The Big Rooms Get Loud

AC/DC take over the stadium, J. Cole plays two nights at the arena, and Santana heads up the amphitheater. Charlotte's biggest rooms are all busy at once this week.

The Marquee

AC/DC do not play small. On Saturday, July 11 they turn Bank of America Stadium into the loudest night of the Charlotte summer, with AC/DC bringing The Pretty Reckless along for the ride. A whole stadium is going to lose its voice to Back in Black before the encore. If you buy one big night this month, buy this one.

Around The Neighborhoods

Uptown carries the heavier half of the week. J. Cole runs a two night stand at Spectrum Center on Friday, July 10 and Saturday, July 11, a victory lap for one of the biggest rappers alive. A few blocks over at Middle C Jazz, the guitarist Peter White settles in for a weekend of early and late sets, Friday through Sunday.

At the Music Factory, Flyleaf reunite with singer Lacey Sturm in the Underground on Thursday, July 9, the kind of mid 2000s rock night that little room does well.

The big touring shows are out past the beltway. Santana and the Doobie Brothers share a bill at Truliant Amphitheater on Wednesday, July 8, and two nights later the jam crowd takes over when moe. and Umphrey's McGee split the bill at the Amp in Ballantyne on Friday, July 10. Then on Sunday, July 12, Ne-Yo and Akon bring a night of 2000s R&B back to Truliant.

Out east, Blackberry Smoke roll their southern rock into Ovens Auditorium on Saturday, July 11, with former Metallica bassist Jason Newsted sitting in. And in NoDa, Wax Monkey close a late Friday at the Evening Muse for anyone who wants the night to end small and loose.

The Comedy Card

The clubs are full too. Troy Bond headlines Duckworth's in Uptown from Thursday through Saturday, and Craig Conant matches him at the Comedy Zone in the Music Factory across the same Thursday to Saturday stretch. Sunday, July 12 belongs to Ify Nwadiwe at Duckworth's and Anthony Robustiano at the Comedy Zone.

Next Week's Radar

The stadium does not cool off. Usher and Chris Brown bring two nights to Bank of America Stadium on July 17 and 18, and country star Megan Moroney headlines Spectrum Center on July 14. Both are worth getting ahead of.