Tim Miner, here, everyone. And, I want to say that …

Everyone has their first love.
Mine was The Connells.

I should clarify — I’m talking about the first time you fall in love with the sound of a local band or musical artist.

For me, it was the first time I heard The Connells play at a youth event at Carowinds in 1994. I was a junior in high school … and the song was “Sal” from the Fun & Games album.

Up until that moment, I only knew music from the radio or a stack of 45s and 8-tracks I inherited. To me, music was created by mythical, larger-than-life magicians I had no hope of ever seeing in person.

A RESOUNDING AUTUMN NIGHT

But on that autumn night just over the border, I witnessed music played by honest-to-gosh human beings — folks who likely had to get up and go to work the next morning. I realized that people from Charlotte (and yes, I later learned they were from Raleigh … but they played here a lot) could create music that moved me just as much — and often more — than what was coming out of the radio.

The Connells (and many others that followed, from Jonny Quest to DJ Fanny Mae, Maggy Lowe, Oceanic, Cosmic Collective and Cyanca) became the music of my youth (or perceived youth). And they’ve continued to be as I’ve … ahem … grown up.

I learned to love local music. It’s one of the reasons I adore Charlotte as much as I do. It’s the soundtrack of my city.

If you’ve never had a “first love” moment with live music, it’s time to change that. And next week is the perfect time to dive in. The reason? CONFLUENCE CAROLINAS.

PHOTO CREDIT: Confluence Carolinas

TWO DAYS OF LIVE, LOCAL MUSIC AT SIX VENUES

Now in its third year, Confluence Carolinas (Oct. 8-10) is exactly what the Charlotte music community needs. Organized by Music Everywhere CLT, it’s the “mullet” of events:

• Business by day — a conference introducing local and regional talent to panels, advisors and experts who can help them navigate the business of music. Ya’ll know we love this at Charlotte Is Creative.
• Party by night — a showcase of live performances across six venues.

If you’re a performing creative or musician or a music industry professional, it’s not too late to get your ticket and take part in the daily instruction and evening performances. (Check the schedule here.) 

If you’re a live local music lover — or looking to fall in love with your new favorite artist — you can grab a live music pass for just $45. That gets you into 26 performances on Oct. 8 and 9 in six of Charlotte’s best music venues. Individual tickets are also available through each venue’s website and at the door. See the full performance roster below.
BONUS! Oh! And, as Biscuit subscriber, use the code “CIC2025” for 15% off a $45 live music pass.

This is an opportunity to see the incredible depth of talent here and to show these creatives you hear them, you see them … and that you’ll show up for them.

They live to become part of the music of your life. Let them in.

PHOTO CREDIT: Confluence Carolinas

THE LIVE MUSIC SCHEDULE

For links to the full schedule, venues and artist line-up, visit confluencecarolinas.com/music.

THURSDAY, OCT. 9

The Evening Muse
3227 N. Davidson St.
Charlotte, NC 28205

PERFORMING:

• 7 p.m. – Misha Fair and The Smoke
• 8 p.m. – Low Groves
• 9 p.m. – Sluice

Neighborhood Theatre
511 E. 36th St.
Charlotte, NC 28205

PERFORMING:

• 7:30 p.m. – Blue Cactus
• 8:30 p.m. – Skylar Gudasz
• 10 p.m. – Ashes & Arrows

Bo’s On NoDa
3701 North Davidson St.
Charlotte, NC 28205

MO BETTA’ THURSDAYS FEATURING:

• Braxton Bateman
• Harvey Cummings II
• Blackhawk Quintet

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 10TH

Petra’s
1919 Commonwealth Ave.
Charlotte, NC 28205

PERFORMING:

• 7 p.m. – Jackson Harden
• 8 p.m. – Ali Forrest
• 9:30 p.m. – Dr. Bacon
• 10:20 p.m. – The Get Right Band

Snug Harbor
1228 Gordon St.
Charlotte, NC 28205

PERFORMING:

• 7:30 p.m. – Nia J
• 8:20 p.m. – McKinney
• 9:10 p.m. – SOPHIA
• 10 p.m. – Oceanic
• 11:10 p.m. – Easy Honey

Jack’s Live: Hip-Hop/R&B Showcase
1801 Commonwealth Ave.
Charlotte, NC 28205

PERFORMING:

• 8 p.m. DJ Von Dutch
• 8:30 p.m. CVSH Da General
• 8:55 p.m. Yvonne
• 9:15 p.m. Princeton
• 9:35 p.m. Jasmine Tiarra
• 9:55 p.m. Tymain Robbins
• 10:30 p.m. GAUXSTMAN
• 11:15 p.m. praise.

SATURDAY, OCT. 11

Confluence SongFest
Evening Muse

This is a special event featuring eight singer/songwriters from a variety of genres sharing original songs and stories in an intimate environment.

1pm-4pm

• Nathan Davis
• Deore
• Kris Hitchcock
• Edan Aldridge
• Larissa Mia
• Jen Ford
• Bart Lattimore
• Heidi Sidelinker

Standing with Lynsea on Her Road to Recovery

Our Charlotte Is Creative family is hurting this week. One of our Creative Entrepreneurs Initiative members and a vibrant member of Charlotte’s Music community, Lynsea, suffered a significant brain injury recently in a terrible car accident.

Lynsea’s friend, Kylee Brooks,  established  a GoFundMe page to help with her medical bills and share updates on her recovery. Please consider making a donation or sharing the link: Lynsea’s Road to Recovery GoFundMe.

Kylee Brooks shares, Lynsea “has already made it through her first brain surgery and is doing well. She is currently in the ICU in Charlotte being cared for by a wonderful team including friends and colleagues. She is incredibly strong and is making progress each day.”

It will be a long journey. But if you know Lynsea, you know she is a fighter. She has given so much to Charlotte’s creative community, and now it’s our turn to show up for her.