Have you booked your ticket yet for Lovin’ Life Music Fest? | Photos via Wikimedia Commons
The stage is almost set. Ludacris, Flipturn, Lola Young, The Revivalists, and Switchfoot have joined the lineup for this year’s Lovin’ Life Music Fest.
Charlotte’s first major music festival returns to First Ward Park in Uptown from Friday, May 2 through Sunday, May 4, featuring headliners Dave Mathews Band, Gwen Stefani, Benson Boone, and newly-announced Weezer.
Gwen Stefani, Dave Matthews, and Benson Boone headline a 50+ artist lineup for the second annual festival.
Photos via Wikimedia Commons and Ashley Osbourn
“A lot of these acts have come through, and our town has become more of a music town. So, all that added up was what sold these artists on coming in [to Charlotte],” said Bob Durkin, of Lovin’ Life Music Fest and co-founder of Southern Entertainment, who spoke with CLTtoday moments before the lineup was released.
Organizers promise this year’s lineup will draw visitors to one of the biggest events in Charlotte spanning genres and generations.
Already lovin’ Lovin’ Life? Ticket packages are now on sale and people are encouraged to snag their spots sooner rather than later. The three-day general admission pass costs $269.
Mid-Atlantic Boat Show | 11 a.m.-8 p.m. | Charlotte Convention Center | $9+ | Cast your worries adrift touring 400+ boats in the biggest boat showcase in the Carolinas.
The Highlight Reel | 5 p.m. | L’Ostrica | $95 | Sample favorite dishes from 2024 that your stomach and Instagram feed will love.
Friday, Feb. 7
Mint 2 Move Cultural Dance Night | 7-11:30 p.m. | Mint Museum Uptown at Levine Center for the Arts | $11 | Experience tributes to Black American music, including special honors to Aretha Franklin, Celia Cruz, and more.
Charlotte Hornets vs. San Antonio Spurs | 7 p.m. | Spectrum Center | $31+ | Cheer on Buzz City as they hope to send the Spurs back to the River Walk with a loss.
NASCAR Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony | 8 p.m. | NASCAR Hall of Fame | $150 | Be part of an evening where legends are made celebrating 15 classes and 67 inductees in the world of NASCAR.
Saturday, Feb. 8
Chilly Plunge and Chili Cook Off | 11 a.m.-1 p.m. | Lake Norman YMCA, Cornelius | $45 | Take the chilly plunge and enjoy homemade chili at the Lake Norman waterfront.
Dog Adoption Event & Puppy Kissing Booth | 1-4 p.m. | Sycamore Brewing & Taproom | Free | Find a furry friend while cuddling with adoptable dogs from Forgotten, Now Family.
Jo Koy: Just Being Koy Tour | 8 p.m. | Bojangles Coliseum | $59+ | Spend an evening out laughing when the stand-up comedian takes the stage.
A rezoning application for Birkdale Village in Huntersville has drawn mixed reactions from residents. The plans include a 125-room hotel, 150 multi-family units, 26,715 sqft of commercial space, and 122,300 sqft of office space. The Huntersville Board of Commissioners is scheduled to vote on the request on March 18.
Closing
Belmont restaurant The Bottle Tree announced its upcoming closure. The bistro and beer garden serving Southern comfort food will have its last service on Saturday, Feb. 15. The location is being replaced by a new gastropub, Kaya Gastrolounge. More opening details are expected in the coming weeks.
Real Estate
The City of Charlotte approved rezoning of Esplanade at SouthPark. The 16-acre, two-building site off Rexford Road is prime for an upcoming development project including 675 multifamily units and 277,000 sqft of office space. A start date remains TBA. (Charlotte Business Journal)
Active
Applications are now open for 24 Foundation’s Second Annual Dam to Dam standup paddleboarding event happening Friday, June 20. Participants will paddle 24 miles along the Catawba River, from the Mountain Island Lake Dam to the Lake Wylie Dam. Registration ends Tuesday, April 1.
Civic
Rock Hill City Council is expected to review a zoning request for a 105-acre space for the proposed Southside Regional Park. Guests would enjoy sports fields, playgrounds, and an amphitheater off Heckle Boulevard and Florence Street. A date on a final decision has yet to be set. (WSOC)
State
North Carolina’s auto insurance companies are seeking to raise the average cost of car insurance by 22.6% across the state. The proposed rate hike was made by the North Carolina Rate Bureau and is tentatively set to take effect on Oct. 1. The state’s Department of Insurance must give final approval. (WCNC)
Legacy
Longtime Charlotte radio host David “Ace” Cannon died this week at age 56. Cannon co-hosted “The Ace & TJ Show” from 1993 to September 2024. Former listeners have posted appreciation for his work on social media. (WCNC)
Weather
Charlotte broke a temperature record Tuesday afternoon. 80 degrees was recorded at Charlotte Douglas International Airport, beating the previous record of 76 degrees set back in 1927. The normal afternoon high temperature this time of year is 54 degrees. (WCNC)
Ranked
WalletHub listed Charlotte No. 105 out of 182 US metros for “Cities with the Best & Worst Budgeters.” Metrics like the average credit score, debt-to-income ratios, and foreclosure rates were all considered. Seattle, WA was ranked No. 1 (hey, SEAtoday).
Sports
How will the Panthers manage the contracts of Taylor Moton and Ickey Ekwonu this offseason? Go beyond the scoreboard for the biggest stories on the Carolina Pantherswith Locked On’s daily, team-focused podcasts.
Seasonal
Valentine’s dinner is great — a couple’s massage is unforgettable. And we know a place where holiday gift cards come with a complimentary, beautifully wrapped beauty kit. Get the deets.*
Stat
20%. That’s how much you can save on a bathroom renovation with Remodel Your Home. You deserve a bathroom that’s just as functional as it is beautiful. Request your free quote.*
Finance
Tackling debt is crucial for many Americans in 2025. This trending card — “worth its weight in gold,” according to experts — offers 0% intro APR on balance transfers into 2026. (Read: More than a year of interest-free payments.) Apply.*
Category
History
🏈 Super Bowl memories
The Carolina Panthers faced the Denver Broncos in Super Bowl 50 on Feb. 7, 2016. | Photo via Wikimedia Commons
Before we gather around our televisions this Sunday for a Super Bowl rematch between the Kansas City Chiefs and the Philadelphia Eagles, CLTtoday is strolling down memory lane, revisiting a game the Queen City and Carolina Panthers will likely never forget: when the Panthers reached the Super Bowl.
More than 111 million people tuned in for Super Bowl 50 back on Feb. 7, 2016. The fight for the Lombardi Trophy came between an elite Carolina Panthers roster vs. quarterback Peyton Manning and the Denver Broncos.
Levi’s Stadium, in Santa Clara, CA, was packed with 71,000 people ready to see an electric Halftime Show, featuring Coldplay, Beyonce, and Bruno Mars. The game was also Manning’s NFL swan song, and an all-too frustrating experience of what “almost-was” for the Panthers.
“It’s big boy stuff. Don’t sign up for pro football if you’re of the faint of heart,” said former Carolina Panther Tight End and FOX Sports analyst Greg Olsen who sat down with CLTtoday.
Since the lineup announcement for Lovin’ Life Music Fest, I’ve had Dave Matthews Band and Ludracris playing rent free in my head. The talent we’re soon to see is an incredible win for Charlotte’s growing reputation as a “music town.” I recommend booking your tickets as soon as you can. And be on the lookout for stories featuring Charlotte’s local music scene. We promise it will carry a fine tune.
