OF NEW MOON FLOWER FARM

BABY GOAT YOGA

PHOTO COURTESY OF BREAKAWAY

NGHTMRE AT BREAKAWAY FEST

Food & Drink

Savor Charlotte

Indulge in hand-crafted food from talented chefs during hands-on classes or by ordering from exclusive menus.

More: Prices vary; March 12-26, times vary; locations vary; charlottesgotalot.com/savor

Peeps Contest

Compete for who can make the most clever, creative or funny presentation of marshmallow Peeps in a diorama.

More: $20; March 21; 6-9 p.m.; Urban District Market; 2315 North Davidson St., #300; tinyurl.com/peeps-contest

Charlotte Brewfest

Sample unlimited beer made by over 25 craft breweries while listening to live music, playing games and participating in a raffle drawing.

More: $25-$45; April 6, 1-5 p.m.; South End Station, 1435 South Tryon Street; tinyurl.com/clt-brewfest

Charlotte StrEATS Festival

Experience options from the city’s top culinary vendors and see Aarón Sánchez, renowned chef from Chopped and MasterChef, lead a cooking demonstration.

More: Prices vary; April 14, noon-5 p.m.; Gateway Village, 900 W. Trade St.; cltstreatsfestival.com

Wine & Food Festival

Enjoy international wines from Italy, Spain, France and California as well as beer, spirits and good food while listening to live music.

More: $49-$89; April 20, noon-6 p.m.; Ballantyne’s Backyard, 11611 North Community House Road; tinyurl.com/wine-and-food-fest

Jubilee Food & Wine Festival

Celebrate African American culinary traditions with a multi-course meal paired with local wines and cocktails while sitting outside enjoying nature.

More: $75; April 20, 2-7 p.m.; 400a South Salisbury Ave., Spencer; tinyurl.com/jubilee-food-fest

South Carolina Strawberry Festival

This outdoor venture is jam-packed with activities: corn hole, a car show, a strawberry-eating contest, rides, vendors, food trucks, live entertainment, music and more.

More: Free; May 4, 10 a.m.-10 p.m.; Walter Elisha Park; 345 N White Street, Fort Mill, SC; scstrawberryfestival.com

TacoFest: Tequila

Indulge in mouth-watering tacos and tequila-based cocktails for a fun day filled with food and entertainment.

More: $35-$62; May 4; noon-7 p.m.; Concord Mills, 8111 Concord Mills Blvd., Concord; tinyurl.com/taco-tequila-fest

Cheerwine Festival

The South’s most treasured possession is Cheerwine, a cherry soda created just up the road in Salisbury. After celebrating its 100th birthday in 2017, the city vowed to make the festival an annual tradition and has since kept its promise.

More: Free; May 18, noon-10 p.m.; Main Street, downtown Salisbury; cheerwinefest.com

Beer, Bourbon, & BBQ Festival

This festival is every Southerner’s favorite day, filled with booze, bacon and more. Play pingpong, listen to seminars, dance to rock and blues music and shop with local vendors.

More: $45-$75; May 18, noon-6 p.m.; Ballantyne’s Backyard; 11611 North Community House Road; tinyurl.com/beer-bourbon-bbq

PHOTO BY RYAN ALLEN

CHARLOTTE STREATS FESTIVAL

PHOTO BY RYAN ALLEN

CHARLOTTE STREATS FESTIVAL

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 6

ROCK/PUNK/METAL

Apes of the State w/ Myles Bullen, Landon Byrd, Pokin’ Holes (The Milestone)

Saint Asonia w/ Black Stone Cherry (The Underground)

SINGER-SONGWRITER/ACOUSTIC

Wheatus w/ Gabrielle Sterbenz (Evening Muse)

POP/DANCE/ELECTRONIC/DJ

Beats @ Birdsong (Birdsong Brewing)

COVER BANDS

Tyra Scott sings Billie Holiday w/ Tim Scott Trio (Middle C Jazz)

THURSDAY, MARCH 7

ROCK/PUNK/METAL

Between the Buried & Me (The Underground)

The Campfire w/ Jay Hoff, Saint Logic (Petra’s)

JAZZ/BLUES

Mark Rapp Quintet (Middle C Jazz)

COUNTRY/FOLK/AMERICANA

Bluegrass Jam Night (Birdsong Brewing)

SINGER-SONGWRITER/ACOUSTIC

Sweet Talkin’ Johnny w/ Caleb Davis (Goldie’s)

FUNK/JAM BANDS

Shana Blake’s Musical Menagerie (Smokey Joe’s Cafe & Bar)

EXPERIMENTAL/MIXED-GENRE/FESTIVAL

Springadelia (Snug Harbor)

FRIDAY, MARCH 8

ROCK/PUNK/METAL

The Lenny Federal Band (Comet Grill)

Between the Buried & Me (The Underground)

Fullminator w/ Nemesis, Night Attack (The Milestone)

Doubting Thomas w/ Shake the Dust (Visulite Theatre)

POP/DANCE/ELECTRONIC/DJ

Olivia Rodrigo (Spectrum Center)

JAZZ/BLUES

Kim Scott (Middle C Jazz)

COUNTRY/FOLK/AMERICANA

Joey Boretti Band w/ Josh Daniel (Goldie’s)

POP/DANCE/ELECTRONIC/DJ

Ashlyn Uribe w/ Lynsea, Kismet Kind (Petra’s)

APE Audio EDM (Starlight on 22nd)

FUNK/JAM BANDS

Jay Van Raalte & the Spectrum (Smokey Joe’s Cafe & Bar)

LATIN/WORLD/REGGAE

Of Good Nature w/ Underground Springhouse (Amos’ Southend)

Lua Flora w/ The Hourglass Kids (Evening Muse)

EXPERIMENTAL/MIXED-GENRE/FESTIVAL

Springadelia (Snug Harbor)

