11 things to do in Wilmington this weekend, including big tours and world-class jazz

With the longest January of our lives in the rear-view, we can now look forward to … the longest February in four years.

Anyway, at least we've got some good entertainment to get us through another month of cold-ish weather, not to mention the impending traffic snarls coming soon to a downtown near you.

Some great music to check out this week, from world-class jazz, classical and Americana to some top-notch Wilmington indie rock and even some heavy metal.

Plus, we've got several really good touring shows coming to town (music, comedy, magic!) and a couple of interesting art-centric discussions on tap. Let's get going.

ALL WEEKEND

North Carolina Jazz Festival

Feb. 1-3 at the Hotel Ballast: 44th annual Wilmington-based jazz festival returns for three full nights of music. Thursday's opening night features Wilmington's own Port City Trio opening for New York City's Emmet Cohen Trio. (No doubt Cohen will play a song or two from the Heath Brothers, the great, Wilmington-connected jazz family consisting of the late Jimmy and Percy Heath, along with Albert "Tootie" Heath, who Cohen performed with here in 2022.)

On Friday and Saturday night, 15 world-class jazz players — singers and guitarists and horn players and reed players, percussionists and pianists and more — will mix and match into different combos for a half-dozen or more sets each evening. 7:30 p.m. Feb. 1-3. Tickets range from $15 for individual youth tickets to $240 for a three-day patron pass.

Brooks Whelan

Feb. 2-3 at Dead Crow Comedy Room: Iowa-born, California-based touring comic Whelan has a long list of accolades, from serving as a writer and cast member for "Saturday Night Live" (from which he talks about being fired) to scoring a No. 1 comedy album on iTunes to running the gauntlet of late-night talk shows. Very funny guy with a barely controlled manic energy and a delightful taste for the absurd. 7 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. Feb. 2-3, tickets are $20 and $30.

FRIDAY

Elvis Costello

Feb. 2 at CFCC Wilson Center: Iconic pop songwriter behind such hits as "Alison," "Peace, Love & Understanding" and "Everyday I Write the Book" makes his Wilmington debut. 7:30 p.m. Feb. 2, tickets start at $64. 910-362-7999.

Joshua Lozoff: 'Life Is Magic'

Feb. 2 at Thalian Hall: Touring magician Lozoff promises to amaze and astound with a mix of sleight of hand and more psychological tricks. 7:30 p.m. Feb. 2, 910-632-2285.

Beard of Antlers

Feb. 2 at Reggie's 42nd Street Tavern: Longtime Wilmington doom metal act is a master of muscular riffs and head-thrashing grooves. With opening acts Scrape and Arkn. 7 p.m. Feb. 2, tickets at the door.

Buddagraph Spaceship

Feb. 2. at Shaka's Backyard Music Space: Asheville jam band brings their spacily melodic sound to this Hampstead music spot. 6 p.m. Feb. 2, tickets TBA.

SATURDAY

Wilmington Symphony

Feb. 3 at CFCC Wilson Center: Wilmington Symphony concert will feature "Rhenish," the third and final symphony by Robert Schumann, which was inspired by the Rhine River. Also on the progam will be the student winners of the 48th annual Richard R. Deas Concerto Competition. 7:30 p.m. Feb. 3, tickets start at $25. 910-362-7999.

The Great Indoors, with Lady Die

Feb. 3 at Bourgie Nights: Wonderful double bill featuring a pair of top Wilmington acts. The Great Indoors play a delicate yet driving brand of melodic alt-rock; their song "Music You Can Play At Home" sounds like it could've been plucked from an obscure playlist of epic '90s classics you somehow never heard. Port City act Lady Die plays a shimmering brand of indie rock that features the ethereal and haunting vocals of Julia Rothenberger, who often adds some mind-bending electronic effects into the mix. 9 p.m. doors, 10 p.m. show, tickets are $10 in advance, $15 day of show.

Coffee and Conversation

At Brunswick Little Theatre: Wilmington playwright Frank Trimble, who's also a professor in UNCW's Department of Communication Studies, will talk about the art of writing a musical during this informal discussion series. Trimble, who has written musicals including "Fly Wright!" (about the Wright brothers) and "Ebenezer" (a take on "A Christmas Carol"), will also answer audience questions. On Feb. 8, Brunswick Little Theatre opens Trimble's latest musical, "Extra! Extra!" about extras on a movie set. 3 p.m. Feb. 3, tickets are free, but as seating is limited registration is encouraged.

SUNDAY

Palmyra

Feb. 4 at Live at Ted's: Excellent string band out of the Shenandoah Valley has an emo-bluegrass vibe that feels a little bit like Avett Brothers 2.0. Combining great musicianship with bracing emotion and good humor, they've got a great vibe and should blow the roof off Ted's. In 2022, Palmyra won the "On the Rise" portion of Virginia musical extravaganza FloydFest. 4 p.m. Feb. 4, tickets are $20.

'Bright Lights: African-Americans and the Arts'

Feb. 4 at Cape Fear Museum: In this program, Rhonda Bellamy, director of the Arts Council of Wilmington/New Hanover County, will explore and discuss the contributions of Black artists to the Wilmington scene. "Bright Lights" will focus on history, including artists like the late, legendary Minnie Evans, but also include artists and performers working in the Port City today. 2:30 p.m. Feb. 4.

This article originally appeared on Wilmington StarNews: What's going on in Wilmington, NC this weekend: Feb. 2-4, 2023