Author: bgi329

Hi! I am music photographer based in Charlotte, passionate about covering and documenting the music scene. Follow me on Instagram: @b.g.i.photos

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music festival

Meet the local artists of this year’s Lovin’ Life Music Fest

Lovin' Life Music Fest 2025 Lineup

Charlotte’s second Lovin’ Life Music Fest was May 2nd-4th. Though headliners at this year’s festival (such as Gwen Stefani, Benson Boone, and Pitbull) took on the main stage, many local artists throughout North Carolina came together on the local stage . 

In case you missed this year’s festival, here was the awesome line-up of the local artists that performed at the Lovin’ Life Music Fest. See someone you vibe with? Stream their songs below!

Lovin’ Life Fest Day 1 – May 2nd

Da704 

Photo courtesy of Da704 and Lovin’ Life Music Fest

Starting off the weekend’s line-up was Charlotte City Councilman Tariq Bokhari’s band Da704. A band with the city’s councilman along with “full-time dads and musicians,” were ready to rock the Lovin’ Life local stage. Overall, festival go-ers got a blast from the past as the band brought 90s rock to a whole new level. 

Camisole

Photo courtesy of Camisole and Lovin’ Life Music Fest

Calling all Paramore and Girl in Red fans!

The three members of indie-rock band Camisole – Logan Hawke (Drums), Justin Thompson (Guitar), and Briella Violet (Vocals) – are based out of Charlotte and were ready to take the stage! The band has been around for almost a year and was beyond excited to be playing the music festival. 

They had been rehearsing vigorously leading up to the festival, brought a burst of energy, and even introduced new music to familiar faces and new fans!

“We’re stoked to play alongside so many different artists and excited to hear some new music/hope that people will resonate with our set!”

Listen to them here: Spotify 

Leone & The Ascension

Photo courtesy of Leone & The Ascension and Lovin’ Life Music Fest

From a young age, Leone of the band Leone & The Ascension always knew he wanted to perform music. From being inspired by a variety of Funk, R&B and Boogie genres and recording music about 9 years ago, to participating in Battle of the Bands, to playing Charlotte’s second annual music festival, Leone & The Ascension proves to be the band that keeps getting better one note, lyric, and song at a time. 

“I’m incredibly grateful for this opportunity! Last year we were in the Battle of the Bands competition to get a slot at the festival though we came in second for the last round, so this moment means a lot to the band,” Leone says.  

“I can’t thank Charlotte and the LLMF team enough for giving us a shot this time around. This is the best birthday gift a guy can ask for.”

Listen here! 

Spotify

Apple Music

Amazon Music

YouTube

Bailey Marie

Photo courtesy of Bailey Marie and Lovin’ Life Music Fest

Bailey Marie is a triple threat taking on the Lovin’ Life local stage. As singer-songwriter, national recording artist, and actress, she took the music festival by storm with her new original music. She has planted roots not only in North Carolina, but also in Nashville where she has written over 70 songs. Currently, she writes with Dolly Parton’s Grammy nominated producer, Kent Wells. She has proven time and time again that she is increasingly paving a path to an awesome future in the music industry.

Listen here!

Spotify

The Garrett Huffman Band 

Photo courtesy of The Garrett Huffman Band and Lovin’ Life Music Fest

Garrett Huffman began his music career during the COVID-19 pandemic while practicing guitar and developing a passion for music. From passing the time throughout the pandemic, to playing over 500 shows in the Carolinas and Tennessee, The Garrett Huffman Band, who consists of not only Huffman, but also Dan Gonzalez (bass guitar), Alex Wolfe (electric guitar), and Justin Robinson (drums), were ready to take on Lovin’ Life. Be prepared to be blown away by their performances as their music has a bit of everything: country soul blended with alternative-rock and 80s vibes. 

One of the things Huffman and his band was excited for was being surrounded by talented musicians and being inspired by both main headliners and local talent. He couldn’t be more proud to be making such amazing memories with so many incredible artists. 

“There’s a real sense of community and creativity surrounding this event, and it feels amazing to be contributing to something that’s quickly becoming a staple in the music scene,” Huffman says.  “Whether it’s the big headliners, the local talent, or the passionate fans, the entire vibe is just inspiring.  We’re grateful for the opportunity, excited to share our music, and ready to make some unforgettable memories with everyone out there.”

Listen here:

Spotify

YouTube

Harvey Street 

Photo courtesy of Harvey Street and Lovin’ Life Music Fest

More heart and soul was brought to the festival as Harvey Street made its way from Raleigh, NC. The five-piece indie-alternative band started in 2021 at NC State University and continuously grew. Harvey Street spent 2024 touring the country and is even working on their debut album!