COVER BANDS

Jazz Is Led w/ The Keith Allen Circus (Neighborhood Theatre)

SATURDAY, MARCH 9

ROCK/PUNK/METAL

Chelsea Wolfe (The Underground)

Liam & the Nerdy Blues w/ Henry Luther & the Blackouts, The Stokes (The Milestone)

Chris Reed & the Bad Kids (Smokey Joe’s Cafe & Bar)

Many Minds w/ UltraLush, Space Lazers (Starlight on 22nd)

COUNTRY/FOLK/AMERICANA

Heidi and the River Down (Evening Muse)

Frank Foster w/ Crawford & Power (Neighborhood Theatre)

Chad Meers w/ Chase Killough (Petra’s)

POP/DANCE/ELECTRONIC/DJ

Requiem: Goth Industrial Dance Party w/ DJ Velvetine & DJ Sanity (Tommy’s Pub)

JAZZ/BLUES

BK Jackson (Middle C Jazz)

EXPERIMENTAL/MIXED-GENRE/FESTIVAL

Springadelia (Snug Harbor)

SINGER-SONGWRITER/ACOUSTIC

Luke de Hesselle (Birdsong Brewing)

Sofar Sounds (Camp North End)

Simple Sole Band w/ Ellie Morgan (Goldie’s)

The Dugi Experience (Primal Brewery)

COVER BANDS

The Ultimate Doors (Amos’ Southend)

Nectar (Phish tribute) (Heist Brewery - NoDa)

Jeremy’s Ten (Pearl Jam tribute) (Visulite Theatre)

SUNDAY, MARCH 10

ROCK/PUNK/METAL

The Stray Lions w/ Oh! You Pretty Things, Digital Dolls (The Milestone)

POP/DANCE/ELECTRONIC/DJ

Natalie Jane (Amos’ Southend)

Tow’rs w/ A Boy and His Kite (Evening Muse)

1K Phew w/ Aha Gazelle, Jon Keith, 1K PSon (Neighborhood Theatre)

Bryan Adams w/ Dave Stewart’s Eurythmics

Songbook (Spectrum Center)

JAZZ/BLUES

Omari & the Hellhounds (Comet Grill)

Marcus Adams (Middle C Jazz)

SINGER-SONGWRITER/ACOUSTIC

Garrett Huffman w/ Don Kodzai (Goldie’s)

EXPERIMENTAL/MIXED-GENRE/FESTIVAL

Springadelia (Snug Harbor)

FAMILY

The Jolly Lollies (Camp North End)

MONDAY, MARCH 11

ROCK/PUNK/METAL

Soot w/ Dr. Blood’s Orgy of Gore, Pane.Relifer (The Milestone)

JAZZ/BLUES

The Bill Hanna Legacy Jazz Session (Petra’s) COUNTRY/FOLK/AMERICANA

Charlotte Bluegrass Mondays (Smokey Joe’s Cafe & Bar)

OPEN MIC

Find Your Muse Open Mic feat. Hailey Heath (Evening Muse)

TUESDAY, MARCH 12

ROCK/PUNK/METAL

Red Rocking Chair (Comet Grill)

HEALTH (The Underground)

FLQ w/ Paranoid Maniac, Beauty (Snug Harbor)

POP/DANCE/ELECTRONIC/DJ

CHRISTIAN/GOSPEL/RELIGIOUS

One Hallelujah (Ovens Auditorium)

EXPERIMENTAL/MIXED-GENRE/FESTIVAL

Channeling Granny: Literally Music (3102 VisArt)

OPEN MIC

Open Mic Night feat. The Smokin J’s (Smokey Joe’s Cafe & Bar)

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 13

ROCK/PUNK/METAL

Cam Girl w/ Aurora’s Hope (Snug Harbor)

SINGER-SONGWRITER/ACOUSTIC

Lisa De Novo (Goldie’s)

HIP-HOP/SOUL/R&B

Mahalia (The Underground)

LATIN/WORLD/REGGAE

Celtic Woman (Ovens Auditorium)

POP/DANCE/ELECTRONIC/DJ

Beats @ Birdsong (Birdsong Brewing)

Shindig! A Night Of ’80s Music w/ DJ Bonzai & DJ

Host Modern (Tommy’s Pub)

COVER BANDS

Johnny Cash: The Official Concert Experience (Knight Theater)

Heart Breaker (Heart & Led Zepplin tribute) (Middle C Jazz)

OPEN MIC

Bold Music All Adult Open Mic (Evening Muse)

THURSDAY, MARCH 14

ROCK/PUNK/METAL

XBound w/ Caroliona Beer Money, Mirror Game (The Milestone)

Machine 13 w/ Candy Coffins, XOR, DJ Deathflower (Snug Harbor)

SINGER-SONGWRITER/ACOUSTIC

Jonathan Richman feat. Tommy Larkin (Booth Playhouse)

Eric Hutchinson (Neighborhood Theatre)

JAZZ/BLUES

The Langston Lyric Experience (Middle C Jazz)

The Bleus w/ Wild Recluse, Tecoby Hines (Petra’s)

POP/DANCE/ELECTRONIC/DJ

William Hinson w/ Grey Oakes, Ali Forrest (Evening Muse)

Bryce Vine (The Fillmore)

HIP-HOP/SOUL/R&B

Earth, Wind and Fire Alumni feat. Average White Band (Ovens Auditorium)

TiaCorine (The Underground)

Keyshia Cole w/ Trey Songz, Jaheim, K. Michelle (Spectrum Center)

FUNK/JAM BANDS

Shana Blake’s Musical Menagerie (Smokey Joe’s Cafe & Bar)

COVER BANDS

Garden of Eden w/ Thirsty Horses Duo (Goldie’s)

FRIDAY, MARCH 15

ROCK/PUNK/METAL

The Lenny Federal Band (Comet Grill)

The Phantom Friends w/ Brandon Tenney (Evening Muse)

