Alive After Five Returns April 8

When spring arrives in Charlotte, that means Alive After Five isn't far behind. The city’s largest weekly after-work event kicks off its tenth year April 8 at 5 p.m. Liquid Pleasure, a North Carolina-based band that plays everything from R&B, Motown, and funk to oldies, disco, and modern dance classics, will be the evening's entertainment to kick off the season.

In honor of its original home for eight years, Alive After Five will be held at the Wachovia Plaza (301 South Tryon St.) throughout April. Then beginning May 6, the popular Thursday event will return to the Pavilion at EpiCentre (210 E. Trade St.), which became its home last year. The EpiCentre--and its numerous bars and nightclubs--will also host the official Alive After Five After Party every Thursday at 9 p.m. beginning April 8.

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If you've never been to Alive After Five, it's a free outdoor, after-work event that draws hundreds of mostly twenty- and thirty-somethings. Two bands usually play each week, one on the courtyard stage and one on the rooftop stage. There are numerous drink stations so you can grab a cold beer and not think about having one more day of work left before the weekend starts. And new this year will be the Vineyards, featuring a variety of local and specialty wines.

Alive After Five continues every Thursday at 5 p.m. through September. Visit www.aliveafterfiveatepicentre.com for more details and a list of weekly entertainment will be added soon.