Black Keys add Charlotte to their U.S. tour

The Black Keys will perform at Charlotte's Bojangles' Coliseum on Saturday, March 24, as part of the first leg of a U.S. tour that also includes stops at New York’s Madison Square Garden and Chicago’s United Center.

Tickets go on sale at 10 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 10, at LiveNation.com, the Bojangles’ Coliseum box office, Ticketmaster or by calling 800-745-3000. Arctic Monkeys are scheduled to open.

The shows are in support of the Black Keys’ new album, "El Camino," which came out today. Five tracks from the CD are currently streaming on the band’s website.

Jackie Evancho to perform at TWC Arena

"America’s Got Talent" alum Jackie Evancho will perform at Time Warner Cable Arena on June 6, with accompaniment from a symphony orchestra in an intimate, theater-style set-up.

The 11-year-old "classical crossover" singer was recently named to Billboard's "21 Under 21" list, its annual ranking of the most powerful minors in the music industry. Billboard said her spectacular successes in 2010 and 2011 – including placing second in the "America's Got Talent" competition, the releases of "O Holy Night" and "Dream With Me," and her "Dream With Me" concert appearances – set her apart from other young performers.

Tickets for the 2012 show go on sale at 10 a.m. Monday, Dec. 12, through Ticketmaster.com, timewarnercablearena.com, the arena box office, all Ticketmaster outlets, or by calling 800-745-3000.

South End Gallery Crawl is tonight

The final South End Gallery Crawl of 2011, set for tonight, will feature unique paintings, sculptures, and jewelry, as well as music and refreshments at more than a host dozen galleries. And -- it being December -- you can expect a hefty helping of holiday cheer.

Event runs from 6-9 tonight. Here are a few highlights:

The artists, designers and galleries of Dilworth Artisan Station will host a Holiday Open House, with three floors of interior design studios, art galleries, artist studios and showrooms on display. More than two dozen studios will participate.

Atherton Mill will offer a one-night-only Holiday Market inside the Atherton Market; a special Champagne tasting at Vin Master; an art and interior design collaboration at Elder Art Gallery featuring the Carl Plansky collection; the newly opened Savory Spice Shop; and food and drink from Icehouse and Big Ben's British Pub.

Along Camden Road, you'll find:

• Charlotte Art League hosting its annual "Small Works for the Holidays" December art sale, with more than 50 local artists offering works in a variety of styles and prices.
• Blacksheep Skate Shop will host a special gallery featuring 20 years of skateboarding photography.
• Lark and Key Gallery, the newly expanded Ciel Gallery, and Unexpected Finds, which will offer a special wine tasting and an eclectic mix of goods.

Also, two Christmas tree lots will be set up in South End. One is in the back of Atherton Mill next to the Market; the second is on a corner lot at Park Avenue and Camden Road.

More information: www.southendclt.com.

Red Hot Chili Peppers to play Charlotte

Red Hot Chili Peppers will launch the North American leg of their "I’m With You World Tour" in January when they play Time Warner Cable Arena on Jan. 25. Santigold is scheduled to open the show.

The alternative rock band -- whose hits have ranged from 1991's "Under the Bridge" to 2006's "Dani California" -- last performed in Charlotte in January of 2007. Before that, the Chili Peppers hadn't made our city a tour stop since 2003.

"I'm With You" (released in August) is the 10th studio album for the group, which has won seven Grammy Awards over the course of almost three decades.

Tickets for the 2012 concert go on sale at 10 a.m. this Saturday through timewarnercablearena.com, ticketmaster.com, the Time Warner Cable Arena box office, all Ticketmaster outlets, or by calling 800-745-3000. For more information, go to www.livenation.com.

From Charlotte, the Chili Peppers will continue through the Carolinas for shows at the RBC Center in Raleigh on Jan. 27; at Colonial Life Arena in Columbia on Jan. 28; and at Greensboro Coliseum on Jan. 31.

Leonard Bearstein Returns to Founders Hall

One of Charlotte’s favorite traditions -- Leonard Bearstein and his animatronic orchestra -- is returning to Founders Hall in Bank of America Corporate Center (100 N. Tryon St.) throughout the month of December.

The 45-minute program features holiday favorites performed by Leonard Bearstein and his orchestra, including: “The Most Wonderful Time of the Year,” “Let it Snow, Let it Snow, Let it Snow,” “Sleigh Ride,” “Frosty the Snowman,” “Rudolph the Red-nosed Reindeer,” “Up on the Housetop,” “Santa Claus is Coming to Town,” “Here Comes Santa Claus,” “Santa Baby,” “The Chipmunk Song (Christmas Don't Be Late),” “Jingle Bell Rock,” “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree,” “Jingle Bells,” “Feliz Navidad,” “We Wish You A Merry Christmas,” and “Have a Holly Jolly Christmas.”

Leonard Bearstein Symphony Orchestra will perform daily Dec. 1-31. Performance times are: 10 and 11 a.m., noon, and 1, 2, 5 and 6 p.m. Monday through Friday; and hourly from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Performances are free and times are subject to change. For the latest information on performances, visit www.foundershall.com or call 704-716-8649.

Craft beer lovers, unite! In NoDa, in Feb.

The inaugural Queen City Brewers Festival will be held at the Neighborhood Theatre (511 E. 36th St.), on Saturday, Feb. 4. The event will feature a diverse selection of beer styles and flavors to taste and learn about from representatives of Charlotte-area craft breweries.

“Charlotte’s craft beer market has exploded in recent years,” Nils Weldy, the festival organizer, said in a press release. “Charlotte is raising the bar of beer culture not only in North Carolina, but across the Southeast, and the purpose of this event is to spotlight our emerging craft breweries. At the same time, we are bringing awareness to a Charlotte-based nonprofit whose goal is to improve the quality of life for citizens within the Charlotte community.”

Expect at least seven breweries and some 30 beers. Each brewery will showcase its full lineup, and is also being encouraged to bring one "super" flavor or style of beer brewed especially for the festival -- which takes place the day before the Super Bowl.

There will be two tasting sessions: 1-4 p.m. and 6-9 p.m. Admission is $20 per session and tickets go on sale at 11 a.m. Thursday, Dec. 8. Proceeds raised from the event will benefit Partners for Parks, which seeks to promote and enhance parks, recreation and open space in neighborhoods throughout Mecklenburg County and the surrounding area.

Details: www.QCBrewFest.com.

See new trailer for 'The Hunger Games'

The full trailer for the upcoming film "The Hunger Games" -- much of which was shot in North Carolina over the summer -- debuted today on ABC's "Good Morning America" and is now spreading like wildfire online.

Principal photography in North Carolina was completed in September; the 84-day shoot started on May 23 and included locations in Asheville, Barnardsville, Black Mountain, Cedar Mountain, Charlotte, Concord, Hildebran and Shelby.

The film stars Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson, Liam Hemsworth, Woody Harrelson, Elizabeth Banks, Lenny Kravitz, Stanley Tucci, Donald Sutherland, Wes Bentley and Toby Jones. Lionsgate will release the first movie in the trilogy of adaptations from Suzanne Collins' novels on March 23, 2012.

Here's your first look:



In a press release, Lionsgate stated: "In an attempt to preserve the anticipation and mystery that fans are relishing, the trailer only shows footage from the first half of the film, chronicling events leading up to but not including the Games themselves. After giving fans their first look at all of the book's beloved characters brought to life, giving viewers who haven’t read the book vital information about the world of Panem, the trailer ends with an electrifying cliffhanger right as Katniss enters the arena."

So ... what do you think of the new trailer for "The Hunger Games"?