The arts abound in every corner of Charleston. With so much going on, it can be difficult to narrow down your list and choose what to do next. This curated guide highlights three community-oriented arts events taking place throughout January to help ease the decision-making process. And for this month, we’ve thrown in a bonus event for folks looking to fill up their social calendars.
For a romantic date night, cozy up at the “Love Supreme” jazz performance at Charleston Music Hall. If you’re in the mood for theatrical comedy and mystery, check out “The 39 Steps” play from Charleston Stage. And if you want to learn more about the impacts of Hurricane Helene, a small downtown art studio is hosting two unique performances to raise awareness of recovery efforts.
The performances at Hed Hi Studio feature six singers performing traditional Appalachian ballads, including Sheila Kay Adams, a seventh generation ballad singer from the Sodom Laurel community of Madison, N.C.
‘Old Marshall Jail Ballad Swap’ performances
2 p.m. and 7 p.m. Feb. 1
Hed Hi Studio, 654 King St., Charleston
$30-$35
The Old Marshall Jail Ballad Swap out of Marshall, N.C., carries on a centuries-old Appalachian oral storytelling tradition. Ballad swaps are community gatherings at which people sing traditional folk ballads, usually a cappella or with minimal instrumental accompaniment.
The performances at Hed Hi Studio feature six singers performing traditional Appalachian ballads, including Sheila Kay Adams, a seventh-generation ballad singer from the Sodom Laurel community of Madison, N.C.
For the last few years, The Old Marshall Jail Hotel in Marshall has been the exclusive host of the only recurring ballad swaps that feature 7th- and 8th-generation singers. The venue, about 25 miles north of Asheville, N.C., closed due to flooding damages from Hurricane Helene in September 2024.
The Charleston performances were put together in an effort to raise awareness about the impacts of Hurricane Helene on Madison County and greater Western North Carolina.
Nest of Singing Birds music community of Western North Carolina partnered with the Rare Bird Cultural Arts team to produce concerts at other venues in North Carolina and Virginia since the loss of their home venue.
“The 39 Steps” is a theatrical adaptation of Alfred Hitchcock’s classic spy thriller of the same name. Performances take place through Feb. 16.
‘The 39 Steps’ play
2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m., select dates though Feb. 16
Dock Street Theatre, 135 Church St., Charleston
$52.25-$90.25
“The 39 Steps” is a theatrical adaptation of Alfred Hitchcock’s classic spy thriller of the same name. Watch as the main character is swept up into a spy ring, goes on the lam and fights to clear his name. The theatrical experience centers around four actors playing more than 100 characters, promising a display of imaginative inventiveness.
“This play is a delight for fans of Hitchcock, classic mysteries and anyone who loves a good laugh,” said Charleston Stage Artistic Director Marybeth Clark.
“The cast’s energy and versatility are extraordinary,” she added, “and the show’s clever use of minimal props and scenery will keep audiences on the edge of their seats.”
The Jan. 24 and 25 performances have been cancelled due to weather conditions. The Pay-As-You-Please performance takes place Feb. 5. Extra performances take place at varying times Feb. 13-16. Visit charlestonstage.com for details.
Singer Tommy Brown (pictured) will share the stage with singer Heather Rice and the Charleston Jazz Orchestra for an evening of classic love songs at the Charleston Music Hall on Feb. 22.
‘A Love Supreme’ concert
5 p.m. and 8 p.m. Feb. 22
Charleston Music Hall, 37 John St., Charleston
$10-$67
Cozy up with your sweetheart at the Charleston Music Hall for a night of timeless love songs and big-band jazz music with “A Love Supreme.” Singers Tommy Brown and Heather Rice will share the stage with the Charleston Jazz Orchestra for two performances.
The show features a special piece entitled “Acknowledgement” from John Coltrane’s album “A Love Supreme.”
“This show is going to be different,” Brown said of the concert, which is his chance to combine his soulful, rhythm-and-blues style vocals with jazzy orchestral arrangements.
Visit charlestonjazz.com for tickets and details.
Bonus event: ‘The Second City in the Holy City’ comedy show
7 p.m. Jan. 28
Charleston Music Hall, 37 John St., Charleston
$75-$100
The iconic Second City comedy troupe comes to Charleston Music Hall in honor of the 275th anniversary of Charleston’s Kahal Kadosh Beth Elohim synagogue, one of the oldest religious congregations in America. The evening features sketch comedy, singing, dancing and improvisation.