Fear Not Ourselves Alone w/ Never Have I Ever, Cursejar, Moving Boxes (The Milestone) Daytona w/ The Simplicity, Darby Wilcox (Snug Harbor)

JAZZ/BLUES

Five Play feat. Sherrie Maricle (Booth Playhouse) Naturally Seven (Middle C Jazz)

COUNTRY/FOLK/AMERICANA

Flatland Cavalry (Coyote Joe’s)

Kashus Culpepper w/ Brendan Walter, Charles Walker (Neighborhood Theatre)

Mariah Van Kleef w/ Julianna Money, David Taylor & The Tallboys (Petra’s)

FUNK/JAM BANDS

Into the Fog w/ Thunder & Rain (Evening Muse)

The Angie Rickard Band (Smokey Joe’s Cafe & Bar)

SINGER-SONGWRITER/ACOUSTIC

Tonya Wood (Primal Brewery)

CLASSICAL/INSTRUMENTAL

Star Wars: The Force Awakens in Concert (Belk Theater)

POP/DANCE/ELECTRONIC/DJ

Hamdi (Blackbox Theater)

Shrek Rave (The Underground)

COVER BANDS

Broken Hearts (Tom Petty tribute) w/ Icky Thump (White Stripes tribute) (Amos’ Southend)

Queen of the Night (Whitney Houston tribute) (The Fillmore)

REO Survivor & Co. w/ Jake Haldenvang (Goldie’s)

Runaway Gin (Phish tribute) (Visulite Theatre)

SATURDAY, MARCH 16

ROCK/PUNK/METAL

Ghosts of Bannockburn w/ Rod Fiske (Goldie’s)

Rugg w/ Orange Doors, Bergenline (Petra’s)

Ladrones w/ Mel Machete (Snug Harbor)

Eagles (Spectrum Center)

StormWatchers w/ The Donner Deads, Once Below

Joy (Tommy’s Pub)

SINGER-SONGWRITER/ACOUSTIC

Crystal Fountains (Primal Brewery)

JAZZ/BLUES

Five Play feat. Sherrie Maricle (Booth Playhouse)

Naturally Seven (Middle C Jazz)

POP/DANCE/ELECTRONIC/DJ

Em Beihold w/ Will Linley (Amos’ Southend)

Crankdat (Blackbox Theater)

Jack & Jack w/ Sammy Wilk (The Underground)

Digital Noir w/ DJ Spider, DJ [Sin]aptik, DJ Dil3mma (The Milestone)

HIP-HOP/SOUL/R&B

Donny Parks (Starlight on 22nd)

CLASSICAL/INSTRUMENTAL

Star Wars: The Force Awakens in Concert (Belk Theater)

LATIN/WORLD/REGGAE

Viva la Musica CLT! (Neighborhood Theatre)

COVER BANDS

Mike Massé & Jeff Hall (Stage Door Theater)

The Time Machine (Smokey Joe’s Cafe & Bar)

SUNDAY, MARCH 17

HIP-HOP/SOUL/R&B

Austin Royale w/ Jooselord, Dead Senate, Bangzz (The Milestone)

JAZZ/BLUES

Omari & the Hellhounds (Comet Grill)

COUNTRY/FOLK/AMERICANA

Bob Dylan (Belk Theater)

Barnaby Bright feat. Alan Black (Booth Playhouse)

Rhett Miller w/ Clint Roberts (Neighborhood Theatre)

The Wilson Springs w/ Charles Walker (Primal Brewery)

SINGER-SONGWRITER/ACOUSTIC

Johnathan Birchfield w/ Leisure McCorkle (Goldie’s)

POP/DANCE/ELECTRONIC/DJ

Hazy Sunday (Petra’s)

LATIN/WORLD/REGGAE

Juanes (The Fillmore)

Hermanos Gutiérrez (The Underground)

One irish Rover (Middle C Jazz)

An Archaic Agenda (Tommy’s Pub)

COVER BANDS

Ballantyne School of Music Spring Jam ’24 (Amos’ Southend)

MONDAY, MARCH 18

ROCK/PUNK/METAL

Forever We Roam w/ O’Callah, Squirt Vile, Mutual Assurance (The Milestone)

JAZZ/BLUES

The Bill Hanna Legacy Jazz Session (Petra’s)

COUNTRY/FOLK/AMERICANA

Charlotte Bluegrass Mondays (Smokey Joe’s Cafe & Bar)

POP/DANCE/ELECTRONIC/DJ

Set It Off (The Fillmore)

OPEN MIC

Find Your Muse Open Mic feat. Charles Walker (Evening Muse)

TUESDAY, MARCH 19

ROCK/PUNK/METAL

Red Rocking Chair (Comet Grill)

High. w/ Bluegill, Dish, Jackson Fig (The Milestone)

My Life w/ The Thrill Kill Kult (The Underground)

Wishbone Ash (Neighborhood Theatre)

EXPERIMENTAL/MIXED-GENRE/FESTIVAL

Channeling Granny: Literally Music (3102 VisArt)

OPEN MIC

Open Mic Night feat. The Smokin J’s (Smokey Joe’s Cafe & Bar)

VISIT QCNERVE.COM FOR THE FULL SOUNDWAVE LISTING.

SEACHING FOR A S WEET S POT

Urban Sweets Co. readjusts after closing South End location

BY DEZANI I LEWIS

For many businesses, shuttering the doors to a storefront, especially a flagship location that had only been open for a single year, spells the end of things. But Kristen Stewart isn’t most people and Urban Sweets Co. isn’t most businesses.

Stewarts’ ice cream company, known for its Charlotte-based flavors like Belmont Banana Pudding, Plaza Midwood Peanut Butter and SouthPark Strawberry Cheesecake, began as a mobile operation from its launch.

So in November 2023, when Stewart was faced with the reality that she could not justify renewing the lease at her brick-and-mortar shop just a year after signing it, she knew she could return to her roots: a mobile pop-up business.

