If you dig the likes of Jill Scott, Musiq Soulchild, and the Roots, you might want to swing by Loft 1523 this Friday night for Infusion.

image credit: Carsten Keßler

Grammy-nominated producer/DJ/singer/songwriter (he’s a Renaissance Man, to be sure!) Vikter Duplaix will be spinning afro-beat, latin, soulful house, hip hop, and rhythmic soul music all night, from 9:00pm until 2:00am. It’s going to be crowded, so come early. Admission is $10 before 11:30pm, and you’ll need proof that you were born on or before June 20th, 1987 (i.e. if you aren’t 21, you aren’t getting in…sorry). Dress is to be sexy, chic, and seductive, with the hosts reserving the right to be selective. So go all out. We want to see you dressed to the nines!

For those of you more into the house/techno party vibe, the massively talented San Francisco uber-DJ Mark Farina will be wrecking up the DJ booth at HOM. Party specs are similar: doors open at 9:00pm, and you must be 21+. It’s $12 in advance and probably $14-15 at the door if there are still tickets. A bit of advice: this party is destined to attract loads of Charlotte’s finest, so I’d say pop for the advance tickets and show up really early to avoid getting shut out or waiting for an hour to get in.

And … note to all male types: HOM is cracking down on their dress code. You’d better be wearing dress shoes and a dress shirt if you want to get in, fellas. No flips or tennis shoes, period (it doesn’t matter if they cost $300, it ain’t gonna happen). And if you rock jeans, they’d better be really freakin’ hot.

Ladies—well, you already know what to do. I don’t need to tell you how to get sexy!

See you at the club(s)!

The other week I got a peek at a dank new artist who is hitting the American hip-hop/R&B scene fast and hard. I went out to Amos’ Southend after work April 23^rd and was very satisfied with my investment in tickets for the Bailey’s Get Together Estelle Show hosted by John Legend.

I won’t lie–I had no idea what kind of night I was in for, but I figured anything backed by John Legend was going to be a helluva show. I was right. Estelle is one of those genuinely amazing artists that make everything look so freakin’ easy. Genuine talent. Genuine passion. Genuine star quality. She kept the music and banter real, and kept her audience happy with a blend of jazzy hip-hop, London’s urban blues, and R&B grit. Forget skirting the issues of growing up in London’s hoods or of relationships gone wrong. Estelle lays it all out there with the humor and grace of somebody who is grateful for every experience—good and bad.

I was just grateful she rocked it and even more grateful that Mr. Five-Time-Grammy-Award-Winner (a.k.a. John Legend) decided to delight us with a few songs and his best dance moves to boot. Who knew that Mr. Legend could get low?!

It was a great and energetic show, and you’re in luck—her album, “Shine”, drops tomorrow. Do yourself a favor and check it out.

Check out pics from the show below, or click here to view them on Flickr.