Article and Photos by: Jolene Roderick
CHARLOTTE, NC — Big Richard’s Girl Dinner Tour with The Wild Shoats made a stop at the Neighborhood Theatre in Charlotte, NC, on January 30. The Wild Shoats opened the show with a sound deeply rooted in Appalachian tradition, blending evocative originals with well-loved covers.
The group, made up of Mary Linscheid on fiddle and vocals, brothers Gus and Huck Tritsch on various string instruments, and Alex Heflin on guitar, brought raw energy to the stage. Despite forming just last year, they have already made a name for themselves, winning the Neo-Traditional Band Competition at the Appalachian String Band Music Festival. Their debut single is set to release on vinyl in February.
Big Richard took the stage with the kind of electrifying presence that has fueled their rapid rise since 2021. What started as a one-off gig quickly turned into a full-fledged supergroup, with their tight vocal harmonies, blistering string work, and fearless stage presence demanding immediate attention.
Their set featured a mix of covers and originals, but it was the material from Girl Dinner that hit the hardest. “The Devil’s Outside” simmered with tension, its brooding melody and intricate instrumentation weaving together like a storm about to break. “Beards Brushing in the Night” showcased the band’s playful spirit, blending tight harmonies with infectious rhythms that kept the crowd moving. The performance wrapped up with lighthearted banter about the song’s origins—drawn from two band members’ Dungeons & Dragons characters.
Then came The Missing Stair, a song that felt like the emotional centerpiece of the night. The eerie, slow-building arrangement wrapped around the audience like a ghost story, each note lingering in the air long after it was played. The lyrics cut deep, tackling the kind of unspoken truths that leave a mark, with Bonnie Sims’ vocals shifting between sorrowful restraint and raw power. The interplay between Joy Adams’ cello and Eve Panning’s fiddle added layers of unease, giving the song a dark, cinematic quality. By the time it reached its crescendo, the room felt suspended in the moment, completely locked in.
Bonnie Sims shredded on mandolin and guitar with a presence as bold as her playing. Joy Adams, a Grammy and Emmy-winning cellist, brought depth and drive with every note. Hazel Royer anchored the sound on bass and guitar, adding both groove and grit. Eve Panning, a road-seasoned fiddler, matched the energy with searing leads and lightning-fast runs.
The band’s charisma is as undeniable as their technical skill, blending bluegrass precision with rock-and-roll attitude. Fresh off a whirlwind year that included performances at Telluride Bluegrass Festival, Jam Cruise, and a New Year’s Eve set at the Ryman, they delivered a set that was equal parts raucous and refined, leaving no doubt that their rise is only just beginning.
As the night came to a close, the band wasn’t content to end things on stage. Instead, they stepped off, instruments in hand, and gathered in the middle of the audience for an intimate encore. The crowd circled around them, creating a hushed, almost sacred atmosphere as they delivered one last song with nothing but their voices and acoustic instruments filling the space. It was a perfect, unfiltered moment—a reminder of why live music can feel like pure magic.