uptown charlotte

11 years / 300+ events / 90,000+ witnessed

It started eleven years ago with two guys, an acoustic guitar, and a dream. At the time it was a bit of an experiment. What would the Lord do on the streets of Charlotte if we would take our worship and expression of love there? A small band of brothers and sisters started taking their voice and their sound to the crossroads of the Queen City every weekend. Ten years later, the sound hasn’t stopped. Through the course of Uptown’s short history, many of the names and faces have changed. The vi- sion has grown, purpose is further established, and ground is taken.

Uptown’s fundamental fabric remains the same. It is about loving Jesus and loving people outside the four walls of the church. We’re a small community of people be- ing ourselves, and sharing what makes us alive. Our words, worship, art, poetry, and intercession is our expression of love extending to the people who live where we do.

Uptown meets year-round on the corner of Trade street and Tryon street three Saturday nights a month from 8PM to 11PM. Each night is written as the newest leg of the journey we’re on together. This battle is not won or lost in the course of a single season. We continue to stake our claim on this corner and push for- ward. Every week, every month, every year progress is made.

This is our land. Our City. We press towards the release, the breaching of a tipping point that will set the stage for the next act to follow. While we hold onto the core of what Uptown is, we also believe it is time to turn the page and be- gin the next chapter in Uptown’s history. It’s time to build. We are looking to the Fall of 2011, which marks our 12-Year anniversary, to be the focus of a major move. Our culture is shifting, and it is in this shift that we want to capture a generation.)

Tim Stoller, Uptown Board Member

Uptown is where worship exposes the heavens and God’s heart is revealed. It is where Truth and Love walk the streets hand in hand proclaiming a message of hope; that all is not lost. You are not forgotten. You are not alone. There is still a future. Uptown has a message we all need to hear. A message that says as long as we stay focused on God, there is nothing we can’t do. I have the honor of knowing that I’m helping to release that message; that I have a place to go and speak truth and love. We are laboring to reveal God’s heart to a needy and broken generation.

I remember the times on the street six years ago when I was a young worship leader going out into the cold and rain to sing and proclaim that message of hope. Back then things felt more like striving than succeeding. I see now that it was the tilling of hard and dry ground. I see now that it was striving, but it was also succeeding. I see now that the faithful- ness of a few going out to the streets of Charlotte, has opened the heart of our city to receive a true message of hope. The striving of the few has opened the door for the thriving of many. I don’t dare take credit for what is happening now. I’m just excited to be able to see fruit come forth from where I was fortunate enough to be able to lend a hand at tilling.

I’m excited to see Uptown begin to open doors for a revolution not only in the city of Charlotte, but also in the Christian and mainstream music industry. A revolution where people stop proclaiming a message of self. They stop proclaiming how bad things are and start proclaim- ing hope. They start proclaiming how things can be changed for the better. How if you keep your eyes focused on the Lord, things will be changed. You will be changed. Uptown is speaking that message.

Andrew Mottershead, Uptown Worship Leader

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