Gov't Mule will perform at the new Charlotte Fillmore on July 24. This is the first show that has been announced for the new venue.

Pre-sale tickets go on sale at noon on April 14 through mule.net. Tickets go on sale to the public on April 18 through livenation.com.

To kick off NASCAR All-Star week, O.A.R. will perform a free show in Uptown Charlotte at the corner of 3rd and Mint Streets during the NASCAR Rev'd Up event from 4 to 10 p.m. on May 13.

Opening the concert will be Simplified.

Just saw it posted at Neighborhood Theatre's Web site — Les Claypool on May 26.

Tickets on sale on April 11 — $25 in advance, $30 day of show and $40 for VIP.

To mark its anniversary of 20 years in the music biz, the Chapel Hill-based Merge Records is doin' it big with XX MERGE, a five-day music festival from July 22-26, to be held for four nights at the Cat's Cradle in Carrboro, NC and for one night at Memorial Hall in Chapel Hill, NC on the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill's campus. Keep in mind, it's not that far of a drive! Among the many musicians to perform is Conor Oberst, the front man of Bright Eyes (who has gone solo and is scheduled to release a new album on May 5th via Merge Records) and Spoon. Read more in the announcement from Paste Magazine below.

A few months back, we made a promise that we'd dole out more information on the super-promising XX Merge Festival as soon as we got it. Well, it's three months later and we're finally delivering.

Five-day passes run at $150 and will grant you access to all XX Merge festivities. Passes go on sale April 8th. You can buy them here.

Merge announced the initial lineup for the five-day festival, which features Merge alumni and currents including Superchunk, Spoon, Conor Oberst, Spent, M. Ward, The Rosebuds, Destroyer, Guv'ner, Polvo and Pipe & The Broken West (with many more to come if the label owns up to its promise of more than 25 bands).

The fest, which is happening July 22-26 in Merge's hometown of Chapel Hill, N.C., is a celebration of the label's 20th year in the music biz.

The "Uptown Amphitheatre at the NC Music Factory" will open on June 13 with a concert by The Fray, which had originally been scheduled for Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre.

Opening acts are Jack's Mannequin and Richard Swift. Tickets go on sale on April 3 at 10 a.m. Any tickets already purchased for the Verizon show will be valid for the Uptown Amphitheatre show.

The Uptown Amphitheatre is situated in an outdoor setting with views of the Charlotte skyline, elevated lawn seating, traditional outdoor seating, premium box seats with food and beverage service and an indoor VIP area with private restrooms, private bar and views of the stage. The concession area has a “bourbon street” feel with multiple permanent restrooms with pedestal sinks, full length mirrors and private stalls.

Live Nation plans to book 25 shows a year at the 5,000-seat venue.

The 2,000-capacity indoor venue, The Fillmore Charlotte, is also scheduled to open in June. No shows have been scheduled, but Live Nation says they will host roughly 80 per year there.

Both venues will be operated and booked by The Ark Group.

Word is out today that Bad Company has reunited.

Paul Rodgers, Mick Ralphs and Simon Kirke will hit the road this summer, including a stop at Charlotte's Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre on June 20.

And they're bringing along the Doobie Brothers with them.

Well, Widespread Panic is coming back to Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre for two nights again this fall... HOWEVER - they're bringing along The Allman Brothers Band.

Tickets for the Oct. 3 and 4 shows go on sale at 9 a.m. on April 3 through LiveNation.com.

It was already announced via Pollstar a while back, but it's now confirmed that Rascal Flatts will be peforming at Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre on Aug. 1.

Opening up is Darius Rucker, known from Hootie & the Blowfish.

VIP presale starts on March 31 via Rascalflatts.com. Tickets go on sale to the general public on April 4 at 10 a.m. through livenation.com.

Yeah, they were just here not too long ago, but they're coming back...unfortunately.

New Kids on the Block will perform at Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre on June 2. Along for the tour is "America's Best Dance Crew" winners JabbawockeeZ.

Oh....I ...can ....hardly ....wait.

The music schedule for this year's Alive After Five, which will be held at Epicentre, has been announced. No surprise, it's a bunch of cover bands and tribute bands...

Here's my issue - Alive after Five draws a big crowd. No matter what band you put in there, people are going to show up and hang out. So, why not put some quality, original music or let some local bands open up for the crappy cover bands?

Nope, that would apparently make too much sense. Instead, they put in a bunch of cover bands what will make it feel like a frat party, or the average night at any of the Epicentre clubs.

I understand that they probably can't afford a decent nationally touring act, but why not give the locals a shot? Simplified? New Familiars? Spongetones? I could name a bunch of acts that would have fit.

:::yawn:::

Here's the full schedule: