Here are 14 Charlotte concerts worth seeing — two for every night from May 19-25
Some weeks in Charlotte, the hardest part isn’t finding a concert — it’s figuring out which one is actually worth your time.
That’s where this guide comes in. Every week, we’ll highlight one standout live music pick for each night, from major touring acts to smaller local shows that might otherwise fly under the radar.
Tuesday, May 19
Best bet: Punch Brothers — 7:30 p.m. at Knight Theater.
Chris Thile’s genre-defying acoustic supergroup Punch Brothers has spent years mixing bluegrass virtuosity, classical precision and indie-rock experimentation — often within the span of a single song.
Also consider: Alternative metal band Sevendust (with Atreyu and Fire From the Gods) at The Fillmore Charlotte.
Wednesday, May 20
Best bet: Pitbull — 8 p.m. at Truliant Amphitheater.
Cuban-American rapper Pitbull — aka “Mr. Worldwide” — will bring enough club bangers (including No. 1s “Timber” and “Give Me Everything”) to power a full-scale Charlotte summer amphitheater singalong.
Also consider: Arena rock gods Journey at Spectrum Center.
Thursday, May 21
Best bet: Don Toliver — 7:30 p.m. at Spectrum Center.
With his melodic, hypnotic sound and massive streaming numbers, Don Toliver has quietly become one of the defining voices of modern arena rap, thanks to viral tracks like “Body” and “E85.”
Also consider: Folk-rock band Time Sawyer as part of the U.S. National Whitewater Center’s free River Jam series.
Friday, May 22
Best bet: Chance the Rapper — 7:30 p.m. at TD Amp Ballantyne.
Chance the Rapper has deep family roots in North Carolina — tracing back to Pilot Mountain and the Winston-Salem area — and he’s returning here to celebrate the 10th anniversary of his groundbreaking mixtape “Coloring Book.”
Also consider: Grammy-nominated saxophonist Gerald Albright at Middle C Jazz.
Saturday, May 23
Best bet: Willie Nelson and Family — 7:30 p.m. at Skyla Credit Union Amphitheatre.
At this point, a Willie Nelson concert feels less like a normal country show and more like an opportunity to see a living piece of American music history while you still can. He turned 93 years old last month.
Also consider: Americana group Paul McDonald & the Mourning Doves at The Evening Muse.
Sunday, May 24
Best bet: Brad Paisley — 3:30 p.m. at Charlotte Motor Speedway.
Country music and NASCAR crowds have always shared a lot of DNA, so this star-spangled pre-race concert starring Brad Paisley — on the track’s front stretch, ahead of the 67th running of the Coca-Cola 600 — just feels right.
Also consider: Best of Both Worlds Music & Food-Truck Festival at Romare Bearden Park.
Monday, May 25
Best bet: Moon Owl’s Mages — 9 p.m. at Snug Harbor.
If your idea of a perfect close to Memorial Day weekend involves psych-rock weirdness and a packed little club, then a night with Idaho-based four-piece Moon Owl’s Mages should do the trick.
Also consider: Find Your Muse Open Mic at The Evening Muse.
