Explore mental health and recovery
'Words to Live By' comes to Davis Theatre on May 15
Kannapolis storyteller, poet, and mental health advocate Jim love created the program after years of struggling with mental health.
"Words to live By" will be at the Davis Theatre on May 15 at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are on sale.
CABARRUS ARTS CALENDAR
After years of living through his own mental health struggles, Kannapolis storyteller, poet, and mental health advocate Jim Love set out to create the kind of room he knew people needed: one grounded in honesty, meaningful art, and the possibility of connection. That vision became "Words to Live By," coming to Davis Theatre in downtown Concord on May 15 at 7:30 p.m., through a partnership with the Cabarrus Arts Council, producer and host Jim Love, and creative partner Guerilla Poets.
"Words to Live By" is an evening of music, spoken word, and storytelling shaped by lived experience and grounded in mental health awareness. The show brings together poets, musicians, and storytellers from across the region, each sharing original work rooted in honesty and personal truth. Through poetry, song and personal storytelling, the event offers audiences an intimate night of live performance, honest expression and connection.
In addition to the performances, the event will include participation from community resource partners, connecting attendees with local organizations offering mental health support and education.
"This night was built on a simple idea: some stories are hard to tell, and some rooms make them possible," said Love. "We want to create a space where people can encounter meaningful art, feel less alone, and leave with something real."
The partnership reflects a shared belief that live performance can make room for honesty, reflection and public connection.
Event Details
"Words to Live By"
Davis Theatre, 65 Union St. S., Concord, NC 28025
May 15 at 7:30 p.m.
Tickets available: https://www.etix.com/ticket/p/50208257/ words-to-live-by-concord-davis-theatre
Support the arts
Want to see art in your community? Consider making a gift to the Cabarrus Arts Council: Help keep art alive in our region through a donation of any size. Visit cabarrusartscouncil.org/ donate.
This week
(April 21-April 27)
Crochet for Beginners (KAN)Tuesday, April 21, 5:307:30 p.m. — Ages 13+ – Are you interested in learning how to crochet? Join us for a three-week course where we meet once a week to learn basic crochet skills while making our first project. Attendees must come to the first meeting to continue the course. Supplies and crochet kits will be provided by the Friends of Kannapolis Library. For more information, visit https://bit.ly/ CabarrusLibraryevents.
Improv 101 (CON)Thursday, April 23, 5-6 p.m. — Teens (Ages 12-18) – Come stretch your acting skills with this program. Improv 101 will teach you how to get in touch with your inner thespian. Join us for games, skits and more! No registration. For more information, visit https://bit.ly/ CabarrusLibraryevents.
Live at the Davis Theatre: "Motown and More" presented by DNAMuzicFriday, April 24, 7:30-9:30 p.m. — Get ready to sing, dance, and feel the groove as Motown and More takes you on a high-energy journey through the legendary music and rich history of Motown, its influence on the culture, and the legendary musicians — the Funk Brothers and iconic background singers that supported the groups we know! Led by Dawn Anthony, this exciting ensemble brings together some of the region's top musicians for a vibrant celebration of Hitsville USA and its unforgettable gift to the world. From soulful ballads to dance-floor classics, this interactive show invites you to relive the timeless hits that defined generations — and still move us today. For tickets and more information, visit www.CabarrusArtsCouncil.org.
Piedmont Choral Society Presents: Nightfall, Friday, April 24, 7:30 p.m. — Step into an evening of beauty, reflection, and wonder as the Piedmont Choral Artists, under the direction of Joseph Judge, present Nightfall: Music of Stars, Dreams, and the Nocturne. This evocative program traces a poetic journey from the quiet stillness of dusk, through the shimmer of starlight and the mystery of dreams, and into the radiant promise of dawn. Featuring music by Ēriks Ešenvalds, Ola Gjeilo, Morten Lauridsen, Eric Whitacre and more, Nightfall offers a richly expressive choral experience filled with luminous harmonies and deeply moving texts. Join us for a concert that invites you to pause, reflect, and be carried away by the beauty of the night. For more information, visit the Piedmont Choral Society's Concerts webpage: https:// www.piedmontchoralsociety.org/ concerts.
Carolinas Community Band FestivalSaturday, April 25, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. — Piedmont Community Band will host the second annual Carolinas Community Band Festival at the Kannapolis Performing Arts Center on April 25. We welcome back guests Catawba New Horizons Band, Charlotte Pride Band, Lake Norman Brass and the Horn Society of the Carolinas, and we will feature a new guest — Gaston Symphonic Band! There will be a food truck, local vendors and a great time listening to wonderful music. The festival is free.
OMG, You Knitted That?! (MID)Saturday, April 25, 4-5 p.m. — Ages 12 + – Unlock your potential with Knitting in the Round. Beginners can learn the basics of knitting, while experienced knitters can try out patterns/suggested patterns from some of the knitting books that will be at the program for reference. No registration or prior skills required; all skill levels welcome. For more information, visit https://bit.ly/ CabarrusLibraryevents.
Craft, Play and Connect (MID)Monday, April 27, 3:30-5 p.m. — Family. Looking for something to do with the kids after school? Join us the last Monday of the month for stories, crafts, games and snacks. Parents and caregivers encouraged to participate. Drop in. For more information, visit https://bit.ly/ CabarrusLibraryevents.
Crafter's CornerBee Bubblers (MTP)Monday April 27, 4-5 p.m. — Adult 18+ Join us to make a pretty yard decoration from simple items to put out as a safe watering station for bees and butterflies! No registration. For more information, visit https:// bit.ly/CabarrusLibraryevents.
What's The Stitch? (AFT) Monday, April 27, 5-7 p.m. — Ages 10+ – A club for all yarn enthusiasts, bring your projects to work on with other hobbyists — whether it's crochet, knitting or weaving! Drop-in, supplies limited. For more information, visit https:// bit.ly/CabarrusLibraryevents.
Next week
(April 28-May 4)
Montage of the Still Frame with April SimmonsThursday, April 30, 6-8 p.m. — In this 2-hour demonstration, participants will join April Simmons to learn various mixed media techniques and processes. April will demonstrate how she builds out her composition in Photoshop and then moves to acrylics, oils and the other mediums used to create her work. A materials resource list will be provided on the day of the demonstration. For more information, visit Montage of the Still Frame with April Simmons — The Galleries — Cabarrus Arts Council.
Old Courthouse Theatre Presents: Sweet Charity – April 30 – May 10 — Hapless but unflappable Charity Hope Valentine desperately seeks love in New York City in the 1960s. In this exuberant, groovy, hilarious musical comedy, Charity tries again and again to find her dream and make something of herself. It features such memorable songs as "Big Spender," and "If My Friends Could See Me Now." For tickets and more information, visit the Old Courthouse Theatre webpage: https://bit.ly/OCTtickets.
Cabarrus Art Guild Workshop: A Taste of Paper Marbling: Japanese and European StylesSaturday, May 2, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. — Curious about paper marbling? In this half-day introductory experience, students will explore two distinct approaches to this centuries-old art form: Japanese suminagashi and European combed marbling. We'll begin with suminagashi, the ancient Japanese practice of floating ink on water to create delicate, organic patterns. This is an accessible (and very "Zen") entry point into marbling, allowing participants to quickly begin creating original designs. In the second part of the class, the instructor will demonstrate traditional European marbling techniques, and students can take turns working on a shared marbling tank to experience these classic combed patterns firsthand. Participants will leave with a collection of their own marbled papers (which can be used in collage, book-and cardmaking, decoupage, etc.) and a foundational understanding of Japanese and European marbling. No prior experience is necessary. For more information, visit www.cabarrusartguild.org.
Upcoming
If All the Sky Were Paper by Andrew Carroll Performances: May 14-16 at 7:30 p.m. and May 17 at 2:30 p.m. The Story: After bestselling author Andrew Carroll found a riveting, heartfelt letter written by a distant cousin deployed as a pilot in World War II, he embarked on a trip to all 50 states and to more than 30 countries across the globe, including two active war zones, in search of more wartime correspondences. The letters and emails he found — by combat troops, medics, nurses and chaplains, as well as family members on the home front and civilians caught in the crossfire of battle — came to represent to Carroll the "world's great undiscovered literature." They weren't just about warfare, he realized, they were about the human condition itself — love and longing, courage and resilience, grief and hope, compassion and mercy, and, ultimately, reconciliation. For tickets and more information, visit the Old Courthouse Theatre webpage: https://bit.ly/OCTtickets.
Live at the Davis Theatre: Words to Live By Featuring Guerilla Poets– May 15, 7:30 p.m. — Words to Live By comes to the Davis Theatre on May 15 for an evening of music, spoken word, and personal storytelling about struggle, survival and hope. Created by Cabarrus County resident Jim Love in partnership with the Cabarrus Arts Council and Guerilla Poets, the show brings together artists exploring mental health and recovery — rooted in the belief that strong communities begin with honest conversations. Content may not be suitable for all viewers as this show contains heavy subject matter; viewer discretion is advised. For tickets and more information, visit www.CabarrusArtsCouncil.org.
