NC Music Factory Cranking Up; My Mea Culpa

It's getting busy at the NC Music Factory. Not only did the hottest new nightclub in Charlotte, Butter NC, open a few months ago, but Black Bear Saloon opened earlier this month and Wet Willie's is set to open there any day now. Plus, Halo nightclub is still going strong, and the two live music venues, Uptown Amphitheatre and The Fillmore Charlotte, are lining up an exciting spring and summer concert schedule.

And there's something else that is almost guaranteed to get things jumping, the all new "Fridays at the Factory" beginning May 7. Each Friday from 5-11 p.m., with free admission and free parking, you'll get to experience the NC Music Factory and its venues Black Bear, Butter, Halo, and Wet Willie's, along with the spacious courtyard. They're promising a "lush tropical escape" as there'll be outdoor cabanas and private beds (by reservation), sushi served by Nikko from 7-9 p.m., and music by DJ Vikas. You can also look for special events to be tied in, such as the True Religion Brand Jeans Fashion Show presented by Butter on May 7.

In other NC Music Factory event news, Arian and Angel from VH1's Tough Love will be at Halo tonight for a Reality Stars Edition of Pure Wednesdays (April 28). And for something I'm excited about, Drake is performing at The Fillmore Charlotte on Tuesday, May 25.

Now, on to my mea culpa. Last year, in response to an article in The Charlotte Observer, I blogged that while the NC Music Factory was indeed beginning to take shape, it wouldn't become what the developers originally envisioned ("What the Article Didn't Tell You About NC Music Factory"). I compared the slow pace of the Music Factory to the rapid pace of the EpiCentre, and how the latter had stolen the former's thunder. And even though I still stand by some of the things I said in that blog post--which most of my doubts were products of the Music Factory's many false starts and delays--I must give Noah Lazes and company credit for staying the course. And because of his persistence, Uptown Charlotte now has two vibrant entertainment complexes to fully enjoy now that the weather is warm.

For more on NC Music Factory, including events, ticket info, and news from its blog, go to ncmusicfactory.com. You can also stay in the loop by joining its Facebook page, facebook.com/NCMusicFactory.