YOU’RE INVITED TO THE 2026 Charlotte Ideas Festival
“The Trout Who Found the River” by 7th Street Concerts
April 14, 2026
In collaboration with Charlotte SHOUT! and the Charlotte Ideas Festival, 7th Street Concerts is delighted to present an evening of conversation, music, food, and ideas centered on the celebrated musical play, The Trout Who Found the River.
Begin the evening with a pre-concert wine and cheese reception, where you can mingle with friends, community members, and the performers who bring this enchanting work to life. Following the reception, join a curated conversation with composer Jonathan Woody and the artistic team behind The Trout Who Found the River, offering rare insight into the creative process, musical influences, and thematic intentions of this remarkable production.
The Trout Who Found the River is a whimsical and evocative musical play rooted in an imaginative exploration of nature, music, and story that resonates with audiences of all ages. Composer Jonathan Woody drew inspiration from folk melodies and storytelling traditions, weaving them into original songs that trace a journey through rivers, landscapes, and the interconnected world of trout, water, and the creatures who depend on them. The piece celebrates both the joy of discovery and the fragile beauty of the natural world, inviting reflection through lyricism, humor, and tenderness.
While the weekend matinee performances are designed especially with families and young audiences in mind, this Tuesday evening event offers a calmer, more reflective setting—a chance to enjoy the performance and conversation in a relaxed atmosphere, with space to linger, listen, and engage more deeply with the ideas behind the work. All ages are welcome, and the evening is especially well-suited for adults, educators, and anyone curious about the creative process behind this imaginative new piece.
About 7th Street Concerts: 7th Street Concerts is a concert series in the heart of Charlotte, NC, that promises to present extraordinary music experiences that are fresh, classical, and a little unexpected. 7th Street Concerts offer a range of musical genres from early music performed on period instruments to experimental new music, bringing both familiar and unknown artists and ensembles to Charlotte audiences in intimate and welcoming venues. Ticketed events include free parking, complimentary pre-concert happy hour, a 75 minute concert without intermission, followed by a free reception with the artists. Concerts are presented in the historic St. Peter’s Episcopal Church at the corner of North Tryon and 7th streets in the heart of Charlotte. The series is poised to make an important impact on a growing and revitalized Uptown. Moreover, outreach and community-building across audiences is at the heart of our mission. To this end, for each ticketed concert we produce at St. Peter’s Episcopal Church, the organization will send the musicians into the community (hospitals, shelters, schools) to uplift and inspire a population in need with free, no-strings-attached performances.
About the Charlotte Ideas Festival: The Charlotte Ideas Festival is a multi-day exploration of today’s pressing ideas and issues through the lens of the humanities. This year’s conversation-packed events feature a range of thinkers, innovators and community members engaged in connection and conversation. A program of The Charlotte Center for the Humanities & Civic Imagination (The Charlotte Center), the Charlotte Ideas Festival is part of the three-week Charlotte SHOUT! festival celebrating Food, Art, Music, and Ideas.
About The Charlotte Center: The Charlotte Center for the Humanities & Civic Imagination (The Charlotte Center) is a community forum and civic action catalyst that invites people into meaningful connection and problem-solving informed by deep consideration of the human experience. Our mission is to help people and communities flourish. The Charlotte Center is a non-profit 501(c)3 organization. We are interested in what is good for Charlotte and what Charlotte can offer the world. We invite you to join us!