“It was just kind of like a natural pivot, and it’s also where we were deriving the majority of our income,” Stewart told Queen City Nerve. “The store really wasn’t doing well, but the events that we were doing [with the mobile cart] paid the bills, especially in the summertime.”

Now with the warm months approaching once again, Stewart is slipping back into her comfort zone, serving customers at a mix of private, social and business events ranging from pop-ups to farmers markets while trying to launch an ice cream subscription service that she hopes will bring Urban Sweets to the next level.

“There were a lot of great things about having a shop, and one of the great things about having the shop is, because it was so expensive, it made us really hungry,” Stewart said. “That hunger drove us to be creative, drove us to be ambitious in who we tried to attract and so we’re using those skills learned to go into this season.”

What went wrong

Of course, no one takes closing their storefront lightly. Though she was confident in her ability to pivot, Stewart did go through a flurry of emotions when last year’s closure became imminent.

“I was very angry,” she said. “I was very sad. In some moments, I felt like I had failed. I was disappointed. But I decided at the end of [2023] that I was going to release those feelings, the negative ones, because they began to dominate everything about me and it was stifling.”

She worried about how those who helped her obtain her dream of a brick-and-mortar business, from the investors to the regular customers, would take the news of her closing. She felt as though she had failed them

What she’s learned since the closing, however, is that her support system has been strong from the start and remains intact.

“They were all cheering me on [then] and they’ve continued to support, in a lot of instances, even though it’s just been a few months,” she said.

According to Stewart, complications with operating the shop started early. There were a number of unforeseen requirements that the business had to meet in order just to open its doors.

Located at 222 West Boulevard under The Winston apartment complex, Stewart didn’t realize that the location did not have a grease trap, which captures grease before it can pass back into the city’s water system and is mandatory for any food-service establishment in nearly any municipality.

That was just one example of the multiple projects that needed to be completed in the shop.

Stewart spent tens of thousands of dollars on upgrades and renovations before she could open,

leaving her with no money to operate. She wasn’t able to bounce back from that, as the shop never operated at a profit throughout the year it was open. Though the business often appeared busy, it wasn’t enough to meet Stewart’s overhead, she said.

Located in a busy part of town where Wilmore meets South End, Stewart thought parking wouldn’t be an issue for customers, anticipating lots of foot traffic. That wasn’t the case.

As it turned out, many of her most loyal customers were coming to see her from Northlake, Plaza Midwood and other areas where she had built a name as a mobile vendor, but the lack of parking eventually drew them away.

“I jokingly say, ‘I don’t know if we didn’t have enough revenue or we didn’t have enough customers, but either way, we had to close,’” Stewart said.

Making things harder, the shop opened in November, a less-than-ideal time for an ice cream shop.

There was one bright spot in Stewart’s short-lived shop experience that came when Cory Wilkins, a local food influencer who highlights Black-owned businesses such as Urban Sweets, stopped by the shop and highlighted Stewart’s popular ice cream options.

“He talked about us, and we literally had hundreds and hundreds of people come to our shop,” Stewart said. “We had lines down the sidewalk, like all the

things that any business wants.”

The sharp rise in sales was short-lived, however.

“[Wilkins] had indicated to us that it would last about three weeks and sure enough, it lasted about three weeks,” Stewart recalled. “But that was a mighty good three weeks, and we’re forever grateful to him and to all the people who came.”

With a perfect storm of obstacles tainting her first year in the shop, Stewart said the entire venture felt doomed. She hoped the landlord could work with her as she attempted to bounce back from the rough opening, but they weren’t helpful.

“The landlords definitely encouraged me to close,” she said. “The odd thing about commercial real estate, sometimes landlords will decide that it’s better to have a space empty than to have a tenant that is either behind or can only partially pay.”

While other businesses such as Coterie Concept, Beard Papa’s and Bulldog Taproom have opened along the same strip over the past year, the space that Stewart once occupied still sits empty.

“If somebody asked me, ‘On a scale of one to 10, how successful was your entry into brick and mortar?’ I probably would give it about a three,” Stewart said.

But she didn’t fall victim to brain freeze. Stewart already knew how to make the best of her bad situation.

PHOTO COURTESY OF USC

KRISTEN STEWART, OWNER OF URBAN SWEETS CO.

FOOD & DRINK FEATURE

New ideas for ice cream

Stewart has been a small business owner for 17 years, so she’s no stranger to the ups and downs of operating a business.

She originally owned and operated Three Little Birds, a specialty print shop, but the pandemic led to burnout, and Stewart decided she wanted to operate a business that was more fun.

She hit her stride with Urban Sweets Co., through which she serves ice cream, milkshakes, popsicles, sundaes, ice cream sandwiches and a variety of mini cakes, macarons, and seasonal pastries.

“It’s ice cream so it’s so fun,” she said. “The customers are always nice. It’s something I’m really passionate about because, through ice cream, I can reach so many people.”

Shutting down the South End shop never meant putting the lid on Urban Sweets. In fact, Stewart insisted that was never an option because of all the people she reaches in various ways through her business.

“We want to be able to provide people their first jobs,” she said. “An ice cream shop is a great place to work. We pay a great wage, the work isn’t that hard, and people tip really well.”

While the physical location was operating, Stewart also made her shop a haven for folks battling with poverty or economic instability.

“A lot of times shop owners are hesitant about

having people like that in their shop, but in my shop, they were always welcomed,” she said.

When necessary, she charged whatever customers could pay.

“I felt like that provided them some dignity because they were a customer versus someone looking for a handout,” she said. “They were welcome to stay as long as they wanted and welcome to come and have a seat whenever they wanted.”

In its current form, the mobile business handles a slew of different event types, ready to handle anywhere from eight people to 800, though Stewart did say they have the capacity to handle more.

