SOUTHEASTERN N.C. — The amount of free live music offered in the tri-county region keeps growing as temps warm and tourists begin to crowd area beaches. Around this time, municipalities, organizations and businesses also begin releasing their concert schedules, featuring tribute acts, cover bands and original regional and local musicians.
READ: Downtown Alive announces lineup for its free concert series
ALSO: 37 free concerts: Downtown marina resurrects summer music series
AND: Airlie Gardens concert series to kick off June 3
Port City Daily culled a dozen schedules to help individuals plan their weekly excursions between now and October. From Leland’s Live in the Park — which kicked off Thursday — to Kure Beach’s Boogie in the Park — starting Sunday, May 1 — Topsail Sounds to Hampstead’s Alive After Five to Wrightsville Beach and Oak Island, here are the rosters of sounds across the region.
Topsail Sounds
Taking place once a month through September, the concert series takes place at Topsail Beach Town Center (624 S. Anderson Blvd.) from 6:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. Concertgoers can bring blankets, chairs, food and drink.
May 24 — The Cruise Brothers Band (Motown, country)
June 28 — Revolution (Beatles tribute)
July 26 — Randy Knight and Parrot Party (Jimmy Buffett tribute)
Aug. 23 — Bacon Grease (rock)
Sept. 27 — The Mango Band (party band)
Hampstead Alive After Five
There will be five concerts taking place at the Hampstead Kiwanis Park on Fridays, through July. Blankets, chairs, food and drink welcome; there will be food and dessert trucks on site during the show, which lasts from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
May 20 — Carl Newton’s Review (R&B band)
June 3 — Big City (country-western, swing)
June 17 — The Cruise Brothers Band (Motown, country)
July 8 — Blackwater Band (Top 40, blues, funk, country)
July 22 — The British Invaders (1960’s English rock)
WECT Sounds of Summer at Wrighstville Beach
A family friendly event, the free concert series takes place at Wrightsville Beach Park from June 9 through July 28, 6:30 p.m. Blankets and chairs, food and beverage are allowed, though alcohol is not permitted.
June 9 — FEEBS (rock, funk, and blues)
June 16 — Port City Shakedown (dance party band)
June 23 — Southern Trouble (country)
June 30 – Uptown Easy (dance party band)
July 7 — Jack Jack 180 (party band)
July 14 — Overtyme Band (classic rock)
July 21 — reSoul Band (party band)
July 28 — Dekker Road (classic rock, dance)
Downtown Alive Music Series
Presented by Downtown Business Alliance, Downtown Alive features mostly tribute bands with some original acts on Saturdays from Memorial through Labor day. The concerts begin at 5 p.m. and beach chairs are welcome. Alcohol is sold on site and a food truck will be set up. Shows take place on Chestnut Street between 2nd and 3rd. Read more here.
May 28 — The Stranger (Billy Joel)
June 4 — Thunderstorm Artis (“The Voice” finalist, 2020)
June 11 — Shoot to Thrill (AC/DC)
June 18 — Zoso (Led Zeppelin)
June 25 — Johnny Folsom 4 (Johnny Cash)
July 2 — Blink 180 (Blink 182)
July 9 — George Michael Reborn (WHAM! and George Michael)
July 23 — Red Not Chili Peppers (Red Hot Chili Peppers)
July 30 — Thurston Howell (yacht rock covers)
Aug. 6 — Abacab (Phil Collins and Genesis)
Aug. 13 — Sell Outs (emo covers)
Aug. 20 — Iya Terra, Mike Lowe, Signal Fire (original reggae act)
Aug. 27 — Idlewild South (Allman Brothers Band)
Sept. 3 — JoeHero (Foo Fighters)
Port City Marina and Marina Grill Concert Series
Two music series will take place at Port City Marina and Marina Grill, both Friday and Saturday nights through summer. The free shows take place along the downtown Riverwalk at 18 Harnett St.
