CLTure

09/02/2026

There aren’t many modern artists who bring the dance moves, theatrics and hit records quite like Bay Area R&B/pop star Kehlani.

Following her latest self-titled album, Kehlani’s current tour transforms the concert experience into a full-blown night out, taking fans on a six-act journey from home to a fictional nightclub and eventually back home again.

Elaborate choreography, striking visuals that evolve throughout the night, costume changes and an onstage clock tracking the hours from midnight into morning, make the show feel less like a traditional concert and more like a full-scale musical production.

Bringing the performance into the crowd for “After Hours” and welcoming North Carolina’s own Sunshine Anderson for a performance of her R&B classic “Heard It All Before,” Kehlani kept the energy high throughout the night.

Openers Durand Bernarr, Dixson, THEARTI$T and Waseel also joined her onstage for “Unlearn,” adding to a spectacular Tuesday night concert experience in Charlotte.

🎥: Myicha Drakeford

09/01/2026

Su Casa, Charlotte’s original international, Afro-influenced dance music party, originated in the Highland Mill warehouse lofts in NoDa in 2010, hosted by multidisciplinary artist and plant-based chef Jasiatic Usher.

A Charlotte native who grew up in Hidden Valley, graduated from West Charlotte High School and attended NC State, Usher has been part of the city’s broader creative scene for multiple decades. The event was born largely out of her desire to attend dance parties that featured Afrobeat, soca and Afro-house.

“There were no parties really doing Afrobeat. Like, you’re not getting an international dance party in Charlotte [back then],” Usher recalls. “I love that there’s so many more events now.”

On Wednesday night, Su Casa will take over the Mint Museum for a free party featuring Phonte, the acclaimed rapper, singer, producer and music aficionado best known as a member of Little Brother and The Foreign Exchange, behind the decks for a special DJ set.

From 6 to 10 p.m., attendees can explore the museum’s exhibitions, hit the dance floor and enjoy a cash bar, with Phonte joined by DJs Steel Wheel and Bloc for a multicultural evening of music and dance.

When Su Casa first launched in NoDa, the party quickly outgrew the spacious loft, expanding to incorporate local visual and performing artists. Usher, who also contributed photography to Creative Loafing, worked with then-editor-in-chief Carlton Hargro to move the event to Dharma Lounge, now Vinyl, in South End.

After Dharma closed in 2014, Usher moved Su Casa to Petra’s as the party continued to grow alongside the rising popularity of Afrobeats and other international music influenced by the African diaspora.

“I remember when people were still wondering… what is Afrobeats? And then, like, maybe one, two years later, Afrobeats went mainstream.”

Since then, Usher has taken Su Casa to multiple venues throughout Charlotte while also hosting plant-based dinner parties.

As for what she expects from Phonte’s DJ set, Usher keeps it simple: “I know it’s Black and I know we’re going to dance.” Given Phonte’s deep knowledge of soul, R&B, funk, jazz, house and hip-hop, it will be a special night.

09/01/2026

Kehlani, Bryson Tiller, and Ty Dolla $ign, Charlotte Soul Fest, Matthews Alive, Cosmic Baseball, a Beyoncé-themed dance party, ASÉ Wrestling, and the Whitewater Center’s Labor Day Celebration — here’s everything happening in Charlotte this week!

Your weekly guide to the best music, sports, arts, food, and cultural events happening in Charlotte, North Carolina.

08/31/2026

In addition to special guests Moussa Diabaté, Armanti Edwards, Sir Purr, and Homer, as well as games, sports activities, golf simulators, arts and crafts, and food trucks, Charlotte Sandlot Festival will feature a sports card and collectibles show presented by Sports Wax.

The family- and dog-friendly community field day takes over all three fields at The Stick or a full day of sports, games, entertainment, food, and fun for all ages.

