8 buzzworthy concerts coming to Charlotte in the next week

The prolific, proclaimed prince of sophisticated soul teams with Maysa Leak and Alex Bugnon for his Soulful Sounds of Christmas Tour, a quick follow-up to the September release of his 20th album, “Soul Survivor.” The album – which features Leak, N.C.’s Avery Sunshine, and a slew of guests – marks Downing’s 30th anniversary in music.

With the haunting new single “Emanuel,” songwriter Jeremy Davis and his indie chamber folk outfit outdo themselves, boiling down the Charleston shooting to its raw essence with a simple refrain and a pained violin. The quartet is celebrating the release of its new album, “Spec,” with support from Sinners & Saints and Roanoke.

Between them, trombonist Dillard and jazz guitarist Young have worked with an array of jazz, R&B, soul and gospel A-listers ranging from Count Basie and John P. Kee (Dillard) to Angie Stone and Ashford & Simpson (Young). The latter now calls his native South Carolina home, but continues to produce other artists and tour.

The St. Augustine, Fla. trio – which marries a haunting baritone and bright female vocals with psychedelic, folk, new wave and other rock n’ roll cousins – joins this concert/sideshow of Dr. Cirkustien, Stray Cat Sideshow, horror punks the Body Bags, Mariah Van Kleef and Ryan Martel. All the acts represent a swirl of musical influences.

On her new album, the folk-grass band leader and her Party Line bandmate/husband Joe Overton rise to the challenge of making an album about the struggles of their first year of marriage, infertility and the survival of their relationship. Few have taken on such heady, personal subjects, and Struthers does is straight-forwardly and poetically.

The Charlotte-based songwriter (best known for the Christian contemporary hit “How He Loves”) released his latest forward-thinking album, “Mercury & Lightning,” in September. On it, he ruminates on the chase for success and the struggle to remain humble while using exciting layered arrangements that surprise and expand with each listen.

The Cincinnati dance-rock act emerged in 2012 with “Anna Sun” and became a pop phenomenon with 2014’s “Shut Up and Dance” (so popular that kids are covering it at piano recitals). Its fourth album, “What If Nothing,” was just released this month, so the verdict is out as to whether they can maintain their pop presence. Ancient Cities opens.

This Cleveland outfit softens its mathy melodies and shoegaze fuzz with retro sci-fi synth, trippy psychedelic production, and vocals that shift from delicate and feminine to tough, brazen and even funny. Backed by a quirky, Abba-meets-the-Andrews-Sisters chorus, it creates music that’s fun, refreshing and thought-provoking.

This story was originally published November 15, 2017 at 3:45 PM with the headline "8 buzzworthy concerts coming to Charlotte in the next week."