Aside from so many rehearsals and jumping jacks leading up to their performance, the band has expressed so much gratitude for the opportunity to play at Lovin’ Life. “We are honored and grateful to be headlining the Carolina Ascent FC Stage on Saturday, and we’re going to show that to everyone with our performance. We’ll bring our absolute best and that’s all there is to it.”

Listen here:

Spotify

YouTube

Lovin’ Life Fest Day 2 – May 3rd

Weekend Friend

Photo courtesy of Weekend Friend and Lovin’ Life Music Fest

The rock/alternative band consisting of Bryan Wynne, Tyler Whiting, Tristan Galuppo, and Arnold Martinez were ready to give it everything they’ve got to the second day of the festival. Weekend Friend made each festival go-er excited for the end of the week and ready to celebrate the weekend. 

Spotify

Apple Music

Amazon Music

YouTube

adolescent dreams

Photo courtesy of Mikey Gomez and Lovin’ Life Music Fest

From the Appalachian Mountains, Mikey Gomez took the stage with his haunting and beautiful lyrics. Fans expected not only songs from his self-titled EP, but also a sense of relief and calmness through his melodies. 

Pre-save his music here!

SOPHIA

Photo courtesy of SOPHIA and Lovin’ Life Music Fest

Coming in from Winston-Salem, NC is alternative rock band SOPHIA. With their ambition and passion for creating a sense of community, they were beyond excited to be making their way onto the local stage for the weekend of the festival. 

Spotify

Apple Music

Austin McNeil

Photo courtesy of Austin McNeil and Lovin’ Life Music Fest

From Rowan County, NC, Austin McNeil has been chasing his dream of being a musician  since he was five years old, participating in a Southern Baptist church choir. McNeil’s country-rock music career has been in the driver’s seat, accelerating at a very fast rate. From  having his breakout single “Ridin’ Highways” featured on the 2023 CMT awards to making his debut performances at Bridgestone Arena and AT&T Stadium, he just took the local stage of Lovin’ Life Music Fest on Saturday, May 3rd. 

McNeil was excited to be playing the music festival, to be surrounded by many different artists, and also to be representing the magic that the city of Charlotte has to offer.

“I take great pride in being a Charlottenian and representing our city at one of the biggest events with some of the biggest artists. It’s truly an honor for me!” he says. “I can’t put into words how surreal this opportunity is for me!”

Listen here:

Spotify

Apple Music

YouTube

Lovin’ Life Fest Day 3 – May 4th

Modern Moxie

Photo courtesy of Modern Moxie and Lovin’ Life Music Fest

Modern Moxie is an indie-rock band based in Charlotte. They have taken the city’s music scene by storm playing at multiple venues and releasing their EP Gutter Honey (2022) and their latest album Tripping the Light Fantastic in August 2024. With Madison Lucas at the helm as lead singer, Harry Kollm on bass, Phil Pucci as lead guitarist, and Charlie Weeks on drums, the band was ready to dominate at Lovin’ Life.

Modern Moxie even had a few surprises in store. Dancers of Baran Dance, a local contemporary dance company, joined Madison on stage during the band’s set. Baran Dance was founded by UNC Charlotte dance professor Audrey Baran and will be doing spectacular performances alongside the band.  

Besides their performances at the festival, Modern Moxie is beyond excited to see many different artists that they grew up on the headlining stage and to be a part of the same lineup as them. 

“Playing a large music festival has always been on my bucket list and we are counting down the days. Weezer is definitely at the top of our list to see. We are also very hype for Ludacris and Third Eye Blind,” Madison says. “These bands were a huge part of our childhood and it’s unreal to be on a lineup with any of them. The lineup has a little something for everybody. It’s so wonderful to have a festival of this size in its 2nd year in Charlotte. We’re hoping to see most of Charlotte out at this event and high five. I’m also a huge fan of festival snacks so you can catch me eating a huge pretzel and/or giant popcorn.”

Listen here: 

Spotify

Apple Music

Fudge

Photo courtesy of Fudge and Lovin’ Life Music Fest

The band Fudge, traveling from Wilmington, North Carolina, will also excitedly be headlining the local stage. With infectious and influential rock and pop genres, the band members – Patrick Riesmeyer (lead singer, rhythm guitar), Logan Maletta (lead guitar), Lucca Lombardi (bass), and Parker Silver (drums)– were ready to bring the energy to the music festival. The festival even holds a special place in both Riesmeyer and Maletta’s hearts, as they are both from Charlotte.

“We’re over the moon about the festival and are excited to share our music with a wider audience,” says Maletta. 

“Patrick and I also grew up in Charlotte so playing our hometown festival is going to be really special. We just cannot wait to get on that stage and hope to see everyone there. Whether it’s five thousand or five people in the crowd, we’ll give them an electric performance regardless.”

