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MJ Lenderman Lights Up The Ramkat

With help from The Wind, Karly Hartzman, and a room full of eager fans, Lenderman wrapped his tour on a high note, and he’s just getting started.

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Fresh off a long run of sold-out shows, MJ Lenderman and The Wind carried that momentum to The Ramkat in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, for one more sold-out evening to close out this tour and delivered a night that felt both electric and deeply familiar.

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Over the past year, Lenderman has gone from Asheville’s best kept secret to one of the most buzzed about names in indie rock, steadily packing out venues with fans drawn to his fuzzed-out guitar work, alt-country swing, and lyrics that hit like inside jokes. While many first heard his name through his work with the band Wednesday, it’s his solo material, especially 2022’s Boat Songs and the 2024 standout Manning Fireworks, that has pushed him to the forefront, earning critical acclaim and a fast-growing, fiercely loyal following.

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The Ramkat filled quickly, with an eager and on-time crowd that spanned generations, college-aged fans brushing shoulders with older indie die-hards, all drawn in by the promise of a solid night of music.

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Even before the first note rang out, the merch booth was already seeing steady traffic. I spotted folks weaving through the crowd with vinyl and posters in hand, and one guy with a poster tube slung over his shoulder like he meant business.

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The night kicked off with This Is Lorelei, the solo project of Nate Amos, setting the tone with a set that was as eclectic as it was engaging.

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Amos delivered a performance that felt exploratory but focused, blending lo-fi textures with a mix of sounds that kept the room dialed in.

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There was a looseness to the set that matched the spirit of the evening, and more than once I caught myself drifting along with the grooves. It was a strong, well received start to the night.

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After This Is Lorelei finished, the crowd took advantage of the set break, grabbing drinks, chatting, and packing in tighter for the main act. That pause only made the anticipation grow as everyone was clearly waiting for MJ Lenderman.

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At the heart of Lenderman’s appeal is his ability to make the everyday feel meaningful without trying too hard. Whether he’s singing about heartbreak or pickup basketball, there’s a fun honesty that resonates.

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When Lenderman and The Wind finally hit the stage with the house lights still up and a quick nod to the crowd, they wasted no time diving straight into the first song. Early in the set Karly Hartzman, his longtime collaborator and front person of Wednesday joined the band on stage, adding another familiar face and voice to the mix.

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After a few songs into the set Lenderman gave a warm shout-out to his family section, where a large group of relatives had gathered, adding a personal touch to the night.

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He also took a moment to share that the last time he was at The Ramkat was as a fan, catching a Patterson Hood show, another fun nod to the local connection Lenderman has to this region.

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Backed by “The Wind”, a band clearly having as much fun on stage as the crowd was on the floor, Lenderman has turned his live show into something more than just a performance, and on this night in Winston-Salem, the crowd was all in.

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Lenderman isn’t slowing down anytime soon. He’ll head across the pond for a short run of UK shows before mixing it up through the summer with festival and club dates across the U.S. and Europe.

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Come fall, he’s set to hit the West Coast for another round of shows. In other words, no matter where you are, there’s a good chance you’ll have the opportunity to catch MJ Lenderman and The Wind live sometime soon.

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MJ Lenderman Setlist The Ramkat, Winston-Salem, NC, USA 2025

See the Full Gallery of the Night Here!

If you captured any shots of the night, feel free to tag us on social media at Shutter 16 Magazine and throw in #Shutter16 and #TwitFromThePit for the world to see. 

Catch this tour – see dates here.

www.theramkat.com
www.thenateamos.com/work/this-is-lorelei
www.mjlenderman.com

Photographer Josh Gooch is a North Carolina native and a graduate of Appalachian State, Josh Gooch works in education, teaching graphic design at the community college level. Photography became a passion during his college career, and remained a constant addition to the ever-present soundtrack of life. Privileged to have turned an ear to hip-hop at a young age, after developing a love of music from ‘80s radio, Josh found that the revelation of rock music in high school was what led him to really devote serious amounts of attention to music. From there it was that first club show that sparked an addiction to live music and the exposure to various forms of it during the college years, cementing a love of passion and truth in music. Now, with the ability to combine the passions of photography and music, he hopes to continue to develop a creative voice that others appreciate.

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