Summer Fests Pop o

floors featuring DJ Robin Chante in the Food Hall and Mike Lawson spinning up the Twisted Putter.

Pride resonates across Camel City, with the “Drag Me to Winston-Salem” popup running from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Major Tomms on June 24, with pride merch from local artists like the eponymous drag coloring book by Vikki “That Blonde Girl” Vassar; featuring illustrations of Triad royalty like: Anna Yacht, Brenda the Drag Queen, Aria Russo, Karma Killz, Giselle Cassidy Carter, and Roy Fahrenheit (Fahrenheit will be popping to Greensboro that evening to host a “night of queer rebellion and expression” for Drag! at etc.gso.)

Meanwhile, over on 6th Street, Winston-Salem Theatre Alliance pops o a final encore performance of “The Prom,” as part of their second annual “Rainbow High” LGBTQIA Pride Theatre Festival, in partnership with Pride WS and Out at the Movies, running 7:30 p.m. on June 24. a/ perture Cinema will also host the last installment of its Pride month series, with a screening of “But I’m a Cheerleader,” on June 27.

Getting back to the party, the party kids at Rainbow Rave are popping o all weekend with an “Embrace where you are’’ event combining dance music and culture; featuring Wreckno, TSU NAMI, Eyezic, SKYLER, and SNSHNE at the Millennium Center on June 23. On June 24, they’ll team up with Anna Yacht and Camel City Burlesk for a Pride party at Hel’s. Selia d’Katzmeow will host, with Yacht, Asha Darling, Flint Farhenheit, Genesis de Vil, May Hemmer, and Sophiebot Fivehousand performing.

In Greensboro, the Summer Solstice Festival once again unfolds over the Arboretum on June 24, with fae, fire, and music from Renee Henry, Crystal Bright, SunQueen Kelcey and the Soular Flares, A.J. and Company, Pure Fiyah, Unheard Project GSO, Jessie Dunks, and Housewife.

Meanwhile, it’s an Earthgirl summer with ManifestAllDreams’ Earth Girls Festival returning. Hosted by Jha’mai, with Dj Kitty on deck, the event boasts a “day of a rmation and collectiveness” through performance and discussion with artists like Ayah The Light, KamDoja, Shoko Kurai, AE the Cool, and more.

Rolling into the season (and popping pretty much all summer long) the Eastern Music Festival returns to Greensboro to celebrate “62 Years of Musical Excellence” with concerts across the area through July 29.

Up in the Mountains, An Appalachian

Summer Festival and the Brevard Summer Institute & Festival follow suit. In Boone, the App Summerfest runs June 24-July 30; and features a multimedia array of exhibitions, events, and performances from artists like: Leslie Odom, Jr., Keb’ Mo’ with special guest Allison Russell, Girl Picture, and Darius Rucker. Meanwhile, the Brevard Music Center s summer festival runs June 24 - Aug 6, with training programs and concerts circulating the symphonic, jazz, opera, and folk-inspired spectrum. Patti LuPone, Audra McDonald, Branford Marsalis, Bryan Sutton and Béla Fleck are among the scheduled performers; along with Patriotic Pops and Harry Potter and The Sorcerer’s Stone orchestral concerts. Heading into the dead heat of summer, a few new festivals are popping up on the block. On July 15, the inaugural “Main In Color” art and design festival heads into High Point with music, art, and interactive stations for all ages.

In Asheville, Wicked Weed and Worthwhile Sounds will launch AVLest on August 3-6 with major headliners like Kurt Vile and Nikki Lane joining Triad lovelies (like Old Heavy Hands and The Nubeing Collective) and regional favorites who make up the 100+ artists performing across 20 venues in the city. AVLFest is also partnering with Asheville nonprofits (including RiverLink, Black Wall Street, Homeward Bound, and Campaign for Southern Equality) o ering awareness initiatives and donating a portion of ticket proceeds.

Down in Durham, Let’s Fucking Go (LFG Fest) intends to foster a similar energy when takes over the Motorco August 25-26. Organizations like NC Triangle DSA and Girls Rock NC are amongst the amped-up lineup of punk, noise, and hip-hop from B L A C K I E, Blood, Bonies, Ecstatic International, Fat Tony, Gauche, Geeked, J Waves, Jooselord, La Neve, Pink Siifu, Sesame, Snooper, and Upchuck.

