Like many Charlotte-area musicians, I met Stuart when I took a crappy three-song demo down to the Salvador Deli in NoDa. Stuart took me back to his office and played the CD and said, “Sounds good, let’s get you a date.” It was that easy. Stuart was always giving local musicians a great venue to play in, a venue that put them in front of music-lovers from all walks of life.
My band owes Stuart Sloan a lot. Not only did he help get us started, but he would give us great summer dates to play and those shows helped spread the word about our music. It will always be one of our favorite places to play music.
We will miss hanging out with Stu before and after the show and playing to such a great group of people under the night sky. Further, Stu was always great to chat with before and after shows. My guess is that there are many local and regional bands that are feeling the same mix of gratitude and sadness that myself and my bandmates are feeling right now…
Anyone who has ever hung out the Deli breathing the night air, listening to live music, enjoying a regional beer and mixing amongst such a great range of people also will appreciate Stu and the Salvador Deli. Stu created a great laid-back atmosphere where you could go and simply enjoy being alive and, after all folks, how many places offer that? I’ll say it again — Stu created a place where you could go to enjoy being alive and realizing that also evokes a sense of gratitude and feelings of sadness…
Stuart Sloan will be missed.
I don’t know how gallery crawls, the anti-Octoberfest and, hell, any Friday night in NoDa will be the same now that he has gone. I don’t know how I can walk into the Deli without getting a big smile and a warm hand-shake from Stu. I don’t know how I’ll get by without chats with Stu about upcoming shows. He had an infectious energy that would always get me excited about live music in Charlotte.
The sad fact is Charlotte not only lost an amazing person when Stu passed away, but the Charlotte music community lost something essential. As I said, Stu gave so many bands and musicians a great place to play. I have heard that some of the Deli employees are trying to revive the Deli and that some local musicians will be organizing music events when the season rolls around again. This must happen. Stu wouldn’t have it any other way.
If you knew Stu, I hope that you’ll take a second to share a memory here. Heaven knows that there are a ton of great memories of Stu to share…
This article appears in Nov 9-15, 2010.
Stu was a great person. I first met him at Cibi. I remember him shutting down the whole restaurant for us and we partied there together until 3am singing songs on the rooftop. He was such a kind soul and a free spirit. You will be missed little buddy!
Stu was a cool mofo. He was always about the music. He never denied anyone from playing at that deli, and musicians were MADE at that deli. Stu was the man.
I met Stuart at Solstice several years ago when I was rehearsing at NoDa studios. Having later moved into the neighborhood, that was the funny thing about Stu – rarely saw him at his own establishment, but he could always be found chatting at the bar talking music.
He was a wealth of knowledge when it came to the subject and we often traded stories about concerts we went to as teenagers. I’ll miss seeing him on the streets in NoDa, bumping into him at the grocery store, always asking when my band would come play. He was a fixture in the neighborhood and will be sorely missed.
No to mention he had the best chicken salad in the world, will miss you Stu!
Stuart and I were friends when we were very young. I met him when we were around three years old and he always had a smile and a good word. He taught me about Hanukkah and how cereal tastes better when you put the milk in the bowl first. (I still do that sometimes to this day and think of him every time) So sorry to hear of his passing but happy to hear how loved and admired he was. RIP old friend.
and can someone tell me about this “Anti Oktoberfest” sounds right up my alley and…typical genius from Stuart.
I knew Stu in high school. We had a ridiculous amount of fun hanging out together. I only learned of his death yesterday through a mutual HS friend. I’m so saddened by this news. At least I have some fabulous memories.
When the time came for Stu and I to part company, Stu quoted Dickens to me. It was one of those moments one does not forget.
Stu was my fiancee and love of my life, as I was to him as told to me by his friends. I miss him everday and he made the world and life more fun. He had such a love 4 music and for helping new artists. It’s great to hear an appreciation of who he was and what he was about!