⚾ Open Home Run Derby by Truliant Federal Credit Union
🏌️ Three golf simulators from WeGo Golf
⛳ Chance to win a golf cart from Carolina Golf Cars
🥎 Speed pitch by the Charlotte Knights
🏅 Adult sports activities by SportsLink
🧢 Sports card/collectibles show by Sports Wax
🎮 Video game zone by The Gaming Lounge
👕 Sports vintage pop-up by Standout Vintage
🧢 Custom hat bar by The Lunch Line
📸 Baseball card photo booth by My Brother's Keeper
🖨️ Screen printing by MacFly Fresh
👟 Sneaker customization station by Kicks & Fros
🎭 Caricatures, balloon artist, and face painting
🏟️ Inflatable sports games
🎨 Arts & crafts

🍴 FOOD & DRINK
Grab a bite from a great lineup of local food trucks and vendors, including Dons Jamaican Kitchen, B&K Tea Cafe, Station 2 Food Truck, Kuya Bear, Yeller IceCream, Dumpling Girls, Waffle Snacks World, Funnel It Up Funnel Cakes, Kabuto On Wheels, Canal Coffee Company, Neelia's Bakery, and Jeremiah's Ice!

🎟️ Tickets are just $7 (eventbrite.com/e/1997986232606) and include access to meet-and-greets, games, activities, food trucks, the sports card show, arts & crafts, photo booths, vendors, face painting, balloon art, and more.

Proceeds benefit the Knothole Foundation, providing underserved youth with access to baseball, softball, academic support, and life-skills development.

Come play at Charlotte Sandlot Festival!

📍 The Stick Williams Dream Fields
📅 Saturday, September 19
⏰ 11 a.m.–7 p.m.
🎟️ $7 admission

08/30/2026

The Charlotte Crown will celebrate the UPSHOT League Championship on Monday, August 31 at 7 p.m. in the East Charlotte Room at Bojangles Coliseum.

The free event will welcome home Charlotte Crown players and coaches, with mascot Regal, Crown merch, a cash bar, and more! 👑🏀🏆✨

📸: Charlotte Crown

08/30/2026

The Charlotte Crown are the inaugural UPSHOT League champions, defeating the Jacksonville Waves 81-76 behind another stellar performance by Tar Heel Deja Kelly, who finished with 29 points, six rebounds, three assists, and two steals to earn the Ann Meyers Drysdale Trophy as the league’s MVP.

The Crown mounted a comeback after trailing for much of the game, including by 10 points early in the fourth quarter. Charlotte erupted for a 32-19 fourth-quarter run to pull away from Jacksonville and secure the inaugural UPSHOT League championship.

The championship caps a remarkable turnaround for the Crown, who won 14 of their final 15 games after opening the season 1-6.

Much of that resurgence was fueled by Schaquilla Nunn, the former Winthrop Eagle and Tennessee Volunteer, who led the league in rebounds and blocks per game while ranking 10th in steals and 11th in scoring.

Charlotte went 23-6 after Nunn joined the team, and her impact earned her UPSHOT League Defensive Player of the Year honors and a spot on the All-UPSHOT Team.

Kelly, who led the league in both scoring and assists, also finished among the league leaders in steals and was named to the All-UPSHOT Team.

Charlotte native and former Duke standout Reigan Richardson, along with AD Durr and Kirsten Deans, also made significant contributions throughout the season and in the Crown’s championship run.

Head coach Trisha Stafford-Odom thanked Zawyer Sports, the fans, and the players for their leadership, resilience, and defensive improvement that made the historic season possible, summing up the team’s championship mindset with the phrase: “One Game, One Goal. Crown Down.” 👑🏀✨

Update (8/30): The team will celebrate the UPSHOT League Championship on Monday, August 31 at 7 p.m. in the East Charlotte Room at Bojangles Coliseum. The free event will welcome home Charlotte Crown players and coaches, along with mascot Regal, Crown merch, a cash bar, and more, as the team celebrates its championship with the city.

08/29/2026

💥⚾ Think you can hit a Home Run? ⚾️💥

Charlotte Sandlot Festival is bringing a Home Run Derby to The Stick, giving attendees the chance to hit a baseball or softball out of the park and win some cool prizes, presented by Truliant Federal Credit Union!

The family- and dog-friendly community field day takes over all three fields at The Stick with special guests Moussa Diabaté, Armanti Edwards, Sir Purr, Homer, and more for a full day of sports, games, entertainment, food, and fun for all ages.

