Friday night in Ballantyne means synth hooks, arena rock, and a room full of people who know every word. Kids In America returns to Hickory Tavern on Johnston Road August 8th with a setlist that spans pop anthems, hair metal, new wave, and the kind of hip-hop that still packs a dance floor. If you grew up on MTV or cassette tapes in a Walkman, this is your night.
The band plays everything live, no backing tracks, and the energy in the room reflects that. Shannon Remley and Ray Hartsfield trade vocals on songs that sound like the radio in 1987, and the rest of the lineup delivers the precision you’d expect from a group that’s spent over a decade doing this.
Show Details
Kids In America takes the stage at Hickory Tavern on Johnston Road Friday, August 8th, 2026 at 8:00 PM. The venue sits at 12210 Copper Way in the Ballantyne area, near the intersection of Johnston Road and I-485 in the Streets of Toringdon retail center. Hickory Tavern is open until midnight on Fridays, giving you plenty of time to settle in before the band starts. For the most current information on tickets, pricing, and any age requirements, check the venue’s official event listing.
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,” “Sweet Child o’ Mine,” “I Wanna Dance with Somebody,” “Jump,” “Billie Jean,” “Don’t You Want Me,” “Pour Some Sugar on Me,” and “Girls Just Want to Have Fun.” The setlist moves between Bon Jovi and Whitney Houston, between Guns N’ Roses and Madonna, with the fluidity of a band that understands how those songs worked together on the radio. Kids In America pulls from pop, rock, new wave, and dance without treating any of it as novelty. The performance feels less like a nostalgia act and more like walking into a bar in 1988 where the band happens to know every hit.
About the Venue
Hickory Tavern on Johnston Road anchors the Streets of Toringdon retail center in Ballantyne, a neighborhood spot with a full bar, comfort food, and the kind of layout that works for a Friday night crowd. The venue is known for live music, sports on multiple screens, and a relaxed atmosphere that doesn’t force you to choose between sitting down and staying near the stage. Parking is straightforward, and the location off I-485 makes it easy to reach from anywhere in the Charlotte metro. You can reach them at (704) 295-9009.
Plan Your Night
Doors and showtime details, along with ticket and pricing information, are available on Hickory Tavern’s official event page. The venue serves food and drinks throughout the night, so you can arrive early, grab a table, and be ready when the first song kicks in. If you want a Friday night that feels like stepping into a decade where every song was a singalong, August 8th is the date.