Jooselord will carry that energy into his slot with Death From Above 1979 at the Bull City Summit in September. Bridging the gap of seasons and space, BCS 2023 runs September 18-24; and offers a conference-concert hybrid to gather “creatives, artists, scientists, technologists, entrepreneurs, and thought-leaders” over 24 Durham locations and venues. Other musical offerings include: Mavis “Swan” Poole with Lee Fields; Jamie Mclean Band with Anders Osborne; and Emily Wolfe with A Place to Bury Strangers.

But let’s not get carried away to the end of summer just yet: around June into July, Bardown Breakfest 2 goes down at the Milestone in Charlotte, June 30-July 1, with punkers, emo kids, and hardcore dudes on the bill featuring Triad bands like All My Circuits, Come Clean, Corporate Fandango, 30 is Dead, and Condado. Over in the Triangle, the 44th annual Festival for the Eno will bring 65 artists to four riverbank stages on July 1 and 4; in the spirit of celebration and conservation. Demeanor, the Sam Fribush Organ Trio, and Couldn’t Be Happiers are a few Triad samplings amongst performers like: Jonathan Scales Fourchestra, Mike Compton & Joe Newberry, Toubab Krewe, Bombadil, Africa Unplugged, Cosmic Collective, Hammer No More the Fingers, and Paper Hand Puppet Intervention.

In Winston-Salem, the Southside Food Forest’s second annual Tree Tree Six Music and Arts Festival also o ers an ecological element, with each ticket including a native fruit tree to plant or donate through the Winston-Salem Permaculture Cooperative. Going down July 8 at the Acadia Food Forest at Unity Park, OG Spli + Emceein’ Eye + PT Burnem, Proxevita, Car Crash Pool Party, Dinosaur Church, Sweet Pea, and DJ Tweety are a sampling of the artists performing to raise awareness and co-create long term solutions to food insecurity in the area.

Up on at the Beech Mountain Resort, however, it’s all about party vibes with a

“Party on the Mountain” weekend with Sheryl Crow, JJ Grey & Mofro, My Morning Jacket, and Dawes playing July 28-30.

Switching gears back to Camel City, the Gears & Guitars Festival moves up a month, with the 10th annual cycling-music fest happening August 4-6. “The biggest party on two wheels” keeps the 90s vibes alive with Soul Asylum, Cracker, Dishwalla and Nine Days in the headlining positions; and Clay Howard, the Hollirockets, Wafer Thin, and Dead Drag Motion riding out the regional spots.

Up in Elkin, the Reevestock Music Festival continues “keeping Yadkin Valley’s Music Alive (and kickin’)” August 4-5, with scheduled performers like: Darrell Scott & his Electrifying Trio, Cristina Vane, Bella White, Time Sawyer, Tray Wellington Band, Palmyra, Brooks Forsyth, Falllift, Cold Chocolate, and Will Easter & the Nomads.

Falllift keeps it going down into Charlotte, playing as part of the Queen City Jam Session at the NoDa Brewing NorthEnd Taproom, August 19-21. Spanning 40 bands over a handful of stages, the Jam session features a mix of genre and prestige with artists like: Victor Wooten & Steve Bailey, Mountain Goats, The Infamous Stringdusters, The Nude Party, Bob Margolin, Emanuel Wynter, The War & Treaty, Sonny Miles, Victoria Victoria, Swim In The Wild, Fireside Collective, Adeem The Artist, and many more.

Queen City hits keep coming as Seismic Summer goes down at the Milestone on August 26; with bands like Bask, Witchpit, Doomsday Profit, Cosmic Reaper, Bog Loaf, Bongfoot, and Rocky Mtn Roller to o er a Metal fix for folks hankering for the Medium Well in Hell fest that’s taking a break this year.

Popping back to the Triad, festival weekends abound in early September. The NC Comedy Festival will run September 1-10 at the Idiot Box and area stages. In High Point, the 12th annual John Coltrane International Jazz and Blues Festival sweeps the first weekend in September, bringing artists like Keb Mo , Mr. Sipp, Samara Joy, Yellowjackets, Chucho Valdés, and Candy Dulfer to the Furniture Capital of the World, September 2-3.