Listen to their music here!

Chandler Carpenter & The Reckless Souls

Photo courtesy of Chandler Carpenter & The Reckless Souls and Lovin’ Life Music Fest

An amazing mix of both country and rock n’roll, the highly energetic band that is Chandler Carpenter & The Reckless Souls suited up for one amazing weekend at the festival. The band was excited to perform songs from their debut EP Good Riddance, which was released on April 18th. 

“We’re obviously excited to see some of the headliners, but we also really enjoy hearing local music and music that we have never heard before,” says Christian Smith.

Listen here:

Spotify

Apple Music

Meredith Parks

Photo courtesy of Meredith Parks and Lovin’ Life Music Fest

Hailing from Gastonia, NC, Meredith Parks is bringing her unique blend of genres to Charlotte and ending the weekend of the music festival on a high note.

Fans could expect to hear Parks’s latest tracks “Cowboys” and “Find My Way,” songs from her debut album Trying to Find My Way and even some awesome guitar solos, too. 

“I can’t wait to play with my band! We’ve spent the last several months in the studio recording and writing music so we are all super pumped to get out and play for a live audience,” says Parks.  We have tons of friends and family coming to the show and it’s going to be a great time!

Listen here:

Spotify

Apple Music

YouTube

We hope you caught these amazing acts at this year’s Lovin’ Life Fest!

Categories
Interviews Music News

Palmyra are Restless in Charlotte discussing their debut album and tour

Photo courtesy of Grandstand Media

In a flash, one particular moment can change your entire life unexpectedly. It can be getting your first car, getting an acceptance letter to your dream school, making new friends, or listening to a song that’s so incredibly honest it pulls on your heart strings. The debut album by the Virginia-based folk band Palmyra is one of those moments and is a memorable album that you will not forget.  

The three best friends of Palmyra – Teddy Chipouras, Mānoa Bell, and Sasha Landon – released an album that not only served as a form of release, but also crafting a heartfelt letter to their fans, in the form of 10 beautifully vulnerable songs about healing and self-acceptance. The process and even the release of Restless had even united the band.

“It’s been a whirlwind less than a month since the record came out, which is cool! Emotionally, we’re all actually super united,” said Mānoa. He even expressed the excitement of being back on tour, and the passion that the three all have for creating this album, all fueled by their love for the adventure that lies beyond twist and turns of the road, and the shows they are eager to play.

“Sasha and I were just talking about how we’re looking forward to being on the road. We’ve always loved touring and playing shows, and it’s especially exciting right now because it’s like that thing we’ve been working on for four years, like releasing this record, and writing these songs,” he said.

All three explored the depth of the album as they spoke candidly of their creative process and experiences. Playing the songs whether in the studio, or even live served as a transformative process for the band. Writing and creating the songs and bringing them to life not only brought the band closer together, but also created a sense of relief, a chance to take a breath. 

“I think playing the songs every night is like the biggest release that we get, or for me at least,” says Sasha. “It’s writing the song when you have something that is sitting heavy on you. Having it come out is really cathartic.” 

Sasha, listening and creating the music, even described the process of how a song takes on many different lives, calling the final piece as both scary, yet cool.

“Something that the three of us talk about is how a song has many lives. It starts in one person’s head, it goes to the group, we turn it into something else, we start playing it in front of people, they turn it into something else, we take it into the studio and the people we work with, and we turn it into something else. Now it’s out in the world for anybody to interpret it how they want to,” they said. 

“That is a really kind of scary, cool, yet beautiful thing. A lot of these tunes are about being tired, from traveling, and pushing ourselves all the time to do this thing that we love. The ways that that wears on us and our relationships and the people that matter to us and each other. I think we all had our hands in it from the jump. It’s definitely cathartic to have it out there and I’m proud of it.” 

The bond of the three’s strong friendship and acceptance had been a huge part of the journey for the band, as they faced many life altering events. Sasha openly spoke about navigating and understanding their bipolar diagnosis and beautifully channeling it into the album’s fifth track, “Shape I’m In.” Sasha even described the track as apologetic.

“Lyrically it’s a song about not being able to make sense of anything that’s happening around you and not knowing what to say other than, ‘I’m sorry.’ There’s a line in the song near the end that’s like, ‘Won’t you take a look? Won’t you take a long one?  I think that’s what the whole song is trying to do, like ‘Here’s this thing that I have to look at every day, won’t you look at it with me? I’m doing so much better now than I was when I wrote it, but that’s where it came from,” they said.

The album concludes with an exhale with “Carolina Wren,” a song that expresses acceptance and embracing everything that you have experienced, the good and the bad. Sasha described the song as being present and getting a moment to sit still while dealing with the internal and external factors of what’s happening in life and harnessing it. 

