YOU’RE INVITED TO THE 2026 Charlotte Ideas Festival
“The Trout Who Found the River” by 7th Street Concerts
April 14, 2026
We are excited to partner with 7th Street Concerts as they present "The Trout Who Found the River." A curious trout sets out on a long swim home, guided by the voices of a river, a child, and the natural world around him. The Trout Who Found the River is a whimsical musical play that blends live music, narration, and storytelling into a gentle adventure about listening, belonging, and care for the environment.
Built around music from composer Jonathan Woody, the performance unfolds as a story told from multiple perspectives—water, wildlife, and human alike—inviting audiences of all ages to experience the river as a living, remembering presence. Part fable, part concert, and part play, the work creates space for imagination, reflection, and wonder.
Young audience members will also receive musical field journals: beautifully illustrated booklets filled with prompts, drawings, and space to observe, listen, and respond, extending the experience beyond the performance and encouraging children to engage creatively with music and the natural world long after the final note fades.
Tickets and details coming soon!
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!
