The Evening Muse in Charlotte, North Carolina: Relax at this NoDa Music Bar

Of course there are bigger and fancier venues in Charlotte, North Carolina but one of the most unrivaled spot in which to enjoy live music in a cozy, intimate setting would be The Evening Muse. The town NoDa (short for North Davidson), hosts The Evening Muse in the hip and trendy part of Charlotte. The Evening Muse swaggers an art gallery, café, and a bar. This venue's main drawing point is the circle range of local and national bands that perform in this funky building.

What's special about this place are first and foremost a "listening room" where the crowds are respectful and the sound quality top-notch. You won't be bothered by rowdy crowds or a poor sound system that can spoil at concert-going experience. No sir! Listen and feel the music in place. During the past few years, it's won nearly a dozen awards, including "Best Acoustic Club" and "Best Place to Hear Local Music" from several local publications. This jazzy building didn't start off as a music lover's spotlight. Back in 1999 it was home to a coffee shop called Living Art.

To put all the facts out, this whole town consists of everything to do with original music and art. The Living Art was bought and renovated by two love birds Lea Pritchard and Joe Kuhlmann, both of whom are long-time musicians. The couples enthusiasm and ideas for the coffee shop convinced the coffee shop owner to sell the business to them, and with a third partner who provided some extra money, they opened The Evening Muse in 2001. "We wanted to give people who we knew were talented a chance to break through and connect with an audience," says Joe. Their music is in the forefront but in order to do that they had to have a solid, decent stage, a good sounding room, and quality acts. Joe is in charge of the club's sound system and acoustics, and Lea books all the bands, putting emphasis on singer/songwriters.

Not only does The Evening Muse play host to some of Charlotte's best local bands, but they also feature national acts including Martha Wainwright, Sarah Lee Guthrie, and Michael Penn. They also play host to weekly Open Mic nights and nationally touring music festivals. This place features live, original acts usually fine nights a week. It is also a smoke-free venue that can accommodate up to 120 people. In addition, to great music, they also offer a great selection of beer, wine, and snacks. Their art gallery should also be checked out, which features original works in various mediums from several different award-winning artists.

The Evening Muse
3227 N. Davidson St.
Charlotte, NC. 28205