JJ Grey & Mofro Crank Up The Heat In Charlotte
The Olustee Tour Kicks Off The Season At The Amp Ballantyne
Here in the Queen City, we are lucky to have a wide variety of concert venues to whet our musical appetites. From small, intimate spaces to a massive football stadium, Charlotte has it all. The city’s newest venue, The Amp Ballantyne, lies in the southern part of town nestled amongst office buildings, condos, hotels, and a wide array of restaurants. Thursday evening, The Amp kicked off their season of concerts in fine fashion as JJ Grey & Mofro brought an amazing evening of music on an absolutely gorgeous night.
JJ Grey burst upon the music scene back in 2001 with his debut album Blackwater and has been a preacher of Southern soul and bluesy rock ever since. His latest album Olustee further cements his musical legacy with an amazing mix of soul, rock, blues, funk, and everything in between. For one night, JJ Grey & Mofro would showcase their amazing talents to the enthusiastic crowd.
As the crowd still filtered into The Amp, people were bustling about in anticipation of the magic yet to come. One of the cool things about a JJ Grey & Mofro show is that it attracts people from all walks of life and all areas of the country, reuniting old friends and providing opportunities to make new ones. It was interesting to see and hear people chatting about how far they had come, the last JJ Grey show they saw, and their thoughts on the latest record.
The evening began with an electrifying set from blues guitarist, singer, and songwriter Cedric Burnside. Burnside was born into the blues and has never looked back. His father is blues drummer Calvin Jackson and he is the grandson of R.L. Burnside, the acclaimed blues guitarist and singer-songwriter. In fact, at the young age of 13, Cedric was already touring as a drummer in his grandfather’s band.
His specialty is North Mississippi Hill Country Blues and he brought a healthy dose of it to Ballantyne. Burnside let his fingers do the talking as he schooled us in the blues, bringing the traditions to life right before our eyes and ears. The Grammy Award winner just released his latest album Hill Country Love and it is simply mindblowing. His precision and skill are second to none but what really sets Burnside apart is his emotional attachment to the music. Cedric leaves and breathes the blues and that resonates through to the audience with each and every note. If you haven’t seen Burnside perform, put him on your must-see list now and experience the blues the way it was meant to be played.
So far, so good. The sun was setting behind the stage and the evening was off to a fantastic start. People were refueling from the variety of food trucks encircling the perimeter of the venue and topping off their drinks as we prepared for JJ Grey & Mofro to hit that stage.
As the stage lights dimmed, the band took the stage with JJ Grey taking his spot at the center microphone. This is where the magic began and held us enthralled for the next hour and 45 minutes. The first thing worth noting is Grey’s vocals. He has always had a fantastic set of pipes, but my oh my, tonight was something special. Grey was on point the whole set and The Amp Ballantyne seemed to be the perfect venue for him as his voice soared above us, circling around us and taking us on an extraordinary journey. I don’t think I have ever heard him sound better.
But, Grey is not just a musician and a singer. He is a songwriter and through his songs, a storyteller. Throughout the evening, whether through anecdotes that he shared about life and love, stories about his chickens and roosters, or tales about someone down on his luck sleeping on a bench, Grey brought his songs to life. He didn’t just play his songs for us. Instead, Grey invited us into his life, giving us glimpses of his innermost thoughts and feelings through music and lyrics. It was simply spectacular.
Of course, his band was spectacular in their own right. Every musician and singer on that stage was a world-class talent and they wove a magical web around Ballantyne, lifting us up and reaching new heights together. What a show! If you haven’t checked out JJ Grey & Mofro, add one of their shows to your bucket list today. In the meantime, go and give Olustee a listen and check out one of the greats in action.
See the Full Gallery of the Night Here!