⚾ Open Home Run Derby by Truliant Federal Credit Union
🏌️ Three golf simulators from WeGo Golf
⛳ Chance to win a golf cart from Carolina Golf Cars
🥎 Speed pitch by the Charlotte Knights
🏅 Adult sports activities by SportsLink
🧢 Sports card/collectibles show by Sports Wax
🎮 Video game zone by The Gaming Lounge
👕 Sports vintage pop-up by Standout Vintage
🧢 Custom hat bar by The Lunch Line
📸 Baseball card photo booth by My Brother's Keeper
🖨️ Screen printing by MacFly Fresh
👟 Sneaker customization station by Kicks & Fros
🎭 Caricatures, balloon artist, and face painting
🏟️ Inflatable sports games
🎨 Arts & crafts

🍴 FOOD & DRINK

Grab a bite from a great lineup of local food trucks and vendors, including Dons Jamaican Kitchen, B&K Tea Cafe, Station 2 Food Truck, Kuya Bear, Yeller IceCream, Dumpling Girls, Waffle Snacks World, Funnel It Up Funnel Cakes, Kabuto On Wheels, Canal Coffee Company, Neelia's Bakery, and Jeremiah's Ice!

🎟️ Tickets are just $7 (eventbrite.com/e/1997986232606) and include access to meet-and-greets, games, activities, food trucks, the sports card show, arts & crafts, photo booths, vendors, face painting, balloon art, and more.

Proceeds benefit the Knothole Foundation, providing underserved youth with access to baseball, softball, academic support, and life-skills development.

Come play at Charlotte Sandlot Festival!

📍 The Stick Williams Dream Fields
📅 Saturday, September 19
⏰ 11 a.m.–7 p.m.
🎟️ $7 admission

08/28/2026

Charlotte Asian Film Festival makes its Independent Picture House debut Saturday, featuring stories exploring identity, family, friendship, and social dynamics, with special guest Eugene Yi, director of the HBO documentary, 'The A List.'

Charlotte Asian Film Festival brings a diverse mix of stories exploring identity, family, friendship, and social dynamics.

08/28/2026

The Charlotte Asian Film Festival returns Saturday to Independent Picture House for a full day of narrative, documentary, experimental, and animated shorts exploring identity, family, friendship, personal struggles, cultural identity, and social dynamics.

The 30-film lineup highlights communities that have often been overlooked while presenting stories with themes that resonate across cultures and backgrounds.

The festival returned last year after a multi-year hiatus under the leadership of Carolinas Asian American Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Minh Ngo, Ann Gonzales, Mark Borja, Thong Nguyen-Vu, and Anand Kothari.

This year’s festival will feature special guest and Emmy-winning filmmaker Eugene Yi, director of HBO’s 'The A List,' which will make its Charlotte big-screen debut, with Yi participating in a Q&A.

Also attending are Anand Kamalakar, co-director of the award-winning documentary 'Colonel Kalsi: Beyond the Call,' and Geeta Vasant Patel, director of the documentary, 'Meet the Patels.'

Selections include 'An Air of Khair,' a coming-of-age spiritual journey about a Muslim girl; 'Ladybeetle,' a 30-minute animated film exploring childhood family trauma through minimalist animation; and 'Rice & Mangoes,' which follows a grandmother and granddaughter who form a bond despite a language barrier.

The festival will also feature local food vendors, including Mem’s Thai Kitchen, Yum Bai CLT, Thai Smile Street Food, Neelia’s Bakery, and Sister Suy’s Hot Sauce, along with chai and tea offerings from Gully Boys Chai Company and The Tomaru Co.

This year’s event puts an emphasis on mental wellness, with a panel discussion examining how media, culture, identity, social media, and systemic barriers shape mental health.

Dance performances from Wee Dance Academy and Sayaw Pilipinas, along with jazz singer Monica Yi performing the Mandarin rendition of “A Love Before Time” from Ang Lee’s 'Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon,' will add to the day’s programming.

The Charlotte Asian Film Festival takes place Saturday, August 29, at Independent Picture House from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Tickets are $9.85 and available on Eventbrite: https://bit.ly/4d64Vux

Read the full story: https://clture.org/charlotte-film-festival-2026/