Behind the scenes tour, NC Music Factory prepares for first show

Posted on 12 Jun 2009 by James Willamor

photo: James Willamor; view this photo on Flickr

Work was frantic at the NC Music Factory on Friday afternoon, as crews put the final touches on Charlotte’s newest uptown live music venues. The paint will hardly be dry as a nearly sold-out crowd packs the Uptown Amphitheater Saturday night for a performance by The Fray. The amphitheater has 2,000 seats with chairs and 3,000 lawn seats. The lawn is sold out for tomorrow’s show, and only a handful of seats remain available.

The Fillmore, a music club that can hold 2,000, opens in a week with Corey Smith performing. Named after the historic music club in San Francisco, The Fillmore has expanded to include venues in New York City, Detroit, Denver, and now Charlotte, and Miami.

Across the street, crews were spraying water on the gravel parking lots and compacting them as part of the final preparations for Saturday’s show. Both the Uptown Amphitheater and The Fillmore are owned and operated by Live Nation.

photo: James Willamor; view this photo on Flickr

The aerial photo (above) shows the entire NC Music Factory complex as it looked in late May. Much work has been done since then, including paving of the area to the left of the stage. Towards the bottom of the photo, you can see part of the grass-covered berm of the lawn seats. The space just to the left of the stage, between the stage and the building, is where tour buses will park. It is also the location of the artists’ green room. The building to the left of the stage will be home to the concessions stand. Above the concession stand is the future home of Wet Wille’s bar. The building just to the right of the stage is The Fillmore.

An updated tour behind the scenes of NC Music Factory and slideshow are after the page break:

photo: James Willamor; view this photo on Flickr

Above: work is being finished on the concessions stand for the Uptown Amphitheater. The concessions stand will be operated by Wolfgang Puck Catering. Sample prices for items include hamburgers for $6.00, hot dogs for $4.00, nachos for $8.00, soft pretzels for $4.50, and turkey sandwiches for $7.50. Soft drinks run $4.00 for a 16 oz. and $5.00 for a 24 oz. Combos are available for the hamburgers, cheeseburgers, hot dogs, and chicken tenders. If you want alcohol, the cost ranges from $8.00 for a 16 oz. Michelob Ultra or Shock Top, up to $11.00 for a 24 oz. Stella Artois. Wine comes in at $8.00 for a 7 oz. glass.

photo: James Willamor; view this photo on Flickr

Above: inside the kitchen of the concessions stand, workers prepare for the first show Saturday night. The concessions stand is operated by Wolfgang Puck Catering.

photo: James Willamor; view this photo on Flickr

Above: this area will be the green room for artists performing at both the Uptown Amphitheater and The Fillmore. On Friday afternoon, the space was occupied by Wolfgang Puck staff as final preparations are being made for their space.

photo: James Willamor; view this photo on Flickr

Above: The Fillmore is set to open in a week. With space for 800, it is a little larger than Amos’ Southend. Unfortunately I was unable to photograph inside the Fillmore, but I did get a quick look. The windows are covered in beautiful red drapes and lighting is providing by a number of crystal chandeliers. It makes for a great mix of upscale furnishings and historic textile mill charm. Upcoming shows at The Fillmore include Plain White T’s, Gov’t Mule, B.B. King, and KMFDM.

photo: James Willamor; view this photo on Flickr

Above: across the street from The Fillmore is Mattie’s Diner, which was just delivered this week. The modular diner, built in 1948, will have a kitchen and restroom built behind it before it can open.

photo: James Willamor; view this photo on Flickr

Above: new signs have been put up for Halo, the club formerly known as the Gun & Garden Club. The club had to change its name due to a legal dispute, but will be open Friday night with DJs from Charlotte and New York.

photo: James Willamor; view this photo on Flickr

Above: the future home of Wet Willie’s bar, located above the concessions stand of the Uptown Amphitheater. The door to the right opens onto a deck that overlooks the concessions area and part of the amphitheater itself. Wet Willie’s chain currently has locations in cities such as Savannah, Charleston, South Beach, Tampa, West Palm Beach, and Memphis.

photo: James Willamor; view this photo on Flickr

Above: this space will be home to Crobar. During renovations, most of the supports will be removed and replaces. Crobar nightclub currently has locations in Miami, Beijing, Chicago, Atlantic City, and Buenos Aries.

photo: James Willamor; view this photo on Flickr

Above: this space will be home to Club Butter, a New York City club that will be coming to Charlotte. The space will hardly be recognizable once renovations are done, except for the large x-shaped braces. There will be a grand staircase on the right that will curve around and face the back wall.

photo: James Willamor; view this photo on Flickr

Above: click on the photo to view the full size panorama taken from the Uptown Amphitheater stage. Upcoming acts at the ampitheater include The Offspring, Jason Mraz, and Counting Crows.

View all of the above plus additional photos of the NC Music Factory in the follow slideshow:

photos: James Willamor; view these photos on Flickr