Live at the Davis Theatre: Rissi Palmer – Friday, May 29, 7:30 p.m. — Trailblazing singer Rissi Palmer made country music history with her debut single "Country Girl" and continues to shine in both the country and Americana scenes. From the Grand Ole Opry to The White House, her powerful voice and presence have captivated audiences nationwide. For tickets and more information, visit www.CabarrusArtsCouncil.org.
From Zines to Stained Glass: A Mixed Media Visual Arts Summer CampJune 1-5, 9 a.m. to noon — Ages 8-11. Get ready for a fun-filled, half-day program for young creatives. Experimentation, creativity, and the use of recycled materials are at the core of this summer camp. Projects such as zines, artist trading cards, tin-foil art, and faux stained glass, to name a few, will be created throughout the week. Students will explore a variety of arts and crafts and have fun along the way. This camp is designed to introduce young creatives to new art activities using recycled materials and to help them develop stronger problem-solving skills over the course of the week, all under the leadership of instructor Noël Ali. For registration and more information, visit www.cabarrusartscouncil.org.
Choir Camp for Young VoicesJuly 20-24, 9 a.m. to noon-Ages 7 to 12. Singing together is a fun and inspiring way to build musical skills and connect with others! Join us for Choir Camp, led by Jacqueline Yost — no experience needed! Pending enrollment, campers will be placed into a choir that best fits their experience level. Along with group singing, campers will have a chance to play ukulele as an elective, with plenty of fun activities in between. The week wraps up with a public performance at the Davis Theatre to showcase their hard work! For registration and more information, visit www.cabarrusartscouncil.org.
Ukulele: Level Up! Summer CampJuly 27-31, 9 a.m. to noon-Who doesn't love a ukulele? Students ages 9-14, with at least some prior experience playing ukulele, are invited to join us for a week of learning and fun. We'll find some new chords, learn to play melodies, practice arranging songs, learn some fingerstyle patterns, and have a great time making music together. The week will conclude with a group performance at the Davis Theatre. For registration and more information, visit www.cabarrusartscouncil.org.
Ongoing
The Cabarrus Art Guild's Open Art Tuesdays — Every Tuesday, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. The Guild welcomes visitors for firsttime visits free at weekly Open Art Tuesdays at ClearWater — in the Lower Level, "Greenway Gallery." Enter through the double glass doors facing Kerr Street, in the Main Building. Guild members come as often as they like. Bring lunch, a project and your supplies. Sometimes a member gives a "Pop-Up" class! The Guild is a ClearWater Tenant in Lower-Level Studio LL-102. See the Cabarrus Art Guild Profile Page. For more information, visit www.clearwaterartists.com.
Learn the Age-Old Art of Pastels — Pastel classes are offered by Regina Burchett on an individual or small group basis. Classes are typically two hours in length, and the materials are included for the first two classes, to ensure that the student will get to experience working with pastels before they commit to an investment in materials. Individual classes are $30 per two-hour session. Note: Regina moved from her ClearWater Studio to a home studio in July 2017, so individual lessons may be given there. Group classes at ClearWater Artist Studios may be public, or private (i.e. limited to a group you select). Group classes require a minimum of four students and max of 10. Age 10 and older. Contact Regina at 704-925-9838 for more information. Her website is www.reginaburchett.com.
Sip & Stitch at West Loop Local — Mondays at 6 p.m. This is an extension of our Tuesday Hooks & Books meet-up. Anyone is welcome to join, just bring your crochet or knitting project to work on. You're welcome to purchase your own food and drink from the West Loop Local menu! We meet upstairs at West Loop Local (231 West Ave). For more information, visit www.editionsbookstore.com.
Puddle Painting Workshop — Every Monday from 6:307:30 p.m. Experience the mesmerizing art of fluid acrylic pouring in this intuitive, hands-on workshop. Choose from three canvas sizes and let your creativity flow — no experience needed! Come solo or bring a friend for fun, stress-free, painting adventure! All ages welcome. RSVP required at High Branch Brewery, McGill Avenue Northwest #100. For more information or to RSVP, visit www.tuxedokat.com.
EDITOR'S NOTE: Find the complete arts calendar online at www.independenttribune.com.
