See inside: BackStage Lounge to reopen as B-Side Sound Bar
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Co-owner and director Preston Abernathy says Dante's HI-Fi in Miami was a huge inspiration for the space. Photo: McKenzie Rankin/Axios
BackStage Lounge will reopen as B-Side Sound Bar on Friday, May 1.
Why it matters: It's a new era for the former South End speakeasy, which has transitioned into a restaurant and hi-fi listening bar.
Catch up quick: B-Side is a new project from The Music Yard, the popular, open-air house music venue next door.
- The sound bar will keep the same energy as The Music Yard but with a "more intimate, craft-focused experience," explains co-owner and director Preston Abernathy.
Context: Abernathy has spent more than 15 years producing events, including directing Charlotte's Breakaway Music Festival and leading programming at The Music Yard for the past seven years.
- The idea for B-Side, he says, came from the listening bars he encountered in major music festival cities Ibiza and Miami.
Zoom in: So what exactly is a listening (or sound) bar?
- At its core, it puts DJs and sound quality first, explains Abernathy. Music is a central experience, not just background noise.
- B-Side will feature a high-fidelity sound system called void acoustic, the kind typically used at major festivals and Abernathy calls it "one of the best in the world."
- It's designed so guests can feel immersed in the music during dinner without it overpowering conversation.
What to expect: Vinyl-heavy sets early in the night before transitioning to digital sets later on.
- DJs will play a mix of deep cuts, house, lo-fi, disco, jazz, soul and funk.
- During dinner, the atmosphere will be more relaxed before tables are cleared, the volume turns up and the space shifts into a dance floor.
Best bites: The menu will focus on a fusion of Mediterranean and Mexican small plates, with dishes like burrata, skewers and sliders.
- There will be a strong focus on craft cocktails, including espresso martinis and drinks built around mezcal and tequila.
The vibe: Abernathy says B-Side has been designed to cater to the house music community — those who frequent The Music Yard's shows.
- New touches include oversized gold disco balls, multilevel shelving stocked with vinyl sourced from a Kannapolis warehouse, and a custom-built DJ booth with subwoofers built into the bar.
- Final design and décor details, including tables, chairs and artwork, are still in the works.
Zoom out: Listening bars have become more popular in Charlotte over the last couple of years. Several existing ones include Lorem Ipsum in Plaza Midwood, Stylus Soundlounge from the owners of Soul Gastrolounge and Orosoko Sound Bar in South End.
- B-Side wants to push that trend further with a globally competitive sound system and the programming of the Music Yard "at a more intimate craft level," says Abernathy.
If you go: B-Side will be open Thursday-Saturday. It'll serve dinner from 5:30–10:30pm before transitioning into a dance floor until 2am.
- Dinner reservations can be made through Resy.
Stop by: 2433 South Blvd.