Artist Feature April – SHOUT! Edition
ARTIST FEATURE APRIL- SHOUT! EDITIONUptown was abuzz for the first official opening weekend of Charlotte SHOUT!Friends and families were exploring outside, enjoying the weather, diving into performances and talks and engaging with over 100 participating creatives. Creatives! That’s what makes SHOUT! so special. Local creatives give it their all and share their passions for all to see. They organize, coordinate and lead events, workshops, and activations through April 20. And the best thing is — they’ll still be here when SHOUT! quiets down for the year. We want you to get to know them. This week, we interviewed two creatives who are some of our favorite collaborators, friends and culture shakers adding fun twists to the SHOUT! event calendar. MEET THESE CREATIVES
KATHLEEN FINCH
CLT EDGEFEST | CLT Street Art Collab
April 11 & 12 | 5 – 11 p.m., 4 – 11 p.m., and 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. | FREE
MORE INFOKathleen Finch is one of the founding members of the CLT Street Collab. When she entered the Queen City creative scene, she connected with the street art and graffiti community through Tough Ass Crew (TAC), founded by Matt Alvis (also known as @stencilspray). As a nurse, Kathleen found solace in the arts during the COVID-19 pandemic. She wanted to provide family-friendly gallery experiences. In November 2021, she gathered friends to launch Brews and Hues, an event featuring breakdancing, live indie-rap performances, spoken word, live painting and art vendors. In 2022, their efforts evolved into CLT EdgeFest. The latest iteration of CLT EdgeFest features over 50 artists during a three-day takeover during Charlotte SHOUT! across various locations, including Victoria Yards and First Ward Park. New additions to the event include a cross-collaboration of fashion and visual art, Poppin’ Tags, with designer Will White, Charlotte Free Skate and the live painting of a colossal object — the QC Crown. 
BLUZ ROGERS
SHOUT! MUSIC BINGO | MINDLESS MINUTIA AND BLUZ
April 16 | 7 – 9:30 p.m. | FREE
MORE INFOBoris “Bluz” Rogers is a Charlotte arts leader and change maker … and he has been for decades. As an Emmy Award-winning poet and three-time Poetry Slam Champion, Bluz has connected with many aspects of the Charlotte creative community. For the second year in a row, Bluz is partnering with MindlessMinutia Trivia to emcee Charlotte MUSIC Bingo during SHOUT! on April 16 at Victoria Yards. “The music will be played by an awesome DJ and upon arrival, you will download a bingo card and play on your phone — SO BRING YOUR DEVICES,” said Bluz.
“There will be 4 rounds of bingo with music/dance breaks in between each round and a cash prize for each round winner!” The event is free, family friendly, and open to all.
And if you’re looking for some additional fun this April, Bluz will be hosting and curating Monologue Mondays at the Independent Picture House, described as “an actor’s showcase meets open mic.” 
FIVE THINGS TO SHOUT! ABOUTWhat is going on, creative people? Makayla Binter here. I love a lot of things about SHOUT!, but here are FIVE things I’m incredibly excited about — and you can attend them over the next two weeks. 
PIANODROME EVENING PERFORMANCES
Wells Fargo Atrium
Every Friday and Saturday in April | 6 – 8:30 p.m. | FREE
MORE INFOI love the Pianodrome for so many reasons — its unique listening experience, incredible acoustics, and intimate setting make it perfect for music lovers of all ages. And, oh yeah, this amphitheater is made entirely from upcycled pianos – the first of its kind in North America. 
BLACK CHARLOTTE: A POETIC CELEBRATION OF PLACE & FOLK
April 11 | 8 – 10 p.m. | TICKETS HERE
Harvey B. Gantt Center for African-American Arts + Culture
MORE INFOThis is one of the standout poetry projects of the year. A collaboration between Charlotte SHOUT!, the Gantt Center and the Carolina Theatre, this event features the first live performance of the album Black Charlotte: A Poetic Celebration of Place & Folk. Fifteen poets wrote love letters to Charlotte and organized them into a groundbreaking album honoring the city’s Black history, neighborhoods, people and events. Join the conversation — reflect, listen, and experience performances from creatives like Jay Ward, Bluz Rogers (remember him from above?), Jah Smalls, and Sir Abstraxxx. 
THE MARKET AT 7TH STREET ART CRAWL
April 13 | 11 a.m. – 6 p.m. | FREE
The Market at 7th Street – 224 E 7th St
MORE INFOThe Market at 7th Street is a magical place for relaxing, eating and shopping. As a remote working woman, I can do my job, hang out and eat while enjoying the company of The Market administrative team…all in one place. I’m so excited for their Art Crawl, which will give attendees the opportunity to peruse works from local artisans, makers and entrepreneurs at this outdoor pop-up. Onsite, you’ll find interactive stations, unique works and handcrafted treasures — all while enjoying a sip or bite from The Market’s 16 food, beverage and retail shops. FIND A FULL LIST HERE. 
STREATS TASTING TOUR AND CHARLOTTE STREATS FESTIVAL
April 12 & 13 | 11 a.m.- 4 p.m. | TICKETS HERE
Gateway Village – 800 W Trade St
MORE INFOCharlotte StrEATS always sets the table for a full feast at SHOUT! and the Tasting Tour and Festival are no different. Once again, you’ll find a sumptuous collection of culinary bites from locally owned restaurants across the city, engaging cooking demos, handcrafted cocktails, live music along the outside pavilion of Gateway Village.
Don’t miss the tasting tents and live, intimate cooking demos on stage, especially VIP chef guest – Eric Adjepong. 
SHOUT! CHIC WORKSHOP SERIES
April 12 & 19 | 12 – 2 p.m. | FREE
SHOUT! Lounge – 200 S College St
MORE INFOThe fashion community is under-appreciated in Charlotte. The talented designers who live here deserve more respect … and I’m glad SHOUT! is giving it to them. Under the direction of Will White, the halls of the Overtreet Mall are lined with vibrant creations from local designers. But the SHOUT! Chic Design Suite is where the real insight happens. Visitors can talk directly to the designers to gain first-hand experience into what it takes to create pieces of your own. From talks and demos to workshops, fashion creatives are pulling back the curtain to offer a birdseye view of what they do best. And, how you can join them in designing your own masterpieces. I mentioned all these events that I am excited about, but here are some of my favorite views from SHOUT! attendees from the last few days:
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