the best in local, regional and national music acts at its poster-plastered East End digs. On nights when Mountain Stage is recording in town, the bar hosts after-show jam sessions featuring performers from the live radio show. Get out of the seats and up on the stage for Sound Check Sessions at the Clay Center for the Arts & Sciences . This cabaret-style concert series pairs up-and-coming national acts with favorites from the local scene. You can grab a drink and sit in chairs right on stage, but feel free to get up and dance, too. You’ll find a mix of Motown, oldies, jazz and country every Friday and Sat-urday night at Louie’s inside Mardi Gras Casino and Resort . A full-ser-vice bar, craft beer selection and a dance floor fronting the performance stage add to Louie’s allure. Unlikely Venues Want to see a cool band in a barber shop? Or rock out in a T-shirt store or bakery? Take in a house show present-ed periodically at Kin Ship Goods , Bully Trap Barber Shop and Rock City Cake Company . These intimate venues sell a limited number of tickets to keep crowds down so everyone can focus on the talent showcased. Shhh! The Kanawha County Public Library’s Sunday Jams series is one of Charleston’s best-kept secrets. This five-week concert series takes place February through March and features local performers in a relaxed, fami-ly-friendly setting. Performances are free and open to the public. ● Sound Check Sessions FIND YOUR GROOVE! charlestonwv.com SPIN INTO THESE OLD-SCHOOL RECORD STORES While you can hear live mu-sic seven nights a week in the Charleston area, there are also some great options for recorded music. If you’re looking to add to your vinyl collection, you’ve got lots of great spots to shop while you’re here. You can’t talk Charleston record stores without including Budget Tapes & Records , an iconic shop that’s been a fixture in Kanawha City for dec-ades. Featuring both new and used records and CDs, Budget isn’t just a record store – it’s an “experience” not to be missed. Sullivan’s Records on Charleston’s East End has the area’s largest record inventory. It also houses Homeward Bound Books , a used book store with an eclectic range of titles. Elk City Records on Charleston’s West Side has been featured in The Washing-ton Post and boasts a fascinating mix of artists across multiple genres. The real highlight here is the collection of jazz and symphonic records. Elk City Records also hosts in-house concerts from time to time. Another great place to pick up hard-to-find records is an antique store. Stop into one of the shops in South Charleston and Nitro to comb through hundreds of vinyl records at discount prices. 40 charlestonwv.com
Charleston Area Inspiration Guide Charleston Area Inspiration Guide 2019: Page 40
