What to Expect in May in the Carolinas
Concert season is upon us and the Carolina music scene is alive and well!
What better way to kick off the month of May than with a performance at The House of Blues in Myrtle Beach. They will hold a Bike Night on the deck every Thursday in May, starting on the 5th. In addition, Backfire will be playing a variety of shows at the HOB this month, starting on the 5th as well.
MAZE will be occupying the PNC Arena on May 6th with special guests Frankie Beverly, Charlie Wilson, and Lalah Hathaway while the Fillmore hosts Zoso: a Tribute to Led Zeppelin and HOB hosts The Gregg Allman band and Paul Grimshaw Band. Boston was scheduled to perform at the Red Hat Amphitheater on this date but cancelled their show in light of HB2.
Head over to the HOB to see Bush, witness a Murder Mystery DInner Theater production, and Mystic Vibrations, all in the same place on May 7th. Frankie Ballard and The Railers will be playing at the Fillmore that same night.
On the morning of the 8th, Kirk Franklin Presents Gospel Brunch will take place at the HOB and, later that night, the Fillmore will be home to Blue October featuring Danny Malone.
A Cappella sensation Pentatonix will be hitting up the Red Hat Amphitheater on May 11th, marking the first of only two shows being held at the Raleigh venue this month.
Crashbox will be playing at the HOB on May 12th while Silversun Pickups, Foals, and Joywave play the Fillmore as the first of two Carolina shows this month.
May 13th brings Chase Rice and Seth Ennis to the Fillmore as Throttlefest presents Sebastian Bach, Crashbox, and Low Life to the HOB.
May 14th has a lot of events for the Carolina’s as Appetite for Destruction: The Ultimate Tribute to Guns N’ Roses, Low Life, and Backfire take the stage at the HOB; WWE Live! occupies the PNC Arena; and Band Together featuring Trampled by Turtles and Devil Makes Three take over the Red Hat Amphitheater.
Trampled by Turtles and Devil Makes Three head over to the Fillmore on the 15th after a show in Raleigh. The Minnesota quintet is currently on a month-long tour with Devil Makes Three, making five stops in the Carolina’s over the course of May. Trampled by Turtles are currently promoting their 2014 release Wild Animals, although the guys did release a 3-song EP with Lazerbeak full of remixed versions of the album’s singles; these remixes include “Come Back Home,” “Repetition,” and “Are You Behind the Shining Star.”
The next night, Bloc Party and The Vaccines take over the Charlotte venue. Originating in the UK, Bloc Party is calling North America home for the next month or so as they tour the States and Canada promoting their latest release, Hymns. This is the first album since the band’s 2013 hiatus; their return not only brought new music, but also a lineup change. With two new members and brand new album, Bloc Party is ready to take on North America by storm.
Silversun Pickups, Foals, and Joywave make their second stop in the Carolina’s at the HOB, as well as Low Life, on the 16th. Low Life will occupy HOB four consecutive nights as they play the beach venue on the 16th, 17th, 18th, and 19th; The Saltines will open on the 16th and 17th and Sick Stoogies will open on the 18th 19th.
Back in Durham, YouTube stars Dan Howell and Phil Lester will bring their comedic art to the Durham Performing Arts Center on the 18th on their “The Amazing Tour is Not On Fire” tour.
Throttlefest presents Jamey Johnson to the HOB on the 19th while the legendary Aretha Franklin graces Durham with her talent at the Durham Performing Arts Center.
Comedic legend Marlon Wayans performs his newest material Scandeless at the Fillmore on the 20th as the HOB hosts several events. Strutter: A Tribute to Kiss, Low Life, and Paul Grimshaw Band are all set to perform. Durham will host Making a Murderer’s Dean Strang and Jerry Buting’s latest dialogue, entitled “A Conversation on Justice.”
On May 21st, Kenny Chesney and Old Dominion will perform at the Walnut Creek Amphitheatre while the HOB hosts their weekly Murder Mystery Dinner Theatre performance. In addition, HOB will host Jackyl, as presented by Throttlefest, and Paul Grimshaw band. RuPaul’s Drag Race: Battle of the Seasons makes its way to the Durham Performing Arts Center on May 22nd.
May 23rd brings The Neighbourhood, JAHKOY, and Kevin Abstract to the Fillmore; Broadway returns to the Carolinas as If/Then takes over the Durham Performing Arts Center from May 24th-28th. Brandi Carlile debuts her latest release, The Firewatcher’s Daughter, on the 27th at the Fillmore. The folk rock singer-songwriter is on tour with Old Crow Medicine Show, although the six-piece Tennessee natives won’t be in Charlotte with Carlile. According to the Fillmore’s event calendar, Charlotte will get an evening alone with the Seattle gal.
Urban Ministry’s Housing Fest: A Concert to End Homelessness takes over the Fillmore as Josh Ritter, Matrimony, Linidi Ortega, Nikki Hill, and Jim Lauderdale are set to perform.
Finally, the Carolina Indie Artists Festival is being held at the HOB in Myrtle Beach on the 29th to kick off the month of May.