If you captured any shots of the night, feel free to tag us on social media at Shutter 16 Magazineand throw in #Shutter16and #TwitFromThePitfor the world to see.
https://www.cedricburnside.net
Tour Dates:
APR 20, 2024
Chesterfield Amphitheater
Chesterfield, MO
with support from Cedric Burnside
APR 21, 2024
Castle Theatre
Bloomington, IL
Sold Out | support from Cedric Burnside
APR 25, 2024
Greenfield Lake Amphitheater
Wilmington, NC
Sold Out | support from Cedric Burnside
APR 26, 2024
The Shed
Maryville, TN
with Cedric Burnside
APR 27, 2024
Avondale Brewing Company
Birmingham, AL
with support from Cedric Burnside
APR 28, 2024
The Signal
Chattanooga, TN
with support from Cedric Burnside
MAY 1, 2024
Macon City Auditorium
Macon, GA
with support from Cedric Burnside
MAY 2, 2024
Saenger Theatre
New Orleans, LA
with support from Samantha Fish
MAY 3, 2024
Sun, Sand and Soul Beach Weekend
Miramar Beach, FL
MAY 4, 2024 – MAY 5, 2024
Sweet Beats Music Festival
Sugar Land, TX
MAY 4, 2024
Saenger Theater
Hattiesburg, MS
Sold Out | support from Cedric Burnside
MAY 11, 2024 – MAY 12, 2024
Bear Shadow Festival
Scaly Mountain, NC
MAY 25, 2024 – MAY 26, 2024
The St. Augustine Amphitheatre
St. Augustine, FL
JJ Grey’s Blackwater Sol Revue
MAY 25, 2024
The St. Augustine Amphitheatre
St. Augustine, FL
MAY 26, 2024
The St. Augustine Amphitheatre
St. Augustine, FL
JUN 12, 2024
Tolhuistuin
Amsterdam, Netherlands
JUN 13, 2024
Doornroosje
Nijmegen, Netherlands
JUN 14, 2024
Holland International Blues Festival
Grolloo, Netherlands
JUN 14, 2024 – JUN 16, 2024
Black Deer Festival
Royal Tunbridge Wells, UK
JUN 17, 2024
Brudenell Social Club
Leeds, UK
JUN 18, 2024
Union Chapel
London, UK
JUL 2, 2024
Knuckleheads
Kansas City, MO
JUL 4, 2024
Red Rocks Amphitheatre
Morrison, CO
with Blues Traveler, Eggy
JUL 6, 2024
Snow King Mountain
Jackson, WY
with Blues Traveler
JUL 7, 2024
Red Butte Garden Amphitheatre
Salt Lake City, UT
with Blues Traveler
JUL 9, 2024
KettleHouse Amphitheater
Bonner, MT
with Blues Traveler
JUL 10, 2024
Idaho Botanical Garden: Outlaw Field
Boise, ID
with Blues Traveler
JUL 12, 2024
McMenamins Grand Lodge
Forest Grove, OR
with Blues Traveler
JUL 13, 2024
Marymoor Live
Seattle, WA
with Blues Traveler
JUL 25, 2024
Lake Superior Big Top Chautauqua
Bayfield, WI
JUL 27, 2024
The Rhythm Section Amphitheater
Mount Carroll, IL
SEP 13, 2024 – SEP 15, 2024
Telluride Blues & Brews Festival
Telluride, CO
SEP 20, 2024
Bourbon & Beyond Festival
Louisville, KY
OCT 17, 2024
The Orion Amphitheater
Huntsville, AL
with Whiskey Myers
OCT 18, 2024
Ameris Bank Amphitheatre
Alpharetta, GA
with Whiskey Myers
OCT 20, 2024
Freedom Hall Civic Center
Johnson City, TN
with Whiskey Myers
OCT 22, 2024
Live Oak Bank Pavilion
Wilmington, NC
with Whiskey Myers
OCT 25, 2024
Ting Pavilion
Charlottesville, VA
with Whiskey Myers
OCT 26, 2024
Coastal Credit Union Music Park at Walnut Creek
Raleigh, NC
with Whiskey Myers
OCT 28, 2024
Dothan Civic Center
Dothan, AL
with Whiskey Myers
OCT 30, 2024
Raising Cane’s River Center Arena
Baton Rouge, LA
with Whiskey Myers
OCT 31, 2024
Lake Charles Event Center
Lake Charles, LA
with Whiskey Myers
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