“We have a scalable model, so if somebody needs us to feed a few thousand, we can do that too,” she said, laughingly adding, “We would actually love them to contact us immediately.”

Stewart said she operates multiple carts set up with multiple configurations; she can serve small pastries, cotton candy, popcorn, and s’mores in addition to the ice cream.

Her next goal is to get her subscription model off the ground. The Pint Pick Up subscription offers four pints per month, all different flavors, to be taken home or given as gifts.

At the time we spoke, Stewart said there hadn’t been any subscribers yet, though she plans to push it more during the warmer months.

“It’s one of my biggest disappointments, because I think it’s a brilliant idea,” she said, though she has a theory for why it hasn’t picked up yet.

“One of my friends who’s a psychologist explained it to me and said people typically buy ice cream impulsively because it’s sweet. It’s on that list of things you probably shouldn’t enjoy and so to subscribe and to have that indulgent schedule kind of goes against what a lot of people believe.

“But I’m like, ‘Just order the ice cream, you’ll thank me later!’” she continued. “Just because you order it doesn’t mean you have to eat it right away, and life deserves some indulgences regularly. If the worst thing in life you’re indulging in is ice cream, you’ll be okay.”

While she waits for people to wise up to the idea of an ice cream subscription, Stewart will continue to broach new ideas for her mobile business. On March 9, she’s hosting a “Stuff Your Stanley” event at Atherton Farmers Market, capitalizing on the latest travel cup trend by inviting customers to stuff their

32- to 40-ounce Stanley cups, or any other cup of the same size, for $12.50 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

She’ll continue hosting similar events throughout the year, urging customers to stay tuned to her Instagram page @urbansweetsco for whatever she may have in the pipeline.

In the meantime, Stewart hasn’t given up on the idea of occupying another storefront. She said she will give herself a year to decide what to do next in that regard.

As for whether or not she’s hit her sweet spot as a business owner, she said she doesn’t believe she has.

“I’m such a big dreamer and I don’t know that I’ll ever hit my sweet spot, if truth really be told,” she said. “I just have such huge growth goals. So I don’t know — ask me that in five years.”

INFO@QCNERVE.COM

PHOTO COURTESY OF USC

URBAN SWEETS IS CURRENTLY OPERATING AT POP-UP AND MOVILE EVENTS.

FOOD & DRINK FEATURE

THE HORTICULTURAL URBANIST

Mariah Henry cultivates a shift in culinary thinking at The Urban Haven

BY RYAN PITKIN

The Stead at Farmington, an apartment complex in northeast Charlotte, on Feb. 22 announced a partnership with Mariah Henry to launch The Urban Haven at The Stead, a community garden with culinary programming for residents and neighbors.

The only community garden within 150 acres, The Urban Haven will include raised beds featuring an edible heirloom garden, culinary workshops, “food days,” “field days” and more.

Fueled by a void that has plagued a broken food system, Henry will offer residents of The Stead seasonal harvesting and onsite programming while nearby neighbors will also have access to the public events, which will utilize the seasonal food and Henry’s expertise.

A graduate of Florida A&M and Johnson & Wales universities, Henry has followed a path of building community and grafting the essences of food and agriculture into a career and lifestyle.

Classically trained as a chef, she has an immersive background in sustainability, international agriculture, community relations, farming systems, culinary arts, strategic planning and small business enterprises that provides communities with the unique skill set to thrive where they are planted.

During her time at Johnson & Wales, Henry did an internship with Hello, Sailor, the renowned restaurant run by Joe and Katy Kindred on Lake Norman, where she worked in food prep and as a line cook.

“I learned how to work with various parts of the vegetables that would otherwise be wasted,” she told Queen City Nerve of her time at Hello, Sailor. “When I worked in other restaurants it would be disheartening to see the lack of education or care with fresh produce. Understanding how food moves and matures is crucial in preparing food that honors the farmer and the chef.”

She went on to take a full-time role with Wild

Hope Farm in Chester County, South Carolina, where she cultivated her passion for sustainable food practices while taking part in the Center for Environmental Farming Systems’ Sustainable Vegetable Production Apprenticeship program.

“I was fortunate to immerse myself in various aspects of farming and land stewardship,” Henry said of her time at Wild Hope. “One day I was flame weeding and the next arranging beautiful bouquets for their [community-supported agriculture program].”

As she wrapped up her final season at Wild Hope, Henry began to explore options back in Charlotte. She knew she wanted to work on the land, taking part in some sort of urban farming project rather than in a restaurant.

A serendipitous series of meetings led her to landing the position at The Urban Haven. It was her friend Bernard Singleton, owner of Nebedaye Farms in Indian Trail, that put her in touch with Zack Wyatt at Carolina Farm Trust, who suggested her to a rep from RangeWater Real Estate who was looking to fill an artist-in-residence position at The Stead at Farmington. But this was not your average artist residency; they needed a culinary artist who was as familiar with the culinary aspect of the art as the horticultural aspect.

Wyatt would later hire Henry as director of urban agriculture with Carolina Farm Trust, where she now works to re-educate, reform and lead communities into economic resiliency through food.

Through her residency at The Urban Haven, she will lead her new neighbors in cultivating a community garden while hosting workshops on growing and cooking food. One such event in early March centered the story of Edna Lewis, a renowned African-American chef, teacher and author who helped refine the American view of Southern cooking.

FOOD & DRINK FEATURE

Implementing regenerative and climate-smart practices, Henry said she is developing a blueprint for equitable and profitable urban farm systems, training the next generation of agricultural leaders and curating a seamless pipeline of sustainable production to equitable consumption.

She added that she is on a personal mission to bridge gaps in the food system, ensuring consistent access to quality meals, local foods and identifying inequalities with BIPOC and minority farmers.

“We want this to be a catalyst for the community,” Henry stated in a press release announcing the launch of The Urban Haven at The Stead. “Our goal is to reveal the honor in agriculture’s rich history, restore broken communities and reclaim the connection of food back to our mind, body and soul. We will offer flowers, herbs and vegetables and provide interactive opportunities for residents and neighbors. There is no other community garden within this community and we look forward to offering the first of its kind to all who reside nearby.”

