Joy Oladokun (The Heavy Things Tour)

Joy Oladokun plays the Neighborhood Theatre on Tuesday, November 17, as part of The Heavy Things Tour. She's bringing Nat Myers along to open the night, so there are two sets to work through before the headliner takes the stage.

If you haven't kept up with her, Oladokun is a queer Black singer-songwriter and the daughter of Nigerian immigrants. Rolling Stone once called her "Nashville's most low-key musical revolutionary," and that's a fair way to describe how she works. She writes about identity, faith, mental health and social justice, and she does it with a vulnerable voice that lets the lyrics land without too much polish. Since her breakthrough in 2020, she's put out three critically acclaimed albums, and her protest anthem "i see america" was a finalist for the Recording Academy's Special Merit Award for Best Song for Social Change.

She's also played some pretty high-profile stages. She performed at the White House during the Respect for Marriage Act signing ceremony, and has appeared on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, The Tonight Show, Jimmy Kimmel Live!, Austin City Limits and NPR Music's Tiny Desk (Home) Concert. Along the way, she's collaborated with Chris Stapleton, Brandi Carlile, Maren Morris, Jason Isbell and Noah Kahan, which gives you a sense of the company she keeps across folk, country and indie circles.

The show is at the Neighborhood Theatre, 511 E 36th St, Charlotte, NC 28205. Doors open at 7 PM and the music starts at 8 PM.