In Greensboro, the North Carolina Folk Festival will run September 8-10. Leyla McCalla, the Ethno USA International Musical Exchange Program, Kevin Doyle’s Roscommon Soles, Riyaaz Qawwali, Damn The Banjos, Cedric Watson & Bijou Creole, and Zoe & Cloyd are the sneak peek of artists in the otherwise unannounced lineup.

Hopping to the Triangle, the Hopscotch Music Festival returns to downtown Raleigh, September 7-9, with a new comedy block (featuring the likes of Sarah Sher- man and Whitmer Thomas) joining the more than 450 artists, including heaving hitters like Pavement, Alvvays, Dinosaur Jr, Margo Price, Sunny Day Real Estate, Dinosaur Jr, and Digable Planets; Triadrelated loves like Larry & Joe, TiaCorine, Paranoid Maniac, Taylor AP Williams, Kristopher Hilbert, and Kaleta & Super Yamba Band; and regional babes like Long Relief, Max Gowan, Chessa Rich, Skylar Gudasz, Lesthegenius, Dear Blanca, and Truth Club. Hopping genre and club scenes, Hopscotch’s flavor runs from John Howie twang to the Cro-Mags’ grit and we’re all the better for it.

Carrying quite the banner year, Larry & Joe will also truck up to Brevard for the 17th Annual Mountain Song Festival (September 8-9.) They’ll join the bill with Shannon Whitworth & Woody Platt, the Sam Bush Band, Nikki Talley & Jason Sharp, AJ Lee & Blue Summit, Big Richard, and Steep Canyon Rangers in celebration of music and community, while raising funds for the Cindy Platt Boys and Girls Club of Transylvania County.

Meanwhile, the Mantra’s will celebrate the 20th year of MantraBash, September 8-9, at Possum Holler in Prospect Hill, with a special anniversary party featuring Dr. Bacon, The Wright Ave, Ranford Almond, Electric Soul Pandemic, Oh No

Casino, Bala Roots, and Cheesefoot.

Over in Boone, Colin Cutler is one of the first artists announced for the secondannual Antlers & Acorns Songwriters Festival, running September 4-9 across a handful of downtown venues.

From mountains to the sea, North Carolina pops with pickers and pluckers, with more bluegrass and folk festivals than you can shake a stick at. But you can shake on over to the Doc and Rosa Lee Watson MusicFest on July 5; the Ashe County Bluegrass and Old Time Fiddlers Convention July 28 - 29; the McDowell County Country Music Roundup August 11-12; the N.C. State Bluegrass Festival, August 17-19; the Earl Scruggs Music Festival or the Happy Valley Old-Time Fiddlers’ Convention, September 1-3; Music Fest at Blue Bear Mountain September 7-9; the Hoppin’ John Old-Time and Bluegrass Fiddlers’ Convention September 14-16; and the Carolina Jubilee, September 15-16.

Pick ‘em if you got ‘em; and boy, do we. The North Carolina summer festival season is o cially popping o . !