“I think for all of us it is about fleeting moments of gratitude, guilt, exhaustion, and joy. The last four years have really flown in a beautiful way. You blink and you’re here and it’s today and there is a whole new can of worms that life is giving you to deal with,” Sasha described. 

“We are always moving even when we’re trying to sit still. And I think “Carolina Wren” is the tune that I wrote after sitting still for kind of the longest I had in a while. It is about trying to hold onto what you can, and really trying to be present when you have a moment of clarity, which is such a hard thing to do.”

In addition to the release of these 10 beautiful songs, Palmyra will be traveling to Charlotte on their tour with the same name, sharing the stage with Joseph Terrell at Petra’s Bar in Plaza Midwood. While the band is beyond excited to be traveling back to the Queen City to play at the bar, they are also looking forward to seeing fans, old and new, and immersing themselves back into the lively city.

“I really like the community that goes to Petras. It feels super comfortable. I think we’re looking forward to hopefully seeing some new faces. I’m hoping to have a moment of, oh, it all makes sense now,” said Landon.

Fans can even expect a chill, yet lively night at the bar as they introduce songs from their latest album. 

“We have a lot of fun on stage. We try to make a fun inviting space for everybody,” says Teddy.  “We’re gonna play a lot of the new record, which we’re having a lot of fun doing. Our buddy Joseph Terrell, who’s in a band called Mipso, he’s gonna be opening up the show and he is incredible.”

Ahead of the rest of their tour, the band is looking forward to playing at the Iron Blossom Music Festival in Richmond, VA as well as playing more house shows, which is a change of scenery. For Palmyra, where they can really connect and get to know their fans.

“These small, intimate shows are just in people’s living room or backyard. There’s often between like 20 and 50 people, and we get to meet everyone there. It’s so different from a club show,” said Teddy. “It’s fun to mix it up and go back and forth between these club shows and house shows and get both the feeling of a rock band and feeling like a folk group, really connecting with the audience.”

The band however, expressed that while many exciting things are in store for Palmyra, small or big, they are always looking to make music with each other.

Sasha ecstatically says, “There are so many cool shows on our calendar that I am pumped about. And like Mono was talking about, the crew that we have right now is so fun. We are such a fun group. It’s our first time in a big van! I’m just excited to have some fun on the road with my buds!” 

See Palmyra on tour, and stream Restless on Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music, and more!

Categories
Interviews Music News

briZB welcomes spring with a new reflective EP

Photo courtesy of briZB and Jaelin Hillard

Springtime is not only a time for the flowers to bloom and the trees to patiently grow back their leaves. It is also a time for a new era of artists to release songs that express change. What better way to represent this transformative season than by listening to briZB’s new EP rough night??

Charlotte bedroom indie-pop artist Bri Huynh, also known as briZB, released her latest EP back in March and met with Crowdsurfer Magazine to discuss her new music. The new EP challenged her to revisit old experiences and explore the old wounds of navigating and outgrowing a relationship. Revisiting these memories even helped her see how much she had changed as a person and as an artist.

“I wrote all of the songs three summers ago, right after I’d just got out of high school. It’s kind of interesting. It feels like I’m opening an old wound and diving back into that. It feels different because I’m older now and I think differently. They’re near and dear to my heart,” she said. 

Writing the lyrics was eye opening, as she found it was a way of getting what she was feeling out into the open. The tracks of the EP beautifully paint a picture of a reflection of her past experiences and looking forward towards a new chapter in her life. 

“I like to reflect back on it a lot, but writing [the lyrics], it really was just like a way for me to get all the words out, so I wouldn’t be holding onto them myself,” Bri said. “All of the lyrics kind of just showcase my insecurity in this relationship and how this person made me feel and why I felt like I couldn’t do anything about it. The track list is really important to me because it starts with entering into this relationship and then it ends with it being over and done and trying to move on.”

Additionally, while writing the EP, Bri mentioned an encounter with another artist that gave her the courage to delve deeper into her own experiences. Inspired, she took that conversation and channeled it into music.

“We had this conversation after I had ended this relationship with this person. I met her at a show, and she was on tour and she told me that I should keep pursuing music and that I shouldn’t give up. If it’s my dream, then I can do it, and it’s not something that I should ever feel like I should regret doing, and that it’s okay to try and to just keep pushing through,” she said. 

This conversation gave Bri a spark of clarity to craft her meaningful and relatable lyrics, while also creating a vision of hope of what’s to come. 

“I took that conversation home with me, and I was writing, and it felt like I was able to take this conversation and I could see a hope for my future. I wouldn’t just always be sad. I wouldn’t always be dwelling on this relationship and how it went wrong because there are so many other things for me.”

