Full list of outdoor summer concerts in the Wilmington area for 2024

The Wilmington area is rich in lots of things, and one of them is live music outdoors during the warm months.

It would seem the combination of fresh air, live tunes and cold beverage of your choice is a popular one. Every year, once May rolls around, the so-called "summer concert series" start coming out of the woodwork. A handful had already started before we could even get this list out, but most of the series don't begin for another week or two.

Check below for information on more than two dozen places to catch an outdoor concert, from Calabash to Topsail Beach and all points in between. Some concerts require tickets, but many of the concert series listed here are free.

NEW HANOVER

Airlie Gardens Concert Series

Super-popular series in the most beautiful setting imaginable. Concerts run from 6-8 p.m. Fridays, and non-member tickets go on sale the Monday before each concert. (Tickets for Airlie members go on sale earlier.) Parking is off-site at the Northeast Library, 1241 Military Cutoff Road, with free shuttle service to the concerts starting at 5 p.m. Concessions not available, but chairs, blankets and picnics are allowed. Tickets are $10, $3 for ages 4-12, free for ages 3 and under. 910-798-7700.

• June 7: reSOUL (dance, rock, country)

• June 21: Jack Jack 180 (rock, pop)

• July 5: Lilly and The Loud Music Company (rock)

• July 19: Bibis Ellison (rock, pop)

• Aug. 9: Motel Soap

• Aug. 16: TripleWide

• Sept. 6: Jim Quick & Coastline (beach, "swamp soul")

Blakeslee Air Force Recreation Concert Series

Late summer/early fall music series is held in the lovely environs of the Blakeslee Air Force Recreation Area in Kure Beach, with its scenic vistas of the Cape Fear River. Concerts are held 6 p.m. Fridays. Free.

• Aug. 9: Southern Child (country, rock)

• Aug. 23: Kenny Reeves & Trainwreck

• Sept. 13: Brown Dirt Cowboys (pop, rock)

• Sept. 27: Dani Kerr & the Skeleton Krew (rock, soul)

• Oct. 11: New River Band

• Oct. 25: Stephen Gossin & The Righteous Dudes

Cameron Art Museum Sunset Performance Series

Concerts by area acts are held on the grounds of the CAM by the "Boundless" sculpture. $5 suggested donation, 7 p.m. Thursdays.

• May 16: Louis the Rapper (hip-hop)

• Future dates TBA

Carolina Beach Boardwalk Blast

Pleasure Island concert series also features fireworks. Concerts run 6:30-9:30 p.m. Thursdays on the Carolina Beach Boardwalk except where indicated. Fireworks on the beach strand start at 9 p.m. Free.

• Friday, May 24: Carl Newton Revue (R&B, soul)

• May 30: Southern Trouble (country rock)

• June 6: The Conspiracy ('70s and '80s rock)

• June 13: Feebs (rock, blues, funk)

• June 20: GoodLoves (acoustic classics)

• Friday, June 27: Dani Kerr & the Skeleton Krew (rock, soul)

• Wednesday, July 3: Port City Shakedown (dance/party band)

• July 11: The Dane Britt Band (rock)

• July 18: reSOUL (dance, rock, country)

• July 25: The Bibis Ellison Band (rock, pop)

• Aug. 1: Old North State (country)

• Aug. 8: 8 Track Memories (classics)

• Aug. 15: Frank Grant & The Feelin' (soul, R&B, reggae)

• Aug. 22: Jen and Tonic

• Friday, Aug. 30: The Main Event (beach, rock)

Carolina Beach Music Festival

Some say the beach music genre was born in Carolina Beach, and this annual festival (2024 is the 38th) brings it all back home. Festival runs 10 a.m.-5 p.m. June 1, and tickets are $35, free for kids 10 and under. Bands this year are Jim Quick & Coastline, Blackwater and the Main Event Band.

Free Concert Friday

Concert series from downtown beer garden and event space The Eagles' Dare, Third and Red Cross streets. Concerts, which feature a mix of area, touring and tribute acts, start with a 6 p.m. opener, with headliners going on at 8 p.m. Gates at 4 p.m. Free as can be.

