Cameron Lee

After more than 50 years, Charlotte Ballet’s story is still unfolding in motion, passed from dancer to dancer, one curtain call at a time. How a small dance company founded in Winston-Salem in 1970 became a Charlotte institution. clture.org/charlotte-ballet-…

Jack White, comedian Nate Jackson, WNBA legend Candace Parker, Charlotte 49ers men’s basketball takes on App State, Charlotte Independence play in the USL League One Final, Charlotte Book Fair, and McColl Center’s Centennial Celebration. Check out our new weekly events guide! clture.org/charlotte-events-…

Black Women in Aviation will bring a free, large-scale, interactive aviation event to Charlotte’s Park Expo on Friday, featuring flight simulators, drone courses, virtual reality experiences and educational activities for all ages. clture.org/aero-xperience/

Hornets Chief Marketing Officer Tyrel Kirkham arrives at a pivotal time for the franchise, and he’s looking to expand the team’s marketing efforts through more collaboration, storytelling, cultural connection, and community engagement. clture.org/tyrel-kirkham-hor…

An incredible moment at the North Carolina Music Hall of Fame induction ceremony as George Clinton got up out of his seat to get down to the go-go classic “Da Butt,” performed by North Carolina native and go-go legend Gregory “Sugar Bear” Elliot, Charlotte’s Uptown Swagga band, along with hip-hop pioneer MC Sha-Rock. Three North Carolina-born legends who helped shape their respective genres, all under one roof, to cap off a special night.

Hattie Leeper, the Charlotte radio pioneer and trailblazing broadcaster, died Tuesday at age 98, leaving a lasting legacy in music, broadcasting and education in the city. Known as “Chatty Hatty,” Leeper attended Second Ward High School and began volunteering at WGIV-AM, Charlotte’s leading Black radio station at the time, at just 14 years old, and at 17, became North Carolina’s first Black female radio personality, breaking barriers during segregation. Leeper also produced music, wrote liner notes for Aretha Franklin and Patti LaBelle, and connected listeners playing R&B, gospel, pop and rock, while sharing community news and promoting local events. Known for her bubbly personality and rhyming introductions, she became a beloved voice in Charlotte. Leeper worked with and promoted legendary musicians, including James Brown, Sam Cooke, Otis Redding, Tina Turner, Smokey Robinson and the Jackson 5, and also recalled being present when Brown originally recorded “Papa’s Got a Brand New Bag” at Arthur Smith Studios in Charlotte in 1965. During segregation, her family also welcomed touring artists, including Turner, Mary Wells and Gladys Knight, into their home when they struggled to find places to eat. In 2025, Leeper was inducted into the North Carolina Music Hall of Fame, and reflected on her lifelong love of talking, joking at the ceremony, “Then I found out, you could actually get paid to talk!” Beyond radio, she founded her own label (AwarE Records) to develop regional talent, taught communications at Johnson C. Smith University and Gaston College, and established Chatty’s School of Communications to mentor aspiring artists and communicators. Her honors included induction into several broadcasting halls of fame, and she also published her own autobiography in 2005. As a Black woman who broke barriers in a male-dominated industry, Leeper paved the way for generations of broadcasters, leaving an enduring legacy in Charlotte's music, media and cultural history. 📸: wrightdesign75 (IG)

Concord native Ryan Davis, who will open for Dave Chappelle in Charlotte this month, has built a career on his own terms, offering a blueprint for independent comedians and artists. clture.org/ryan-davis/

Leon Bridges has announced a 2027 tour following the release of his latest album, 'Happiness Anytime,' produced by J Lloyd and Lydia Kitto of Jungle. The tour will make a stop in Charlotte with British jazz and Afrobeat collective Kokoroko. clture.org/leon-bridges-tour…

George Clinton will be honored with a lifetime achievement award at the North Carolina Music Hall of Fame induction ceremony in Mooresville. clture.org/george-clinton-nc…

Charlotte hockey fans will have 10 chances to watch the Carolina Hurricanes for free over the air during the 2026-27 season. The Hurricanes announced today that they have partnered with Cox Media Group and Gray Media to simulcast 10 Hurricanes Hockey Network (HHN) broadcasts on over-the-air stations throughout the Carolinas. In Charlotte, Cox Media Group will be the Hurricanes’ exclusive over-the-air partner, beginning this Friday, October 2, when the Canes host the Washington Capitals at 7 p.m. on WAXN-TV 64. Eight of the 10 Charlotte broadcasts are currently scheduled for WAXN-TV 64, while station assignments for the January 23 game against Anaheim and March 13 game against New Jersey have yet to be announced. Charlotte’s free over-the-air Hurricanes schedule: 10/2: Washington Capitals - WAXN-TV 64 12/5: Toronto Maple Leafs - WAXN-TV 64 12/26: Pittsburgh Penguins - WAXN-TV 64 1/2: Nashville Predators - WAXN-TV 64 1/23: Anaheim Ducks - TBA 1/30: Los Angeles Kings - WAXN-TV 64 2/13: Buffalo Sabres - WAXN-TV 64 2/27: Tampa Bay Lightning - WAXN-TV 64 3/13: New Jersey Devils - TBA 4/3: New Jersey Devils - WAXN-TV 64 The broadcasts are simulcasts of HHN, the Hurricanes’ new team-owned regional sports network, which will carry 72 of the team’s 84 regular-season games in its regional broadcast territory, along with pregame, postgame and additional Hurricanes programming. The HHN broadcast team features Mike Maniscalco on play-by-play, Tripp Tracy as TV analyst, Hanna Yates as broadcast and digital host, and Shane Willis for pregame, intermission and postgame coverage.

