🎷🔥Don't Sleep on These Charlotte Concerts! (Dec 11th Edition)

🎵 Hello Queen City friends! If your week’s been a lot, the music scene is ready to reset the vibe. Smooth sets, loud nights, and a little something in between. Here’s what’s worth checking out.

but, now for the weather…

Top 3 Picks This Week

🎄 Robert Earl Keen – “The Greatest Christmas on Earth”
Fri, Dec 12 @ The Carolina
A raucous, story-driven Christmas show from a cult-favorite Americana songwriter, mixing sharp humor, warm nostalgia, and full-on holiday mayhem onstage.

⚡ Trans-Siberian Orchestra
Sat, Dec 13 (2:30 & 7:30) @ Spectrum Center
Arena-scale rock opera with shredding guitars, lasers, and maximal Christmas drama. If you want your holiday music with pyrotechnics and power chords, this is the one.

🎭 Broadway Rave (18+ Event)
Sat, Dec 13 @ Neighborhood Theatre
A full dance party built around Broadway bangers, belting, and sing-at-the-top-of-your-lungs showtunes. Ideal for musical-theater kids who grew up and still know every word.

Angel | Charlotte Jams Editor

CURATED HIGHLIGHTS
🌆 Uptown & Around Picks

Fri, Dec 12

• Hip-Hop / R&B: “Just Pull Up” @ Snug Harbor

• Americana / Holiday: Chatham County Line: Holiday Tour @ Neighborhood Theatre

• Jazz / Holiday: A Peter White Christmas @ Middle C Jazz

Sat, Dec 13

• Metal / Rock: FEYLEUX @ Snug Harbor

• Contemporary Dance: Baran Dance @ Petra’s Bar

• Rock / Tribute: Same As It Ever Was: Talking Heads Tribute @ Visulite Theatre

Sun, Dec 14

• Contemporary Dance: Baran Dance(Night Two) @ Petra’s Bar

• Jazz / Holiday: Adrian Crutchfield @ Middle C Jazz

Evening Muse • Blackbox Theater • The Underground • Middle C Jazz • Petra’s • Visulite Theatre • The Milestone Club 

Curated with love. 🫶 Check venue websites for tickets & availability!

COOL CHARLOTTE STUFF
🌟 More Than Music

Art shows, foodie fests, weird pop-ups & random fun—click your flavor:

🧚 Kannapolis Celebration of Lights (Nov 15–Dec 30)
Holiday lights, train rides, and cozy small-town Christmas vibes across Kannapolis’ signature winter festival.

⛸️ Ice Skating at Whitewater Center (Nov–Feb)
Seasonal outdoor ice rink with trails, lights, and winter activities stretching through the colder months.

🩰 Charlotte Ballet’s Nutcracker at Belk Theater (Dec 5–21)
A holiday classic with stunning choreography, elegant costumes, and a magical production perfect for the season.

🪅NEW🪅

🃏 Big O Bingo: Dirty Santa Edition @ Sugar Creek Brewing (Fri Dec 12)
Chaotic bingo rounds, cheeky prizes, and a rowdy crowd. A holiday twist on the brewery’s fan-favorite bingo night.

🌮 South End Food Truck Friday @ Hi-Wire Brewing (Fri Dec 12)
Dozens of rotating food trucks, picnic-table hangs, and an easygoing Friday vibe. Great for groups, couples, or anyone who wants to wander and snack.

🎬 Outdoor Movie: Home Alone @ Mill District (Fri Dec 12)
A cozy open-air screening of the ultimate holiday classic. Blankets, hot drinks, and a dose of nostalgia under the night sky.

😂 Charlotte Comedy Theater @ VAPA Center (Sat Dec 13)
Fast improv, local comics, and a playful crowd. A solid pick for a laid-back Saturday night that guarantees a few belly laughs.

🌻 Explore everything Charlotte’s cooking up—outside the music scene.

MUSIC SCENE
🎵 Music News Brief

📍 NC Spotlight

🎵 Lovin' Life Music Festival Pauses for 2026
Charlotte’s signature Lovin' Life Music Festival is taking a breather next year, with officials announcing a temporary pause as they reassess plans for the future. The move gives organizers space to refine the experience and reimagine what the festival could look like when it returns.
@ WBTV

🌎 Recently Announced Concerts In January

R&B ONLY LIVE – Charlotte (Jan 3)
R&B · High-Energy Dance Night · Crowd Sing-Along Vibes

Jason Isbell & The 400 Unit – Charlotte (Jan 16)
Americana · Rock · Award-Winning Songwriting

Fantasia & Anthony Hamilton – Charlotte (Jan 23)
R&B · Soul · Two Powerhouse Voices in One Arena Show

Ghost – Charlotte (Jan 25)
Heavy Rock · Theatrical Arena Spectacle · Phone-Free Experience

Snow Strippers – Charlotte (Jan 29)
Electronic · Club-Forward Dance Show · Rising Act Buzz

NEARBY VIBES
🚐 Beyond the City: Live Music Road Trips

Feeling adventurous? Check these out:

🎸 Dylan Wolfe
Fri Dec 12 @ Old Armor Beer Company, Kannapolis, NC
Country-rock storyteller bringing raspy vocals, blue-collar lyrics, and a rowdy-but-heartfelt energy to Kannapolis. A great close-to-home pick if you want live music without the Charlotte traffic.
🔗 Get event info →

🤘 Whitechapel
Sat Dec 13 @ The Orange Peel, Asheville, NC
Tennessee’s deathcore heavyweights storm Asheville with bone-shaking breakdowns, precision riffing, and that unmistakable six-vocal-attack ferocity. A pilgrimage-worthy show for metal fans hungry for something loud, technical, and cathartic.
🔗 Get event info →

🎶 Havana Carolina Nights
Sat Dec 13 @ Downtown Concord, NC
Live Latin music, dancing, and tropical-night energy hosted by Havana Carolina. Think vibrant rhythms, warm community vibes, and a taste of the islands just 30 minutes from Charlotte.
🔗 Get event info →

🎟️ Check venue websites for tickets & availability!

CLOSING NOTES
I’ll leave you with..

📅 Save the Date: Jan 25, 2026 - Swedish metal giants Ghost bring their theatrically charged Ritual Tour to the Spectrum Center, turning the whole arena into a cathedral of lights, costumes, and pounding anthems. A full-scale spectacle for fans who like their concerts big, bold, and otherworldly.

Keep Rocking,
Angel | Charlotte Jams Editor

P.S.Want to spark some joy? ❤️ Samaritan’s Purse is collecting gifts for kids this season.