Futurebirds and Trampled by Turtles

Futurebirds play TD Amp Ballantyne on Saturday, October 17, with Trampled by Turtles sharing the bill. It's a double bill that puts two distinct takes on American roots music on the same stage in one night.

Futurebirds come from Athens, Georgia, and they've spent years building a sound that doesn't sit still. It's a blend of twangy Southern rock and reverb-soaked psychedelia—the kind of hazy, atmospheric guitar work that brings to mind early My Morning Jacket or Phosphorescent. You'll hear soaring solos in the vein of Neil Young and Crazy Horse and the rhythmic jangle of R.E.M., all held together by multi-part vocal harmonies and threaded with lyrical slide guitar. They've opened for the Drive-By Truckers, and the current lineup is Daniel Womack, Carter King, Brannen Miles, Johnny Lundock, and Thomas Johnson.

Trampled by Turtles bring a different energy to the pairing. While Futurebirds lean into the psychedelic and the Southern rock side of things, Trampled by Turtles are known for their high-velocity bluegrass and folk, centered around a driving fiddle and banjo. Together, they cover a lot of ground on one bill: the psychedelic country of the Georgia five and the fast-picking tradition of the other.

The show is at TD Amp Ballantyne at The Bowl, 11115 Upper Ave, Charlotte, NC 28277, and it starts at 6:30 PM.