Charlotte Ballet Resident Choreographer Mthuthuzeli November performed during Stormzy’s historic Glastonbury set in 2019, bringing greater representation in ballet to a massive audience. His passion for music and his homeland come to life in 'From Africa With Love' this month as part of Charlotte Ballet’s 'Black Box Series.' clture.org/mthuthuzeli-novem…

Following Hornets Media Day, questions still face the team heading into the season, including Brandon Miller’s contract, whether Kon Knueppel can take the next step, Coby White’s on-court dynamics, and Naz Reid’s impact. @British_Buzz breaks it all down. clture.org/charlotte-hornets…

Gorillaz showcased the collaborative spirit that has defined Damon Albarn’s career across multiple decades, bringing together esteemed musicians, vocalists, generations and cultures within the ever-evolving world of the animated band. clture.org/gorillaz-charlott…

With special guests including Posdnuos of De La Soul for “Feel Good Inc.,” Del the Funky Homosapien for “Rock the House” and “Clint Eastwood,” Bootie Brown for “New Gold,” “Stylo” and “Dirty Harry,” and Little Simz for “Garage Palace,” Gorillaz brought their genre-blurring, boundary-pushing sound and visual world to life in Charlotte. Damon Albarn and his talented group of instrumentalists and backing vocalists wove together the hip-hop, rock, electronic, and ambient sounds that define Gorillaz, while Albarn channeled Randy Newman-like whimsy and charm through a distinctly modern alternative and hip-hop lens, moving between melodica, guitar, and keys throughout the night. The virtual band, created by multi-instrumentalist and Blur frontman Damon Albarn and artist Jamie Hewlett in 1998, was represented throughout the evening by its iconic characters 2-D, Murdoc Niccals, Russel Hobbs and Noodle, projected across gigantic screens. But while the visuals remained central to the Gorillaz experience, it was the musicians onstage, stellar backing vocalists and the parade of sounds and special guests that made the band’s Charlotte debut particularly memorable — and human.

Fresh off leading the Charlotte Crown to the inaugural UPSHOT League championship and a standout season, former UNC star Deja Kelly has signed a Developmental Player contract with the WNBA’s Dallas Wings. Kelly led the UPSHOT League in both scoring and assists during the 2026 season, averaging 18.1 points, 4.3 rebounds and 4.0 assists per game while also finishing among the league leaders in steals. She was named to the All-UPSHOT Team and capped her season with a dominant performance in the championship game, earning the Ann Meyers Drysdale Trophy as championship MVP after recording 29 points, six rebounds, three assists and two steals in Charlotte’s 81-76 comeback win over the Jacksonville Waves. The Dallas Wings announced Kelly’s signing on Tuesday, bringing the 5-foot-8 guard back to Texas, where she was born and raised in Duncanville. The contract gives Kelly another opportunity in the WNBA after she previously spent training camp with the Las Vegas Aces in 2025. Kelly spent her first four collegiate seasons at UNC, where she became one of the most accomplished players in program history. A three-time First-Team All-ACC selection and three-time WBCA All-America honorable mention, Kelly finished her Tar Heel career with 1,858 points, eighth-most in program history, and helped North Carolina reach the NCAA Tournament in all four of her seasons. She becomes the second Charlotte Crown player to earn a WNBA contract following Michelle Onyiah’s signing with the Indiana Fever in July. Onyiah played 21 games for the Crown, averaging 9.6 points, 6.9 rebounds and 1.1 blocks per game before becoming the first player from the inaugural UPSHOT season to earn a WNBA contract. Kelly’s move to Dallas marks another milestone for the UPSHOT League, which launched in 2026 as a professional opportunity for players looking to continue competing and developing during the WNBA season. The league will expand from four teams to six in 2027 with the addition of franchises in Baltimore and Nashville, with more markets in development.

Charlotte Film Festival returns to @IPH_CLT this week with more than 170 films, including the premiere of 'Once Upon a Time in Harlem,' a documentary that brings viewers inside a rare 1972 gathering of Harlem Renaissance figures, including Romare Bearden. clture.org/2026-charlotte-fi…

Moussa Diabaté and Hugo will arrive at 3 p.m. on Saturday at Charlotte Sandlot Festival with Hornets superfan and rapper Kwarn performing “Moose On The Loose” for their intro! 🎥✨ Bring your antlers! 🫎

FOMO, Charlotte's sprawling cultural museum block party, is looking to make a civic impact as the 2026 midterm elections approach with an event in Uptown on Thursday. 🗳️ clture.org/fomo-get-in-the-b…

We’re excited to announce that all of the original Charlotte sports mascots will be at Charlotte Sandlot Festival on Saturday! Yes, Hugo, Sir Purr, Chubby and Homer will all be at Charlotte Sandlot Festival this Saturday at The Stick Williams Dream Fields in West Charlotte to take photos and meet and greet fans! Moussa Diabaté and Armanti Edwards will also make appearances to sign autographs and take photos, along with a special performance of “Moose on the Loose” by Kwarn! The family- and dog-friendly community field day festival will take over all three baseball fields at The Stick Williams Dream Fields on September 19 for a full day of sports, games, entertainment, food and fun for all ages. Tickets ($7) include access to meet-and-greets, games, activities, the sports card show, food trucks, arts and crafts, face painting, balloon art, photo booths, vendors and more! 📍 The Stick Williams Dream Fields 📅 Saturday, September 19 ⏰ 11 a.m.–7 p.m. 🎟️ $7 Admission: Eventbrite.com/e/19979862326…