Speaking over the phone with Queen City Nerve later, Henry built on this point, adding that the Urban Haven residency gave her the perfect chance to pursue the type of culinary community building she’s wants to work toward.

“I knew that the restaurant industry wasn’t really my scene anymore, and I wanted to be closer to the people that I was going to be working with, and so this kind of fit the mission and the model,” she said. “And so with community being the forefacing [priority], I am going to them and asking them what are the things that they would want to see? What

are their desires or hopes as a food community, as what you would want to see in your system? And so really trying to build a framework of what this model could look like when communities have particular people with talents or skills that can broaden what they’re exposed to, instead of you just have a rental apartment unit and this is it.

“A lot of the folks here are transplants, or they’re single, they work remotely, so that’s been a huge gathering point is that we’re all looking for something,” she continued. “And I know food brings folks to the table, but beyond that, people are just really excited about actually cultivating things and growing things … So the opportunity was more special for me, so that I could come out in a way that I wanted to and hopefully be a model for what’s happening in the midst of still trying to make some changes in the food system.”

For Henry, the residency is a way to make an impact in someone’s life that can stay with them far beyond serving a dish from a menu and never engaging any further that.

“The engagement piece, I think, is the main thing,” she explained. “When you’re at farms or in restaurants, you’re always just providing a service to others, but I wanted to be a catalyst, and when I say that, it is to give them the skills so that they can take it on and maybe do something else with it or just drop a seed to get them to change a mindset and a lifestyle shift, more than anything.”

A shift to sustainability and the way we engage with our neighbors — change can be a beautiful thing.

PHOTO COURTESY OF HUFF & CO.

MARIAH HENRY

TRIVIA TEST

BY FIFI RODRIGUEZ

1. GENERAL KNOWLEDGE: Which large U.S. city is nicknamed Rip City?

CROSSWORD SUDOKU

BY LINDA THISTLE

PLACE A NUMBER IN THE EMPTY BOXES IN SUCH A WAY THAT EACH ROW ACROSS, EACH COLUMN DOWN AND EACH SMALL 9-BOX SQUARE CONTAINS ALL OF THE NUMBERS ONE TO NINE.

2. MOVIES: Which movie features the quote, “She doesn’t even go here!”

3. GEOGRAPHY: Which national capital city is the northernmost in the world?

4. TELEVISION: Which long-running sitcom features a dad named Phil Dunphy?

5. GAMES: In chess, how many knights does each player have at the beginning?

6. GEOLOGY: What natural phenomenon is associated with igneous rock?

7. LANGUAGE: How many official languages are in the United Nations?

8. MUSIC: David Grohl was a drummer in which band before he became the frontman for the Foo Fighters?

9. ANIMAL KINGDOM: What is a group of alligators called?

10. FOOD & DRINK: What kind of meat is used in Hasenpfeffer, a traditional German stew?

THE SEEKER SPRINTER SEASON

Just a few more false springs until we’re through it

BY KAT IE GRANT

We have now entered “sprinter,” that hazy Venn diagram of seasons when you’re mentally prepared for spring and the weather sort of gives it you only to knock you back down and remind you it’s still winter.

As I type this morning, cozy in the bed with one of my dogs slumbering through his mid-morning nap, it’s drizzling outside — chilly enough to need a sweatshirt but not cold enough for it to snow. Accordingly, my weekend “hot girl walk” scheduled for Reedy Creek Park has been moved to the Eastway Regional Recreation Center for an indoor sweat sesh.

Earlier this weekend, I attended the bittersweet closing party for Blue Blaze Brewing in Charlotte’s West End. Because of the “sprinter” effect, my evening outfit of choice was a hodgepodge of turtleneck, jeans and open-toe sandals. It was the sandals I regretted a few hours later, despite being huddled together with friends from different phases of my life around a late-night fire pit.

The beginning of March has also marked a significant milestone in Charlotte’s history, as the inaugural social district is rolling out in the Plaza Midwood neighborhood as I write this. But what does the social district mean for folks ages 21 and up who are interested in experiencing this new concept?

Patrons can use 16-ounce stainless steel cups, available for purchase at participating bars, to carry their drinks and move freely between businesses that choose to participate in the social district. This initiative aims to create a more social atmosphere, allowing people to enjoy their beverages responsibly while exploring the neighborhood.

The social district operates within defined boundaries in Plaza Midwood, from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m., seven days a week.

I’ve witnessed firsthand the many thoughts and concerns during the social district rollout process; most are valid and, therefore, understandable. Others, however, are highly hypothetical and, honestly, just fucking ridiculous. To the gentleman overly concerned about customers collecting the stainless steel cups at home as trophies, please sit down.

Personal opinion: I view the social district concept as a cultural shift — a new set of societal norms to gradually get used to together. As Russell Ferguson with the Plaza Midwood Merchants Association said in a recent conversation with WFAE, the rollout process is to be considered a “soft opening.”

And if everyone follows the guidelines like adults, there hopefully won’t be any issues.

As winter slowly bids its farewell, the anticipation of socializing in the warmer months is becoming palpable. Am I the only one filling up my social calendar with things to see, do, and spend my hardearned paycheck on?

My inner art enthusiast is looking forward to the Class of 2024 Art Market at Le Méridien, taking place on Saturday, March 16th. This “artistic extravaganza” is free (one of my favorite things) and open to the public, whether you intend to purchase art or not.

However, because my heart is unwaveringly connected to the Charlotte nonprofit realm, I would be doing ArtPop a disservice not to mention that the event has sponsorship opportunities available.

Transitioning from the indoor environs of the art scene to outdoor wellness opportunities, Wing Haven, another Charlotte nonprofit, is offering Gentle Slow Flow Yoga sessions every “Wellness Wednesday” until June 5th.

