Turn up the #CLTBlackJoy with these 8 can’t-miss events this weekend
On Sunday the Charlotte curfew was lifted. Then, on Monday status quo Charlotte experienced one of the rawest clapbacks at a City Council meeting to date in what was dubbed the “Bless your heart ” meets “F— all y’all” meeting.
With all that unrest still churning, this weekend is an extremely important moment in the #CharlotteProtest timeline. It is now time to address the issue of #CLTBlackJoy.
The sound of black joy turns down just one more notch with each police involved shooting that results in a newly-hashtagged name. This weekend, Charlotte needs to make sure #CLTBlackJoy gets turned “All the Way Up.”
To help you lovely Charlotteans find spaces and places to rejuvenate your souls this weekend, the Charlotte Five fam felt it would be so clutch to pull together a #CLTBlackJoy list of events for you.
You can “Thank Us Later” by snapping a pic of yourself as you are having your #CLTBlackJoy experience this weekend as we all continue to process last week’s series of events related to #KeithScott.
Friday, Sept. 30th
Soul-Folk @ Fabo Coffee Art Bar, 7-9 p.m.
Give me coffee, give me acoustic soul and give me an emcee with bars. Simply put, give me THE GOOD VIBES! Two N.C. ladies — singer-songwriter Asena Schroeder and hip-hop soul artist Ms. Melody Monroe — are ready to hold you down with two cups full of #CLTBlackJoy filled with acoustic and hip hop soul. Click here for tickets. 8428 Park Road, Charlotte.
Breakin’ Convention (Day 1) @ Knight Theater, 7:30 p.m.
Guess Who’s Bizzack? The Breakin’ Convention and the many local, national and international b-boy and b-girl crews are ready to take the Knight Theater by storm for a second year. If you are in need of some of that hip-hop culture with that Brown Sugar, Krush Groovin’ body movin’, I-can’t-live-without-my-radio feel to it, then this is your kind of #CLTBlackJoy. Click here for tickets. 430 S. Tryon St., Charlotte.
The FUNKSHUN @ Undisclosed Location in CLT, 9 p.m.-1 a.m.
Get out of the house to get that dose of those house, soul and funkeristic sounds you have been missing. This edition of FUNKSHUN is all about that funky abstract creativity known as folk rap. The leader of this party experience is none other than the energy–filled folk rap creator himself NiGE HOOD. If you are all about peace, love, good vibes and organic conversation; then this is the #CLTBlackJoy for you. To learn the location, grab your tickets now.
Saturday, Oct. 1
Breakin’ Convention STREET JAM (Day 2) @ Spirit Square, 10 a.m.–4 p.m.
Yes, yes y’all. And we don’t stop. The Breakin’ Convention Hip Hop Festival vibes continue Saturday with a day-long, pre-show Street Jam in the heart of uptown. Graffiti, drum circles, hip-hop yoga, healthy eating workshops, DJ workshops, beatboxing and popping lessons, spoken word performances and hip-hop fashion. Yeah, we are talking about all kinds of #CLTBlackJoy for FREE. Click here for more info.
Learn to Dance Kizomba @ Open Door Studio, 5:30-6:30 p.m.
Sometimes to find that pure #BlackJoy we have to go back to the essence of it all. I am talking about taking it back to Mama Africa. Can you feel me?
Right here, in the CLT, you can learn how to keep it oh-so-romantically African by learning the hypnotic Angolan dance style of Kizomba. Beginners are welcomed and you don’t even need a partner to move those hips on the dancefloor. Click here to reserve you spot. 1318 Central Ave., Charlotte.
Comic Book Launch! The Great Awakening: Poems from the Paperback Hero @ Upstage in NoDa, 9 p.m.–midnight.
You don’t have to stay in this universe to experience #CLTBlackJoy. Join your friendly neighborhood hip-hop poet Mason Parker as he pulls you into a brand new comic universe straight from the inner workings of his creative gray matter. Parker will be unveiling the storyline, character drawings and character backstories from his soon to be released comic book and mixtape series “The Paperback Hero Saga.” Click here for tickets. (Discount Code: PAPERBACKHERO5.) 3306 N. Davidson St., Charlotte.
RELEASE! Classic & Soulful House Party: Sounds by the King of House Farley Jackmaster Funk with Special Guest Jason Brooks @ Morehead Tavern, 8 p.m.–2 a.m.
This Saturday we should all take advice from the late great Purple One, Prince Rogers Nelson, and Morris Day and just “Release It!” The RELEASE! Classic & Soulful House Party crew has planned a night full of sonic house music dopeness with one of the original house music pioneers, Chicago’s own Farley Jackmaster Funk. Click here for more information. 300 E. Morehead St., Charlotte.
Sunday, Oct. 2
The Freestyle Funny Comedy Show @ Comedy Zone, 7–9 p.m.
Whether you find your spiritual center by going to church, having meditation sessions, or binge watching OWN Network’s “Super Soul Sunday” episodes, this Sunday you can add a dose of laugh therapy too. Comedians from MTV2‘s “Wild N Out” will serve as your comedy counselors to help you find some #CLTBlackJoy for the evening at the Comedy Zone. Click here for tickets. 900 North Carolina Music Factory Blvd., Suite B3, Charlotte.
However you find #CLTBlackJoy this weekend, we want to see it and hear about it. Use the hashtag #CLTBlackJoy and tag us on Twitter — @KiaTheWriter and @Charlotte_Five — or on Instagram @cltfive.
Have fun this weekend!
Feature photo: Mark Hames/Charlotte Observer
This story was originally published September 30, 2016 at 12:02 AM with the headline "Turn up the #CLTBlackJoy with these 8 can’t-miss events this weekend."