If you grew up slow-dancing to synth ballads or screaming arena choruses in your car, Kids In America knows exactly what you need. The six-piece brings the full 80s catalog to Hickory Tavern’s Ballantyne location on Friday, May 1st, and they play it all live—no backing tracks, no shortcuts, just the kind of precision that comes from a decade of shows.
This is the night where Madonna meets Mötley Crüe, where Whitney Houston shares a setlist with Guns N’ Roses, and where every song lands the way it did the first time you heard it on the radio.
Show Details
Kids In America performs Friday, May 1st, 2026, at Hickory Tavern Ballantyne, located at 12210 Copper Way, Charlotte, NC 28277. Showtime is 8:00 PM. For the latest details on tickets, pricing, and any additional logistics, check the venue’s official event listing or call (704) 295-9009.
About Kids In America
Kids In America is a six-piece 80s cover band built on years of live experience and a shared commitment to recreating the decade exactly as it sounded. Shannon Remley and Ray Hartsfield handle female and male lead vocals. Shannon’s powerhouse vocals and energy along with Ray’s charisma and showmanship make for the ultimate male-female lead vocal combo upfront. Roey Haviv plays bass guitar and bass synth, GK Via covers lead guitar and lead and background vocals, Rob Bowser on keyboards and synths, and Mike Graci handles drums and electronic percussion. This 6 piece very talented band plays everything live with no tracks, covering pop, hair metal, new wave, hip hop and dance with the kind of precision and accuracy that comes from over a thousand shows for just over a decade.
What You Will Hear
Expect the kind of night where you might hear “Livin’ on a Prayer” followed by “Pour Some Sugar on Me,” then “I Wanna Dance with Somebody” into “Sweet Child o’ Mine.” The setlist pulls from every corner of the decade—”Take On Me,” “Like a Prayer,” “Don’t Stop Believin’,” “Jump,” and “Girls Just Want to Have Fun” all make regular appearances. Kids In America treats every song like it matters, whether it’s a power ballad, a dance floor anthem, or a hair metal singalong.
About the Venue
Hickory Tavern Ballantyne is a neighborhood sports-bar style go-to spot known for great food, cold drinks, and a welcoming community vibe. The venue is open Sunday through Thursday from 11:00 AM to 11:00 PM and Friday through Saturday from 11:00 AM to midnight. You can explore their menu or book your own event by visiting their location page.
Plan Your Night
Show up ready to sing along. Hickory Tavern Ballantyne offers a relaxed atmosphere where the focus stays on the music and the crowd. If you want dinner before the show, you’re already in the right place. Kids In America delivers the 80s the way it was meant to sound—live, loud, and exactly right.