• May 10: Nirvani (Nirvana tribute), opener is School of Rock

• May 17: Signs of Sacrifice (Creed tribute), opener is Audiomelt

• May 24: Signal Fire (reggae), opener is Sound Destroyer

• May 31: Same As It Ever Was (Talking Heads tribute), opener is Ditch Kitty

• June 7: All My Rowdy Friends (Hank Williams Jr. tribute)

• June 14: The Conspiracy ('70s and '80s tribute)

• June 21: Angry Chair (Alice In Chains tribute)

• June 28: The Phantom Playboys (psychobilly)

• July 5: Hey Johnny Park (Foo Fighters tribute)

• July 12: Johnny Folsom 4 (Johnny Cash tribute)

• July 19: Nashville Nights Band ('90s country tribute)

• July 26: Emo Kids

Friday Night Live

Downtown Wilmington concert series is held right on the Cape Fear River, at The Pier at Port City Marina. Concerts are 7 p.m. Fridays, tickets are $10.

• May 24: Tell Me Lies (Fleetwood Mac tribute)

• May 31: War Hippies (country)

• June 14: Breakfast Club ('80s)

• June 21: Idlewood South (Allman Brothers tribute)

• June 28: One Irish Rover (Van Morrison tribute)

• July 12: Broken Hearts (Tom Petty tribute)

• July 19: Subliminal Doubt (No Doubt tribute)

• July 26: Texas Hill (country)

• Aug. 9: Departure (Journey tribute)

• Aug. 23: Greggie & The Jets (Elton John tribute)

Greenfield Lake Amphitheater

1,200-seat amphitheater managed by Live Nation has a full summer of concerts by major touring acts. Purchase tickets in advance, concessions available.

• May 9: The Record Company (rock)

• May 11: Loud Music Company (rock)

• May 16: Amos Lee (rock)

• May 19: Dark Star Orchestra (Pink Floyd tribute)

• May 26: Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue (jazz)

• June 7: The Movement (rock)

• June 10: The Wood Brothers (folk)

• June 18: Burning Spear (reggae)

• June 27: Blackberry Smoke (rock)

• June 29: The Stews (rock)

• July 5-7: Michael Franti & Spearhead (rock)

• July 11: Flipturn (rock)

• July 13: Big Something, SUSTO and Krispee Biscuits (rock, electronic)

• July 14: The Disco Biscuits (rock)

• July 16: The Flaming Lips (rock)

• July 17: Flatland Cavalry (country)

• July 19: Dispatch (rock)

• July 20: Ben Folds (pop, rock)

• July 23: Steel Pulse (reggae)

• July 30: Fitz and The Tantrums (pop)

• July 31: The Head And The Heart (rock)

• Aug. 10: Andy Frasco (rock)

• Aug. 11: Maren Morris (country)

• Aug. 22-23: Charley Crockett (country)

• Aug. 30: American Aquarium (rock, county)

• Aug. 31: Steve Earle (country)

• Sept. 1: Marty Stuart (country)

• Sept. 22: Lawrence (rock, pop)

• Sept. 24: Briston Maroney (folk)

Jazz at the Mansion

Concerts are held at the Bellamy Mansion Museum downtown on the second Thursday of each month and start at 6:30 p.m. Tickets, which are purchased at the venue on the day of the concert, are $25, $20 for museum volunteers and members, and $15 for students and active military. Proceeds benefit the Cape Fear Jazz Society and the Bellamy Mansion Museum.

• May 9: Dillon Goodson Quartet

• June 13: Dwayne Jordan Quartet

• July 11: Darryl Murrill

• Aug. 8: Sean Meade Quartet

• Sept. 12: Gabriel Sanchez Porras Quartet

• Oct. 10: Rain makeup date if necessary

Kure Beach Boogie in the Park

People do, in fact, get down and boogie at this oceanside concert series, held 5-7 p.m. Sundays at Oceanfront Park, 105 Atlantic Ave. in Kure Beach. Bring a beach chair or blanket. Free. 910-458-8216.

