Featured Artist of the Week: Veronica Swift

Veronica Swift’s new eponymously titled album, her third for Mack Avenue Records, is a masterful coming-out story. On her previous albums, Confessions (2019) and This Bitter Earth (2021), she ascended to the upper echelon of early 21st century jazz singers because of her virtuosic brilliance, interpretive ingenuity, bracing songwriting, and keen arrangements. Simply put, Swift is not only one of the most dazzling singers to emerge in her generation, she’s one of the most versatile.

While her first two albums solidified her position in modern jazz, Veronica Swift shows that she’s more than a jazz singer, exploring French and Italian opera, European classical music, bossa nova, blues, industrial rock, funk, and vaudeville. She pulls the feat off without the results sounding callow or pastiche. Swift’s expansive artistic voice remains firmly intact regardless of genre.

Swift describes this personal artistic statement on her new album as “transgenre.” “I grew up immersed in the culture of jazz music, blessed to have had some of the greats as mentors, and I felt a deep familial duty to uphold that tradition,” she says, reflecting on her parents – jazz singer and educator, Stephanie Nakasian, and bebop pianist, Hod O’Brien.

10.21.2023

An Evening with Veronica Swift

While her first two albums solidified her position in modern jazz, Veronica Swift shows that she’s more than a jazz singer, exploring French and Italian opera, European classical music, bossa nova, blues, industrial rock, funk, and vaudeville. She pulls the feat off without the results sounding callow or pastiche. Swift’s expansive artistic voice remains firmly intact regardless of genre. Don’t miss her Middle C Jazz debut on Saturday, October 21 at 6:15pm and 8:45pm!

10.19.2023

Confluence: The Carolinas’ Premier Music Industry Conference + Festival

The Confluence Music Pass includes access to live showcase sets by 40+ acts in all genres from across the Carolinas in multiple independent music venues in the heart of Charlotte! This multiday conference + festival is a can’t-miss for anyone in the Southeast connected to the music industry, including fans. Middle C is proud to be a venue included in the festival and will host performances by Emanuel Wynter and the Harvey Cummings Project!

Thursday, October 19
Doors: 9:30pm
Time: 9:45pm (set 1) and 10:30pm (set 2)

10.19.2023

The Princess of Soul Tia Durant Performs a Tribute to The Women of Soul- Aretha, Gladys and More

Tia Durant, aka the Princess of Soul, is sure to get you off your feet and feeling the beat. This tribute will feature the likes of Gladys Knight, Aretha Franklin, Chaka Khan, and more! Durant brings a unique and immense energy to each performance. You’ll leave giving her all the R-E-S-P-E-C-T she deserves after this soulful experience. She makes her Middle C debut on Thursday, October 19 at 7pm!

10.20.2023

An Evening with Gena Chambers Singing Diana Ross and Patti LaBelle

Gena Chambers is back by popular demand! Join us for two shows on Friday, October 20 at 7pm and 9:15pm for her tribute to Diana Ross and Patti Labelle!

10.22.2023

Smooth Sundays with JD featuring Colin Williams: The Music of David Sanborn

Smooth Sundays with JD is back by popular demand! Join us for one show on Sunday, October 22 at 6pm for a tribute to David Sanborn with Colin Williams!

10.25.2023

Funk of Ohio: The music of Bootsy Collins, The Ohio Players, Zapp and Roger and more

Middle C will be filled with the sounds of PFunk, Prince, Rick James, James Brown, and other timeless funk legends. House of Funk was conceived by Charlotte guitarist Stefan Kallander and features some of Charlotte’s finest musicians in addition to monthly sit ins and features of other stunning artists from the deep well of Charlotte Funk. Don’t miss House of Funk: Funk of Ohio: The Music of Bootsy Collins, The Ohio Players, Zapp and Roger and More on Wednesday, October 25 at 7pm!

10.26.2023

Java Band Performs the Hits of Soul & Motown

Join us on Thursday, October 26 at 7pm for Java Band! Their versatile style combines music including all genres to satisfy the music enthusiast as well as the person that’s the life of the party. Jazz standards, Rock, Motown/Beach, R&B, Hip Hop, and Country–they do it all!

10.27.2023

Jackiem Joyner

Contemporary saxophonist, author, and music producer Jackiem Joyner has set the bar high in his close 20 years as a performer. With a number one jazz album, several Billboard chart-topping hits, and a series of critically acclaimed books to his name, he has shown himself to be the rare artist capable of transcending his instrument and reaching a mainstream audience. He returns to Middle C on Friday, October 27 at 7pm and 9:15pm and Saturday, October 28 at 6:15pm and 8:45pm!

10.29.2023

An Evening With Tony Hightower

Singer/Songwriter Tony Hightower is taking up the mantle to be a bridge that ushers R&B audiences into Jazz…Real Jazz. With years of experience as a musical performer and actor with familiar roots that place him firmly within the music’s firmament, Atlanta-native Hightower is still just getting started on this benevolent turn in his journey. And he is bringing a lot of young people with him. He makes his Middle C debut on Sunday, October 29 at 6pm!