It’s that spooky time of year again, and local music lovers won’t be hurtin’ at all for places to go dressed like their favorite musicians, dead celebs, cartoon characters, and, best of all, wrestlers. From a pre-Halloween fair to a Day of the Dead celebration, we’ve narrowed the list down to nine local shows that are worth getting dressed up for. Have fun, call an Uber, and rock ‘n’ roll hoochie koo.
Dumpster Cookies Haunted
Halloween Fair
w/ Tripping the Mechanism, Trolgar, Freddy MaydayMayday, and Baggage Claim
Thurs. Oct. 29
6 p.m.
$10, includes mask, keg refill cup, and three fair tickets
1 Strawberry Lane
Downtown
Local performance art group Dumpster Cookies had such a good time during their summer fair, they’re doing it again, only this time shit’s gotten real spooky. You’ll hear plenty of Halloween-appropriate music from local metal act Tripping the Mechanism, Trolgar (playing “troll music for the damned”), Freddy MaydayMayday and his sci-fi soundscapes, and party band Baggage Claim. The fair also features a haunted trail, costume-making tent, video movie booth (star in a movie as your costume), dunking booth, kissing booth, keg, Jell-O shots, dart board blood balloons, hotdog eating contest, costume contest, and local art. All proceeds will benefit Dumpster Cookie’s spring tour.
Charleston Symphony Orchestra (CSO)
Fri. Oct. 30
7:30 p.m.
$13-102
Gaillard Center
Downtown
For something entirely different than the usual Halloween weekend debauchery, head to the Gaillard for a more orderly and orchestral evening. You’ll get to hear the full CSO accompany a screening of the 1931 classic Frankenstein movie with an original score from guest conductor Michael Shapiro. Since the film was produced with no score, Shapiro decided to create one himself, which plays under the dialogue, precisely synchronized with the movie. The beginning of the concert will feature several Halloween classics, including “A Night on Bald Mountain” by Modest Mussorgsky and “The Sorcerer’s Apprentice” by Paul Dukas.
Halloween Havoc
w/ Dante’s Camaro
Fri. Oct. 30
8 p.m.
$7
The Sparrow
North Charleston
Dante’s Camaro is famous for claiming every show is their last, but we’re always relieved to discover they’re just big, fat liars. This Friday, they’re back with a special show where you’re encouraged to come dressed as your favorite wrestler. So will there be a costume contest? According to the band’s Facebook page, “If we like it, we won’t make fun of you.”
Megan Jean and the Klay Family Band
w/ Don Merckle & the Blacksmiths
Sat. Oct. 31
9 p.m.
$8
Tin Roof
West Ashley
For six of the past seven years, the formerly Charleston-based husband-and-wife duo Megan Jean and the KFB have performed on Halloween night at the Tin Roof. With a unique foot-stomping style and old-time instrumentation, including a washboard, banjo, and upright bass, the band is known for their dedication to the road, spending most of the year expanding their fanbase face-to-face across the country. This Halloween, the theme is cartoon mania, so come dressed as your favorite cartoon character and fall in love with songs from the duo’s most recent LP, The Devil Herself, and much more.
OHM Fest
Sat. Oct. 31
12:30 p.m.
$5/students, $15/adults, Free/kids 12 and under
Palmetto Brewing
Downtown
Charleston’s new indie station OHM Radio is having its own fest this Halloween, complete with a full day of performances from Deadwin, Solid Country Gold, Bill Wilson, Human Resources, Josh Roberts & the Hinges, Hermit’s Victory, Danielle Howle, Grace Joyner, Jordan Igoe, and Billie Fountain. Come dressed to impress to win one of two contests: most convincing rock star and overall most creative costume. There will be two winners and each will have the chance to host their own show and spin their favorite tunes on OHM Radio in the near future. All proceeds will benefit the community-supported and community-run station.
Counterpunch
w/ Action City Blackout
Sat. Oct. 31
10 p.m.
Free/with costume, $5/without costume
The Sparrow
Chicago punk rockers Counterpunch will headline the Sparrow’s Halloween night show, while Charleston’s own rock ‘n’ rollers Action City Blackout return from the dead to open in their second performance this year. Come dressed as your favorite dead celebrity and get in for free, or come as you are for a cool $5. Make sure you’re still lurking around at midnight for the Sparrow’s costume contest.
Perpetual Groove
Fri. Oct. 30, Sat. Oct. 31
9:30 p.m.
$22/adv., $25/door, $40/two-night package
The Pour House
James Island
Anthemic rockers Perpetual Groove will take over the Pour House for a two-night Halloween residency this weekend. The Athens, Ga.-based band will be fresh from two sold-out, live-streamed shows at the Brooklyn Bowl and ready to rock after a two-year touring hiatus. Autumn Attics, featuring Adam Perry of Perpetual Groove, will kick things off on the deck at 6 p.m. Costumes are encouraged.
Atlas Road Crew
w/ the Steppin’ Stones and Young Alumni
Sat. Oct. 31
9 p.m.
$5-15
Music Farm
Downtown
Before Atlas Road Crew head off to tour Europe, the local rock ‘n’ rollers will play one last local show on Halloween night. Also on the bill: soulful rockers the Steppin’ Stones, who relocated to Charleston relatively recently from Hilton Head and whose frontwoman is the sister of the High Divers’ frontman Luke Mitchell, and local indie-rock band Young Alumni, who have been pretty quiet of late, but we’re still diggin’ their 2010 self-titled EP. Atlas Road Crew has promised to dress up (last year they dressed as the Village People for Halloween), so showgoers are encouraged to do the same.
Super Nova Drift
Sun. Nov. 1
6 p.m.
Free
Básico
North Charleston
Local synth-pop band Super Nova Drift will provide the tunes this weekend for Básico’s Day of the Dead celebration. Feed that Halloween hangover with the taqueria’s seasonal taco and nacho bar and Day of the Day-inspired cocktails. The festivities will also include sugar skull face painting and live tarot card readings.
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