Photos and review by: Jason Robey

CHARLOTTE, NC — The halls of Knight Theater in the center of the Queen City echoed with the beautiful sounds of rootsy Americana on Sunday night, when the Wood Brothers made a stop on their summer tour. With three other North Carolina stops within less than a week, the band has built a solid following in the state over the years. 

The evening kicked off with a forty-minute set by folk duo The Bygones. Comprised of Allison Young and Josh Turner, the pair both sang and played guitar, in addition to a couple other stringed instruments. Their short but compelling set was made up mostly of original tunes from their recently released debut album, in addition to a show-stopping cover of Dolly Parton’s “Do I Ever Cross Your Mind?” Their simple-yet-captivating performance earned a standing ovation from the audience.

The room erupted with applause as the Wood Brothers took the stage. With blue and green lights illuminating the minimalist stage set to the opening tune of the same name, the trio’s entrance was a quiet slow burn for and evening of incredible musicianship. The band has an impeccable knack for taking the audience on a trip of changing emotion and dynamics with their sets. As the pace intensified, the audience began dancing and singing along to older favorites like “When I Was Young” and “Snake Eyes,” while welcoming songs from their recent Heart is the Hero album, such as “Rollin’ On.”

The group keeps their setlists unique night-to-night, even taking requests from their social media pages. Their shows often feature a couple songs with the band gathered around a single microphone (dubbed “Big Mike”) for an intimate feel. Tonight, that mini-set began with a beautiful rendition of “The Muse,” before bringing out the members of The Bygones to join them for a first-time performance of “Angel Band,” by The Clinch Mountain Boys and The Stanley Brothers.

The homestretch of the two-hour show took the crowd on a whirlwind journey, moving from the slow and soulful folk vibes of “The Luckiest” to a rowdy cover of The Band’s “Ophelia,” bringing the whole theater to their dancing feet. A short break before the encore gave everyone just enough time to catch a breath before ending the night with an extended jam of the group’s “One More Day,” even inspiring Chris Wood to put down his upright bass and dance from one side of the stage to the other. With the next night’s show only a couple hours away, voices in the exiting crowd could be heard talking about heading to Wilmington for Monday’s set.

Check the Wood Brothers social media pages and website for upcoming tour dates!