Led by an instructor in the outdoor sanctuary, each class promises to weave gentle, breathcentered movements to calm the mind and body. The perfect mid-week wind-down opportunity is surrounded by verdant horticulture so lush you may even forget you’re in the heart of a city.

As we bid adieu to winter and its lesser-known cousin, “sprinter,” the transition into March brings a mix of experiences suitable to all kinds of interests. Whether it’s day drinking with a stainless steel solo cup, perusing unique vintage goods, or experiencing new health and wellness opportunities beneath the city’s canopy, here’s to a spring filled with the promise of connection, exploration and discovery.

MARCH 6 - 12 MARCH 13 - 19

ARIES (March 21 to April 19) The adventurous Arian won’t be disappointed when taking on a new challenge, despite some initial misgivings. Look for this move to open up other opportunities down the line.

TAURUS (April 20 to May 20) Let that beautiful Bovine smile not only put you at ease, but also show that you’re ready, willing and more than able to confound the naysayers around you. Meanwhile, a new admirer has important news.

GEMINI (May 21 to June 20) Be careful how you handle a relationship that you’re hoping to save. You already have the facts on your side. Avoid weakening your position by embellishing it with dramatics.

CANCER (June 21 to July 22) Taking definitive stands isn’t easy for the often-wavering Moon Child. But you not only need to stay with your decision, but also reassure others that it was the right thing to do.

LEO (July 23 to August 22) As a proud Lion, you’re right to be upset about those who might be lying about you to others. But the best revenge is proving them wrong by succeeding at what you set out to do.

VIRGO (August 23 to September 22) Caution is still advised before making a financial commitment to a “promising” project. Look for the facts behind the fluff. Devote the weekend to loved ones.

LIBRA (September 23 to October 22) A Taurus offers comfort and advice as you deal with an upsetting event. Use this as a learning experience that will help you avoid similar problems in the future.

SCORPIO (October 23 to November 21) A romantic situation creates some chaos for single Scorpions, but it’s well worth the effort to work things out. A trusted friend can offer some helpful advice.

SAGITTARIUS (November 22 to December 21) Expect to make new friends as your social circle expands. Also, remember to tell a certain family member how proud you are of their achievements.

CAPRICORN (December 22 to January 19) New ventures continue to be favored. And with your self-confidence rising all the time, you’ll want to see how well you can do with a new challenge. So, go toward it.

AQUARIUS (January 20 to February 18) This is a good time for the usually serious-minded Aquarian to let loose and enjoy some fun times. Expect to get good news about a workplace issue.

PISCES (February 19 to March 20) Changed plans might upset some people, but your needs should be respected. Offer explanations when necessary. But don’t let yourself get talked into changing your decisions.

BORN THIS WEEK: You have a gift for bringing people together. You would make a fine judge or counselor.

ARIES (March 21 to April 19) Congratulations, Lamb. The end of the month brings good news in the workplace, thanks to all the efforts you’ve made to get your projects off the ground and running.

TAURUS (April 20 to May 20) Don’t let yourself be cowed into thinking that you’re not up to the challenge you’ve taken on. Keep reinforcing your self-confidence. No one and nothing can stop you.

GEMINI (May 21 to June 20) Positive responses to a recent workplace move should give you the added assurance that you’re on the right track. Celebrate the good news with family and/or friends.

CANCER (June 21 to July 22) There’s still a little emotional fuzziness you have to work through before you can feel really certain about your recent decisions. But you’re on the right track. Stay with it!

LEO (July 23 to August 22) You’re tempted by an offer that seems close to what you’ve been looking for. But before you pounce on it, see if you can coax out some added perks to sweeten the deal.

VIRGO (August 23 to September 22) Your efforts to settle a volatile situation should prove to be successful. Now could be a good time to analyze what might have created the problem in the first place.

LIBRA (September 23 to October 22) A once-close associate reemerges with news that could cause you to reconsider a recent decision. But don’t make a move before consulting a trusted adviser.

SCORPIO (October 23 to November 21) You might feel pressured to reveal a colleague’s secret. But you can rely on your strong Scorpion sense of rectitude to help you continue to do the right thing.

SAGITTARIUS (November 22 to December 21) A pesky situation is still creating problems. But you are moving ahead with it, and it should soon be successfully resolved in your favor.

CAPRICORN (December 22 to January 19) A spate of indecision leaves you susceptible to doubt. But you’ll soon regain your emotional sure-footedness and be back leading the way as usual.

AQUARIUS (January 20 to February 18) Love rules the week with new romances favored for single Aquarians looking for partners. Cupid also targets renewed commitment for wedded Water Bearers.

PISCES (February 19 to March 20) A surge of creativity keeps you happily busy through the week. But set aside some quiet time to share with loved ones. Some longawaited news finally comes through.

BORN THIS WEEK: People rely on you whenever they need someone they can trust to be caring, considerate and also discreet.

SAVAGE LOVE THE LONG G AME

Swingin’ on by

BY DAN SAVAGE

Would it be inappropriate to introduce my girlfriend to the kink/swinger scene if I plan to break up with her? I’ve been unhappy for a decade, but I’ve been able to fake the funk until pretty recently. I’ve been failing at that lately and the lack of sex is making her unhappy, as she has a huge sexual appetite. I’m considering joining a kink/swinger club to satisfy her needs while I’m unable. I’m honestly turned on by the idea of watching her with someone else and I’ve told her this, but she worries that the reality of seeing me with someone else will be too much for me and it’ll damage our relationship. Which means, if I do get her to join the kink/swinger club and break up with her six months later, she’ll assume I broke up with her because seeing her with someone else broke me somehow. I don’t want her to think she made a mistake by going to a sex club with me.

