Country, comedy and rock 'n' roll all on menu as beach stages heat up. The full slate.

Roger Hillis
·4 min read

Beach entertainment venues will see a lot of comedy and rock ’n’ roll events this spring and summer, but a special show this week will feature a country performer with strong military ties.

Country singer, military veteran in Bottle & Cork's 1st season concert

In Dewey Beach, the Bottle & Cork nightclub launched its 88th season last Saturday, and week number two will include its first concert of the year — and admission is free. Country singer Scotty Hasting (“I’m America,” “How Do You Choose”) will perform for ages 21 and up on Friday, May 10. He will take the stage following an 8:30 p.m. opening set by Jovon Newman.

Country star Scotty Hasting will play a free concert at the Bottle & Cork in Dewey Beach at 8:30 p.m. Friday, May 10.
Country star Scotty Hasting will play a free concert at the Bottle & Cork in Dewey Beach at 8:30 p.m. Friday, May 10.

Tickets were originally advertised as being $20 for the general public, yet free for anyone with military I.D. — however Cork owner Alex Pires told me the decision has been made to make the show totally free. The Cork asked Hasting to come to Dewey on Friday after learning he will be in the vicinity this week participating in a military benefit in Washington, D.C. Hasting is a military veteran himself, and was awarded a Purple Heart after surviving multiple gunshots in battle while serving in Afghanistan in 2011.

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Bottle & Cork has other hot country, rock shows coming up

The Cork has also placed tickets on sale for a county concert that will take place this summer. Singer-songwriter Niko Moon, who sold out his Cork debut in 2022, will return to play Wednesday, June 26 ($25).

Tickets are also selling briskly for a Sunday, July 21 show featuring Philly rock ’n’ roll favorite Tommy Conwell & the Young Rumblers. That group enjoyed a successful two-nighter opening for the legendary Motley Crue from May 3-4 at the Mark G. Ettess Arena (Hard Rock Live) in Atlantic City, N.J.

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Jerry Seinfeld show sells out in record time at Freeman Arts Pavilion

In Selbyville, the outdoor Freeman Arts Pavilion held its season opening last Saturday as well. The day before that, it had placed tickets on sale for a much-ballyhooed appearance by comedy icon Jerry Seinfeld as part of its Sounds Like Summer concert series. Freeman representatives say the comedian’s Thursday, July 25 show sold out in record time (at $119 a pop), and that no additional nights will be added.

The booking was quite a coup for Freeman, and reminiscent of last year’s performance by Grammy-winning rock star Brandi Carlile at the tail end of her “In These Silent Days” tour (which had also included a sold-out gig at Madison Square Garden).

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Tickets still available for last-minute addition of Night Ranger

Tickets are on sale now for a summer performance by hard-rock act Night Ranger at the Freeman Arts Pavilion in Selbyville. The group will perform hits such as the power ballad "Sister Christian" at 7 p.m. Tuesday, July 16 ($50).
Tickets are on sale now for a summer performance by hard-rock act Night Ranger at the Freeman Arts Pavilion in Selbyville. The group will perform hits such as the power ballad "Sister Christian" at 7 p.m. Tuesday, July 16 ($50).

Freeman has also made a last-minute addition to the concert series courtesy of the hard-rock act Night Ranger. Tickets are on sale now for the show that will take place at 7 p.m. Tuesday, July 16. The general admission section has sold out, but tickets remain for most of the other sections with reserved seating ($50). The group’s hits include “Sister Christian,” “You Can Still Rock in America,” and the theme song to the Michael J. Fox movie “The Secret of My Success.”

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Small number of tickets still available for Jay Leno in Ocean City

Comedy favorite Jay Leno will appear at the Ocean City Performing Arts Center at 7 p.m. Thursday, May 16 ($79 to $125).
Comedy favorite Jay Leno will appear at the Ocean City Performing Arts Center at 7 p.m. Thursday, May 16 ($79 to $125).

While Jerry Seinfeld may be sold out in Selbyville, a smattering of tickets are still available to see his old friend Jay Leno in Ocean City next week — although they are likely to be gone by show time. The former "Tonight Show" host will appear at the OC Performing Arts Center at 7 p.m. Thursday, May 16 ($79 to $125). Leno and his wife Mavis Leno posed for photos with Seinfeld last week in Los Angeles at the red-carpet premiere of Seinfeld’s new Netflix comedy about Pop-Tarts called “Unfrosted.”

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Ocean City's OC Bikefest adds heavy metal triple bill

Elsewhere in Ocean City, the organizers of OC Bikefest have unveiled more of the entertainers who will be rocking the Inlet at the annual event, which this year runs Wednesday through Sunday, Sept. 11-15. A hard-rock triple bill will provide the soundtrack Thursday, Sept. 12, with sets by Sevendust, Nothing More and Theory of a Deadman ($90). Previously announced acts on other days that week include Ted Nugent, Tesla and Buckcherry (with more to be announced).

E-mail Roger Hillis at rogerhillis@gmail.com.

This article originally appeared on Salisbury Daily Times: Comedy, rock 'n' roll and country a fun mix on beach stages this week