• May 19: Brown Dirt Cowboys (rock, pop)

• June 2: Lilly and the Loud Music Company (rock)

• June 16: Blackwater (beach, blues, country)

• July 21: Down South Thunder (country, rock)

• Aug. 4: School of Rock (student band)

• Aug. 18: Into the Fog (newgrass)

• Sept. 15: David Dixon (pop, rock, soul)

• Oct. 6: Carl Newton's Revue (R&B, soul)

• Oct. 20: Port City Shakedown (party, dance)

The Lazy Pirate

Carolina Beach hotspot has live music multiple times per week on its outdoor stage. Check LazyPirateSportsGrill.com for schedule.

Live Oak Bank Pavilion

7,200-seat amphitheater managed by Live Nation has a full summer of concerts by major touring acts. Purchase tickets in advance, concessions available.

• May 14: Hozier (rock)

• June 13: Alabama (country)

• June 29: Cole Swindell (country)

• June 26: Iration, Pepper, DENM, Artikal Sound System (reggae)

• July 27: Slightly Stoopid, Dirty Heads, Common Kings, The Elovaters (rock)

• Aug. 11: Train (rock)

• Aug. 16: Bailey Zimmerman (country)

• Sept. 10: Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats, My Morning Jacket (rock)

• Sept. 12: Dierks Bentley (country)

• Oct. 2: The Marley Brothers (reggae)

• Oct. 8: Vampire Weekend (rock)

• Oct. 20: Lainey Wilson (country)

• Oct. 22: Whiskey Myers (country)

Mayfaire Music on the Town

The shopping center is bringing back a short run of its old music series to celebrate Mayfaire's 20th anniversary. Concerts are 6-8 p.m. on the lawn across from Fuel Fitness. Bring chairs and/or blankets. Free, no pets.

May 25: The Hatch Brothers (rock)

June 8: Shotgun Taxi

Ocean Grill & Tiki Bar

After taking last summer off while repairs were made to the former Center Pier in Carolina Beach, this concert series is back on for this summer. Concerts are 7-9 p.m. Thursdays except where noted. Admission is free, food and beverages available for purchase.

• May 30: Tonk (rock)

• June 6: The Old Ceremony (folk rock)

• Sunday, June 9: The Woggles (garage)

• Wednesday, June 19: Cut Worms

• June 20: Summer Set, with Schooner (indie rock)

• June 27: Birdwell Beat (surf)

• July 11: The Whom

• Friday, July 12: Turnstyles (garage, surf)

• Sunday, July 14: Bicycle Face

• July 18: Lauds (shoegaze)

• July 25: The Shoaldiggers (Americana)

• Aug. 1: Benji Hughes (indie pop)

• Friday, August 9: Skylar Gudasz (indie)

• Sunday, August 11: Zack Keim

• Monday, Aug. 19: Phatlynx (instrumental rock)

• Aug. 22: Kicking Bird (rock, pop)

• Aug. 29: CoverLip (rock)

Oceanic Summer Music Series

Held on Crystal Pier at the Oceanic restaurant in Wrightsville Beach. Concerts are 6-9 p.m. Thursdays and noon-3 p.m. Sundays May 9-Aug. 29. Free. Full schedule at OceanicRestaurant.com.

Rock the Dock

Weekly outdoor music series at Wrightsville Beach hotspot Bluewater Grill, located right on the Intracoastal Waterway. Concerts are 4-8 p.m. Sundays, free.

• May 12: Eric Metts

• May 19: Key Lime Pie

• May 26: Dos Eddies

• June 2: reSoul (R&B)

• June 9: Mykel Barbee

• June 16: Kelly Godfrey

• June 23: A Full Dish

• June 30: Dos Eddies

• July 7: Mystic Vibrations (reggae)

• July 14: Dos Eddies

• July 21: Eric Metts

• July 28: Mykel Barbee

• Aug. 4: Lunar Tide

• Aug. 11: Dos Eddies

• Aug. 18: Eric Metts

• Aug. 25: Initialize

• Sept. 1: Jam Sandwich

• Sept. 8: A Full Dish

• Sept. 15: Dos Eddies

• Sept. 22: Eric Metts

• Sept. 29: Mykel Barbee

Saturday Sunset Series

Popular concert series is held at the boatyard at Marina Grill, 18 Harnett St., just off the Wilmington Riverwalk. Free admission, with food and beverages available for purchase. Shows run 6-9 p.m.