Asheboro

Four SaintS BrEwing

218 South Fayetteville St. | 336.610.3722 www.foursaintsbrewing.com thursdays: taproom trivia

Fridays: Music Bingo

Jun 24: 80’s unplugged

Carborro

Cat’S CradlE

300 E Main St | 919.967.9053 www.catscradle.com

Jun 21: l’rain

Jun 21: Protomartyr

Jun 22: glare, alien Boy

Jun 23: andrew Marlin

Jun 23: Bonny doon

Jun 24: Bayonne

Jun 25: Joseph

Jun 25: Joe Pug

Jun 26: Joyce Manor

Jun 26: Sloan

Jun 27: teeyum Smith

Jun 29: EElS

Jul 1: Kiltro

Jul 7: waveform*, they are gutting a Body of water

Jul 9: Hot Mulligan

Jul 10: binki

Jul 11: Skating Polly

Jul 14: Son Volt

Jul 14: the weight Band

Jul 15: Shoaldiggers, Mystery ranch, Country Cruel

Jul 16: Harbour

Jul 19: Motherfolk

Jul 20: less than Jake

CHARlOttE

BoJanglES ColiSEuM

2700 E Independence Blvd | 704.372.3600 www.boplex.com

Jun 17: tink admat

Jun 24: grupo Frontera El Comienzo tour

Jun 26: tori amos

Jul 16: 85 South Show live tHE FillMorE

1000 NC Music Factory Blvd | 704.916.8970 www.livenation.com

Jun 21: Jesse & Joy

Jun 26: animals as leaders

Jun 30: larry’s Market run 2023

Jul 1: Electric Feels: indie rock + Electronic dance Party

Jul 7: remember the name

Jul 8: old gods of appalachia

Jul 8: lPB Poody

Jul 14: Yung Pinch

Jul 15: Killer Mike and the Midnight revival

Jul 28: a Flock of Seagulls & Strangelove

PnC MuSiC PaVilion

707 Pavilion Blvd | 704.549.1292 www.livenation.com

Jun 24: weezer, Future islands & Joyce Manor

Jun 27: Big time rush, Max & Jax

Jun 28: Shania twain

Jun 29: Peso Pluma

Jul 2: Kidz Bop live

Jul 11: Matchbox twenty

Jul 19: Boy george, Culture Club & Berlin

Jul 21: Fall out Boy, Bring Me the Horizon, royal and the Serpent & Carr

Jul 22: Sam Hunt, Brett Young & lily rose

Jul 23: Mudvayne

Jul 28: Jodeci, SwV & dru Hill

Jul 29: Post Malone

SKYla CrEdit union

aMPHitHEatrE former Charlotte Metro Credit Union Amphitheatre

820 Hamilton St | 704.549.5555 www.livenation.com

SPECtruM CEntEr

333 E Trade St | 704.688.9000 www.spectrumcentercharlotte.com

Jun 30: Banda MS

Jul 2: alicia Keys

Jul 6: Santa Fe Klan

Jul 9: ll Cool J

Jul 14: blink-182

Jul 16: Erykah Badu

ClEmmOnS

VillagE SquarE taP HouSE

6000 Meadowbrook Mall Ct | 336.448.5330 www.facebook.com/vstaphouse

Jun 22: Corky Jams

Jun 23: Friday night Music Club

Jun 24: Jukebox revolver

Jun 24: Hampton drive

Jun 29: Kick Back trio

Jun 30: Vinyl tap

Jul 1: Motorvader

Jul 7: Philray & Friends

Jul 8: Billy Creason Band

Jul 13: James Vincent Carroll duRHAm

Carolina tHEatrE

309 W Morgan St | 919.560.3030 www.carolinatheatre.org

Jun 22: rodrigo y gabriela

Jun 27: Ziggy Marley

Jul 12: andy grammer

Jul 16: Melissa Etheridge dPaC

123 Vivian St | 919.680.2787 www.dpacnc.com

Jul 9: John oliver

Jul 22: russell Peters

Jul 29: ladies r&B Kickback Concert

ElKIn rEEVES tHEatEr

129 W Main St | 336.258.8240 www.reevestheater.com wednesdays: reeves open Mic

Fourth thursdays: old-time Jam

Jun 23: daShawn Hickman

Jun 24: reeves House Band’s Big Blues night w/ Seth walker

Jul 7: Hubby Jenkins

Jul 13: geoff westley

Jul 14: Paul thorn

Jul 22: Blue ridge opry

gREEnSBORO

Barn dinnEr tHEatrE

120 Stage Coach Tr. | 336.292.2211 www.barndinner.com

Jun 3- Jul 15: legends diner: a Musical tribute

Carolina tHEatrE

310 S. Greene Street | 336.333.2605 www.carolinatheatre.com

Jun 24: Maritzada

Jul 8: our Band

CHar Bar no. 7

3724 Lawndale Dr. | 336.545.5555 www.charbar7.com

Jun 22: Coia

Jun 29: renae Paige

CoMEdY ZonE

1126 S Holden Rd | 336.333.1034 www.thecomedyzone.com

Jun 23-25: Jon reep

Jun 30-Jul 1: we’re not Brothers tour

Jul 14-15: rodney Perry

CoMMon groundS

602 S Elm Ave | 336.698.388 www.facebook.com/CommonGroundsGreensboro

JUN 21: Brennan Fowler presents DWNTMPO

JUN 22: R&B Summer Nights: Bianca Jade, Dapyp, Taylor Aaron Parker Williams

JUN 23: The Thing w/ Harvey Street Co

JUN 24: The Pinkerton Raid w/ Sam Foster & The Obsolete

JUN 25: Late Notice w/ Sweet Dream

HOURS: Tues-Fri: 3pm-unTil saT & sun 12pm-unTil 221 Summit Ave | 336.501.3967 www.flatirongso.com