Currently, Saturday Night Series is underway through October and features all local bands from 6 p.m. – 9 p.m.
The Friday Night Live! series will begin Memorial Day and last through Labor Day, each week featuring a different tribute band.
Both series are free to attend; alcohol is sold onsite. Read more here.
Friday Night Live! Schedule, 7:30 p.m. – 10 p.m
May 27 — Tuesday’s Gone (Lynyrd Skynyrd)
June 24 — Funky Monks (Red Hot Chili Peppers)
July 1 — 20 Ride (Zac Brown Band)
July 8 — Breakfast Club (‘80s band)
July 29 — Cosmic Charlie (Grateful Dead)
Aug. 5 — Fix You (Coldplay)
Aug. 12 — Guardians of the Jukebox (Tribute to MTV-era acts)
Aug. 19 — Abbey Road Live (Beatles)
Sept. 2 — Departure (Journey)
Saturday Night Series, 6 p.m. – 9 p.m. (unless otherwise noted)
May 7 — David Dixon (5 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.)
May 14 — Chuck Mountain
May 21 — Lunar Tide
May 28 — TBA (Downtown Thunder Bike Night)
June 4 — Phantom Playboys (5 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.)
June 11 — Southern Trouble (Downtown Thunder Bike Night)
June 18 — AllGirl Rhythm (5 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.)
June 25 — Machine Gun
July 2 — The Conspiracy (5 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.)
July 9 — Dane Britt
July 16 — Massive Grass (Downtown Thunder Bike Night)
July 23 — Phantom Playboys (5 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.)
July 30 — Port City Shakedown
Aug. 6 — Medicated Sunfish (5 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.)
Aug. 13 — Trouble No More
Aug. 20 — Chuck Mountain (Downtown Thunder Bike Night)
Aug. 27 — Massive Grass
Sept. 3 — Into the Fog (5 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.)
Sept. 10 — Uptown Easy (Downtown Thunder Bike Night)
Sept. 17 — Port City Shakedown
Sept. 24 — Machine Gun
Oct. 1 — Juno
Oct. 8 — Steele Country Express
Oct. 15 — Parlay
Oct. 22 — Highway Miles Band
Oct. 29 — Uptown Easy
Leland’s Live at the Park
Hosted for free in Founder’s Park, live music takes the stage on Thursday nights through June 2. The concerts begin at 6:30 p.m. and blankets, chairs, food and drink are welcome. Food trucks are often parked on site.
May 5 — L Shape Lot (original Americana)
May 26 — Port City Shakedown (dance party band)
June 2 — The Tonez (dance party band)
Ocean Grill and Tiki Bar
Each year, Carolina Beach’s Ocean Grill and Tiki Bar hosts local and regional bands weekly on its pier over the Atlantic Ocean. The lineup consists of all original musicians performing a variety of styles and genres from rock to country, yacht rock to folk. Shows are free and start at 6 p.m. on Thursdays.
June 2 — The Swellians (surf, rock)
June 9 — Pleasure Island (rock), Pinky Verde (rock)
June 16 — Zen Frisbee (rock)
June 23 — The Feeds (power pop, rock), Sean Thomas Gerard (rock)
June 30 — Tracy Shedd (indie rock), Lauds (experimental)
July 7 — Kicking Bird (rock, glam, new wave)
July 14 — Seeking Madras (indie rock, shoegaze)
July 21 — Mason Smith Band (alternative country)
July 28 — The Dew Drops (country western)
Aug. 4 — Feather (covers,yacht rock)
Aug. 11 — Skylar Gudasz (folk)
Aug. 18 — The Shoaldiggers (blues, rock)
Aug. 25 — CoverLip (rock covers)
2022 Summer Boardwalk Blast Music Series
Shows take place from Memorial through Labor Day at the Carolina Beach Boardwalk. Concerts are free and begin at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday nights (some Fridays) and wrap by 9:30 p.m.