The overall conversation even served as inspiration behind her fourth track, “emma,” which serves as a reminder that amazing days are ahead, regardless of any obstacles that may stand in her way. 

“I really love that song because it just reminds me that there’s a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow, and it’s okay to have a bad day or two, but there are always things to look forward to, and things will get better,” she said.

While Bri is finishing up her studies in college, she gave Crowdsurfer Magazine a small glimpse into what she is looking forward to and what exciting plans that this year has in store for her. 

“I’ve got a whole year to go. I have a couple of really cool gigs lined up later this summer. I’ll be starting on working on new music so that’s really exciting too!”

Be sure to stream rough night? on Spotify, and to also follow Bri on her social media for more updates on new music and upcoming shows!

Instagram: @briihuynh
TikTok: @brlzb
YouTube: briZB

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Uncategorized

Modern Alibi Releases Debut Album

By Bethany Ivan

Photo courtesy of Modern Alibi and @drewfromcharlotte

Following many successes, such as releasing their 2023 debut single, Seventies, playing a variety of music festivals within Charlotte, North Carolina, and teasing new music, alt-rock band Modern Alibi is ecstatic to release their debut album, American Radio. The up-and-coming Charlotte band announced that the release of their new album will be on April 4th. The album speaks volumes of the band as they leap into a new era of music. 

Lead singer and guitarist of Modern Alibi, Holden Scott met with Crowdsurfer Magazine, where he spoke passionately about the band, and expressed his excitement on the release of the band’s debut album and what’s to come later in the year. During our conversation, he expressed his unique take on the album, and the plans he and the band have for their upcoming album release concert at Amos Southend in Charlotte. 

Crowdsurfer Magazine: I wanted to congratulate you on the release of your debut album, American Radio! First off, how excited are you and the boys? 

Holden Scott: We’re beyond excited! We’re focused so much on this album release show because it’s the first time that people are going to hear these songs live. We’ve been teasing some of them at our live shows, but this is the first time that all the music’s going to be out.

CM: Can you tell me a little bit about American Radio? What was the inspiration behind the album? Was there something specific that you and the band wanted to express or pinpoint when writing the album?

HS: So, American Radio has a lot of songs that have been in existence for a very long time. I want to put my best foot forward, and what I feel represents the band the best. There’s a song called Boy You Better,  which represented a time where I didn’t know what I was doing with songwriting, and I felt a little insecure about what a song is supposed to sound like. I never imagined when I wrote that song that we’d have this many people listening to it. 

[The record] is full of old and brand new songs where I see it like a time capsule of this era of Modern Alibi of the past few years. I remember exactly where I was when I wrote the song, and playing them live in front of people for the first time. It represents us at this period of time. I’m sure in a few years I’ll look back at it and think about all the things I could have done differently, but I think that I’m going to feel very proud of where this is at, and I’m very proud of it. 

CM: Kind of circling back or elaborating on what you said about American Radio being a time capsule of Modern Alibi, what would you say is the most unique thing about the debut record? 

HS: The record is unique compared to what else we’ve released because of how old some of the songs are. If you would’ve told me three years ago that [Boy You Better] is going to be on a debut record, I would probably be like, ‘No bad idea. Don’t put it on there!’ Now, it’s something I’m proud of. 

It’s unique in comparison to everything else that we’ve done. I touch on some different emotions and feelings that I haven’t before. We have a few songs on there that kind of branch out of that happy, style song with some more emotional tracks. I’ve been through a lot actually, but there’s probably like nine or ten tracks that I’m like, ‘okay, I really want to slip into this new feeling or mindset that’s isn’t the happiest, but yet still has a lot of emotion and passion.’ There’s a couple tracks on there that really play that role well that I’m finally happy with. It took a year, but especially with the ending track of American Radio, which is also the title track of the song, really plays that role. 

CM: Before the release of your album, you have released two singles, Is Everybody In? and Scarlet, which for me, is my favorite song. I started listening to it at work and  I thought to myself, ‘This is new!” I was just very surprised. Can you tell me a little bit about both of the songs?

HS: Definitely! So Is Everybody In?, and Scarlett have always been sibling songs, and were written around the same time. Is Everybody In? is more playful and not to be taken too seriously. It’s a fun song with a little fun storyline that you can interpret however you want. Scarlett is more of the opposite. It’s about jealousy, loss, and feelings of betrayal. It’s deeper. I love both songs. I’m so glad that you like Scarlett! 

CM: And you said these songs will be on the album?

HS: Yes! They’re both gonna be on the album.

CM: You also mentioned that there will be an album release concert at Amos Southend. How excited is everyone?