GaraGE TavErn

5211 A West Market St | 336.763.2020 www.facebook.com/GarageTavernGreens- boro

Jun 23: Huckleberry Shyne

Jul 1: Gypsy Danger

Jul 7: Second Glance Band

GrEEnSBoro ColiSEum

1921 W Gate City Blvd | 336.373.7400 www.greensborocoliseum.com

Jun 24: Dude Perfect

Jul 20: Thomas rhett

Jul 24: nF

Jul 30: The Chicks

STEvEn TanGEr CEnTEr

300 N Elm Street | 336.333.6500 www.tangercenter.com

Jun 23: lady a w/ Dave Barnes

WHiTE oak amPiTHEaTrE

1921 W Gate City Blvd | 336.373.7400 www.greensborocoliseum.com

Jun 24: Straight no Chaser

Jul 1: Barenaked ladies

Jul 30: Summer Block Party SWv & Dru Hill high point

1614 DmB

1614 N Main St | 336.883.4113 https://www.1614drinksmusicbilliards.com/

Jun 24: vinyl rox

Jul 15: Banger

Jul 21: Elder Bug

HiGH PoinT THEaTrE

220 E Commerce Ave | 336.883.3401 www.highpointtheatre.com

Jul 29: Comedian Henry Cho jamestown

THE DECk

118 E Main St | 336.207.1999

Jun 22: Jason Bunch

Jun 23: unhinged

Jun 24: The Plaids

Jun 29: The aquarius

Jun 30: Second Glance

Jul 6: Ethan Smith

Jul 8: Gipsy Danger

Jul 13: kelsey Hurley liberty

THE liBErTY

SHoWCaSE THEaTEr

101 S. Fayetteville St | 336.622.3844 www.TheLibertyShowcase.com

Jun 24: Johnny lee

Jul 15: Doug Stone

Jul 20: Tracy Byrd oak ridge

BiSTro 150

2205 Oak Ridge Rd | 336.643.6359 www.bistro150.com

Jun 24: Wilde - Chris and amanda

Barrens raleigh

CCu muSiC Park aT WalnuT CrEEk

3801 Rock Quarry Rd | 919.821.4111 www.livenation.com

Jun 30: kiDZ BoP

Jul 8: Tears for Fears

Jul 12: matchbox Twenty

winston-salem

FiDDlin’ FiSH

BrEWinG ComPanY

772 Trade St | 336.999.8945 www.fiddlinfish.com

Tuesdays: Trivia

Jun 23: Jeremiah mckinley

Jun 24: red umber

Jun 30: Delta Stream

FooTHillS BrEWinG

638 W 4th St | 336.777.3348 www.foothillsbrewing.com

Sundays: Sunday Jazz

Thursdays: Trivia

Jun 21: The robertson Boys

Jun 23: Heather rogers

Jun 24: The robertson Boys

Jun 25: Chris ryan Band

Jun 28: Jim mayberry

THE ramkaT

170 W 9th St | 336.754.9714

Jun 21: andrew marlin Quartet, Josh kimbrough

Jun 22: Bombadil, migrant Birds

Jun 23: old Heavy Hands, Chuck mountain

Jun 28: Jeff Black, Dana Coope

Jun 29: The red lipstick Society, Cakes of light

Jun 30: Couldn’t Be Happiers, The Brown mountain lightning Bugs

Jul 8: Jeffrey Dean Foster & The arrows, Danielle Howle, Jay Bryd

WiSE man BrEWinG

826 Angelo Bros Ave | 336.725.0008 www.wisemanbrewing.com

Thursdays: music Bingo

Jun 23: Time Sawyer

Jun 24: liam Pendergrass

Jul 7: Gypsy Danger

Jul 29: Summertime live: Parking lot Parties

The Sportscenter Athletic Club is a private membership club dedicated to providing the ultimate athletic and recreational facilities for our members of all ages. Conveniently located in High Point, we provide a wide variety of activities for our members. We’re designed to incorporate the total fitness concept for maximum benefits and total enjoyment. We cordially invite all of you to be a part of our athletic facility, while enjoying the membership savings we offer our established corporate accounts.