Opens soon: Charlotte DJ debuts new house music club with local artists

A new club is joining Charlotte’s nightlife scene this weekend.

Starting Friday, Aug. 2, local DJ and restaurateur Andy Kastanas is bringing a “vibey celebration of house music and DJ culture” with his newest concept: The Side Room, nestled inside Blackbox Theatre, primarily featuring local DJs with occasional performances from national and international artists.

Kastanas, who’s had a hand in many other concepts, is no stranger to Charlotte’s nightlife scene — including Park Elevator, Mythos and Cosmos. He’s also involved in retail shop CLTCH and popular restaurant Soul Gastrolounge, which closed its original location in Plaza Midwood and is set to reopen near The Side Room at The Pass this fall.

[MORE NIGHTLIFE: A new NoDa gathering spot will take the place of Pepperbox in Charlotte.]

“We have always focused on our food and cocktails, but the gastrolounge aspect is based on the music played there by DJs seven nights a week,” Kastanas said in a statement. “Soul was a leader in the current movement of showcasing DJs in lounges and restaurants that has swept Charlotte. The soulful house music just fits the vibe and atmosphere and the ‘soul’ of Soul.”

Here’s what a weekly lineup will look like at the nightclub, from The Side Room team:

• Wednesdays: “Housework” House music with DJ Domii, a Charlotte native who has played Imagine and Breakaway music festivals, opened for Tiësto and founded Girls Room, a collective created and curated to spotlight women, non-binary and minorities in music and art.
• Thursdays: “The Love Below” Amapiano, Afrobeats and World Music with DJ See Bird Go, founder of All My Friends Are Fly.
• Fridays: Special events, such as performances on Friday’s opening night by electronic house music DJ King Britt and on Aug. 16 by DJ Colette.
  
  
• Saturdays: “Our House” with local rotating DJ residents: Adverb (First Saturday of the month); That Guy Smitty (Second Saturday); Steve Howerton (Third Saturday), Probably Will (Fourth Saturday) and DJ Andy K (Fifth Saturday).
• Sundays: The weekly Q will be LGBTQ night with guest drag performers.

The Side Room

Location: Blackbox Theater, 421 E Sugar Creek Rd, Charlotte, NC 28213 (opens Aug. 2)

Instagram: sideroomclt

This story was originally published June 12, 2024 at 8:10 AM.

Chyna Blackmon

The Charlotte Observer

Chyna Blackmon was a service journalism reporter for The Charlotte Observer. A native of the Carolinas, she grew up in Columbia, SC, and graduated from Queens University of Charlotte. She’s also worked in local television news in Charlotte, NC, and Richmond, VA. Support my work with a digital subscription