HS: We are very excited! We’re practicing at the moment and we’re making sure we’re prepared, comfortable and confident. We’ve been playing these songs for a while, but this is the first time that some people are gonna know them, or some people are gonna know all of these songs. It’s a little bit of pressure because we wanna make sure we do the songs justice. However, it’s also taking off pressure because the crowd knows what to expect. For a show like this, where our hometown crowd is, and people who’ve been listening to our music, know who we are, who have come however long they have traveled to come see the show, they’re there for us. It feels like they’ve got our backs no matter what. We want to make sure that we do the songs justice, and give people a good memorable, fun experience. 

CM: For the release concert, would you say that there could be any surprises in store for fans? Any tricks up the band’s sleeve? Maybe a few covers?

HS: Yeah! We have a couple covers in the works. We have our stage antics that we always love to do. I love being in the crowd, and I love jumping off things. We want to have an arc. We want it to be a whole experience, rather than here’s this song now now this song.

CM: For the album overall, what do you want people to take away from the lyrics and the overall vibe? 

HS: I definitely want it to be something for everybody. There’s elements of punk rock, a little bit more killer style, emotional rock. There’s also some funk, elements of hip hop, experimental tracks, and even indie pop songs. I want somebody to find something that they resonate with the most. Lyrically, I want people to be able to take the lyrics of a specific song and figure out how to make that connection with themselves. And, maybe that helps them. 

CM: You and the band have accomplished so much in the past few years, such as releasing your first single Seventies in 2023, releasing your first EP in 2024, and playing the Lovin Life Festival and the Charlotte Pride Festival. While we are still in the earlier months of 2025, there’s definitely so much to look forward to within the year. So personally and musically, what are you looking forward to throughout the year? 

HS:  I’m looking forward to seeing what happens with this record., I’m also excited to play these songs live and in as many cities as possible. If that means a tour, it’s a tour! If there were enough hours in the day and enough days in the year, we would literally make it to every city in the U.S. 

CM: My last question is, is there anything that you would like to add overall?

HS: I’m just excited for everybody to hear the record. It’s interesting to me because as a songwriter, I know how the songs make me feel, but I don’t know how it’s gonna make other people feel. For the show, I want this to be a sold out show. It’s looking like it’s gonna be a fun packed full show. I’m very excited about that!

Be sure to stream American Radio on Spotify and other streaming services. To attend their upcoming release album concert at Amos Southend in Charlotte, click here. For more updates on Modern Alibi, follow them on Instagram, TikTok, and subscribe to their YouTube Channel!

Categories
Music News

The Lovin’ Life Music Festival Returns to Charlotte in May

Photo courtesy of the Lovin’ Life Music Festival - Southern Entertainment

Calling all music lovers and festival go-ers. It’s that time of year again! The Lovin’ Life Music Festival is back for another exciting year in Charlotte, North Carolina. The festival will take place from May 2 – 4 in the heart of the city. Since the success of the festival’s debut, with about 50 artists headlining, anticipation arose within the city, waiting for the day the festival announced its new set of headliners for the 2025 season.

Recently, the majority of the lineup for the festival has been announced for this year. Festival go-ers can expect exhilarating performances by none other than Gwen Stefani, Benson Boone, Ludacris, Flipturn, Lola Young, Gigi Perez, and more. Those who are planning to attend are still awaiting for the last round of the lineup announcements, so stay tuned! 

But wait, there’s more. To make each night of the festival even more fun and entertaining, the festival will be hosting a variety of different themes. The themes are Bring Back the 90s on May 2nd, Island in The Sun and Bald Cap Night on May 3rd, and Peace and Love on May 4th.

Attendees can also get a taste of what the city has to offer with a variety of culinary options, and can also expect performances from local artists within the city and interactive art installations for all to explore on festival grounds. For more information on ticket information, pricing, and updates, they can be found on the Lovin’ Life website. 

Before attending the festival, here are things that you can bring to the festival:

  • Clear plastic or vinyl 12” x 6” x 12”
  • Blankets 
  • Beach towels
  • Sunscreen
  • Ear plugs
  • Reusable water bottles

For more information on what to bring, visit the festival website. We hope to see you there!

Stay updated on the latest news on their social media pages:

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Categories
Concert Photography

Wallows and Deb Never Brave the Snow for 2 Nights in Charlotte

The month of February has been, in my opinion, an interesting month for the city of Charlotte. However, it got even more interesting when Wallows came to the city for two exciting sold-out nights at The Fillmore, along with opener, Deb Never. Despite the snow that lasted for two days, both performers brought energy and excitement to the city. 

The energy was immediately set in stone as Deb Never began to perform. Throughout her set, I was completely mesmerized by her performance. I’ve never heard anything like her before, and if there was one word that I can describe Deb Never’s music it would be “captivating.” From start to finish, she definitely went and captured my attention with her lyrics and talent. 