• May 11: Machine Gun (rock)

• May 18: CMB

• May 25: David Peterson

• June 1: Bad Billy's

• June 8: Uptown Easy (soul, funk, R&B)

• June 15: Dekker Road (rock)

• June 22: Machine Gun (rock)

• July 20: Port City Shakedown

• July 27: Machine Gun (rock)

• Aug. 3: Port City Rockers

• Aug. 10: Bad Billy's

• Aug. 17: LunaSea

• Sept. 7: Dekker Road (rock)

• Sept. 14: DAZR

• Sept. 28: Machine Gun (rock)

• Oct. 5: Bad Billy's

Seawitch Cafe & Tiki Bar

Carolina Beach spot is a great place to see live music, which is performed on a covered outdoor stage. Music on multiple nights per week all summer long, check schedule for details.

WECT Sounds of Summer

Concerts in Wrightsville Beach Park are 6-8 p.m. Thursdays. Bring a lawn chairs or blanket. Picnics welcome food trucks on site. Coolers allowed, but no alcohol.

• June 13: The ReSOUL Band

• June 20: Port City Shakedown

• June 27: Jack Jack 180

• July 11: No Regretz

• July 18: British Invaders

• July 25: Southern Trouble

• Aug. 1: CMB

• Aug. 8: Machine Gun Band

BRUNSWICK COUNTY

Calabash Summer Concert Series

Concerts are 6-8:30 p.m. Tuesdays at Calabash Town Park, 868 Persimmon Road. Bring a blanket or a lawn chair. Free. 910-579-6747.

• June 4: The Embers featuring Craig Woolard (beach)

• June 18: The Thomas Road Band

• June 25: Too Much Sylvia (variety)

• July 2: The Extraordinaires

• July 16: The Tonez

• July 23: Band of Oz (beach)

• July 30: Southside Saints

• Aug. 6: Chocolate Chip & Co. (soul, R&B)

Holden Beach Concert Series

Concert series' lineup is set but its location was uncertain as of press time. Due to ongoing work at the pavilion under the Holden Beach bridge, concerts will likely be held at Bridgeview Park. Concerts run 6:30-8 p.m. Sunday evenings. Call 910-842-6488 for details.

• May 26: The Main Event Band

• June 2: Gary Lowder & Smokin’ Hot (beach)

• June 9: Carolina Kool

• June 16: Cat 5

• June 23: Blackwater Band (beach, rock, country)

• June 30: The Tams (beach)

• July 7: The Extraordinaires

• July 14: Continental Divide

• July 21: Chairman of the Board (beach)

• July 28: The Embers featuring Craig Woolard (beach)

• Aug. 4: Band of Oz (beach)

• Aug. 11: Jim Quick and Coastline (beach, "swamp soul")

• Aug. 18: The Entertainers

• Aug. 25: Too Much Sylvia (variety)

• Sept. 1: North Tower (beach)

Oak Island 'Bands by the Beach' Concert Series

Concerts run 6:30-8:30 p.m. Fridays, unless otherwise noted, at the Middleton Park Ampitheater. Blankets, lawn chairs and picnics allowed. Free.

• May 24: Blackwater Band (beach, rock, country)

• May 31: Christine Martinez Band

• June 7: Ntranze

• June 14: Too Much Sylvia (variety)

• June 21: The Entertainers

• June 28: The Sand Band

• Monday, July 1 (Beach Day): 20 Ride (Zach Brown tribute)

• July 12: Chocolate Chip & Co. (soul, R&B)

• July 19: The Tonez

• July 26: Rivermist

• Aug. 2: Autumn Tyde

• Aug. 9: The Tams (beach)

• Aug. 16: The Salty Dawgs

• Aug. 23: LunaSea

• Saturday, Aug. 31: The Main Event Band

Ocean Isle Beach Summer Concerts

Also known as the Peggy Hughes Summer Concert Series, shows are Friday evenings (5 p.m. gates, 6:30 p.m. show) at Town Center Park, 11 E. Second St. in Ocean Isle Beach. Free. Chairs allowed, no smoking, vaping or pets.

