On this stage, some of the greatest bands got their start. Now it might all be coming to an end.

Gentrification is creeping toward Charlotte’s legendary Milestone Club, a gritty punk haven that’s been home to bands like R.E.M. and Nirvana. With 50+ years of music history etched into its walls, this DIY venue is hanging on by a thread. As the building crumbles, repairs stack up, and the ‘for sale’ sign looms, owner Buck Boswell is fighting to keep the lights on. Shot over four years, this documentary dives into the struggle to save the Milestone—and the larger fight for independent venues nationwide. Featuring artists like Violent Femmes, it’s a raw, urgent look at the vanishing heart of live music. Will the Milestone survive in a world where $5 rock shows are dying out? Watch to find out.

It’s like a museum for music

This documentary was filmed over four years and captures the struggles that the pandemic brought to the Milestone and venues like it nationwide. With independent stages already on the endangered species list, fans faced the heightened threat of losing these coveted sanctuaries for live music and the cultural support system they create.

The film features dozens of Milestone alumni, including the Violent Femmes, who reflect on the many shows they played at the club during the 80s and the troubling trend of historic venues like the Milestone shutting down.

“We're still trying to recreate the same energy that we used to create at the Milestone and the other small clubs,” said Violent Femmes bassist Brian Ritchie. “I guess it's natural that a lot of the clubs are closing, but it's a sad thing for live music. It's a sad thing for people playing music together.” 

The threat to the Milestone seems even more ominous as other independent venues in Charlotte fall like dominoes, many closing their doors over the past decade. Between the live music industry’s expansive corporate takeover and coronavirus closures, how will the Milestone survive and stay true to its heritage in a world where $5 rock shows are quickly becoming a thing of the past?

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Screenings

Featured Press

Featured Press

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QUEEN CITY NERVE - SEPTEMBER 30, 2019

Meet the filmmakers

Jason Arthurs and Liz McLaughlin, a husband-and-wife filmmaking team, are behind The Milestone, their first collaborative documentary project.

Jason, an award-winning photographer and filmmaker, has spent over a decade creating impactful documentaries, including Last Barn Dance, Without a Fight, and Hog Farmer (available on Amazon Prime). His work has been featured in top outlets like The New York Times and Time Magazine, and he teaches at the University of North Carolina's Documentary Workshops.

Liz, a seasoned national TV journalist with NBC News and WRAL in Raleigh, brings her storytelling expertise to the project. She’s covered major news events and earned multiple awards, including three Emmys.

Both longtime patrons of the Milestone Club, Jason and Liz were inspired to document the venue’s fight for survival. What began as a tribute to a beloved music space evolved into a powerful story about preserving cultural landmarks in a changing world.

DIRECTED BY
JASON ARTHURS

PRODUCED BY
LIZ MCLAUGHLIN