‘The CBGB of the South’: There’s a new film coming out on Charlotte’s The Milestone Club
.jpg "The Milestone Club owner Buck Boswell.")
If you’ve been around Charlotte for the past handful of decades or less and you love live music, you probably don’t need to be told how iconic The Milestone Club is to our city.
Since it opened in 1969, the live music venue on Tuckaseegee Road has hosted an astonishing number of bands. According to The Charlotte Observer archives, performers have included Melissa Etheridge, R.E.M., Bo Diddley and Nirvana, The Go-Go’s, The Bangles, 10,000 Maniacs, Violent Femmes and actor River Phoenix.
‘How to Save a Milestone’
Now, a documentary trailer has been released for a film about the storied nightclub. Titled “How to Save a Milestone,” the film chronicles the importance of preserving the storied music venue.
The film documents owner Buck Boswell’s challenges in trying to keep the 100+ year old building maintained and his feelings about a potential sale. Called “a punk rock Cinderella story,” it also follows the challenges the club faced at the beginning of the pandemic.
“I feel like it’s like the CBGB of the South,” one woman says in the trailer.
A 2019 Queen City Nerve story documented a portion of the filming.
“How to Save a Milestone” is directed by Jason Arthurs, an award-winning former newspaper photographer and documentary filmmaker.
“We’re still trying to recreate the same energy that we used to create at the Milestone and the other small clubs,” Violent Femmes bassist Brian Ritchie said in a statement about the film. “I guess it’s natural that a lot of the clubs are closing, but it’s a sad thing for live music. It’s a sad thing for people playing music together.”
How to watch
In early February, Music Everywhere CLT will host a free community screening of “How to Save a Milestone”, followed by a panel discussion with local independent venue owners.
When: Sunday, Feb. 2
- Doors open: 5:30 p.m.
- Film starts: 6 p.m.
- Panel Discussion: 7:30 p.m.
Where: Neighborhood Theatre, 511 East 36th Street, Charlotte, NC 28205
Cost: Free with RSVP! Reserve your spot now.
Your memories of The Milestone
Ahead of the release of “How to Save a Milestone”, we’d love to hear about some of the best shows you’ve seen at the club. Email your memories to charlottefive@charlottefive.com, and we may use them in an upcoming story.
The Milestone Club
Location: 3400 Tuckaseegee Rd, Charlotte, NC 28208
Instagram for The Milestone Club: @themilestoneclub
Instagram for the documentary: @themilestonedoc
This story was originally published March 12, 2024 at 5:30 AM.