As for Wallows, I have no words except: Oh my gosh! The energy from both the crowd and the band was addicting. All eyes and attention were on them, especially when Dylan Minnette came down from the stage to the barricade where fans excitedly sang their hearts out. Throughout the show, I couldn’t help but dance not just with the friends I’ve made during this concert, but with the band’s psychedelic and catchy lyrics.

With the snow, two sold out shows, and two talented acts such as Wallows and Deb Never, my expectations of the night were exceeded, and I giddily approached the merch table to purchase Wallows’ newest album, Model, on vinyl. Be sure to see them as they continue their Model & More Tour in May!

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Concert Photography Reviews

Joshua Bassett Returns to Charlotte, NC with Thomas Day

To quote Isabel ‘Belly’ Conklin from the Amazon TV show The Summer I Turned Pretty, “Last summer felt like a dream.” Or in this case, “August 13, 2024 felt like a dream.” 

Not just for me, but for the fans who were anxiously and excitedly waiting to see Joshua Bassett at The Fillmore in Charlotte, North Carolina. It’s not Joshua’s first time in the city as he performed at The Underground last year on his Complicated tour. As per usual, Joshua never disappoints when it comes to his performances. He returned to the city where it was not only a night about fun and excitement on his tour The Golden Years but also about peace and forgiveness. Though Bassett returned to Charlotte with a different theme and mood of his performance, he still brought joy, happiness, and passion to his music. 

Opening for Bassett was the energetic Thomas Day, who was also a contestant on Season 15 of America’s Got Talent. Appearing on stage before us like lightning, Day performed his heart out. After seeing how incredibly talented he was, I can honestly wholeheartedly say,  Thomas Day will definitely be an artist that I will be adding to my playlists on Spotify!

About a few minutes later, Bassett appeared beaming with so much energy as he sweetly greeted fans throughout his entire performance. With his songs like “The Golden Years,” “Secret,” “Biting My Tongue,” “Life Line,” “She Said He Said She Said,” and more, every fan was either dancing or singing his lyrics back to him. Throughout his set, he even made a few small trips around the venue, greeting and meeting his fans. Another highlight of the night included Basset even bringing back Thomas Day to the stage to sing a cover of a Beatles song, “Yesterday.“

Bassett and his fans took turns in teaching each other something new. Though he gave us insight into his life, struggles, and life advice, at one instance and in return, his fans gave him dance lessons. While performing “Circles,” two fans taught him line dancing, which he happily partook in. 

Bassett was even transparent with his fans of his struggles. A common theme I have noticed in his performances and in his music is reflection, typically healing, being grateful for certain lifelines in our lives, and surrounding yourself with amazing people. Though these are certainly great lessons for us to learn, he even threw in another one: forgiveness, and how it is always important to learn from our past mistakes and perhaps our golden years, and continue to move forward. 

Overall, it was a night that I nor the fans will never forget. I especially enjoy how open and honest Bassett always is about his struggles as a means to reassure his fans that they are not alone. His songs and performances always seem to give them comfort and a safe place, myself included. I hope to look forward to more animated performances by Bassett the next time he comes back to the Queen City! 

The Golden Years Album Review: 

Since it has his album release, even on the car rides home, I continuously listened to The Golden Years. The album was released on July 26, a few days before Bassett kicked off his headlining tour with the same name. At first I somewhat struggled to find the words to describe this album, but now I definitely found them: Emotionally mature, honest, relief, and reflection. 

Since its release I could not help but wonder: where was this album when I needed it most?  

Bassett reflects on the past few years of his life, the good, the bad, the happy, the sad. In the album, he not only reflects on the golden years of his life but also on certain heartbreak, with some regret, which is something that I know most of us do. He even channels the roller coaster being fine one minute, but not fine the next. Through song, he exemplifies what healing is like realistically. 

In the past, Bassett has been open and honest with his fans with his struggles, and always finding the good in every situation. Though he channels his feelings and honesty into song, notably past songs like “different” and “would you love me now,” the songs on The Golden Years now constructs those feelings and creates such a heartfelt and honest album. It is an album that I believe most people can either relate to or even find solace in.   

Overall, The Golden Years not only reflects on the highs and lows of the past few years of Bassett’s life but also his achievements and his personal growth as an artist and as a person. 

The album presents itself with such emotional maturity, a deep sigh of relief, letting go, and looking forward to what’s to come. 

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Concert Photography

mxmtoon in Charlotte

As summer is starting to come to a close, the love that I personally have for music and concerts are definitely not. Especially for music that is all of the following: for dancing, beyond relatable, upbeat, and some that incorporates a ukulele.  Luckily for me, mxmtoon’s show at the Underground in Charlotte, North Carolina had all three. 