• May 24: Band of Oz (beach)

• May 31: Bailout

• June 7: Special Occasion Band

• June 14: LunaSea

• June 21: Too Much Sylvia (variety)

• June 28: Blackwater Band (beach, rock, country)

• July 5: The Extraordinaires

• July 12: The Entertainers

• July 19: Chocolate Chip & Co. (soul, R&B)

• July 26: The Catalinas

• Aug. 2: Jim Quick & Coastline (beach, "swamp soul")

• Aug. 9: The Main Event Band

• Aug. 16: Continental Divide

• Aug. 23: The Magnificents

• Aug. 30: Gary Lowder & Smokin' Hot (beach, pop)

Southport Concert Series

Concert series in downtown Southport is moving to Sundays from Thursday this year. Concerts are 2-4 p.m. Sundays on the Garrison Lawn at Fort Johnston. Bring picnics, chairs, blankets. Free.

• May 12: A Class Act (rock, country, Motown)

• May 19: Kenny Reeves and Trainwreck (country)

• May 26: The Sea and Sand Band (rock, blues, country)

• June 2: Carolina Crazy (country, rock)

• June 9: The 52nd Street Band (rock)

• June 16: Rainout date

• June 23: Rainout date

• Sept. 1: Lockwood River Band (rock)

• Sept. 8: Whiplash (classic rock)

• Sept. 15: Rev and the Flying Flamingos (blues)

• Sept. 22: The Ford Project (rock, blues)

• Sept. 29: Chance Union (rock, folk, Americana)

• Oct. 6: The Stone Cold Blues Band

• Oct. 13: Rainout date

• Oct. 20: Rainout date

Sunset Beach 'Sound Waves' concert series

Concerts are held 6-8 p.m. Wednesdays at Sunset Beach Town Park, 206 Sunset Blvd.

• May 29: The Extraordinaires

• June 5: Chocolate Chip & Co. (soul, R&B)

• June 12: Cat 5 Band

• June 19: 100 Grand Band

• June 26: JB & the Get Down Browns

• July 3: Tuesday's Gone (Lynyrd Skynyrd tribute)

• July 10: The Switch

• July 17: Julio & the Saltines

• July 24: The Entertainers

• July 31: North Tower Band (beach)

• Aug. 7: Band on Fire

• Aug. 14: Blackwater Band (beach, country, rock)

• Aug. 21: Too Much Sylvia (variety)

• Aug. 28: Southside Saints

PENDER COUNTY

Burgaw Summer on the Square concerts

All concerts will be held 6:30-8:30 p.m. Thursdays on the Pender County Courthouse Square, downtown Burgaw. Food vendors on site. Free. 910-259-1330.

• May 30: The Pink Slips

• June 13: Carl Newton Revue

• June 27: Autumn Tyde

• July 11: Chocolate Chip & Co. (soul, R&B)

• July 25: Jim Quick & Coastline (beach, "swamp soul")

Hampstead Alive After Five Concert Series

Concerts are 6:30 p.m. Fridays at Kiwanis Park, 586 Sloop Point Loop Road in Hampstead. Bring blankets and chairs. Food trucks on site. Alcohol not allowed, but leashed dogs are permitted this year. Free.

• May 17: Carl Newton’s Revue (Motown classic hits)

• June 7: Heart Stop (rock, blues)

• June 21: British Invaders (English bands tribute)

• July 19: Jimmy Dreams (Jimmy Buffet tribute)

Topsail Sounds Concert Series

Concerts are 6:30-8:30 p.m. Tuesdays at the Topsail Beach Town Center, 624 S. Anderson Blvd. in Topsail Beach. Bring a chair. Free.

• May 28: JT Parrothead (Jimmy Buffet)

• June 25: Dos Eddies

• July 23: Bacon Grease (rock)

• Aug. 27: Jimmy Dreams (Jimmy Buffet)

This article originally appeared on Wilmington StarNews: Outdoor summer concerts in and near Wilmington, NC, 2024