Creative Loafing Charlotte

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10 regional music festivals are just a short drive away

These live music lineups are close to Charlotte and hotter than July

• by Jeff Hahne, Rachel Bailey, Pat Moran, Corbie Hill, and John Schacht
• Tags: Cover, Charlotte Speed Week, Speed Street, Bele Chere, free charlotte festivals, regional music, Charlotte music festivals, summer music festivals, Tuckfest, Merlefest, Shaky Knees Festival, Drumstrong, Bonnaroo, Carolina Rebellion, Leaf, Treasurefest, Recess fest, Floydfest, Carolina Chocolate Drops, Avett Brothers, Pullman Strike, Gov't Mule, The Lumineers, Old Crow Medicine Show, Gogol Bordello, Macklemore, Kendrick Lamar, Bo White, Pig mountain, Temperance League, Paul Mccartney, Mumford & Sons, Tom Petty, Wu-tang Clan, Bjork, Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, Band of Horses, Mavis Staples, Lucero, Ozomatli, Soundgarden, Alice in Chains, Limp Bizkit, Rise Against, Papa Roach, Bush, 3 Doors Down, Buckcherry, Oliver Mtukudzi and the Black Spirits, Sam Bush, Toubab Krewe, Weird Al Yankovic, Steel Pulse, Junior Astronomers, Cover Story

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Selling the South to Southerners

Taylor Swift, Nashville and the uncomfortable rise of redneck TV

• by Corbie Hill
• Tags: Cover, Taylor Swift, Southern culture, Duck Dynasty, Here Comes Honey Boo Boo, Moonshiners, Mesfin Fekadu, Huffington Post, Dave McKenna, concerts in Charlotte, redneck TV, Cover Story

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A legend comes to life in Fela!

Production offers inspiration through music, storytelling

• by Emiene Wright
• Tags: Cover, Fela Anikulapo Ransome-Kuti, Fela!, Fela Kuti, Broadway, musical, Gelan Lambert, Bill T. Jones, Afrobeat, Afrika Shrine, Tom Gabbard, Douglas Young, Blumenthal Performing Arts Center, arts in Charlotte, things to do, theater, Maija Garcia, Emiene Wright, Cover Story

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To Bieb or not to Bieb

Justin Bieber is huge now, but which historical teen star's path will he follow?

• by Corbie Hill
• Tags: Cover, Justin Bieber, Justin Bieber in Charlotte, teen pop stars, child stars, Shirley Temple, Pat Boone, The Beatles, Michael Jackson, Debbie Gibson, Tiffany, New Kids on the Block, Kriss Kross, Backstreet Boys, 'N Sync, Britney Spears, Justin Timberlake, where are they now, VH1, Beliebers, Corbie Hill, Cover Story

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Q: When will Madonna stop being relevant?

A: When we stop asking if Madonna's still relevant.

• by Mark Kemp
• Tags: Cover, Madonna, Madonna in Charlotte, pop culture, Lady Gaga, black Muslim in the White House, MDNA, Rob Tannenbaum, David Bowie, Madonna Louise Veronica Ciccone, performance art, artifice, Like a Prayer, Marilee Lindemann, Madonna backlash, Minutemen, Sonic Youth, Ciccone Youth, Mike Watt, Cover Story

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Music Issue 2012: Where's the black music in Charlotte?

A look inside the scene — from the artists and promoters to the venues and events

• by Emiene Wright
• Tags: Cover, black music in Charlotte, black music, soul, R&B, hip-hop, Elenora Fagan, Slow Motion Riot, Excelsior Club, Hi-Fi Club, Club Ballet, The Brickyard, Radio Rehab, Su Casa, Nathan Smalls, R&B Live, Carlton Hargro, Jasiatic, Mike Kitchen, Brandon Sutton, Ida Divine, Tyrus Washington, Tempo, Delta's, Poor Richard's, Venue 1801, Winston Gilley, Coretta Livingston, True Bloc Studio, Top 5 Carolinas, Vena S., Nikki Canada, Genuine Article, Makeda the Redd Fox, music in Charlotte, Emiene Wright, Cover Story

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Building momentum: The Avett Brothers

Just a band of carpenters working their way to folk-rock perfection

• by Jeff Hahne
• Tags: Cover, Scott Avett, Seth Avett, Avett Brothers, The Carpenter, Music Midtown Festival, Southern Ground Festival, Ramseur Records, I and Love and You, Rick Rubin, American Recordings, Carolina Jubilee, live, festival, Four Thieves Gone: The Robbinsville Sessions, Emotionalism, Joe Kwon, Jacob Edwards, Bob Crawford, folk, rock, country, Bob Dylan, Mumford and Sons, brain tumor, Concord, Charlotte, music, concert, band, Cover Story

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Stranger in his own hometown: Adam Lazzara

The transformation of Taking Back Sunday's lead singer

• by Mark Kemp
• Tags: Cover, Taking Back Sunday, Vans Warped Tour, Adam Lazzara, music, concert, Charlotte, Ryan Adams, singer, NoDa, Smelly Cat, Neighborhood Theatre, Victory Records, Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre, Cover Story

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Mastodon is leading the New South's creative Renaissance

The heavy rock band is an anomaly, gaining exposure on multiple platforms

• by Corbie Hill
• Tags: Cover, Mastodon, rock, concert, Charlotte, music, Adult Swim, Brendon Small, Dethklok, Metalocalypse, Brendon Small, Bill Kelliher, Brann Dailor, Atlanta, The Fillmore Charlotte, Cover Story

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CL's Guide to CIAA 2012

• by Kimberly Lawson, Anita Overcash, and more
This week isn't just about the parties - it's about experiencing Charlotte the very best way you can.
• Tags: Cover, #CIAA, men's basketball, Womens-basketball, Charlotte, Time Warner Arena, CIAA, Cover Story

Local musicians pick their favorite area performers

• by Jeff Hahne

What's brewing? CL's local CD Homebrew

• by Jeff Hahne

Esperanza Spalding talks music, fame and more

• by Carlton Hargro

The best (and worst) of the "10-in-10 Reviews"

• by Jeff Hahne

The Year in Music

• by Jeff Hahne
A collection of memorable photos from some of the most memorable concerts of 2009

Creative Lounging: Inside the Q.C.'s coziest new nightspots

Scene & Heard

Local insiders share their thoughts on the good, the bad and the ugly of Charlotte music scene.

• by Jeff Hahne

The Heart of the Matter with India.Arie

• by Carlton Hargro
Artist scheduled to return to Charlotte after seven years

Durham's Yazarah takes the stage in Charlotte

• by Carlton Hargro

Growing the Blues

The Double Door Inn approaches 35-year milestone

• by Jeff Hahne
The Double Door Inn approaches 35-year milestone