Before mxmtoon took the stage on July 29, singer Emma Harner opened for her show, where she not only dazzled us with her talent but also continuously made several references to the animated TV show, Voltron. Harner’s music and presence on stage was both charming and hilarious as she cracked jokes with the audience in between the songs that she was performing. 

Harner was not the only one that has captured my attention. As mxmtoon began her set, she was beyond ready to perform and share her music and art with the audience. The audience, in turn, was ready to celebrate her music through either singing to her lyrics, wearing cowboy hats, or both. Throughout her performance, dances were danced and stories were exchanged — tales of crushes, break-ups that make you want to move out of the state that you are living in, and the trauma and love of proudly coming out.  

If anything, mxmtoon’s Summer Show at The Underground was a chaotic yet laid back night that I was overall happy to attend. With the performances by both Harner and mxmtoon, the venue that night became a place that was both fun yet comforting. 

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Concert Photography Reviews

Stephen Sanchez Brings Retro Vibes to Charlotte on The Troubadour Tour

Charlotte was transported back to the 1950s as Stephen Sanchez took the stage at The Underground on one of his last nights of The Troubadour tour. Fans were excited to see Sanchez perform live and went all out. Most fans arrived in style as they attended the show in vintage, classic ’50s-style clothing. After much anticipation, the audience was suddenly part of an epic yet tragic love story when Sanchez appeared on stage, narrating the love affair between songs. 

The performance was filled with excitement and all things the ’50s as Sanchez started his set soft and angelic with “Something About Her,” which became upbeat as he performed “Evangeline” and “I Need You Most of All.” Throughout the night, the stage overflowed with electrifying talent and added to the love story Sanchez was telling as he performed songs off of his album Angel Face. Along with his melodious voice, he showcased even more of his talents by breaking out his guitar on multiple occasions and intensely played the piano – one instance was while performing “Shake” alongside his bandmates. Aside from the concert itself and along with the narration of the love story, the performance even included a few humorous and lighthearted side conversations between fans and Sanchez himself.

Sanchez was also no stranger to the classics. Amid his performance, he whisked his attention towards his female fans, asking the audience, “Where are all my pretty women at,” as he performed a thrilling cover of Rob Orbison’s “Oh, Pretty Woman,” dedicating the song to them. As a woman myself, I was completely touched by the gesture. 

In light of the holiday season, Sanchez even performed a snippet of Jay Livingston and Ray Evans’s “Silver Bells.” In addition to singing a couple of covers, Sanchez even performed a heartfelt tribute to Priscilla Presley, the wife of the late King of Rock and Roll, Elvis Presley. He shared with the audience that she had seen them perform, and in dedication to Presley, he sang a cover of “Unchained Melody” in the most heartfelt performance I have ever seen from any artist I had ever reviewed. His cover of this romantic song personally made me love this man and his voice even more. 

Sanchez concluded the concert not only by thanking his fans on one of his last nights on tour but also by ending the night with “Until I Found You,” the dreamy and romantic song that captivated fans throughout TikTok and can be heard on the last episode of season 2 of Ginny and Georgia.

Overall, it was a pleasure to be a part of the love affair that Sanchez narrated and to see the troubadour in action, performing and bringing back the music and vibe of the 1950s, even if it was just for one night only. 

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Concert Photography Reviews

Coco Jones performs at The Underground in Charlotte

Coco Jones not only knows how to put on an amazing performance on-screen, but also dazzled her audience at her sold out show at the Underground in Charlotte, North Carolina on the second leg of her first headlining tour named What I Didn’t Tell You. 

Jones’ supporting act Haben gave a heavenly and melodious performance and the audience a glimpse into her new music, and then Ebony Riley gave a soulful and upbeat performance and was not afraid of sharing with the audience of her life experiences. Riley had also made inspiring and thoughtful dedication to her foster parents, who were present during her performance, through her song “Save Me.”

As Jones took the stage, the audience, who were with her through her Disney days and/or new music career, were ecstatic to see her perform. Talent and beauty radiated the stage as Jones performed music from her album What I Didn’t Tell You, such as “ICU,” “Double Back,” and “Caliber.”  At one point of the show, despite what seemed to be slight technical difficulty on stage, Jones continued the show by singing a capella to the audience, including some of her earlier music such as “Holla at the DJ.” 

Overall, the show was everything I personally expected it to be: to see such talented artists grow through their music as they continue to navigate their way through their careers. For Haben and Ebony Riley to give such beautiful and vulnerable and soulful performances was inspiring as they continue to express their experiences through song. For Coco Jones, it was nostalgic, yet amazing to see her grow from a teenager on Disney Channel to a young woman touring on her first headlining show.