Bob Durkin is the co-founder of Southern Entertainment, a Charlotte-based events and production company that's put on over 500 live music events around the country. Durkin and his business partner, Rob Pedlow, got their start in Charlotte by owning bars in uptown like Dixie’s Tavern.

Durkin and his team are gearing up for the first Lovin’ Life Music Festival, a weekend-long, all-genre music festival in the First Ward neighborhood in uptown Charlotte from May 3 to May 5, 2024. Over 40 artists will take one of the festival’s three stages, including big names like Post Malone, Stevie Nicks, Noah Kahan, DaBaby and the Beach Boys.

In this episode of The Charlotte Ledger Podcast, Durkin shares the origins of Southern Entertainment and Lovin' Life Music Fest, what it's been like planning the festival, and its impact on Charlotte's economy and local music scene.

For more information on Southern Entertainment and Lovin' Life Music Fest, visit SouthernEntertainment.com.

Today’s episode of The Charlotte Ledger Podcast is sponsored by SouthPark Community Partners, an independent nonprofit organization whose mission is to lead SouthPark's advancement by driving economic vitality, creating memorable experiences, and ensuring an extraordinary quality of life.

This podcast was hosted and produced by Ledger staff writer Lindsey Banks.

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