Friday, May 27 — Roy Roberts Blues Band (blues)
June 2 — Carl Newton’s Review (R&B band)
June 9 — Phantom Playboys (ska, rockabilly)
June 16 — Down South Thunder (modern country, rock)
June 23 — The Goodloves (acoustic)
July 1 — Beggars Banquet (Rolling Stones tribute)
July 7 — Smitty and the JumpStarters (blues)
July 14 — SPANK (‘80s party band)
July 23 — Dr. Bacon (Appalachian funk rock)
July 28 — Rebekkah Todd and the Odyssey (cosmic soul rock)
Aug. 4 — The Mystery Hillbillies (vintage country, rockabilly, swing)
Aug. 11 — Ladies Auxiliary (blues, classic Rock
Aug. 18 — The British Invaders (1960’s English bands tribute)
Aug. 25 — Built for Comfort (rock, blues)
Sept. 2 — The Main Event (beach, classic rock)
Kure Beach Boogie at the Park
Taking place the first and third Sunday at Ocean Front Park (105 Atlantic Ave.), blankets, chairs, food and drink are welcome. There will be a dozen concerts taking place from 5 p.m. – 7 p.m. (no shows on July 4 or Labor Day).
May 1 — Uptown Easy (dance party band)
May 15 — Signal Fire (original reggae-rock)
June 5 — The Donald Thompson Band (vintage R&B)
June 19 — Gary Lowder and Smokin’ Hot (soul, R&B, party band)
July 17 — Down South Thunder (modern country, rock)
Aug. 8 — Into the Fog (newgrass)
Aug. 21 — Lynne and the Wave (variety band)
Sept. 18 — Circle City Rockers (party band)
Oct. 2 — South of K (bluegrass)
Oct. 16 — Big Time Shine (party band)
Southport Summer Concert Series
Concerts are held at Franklin Square Park at 130 E West St. on Thursdays, 6 p.m. Enjoy concerts from Memorial Day through Labor Day, and blankets and chairs are welcome.
June 2 — Back Porch Rockers (classic rock, blues)
June 9 — NowCat (classic rock, country)
June 16 — Brunswick Big Band (big band)
June 23 — Zilches (classic rock)
July 7 — Christina Martinez Band (Americana)
July 14 — Carolina Line Band (bluegrass)
July 19 — Parlay Classic (rock)
July 28 — Chance Union (rock, ‘80s-‘70s)
Aug. 4 — Charlene & the Charlatans (bluegrass)
Aug. 11 — A Class Act (Top 40, dance, beach, soul, shag)
Aug. 18 — Luna Sea (rock, soul)
Aug. 25 — Salty Dawgs (rock, pop, country, blues)
Sept. 1 — Blues Kings (blues, jazz)
Oak Island’s Bands by the Beach
Concerts are held at Middleton Park Amphitheater on Fridays, 6:30 pm. – 8:30 p.m. Blankets and chairs are welcome.
May 27 — The Main Event Band (party band)
June 3 — The Cruise Brothers Band (Motown, country)
June 10 — The Sand Band (beach music)
June 17 — The Tim Clark Band (dance, shag, rock music)
June 24 — The Entertainers (beach music)
July 1 — Cat 5 (beach music)
July 8 — Too Much Sylvia (party band)
July 15 — Chocolate Chip & Co. Band (Top 40, dance)
July 22 — The Embers featuring Craig Woolard (beach, shag music)
July 29 — The Pink Slips Band (beach music)
Aug. 5 — Uptown Easy Band (dance party band)
Aug. 12 — Rivermist (classic rock, R&B)
Aug. 19 — Carolina Line Bluegrass Band (bluegrass)
Aug. 26 — Old Man Mafia Band (rock, blues)
Sept. 3 (Saturday) — North Tower (beach, Motown, disco, funk)
Have a free concert series to add to the list? Email info@portcitydaily.com
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