The real reason we are still together is that our child — legally her child (and now legally an adult) — is in a special program only offered through the school system in our ritzy suburb. This program is preparing him to live independently. I’m also working to pay off the credit card debt she built up over the years, so she can actually afford to live on her own once we split. The plan is to have her debt paid off by the time he graduates and then asking her to move out. In the meantime, I’d like her to be sexually satisfied. And while I’m no longer attracted to her, she is a sweet person and I want the best for her.

LONG OVER AND DONE

Well, you could point to the publication of your letter in my column prior to your visit to the kink/ swinger club with your girlfriend — provided you can convince your girlfriend to visit that kink/swinger club — as proof that going to the kink/swinger club didn’t doom your relationship. That will likely be cold comfort to your girlfriend, FOOF, but the existence of this letter demonstrates that the breakup was thoroughly premeditated.

Okay, saying something was premeditated sounds bad, I realize, but it’s a positive in the context of being dumped by a long-term partner. It always sucks to get dumped, of course, and the realization your ex was

planning to dump you for months or years can add to the humiliation and pain. But no one wants to get dumped at the worst possible time, e.g., right before a big family event or when they’re finishing their dissertation or when their credit is in the toilet and their kid’s future hangs in the balance. So, an ex who held off until the blow would be a little less devastating did us a favor, even if it’s hard to admit or even recognize.

So, LOAD, making sure your girlfriend’s debt is paid off and that her son (your son) gets the best possible start before you end things is absolutely the right thing to do — and good on you — but I’m not convinced the kink/ swinger club proposal is coming from the same altruistic place. Still, if you think convincing her to attend a kink/ swinger club with you might actually revive your sex life — if you can convince her that seeing her with someone else would make you wanna fuck her again (and it might) — it’s still a somewhat/semi-noble goal and I will allow it.

And, hey, if kink/swinger clubs do wind up reviving your sex life … and if your sex life is your only point of conflict (it’s the only problem you mention in your letter) … maybe you don’t need to break up after all?

I’m at the point in my life where I’m both a caregiver for my parents and my partner. All three have various physical and mental disabilities, and none of them is going to get any better. It’s exhausting. I don’t have an open relationship with my partner, although I’d like to practice ethical non-monogamy. The problem is, he would probably not give permission out of fear I would leave him for someone else, and then where would he be?

I know you’ve gotten lots of letters lately from married people in the same boat, but we are not married. Never did that. Never wanted that. So, there are no vows here to break, no promise of lifetime commitment to walk back. But I can’t leave him, because he needs me — as his caretaker, as his patient advocate, and as his companion. But I want the opportunity to get needs of mine met that he can’t meet anymore.

It feels so unfair that I have to sacrifice everything right now. I want permission, I guess, to do what I need to do to stay with him and stay sane, without

feeling like an awful person. I should be less of a coward and talk to him about this, I guess, but I’m afraid of hurting him. He doesn’t deserve more pain than he’s in already. Thank you for listening.

AMERICAN CAREGIVER HAS INTENSE NEEDS

Ask the average person to describe a “cheater,” and they’ll describe selfish assholes who fuck other people behind the backs of their loving, faithful, and willing partners they left at home. And, yes, some cheaters are pieces of shit who betray their partners without remorse and don’t care about the pain they inflict. But that’s not true in every case. In fact, some people who cheat — or some people who write to sex-advice columnists seeking permission to cheat — care deeply about their partners and want to spare them pain, which is the definitely the case here.

Do what you need to do to stay married and stay sane, ACHIN, be discreet and vigilant, and don’t let anyone make you feel like you’re an awful person. You’re a good person in awful circumstances who’s doing her best to take care of the people she loves, herself included.

And everybody else: If you’re lucky enough to have a partner and you’re still relatively young and in good health, now is the time have a talk about your expectations if and/or when — and it’s most likely when — your relationship looks a lot less like it does now and a lot more like ACHIN’s relationship.

I was dating my nursing supervisor for eight months when I found out he entered into a monogamous relationship midway without telling me. (No wonder I couldn’t get him to commit!) I was immensely hurt and ended it immediately. I wanted to tell his girlfriend, who had plastered him all over her prolific social media (this is how I found out). I had screenshots of text messages with him that aligned with their trips, family outings, etc. There were even times when he went on vacation with her and immediately came to my apartment afterwards. There are plenty of unknowns here: She could have known about me (ENM), she might not care, etc. However, it appears to be a very traditional hetero relationship. Personally, I would want to know, and I would want someone to tell me. Ultimately, I decided I was motivated by a desire for vengeance rather a duty to warn and said nothing. What do you think? Did I do the right thing?

SEEMINGLY NURSING A GRUDGE

If you were her — if your partner had been cheating on you — you would wanna be told. But you’re not her, SNAG, you’re you. So, it’s not just wanting to be told you need to take into consideration. You also need to consider what it would mean — for you — to do the telling. Do you wanna get pulled into their drama? Do you wanna risk a shoot-the-messenger reaction? (A figurative shootthe-messenger reaction, one would hope, but in America one never knows.) If your affair partner was capable of

lying — and lying successfully — to his girlfriend about you, is he capable of lying to your supervisors and his about you? And if you need to produce proof of the affair to protect yourself from professional retaliation, can you produce that proof? Are you willing to produce that proof?

If I were in your shoes, SNAG, I would stay out of it. If he’s a liar and cheat, she’ll figure that out. It was shitty of him to keep seeing you after he made that a monogamous commitment to her — and it was shitty of him to hurt you the way he did — but maybe he’s doing his best to honor that commitment now. Whatever the case may be, I think staying out of their relationship, out of his pants, and out of the vengeance business is the best course of action.

P.S. Most straight relationships are presumed traditional — presumed monogamous — unless the couple is open about practicing ENM, and most straight ENM couples are not open about it. So, just because this couple doesn’t openly identify as ENM isn’t proof they’re monogamous. You also can’t rule out the possibility that she knows and/or doesn’t care — which would make her tolyamorous.

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