Friday, February 14, 2025

In Photos: GRiZ electrifies Riverfront Park Friday, gets rained out Saturday

WILMINGTON –– DJ and producer GRiZ brought “GRiZMAS in July” to a sold-out crowd of 7,200 rainbow-wearing and LED hula-hopping concertgoers at Live Oak Bank Pavilion Friday night. A second, fully booked show slated for Saturday night was delayed due to an impending storm. It opened late and then was quickly evacuated as lightning struck near the venue (Live Nation, which manages Riverfront Park for the city, announced it would be refunding Saturday’s tickets since it had to cancel from the thunderstorm).

GRiZ made up for the cancelation the following day during a surprise afternoon show at Mason’s Inlet, hosted by 98.3 The Penguin (full disclosure: Port City Daily and The Penguin are owned by the same parent company, Local Daily Media). GRiZ previously threw pop-up island parties in 2017 and 2019, but noted on his Instagram account Monday that his local fan base has outgrown the spot. He promised to choose a more accessible location next year.

MORE PHOTOS: Widespread Panic breaks in Live Oak Bank Pavilion at Riverfront Park with three nights of music

In years past, GRiZ has also sold out Greenfield Lake Amphitheater, a smaller venue with a 1,200-person capacity, but came to Wilmington’s recently opened Riverfront Park and sold six times the number of tickets each Friday and Saturday nights.

GRiZ is the second headlining act to break in the stage since Widespread Panic’s opening weekend mid-July. He took advantage of the large backdrops, displaying a captivating and trippy light show that lit up the audience all the way to the back of the grand lawn. Producer Kilamanzego opened the concert, followed by the EDM duo EAZYBAKED, who said it was the biggest show of their careers.

View photos from the show below. Click to enlarge and scroll. All photos by Alexandria Sands Williams.

(Port City Daily photo/Alexandria Sands Williams)

Send tips and comments to alexandria@localdailymedia.com

Alexandria Sands
Alexandria Sands
Alexandria Sands is a journalist covering New Hanover County and education. Before Port City Daily, she reported for the award-winning State Port Pilot in Southport. She graduated from UNC Charlotte and wrote for several Charlotte publications while there. When not writing, Williams is most likely in the gym, reading or spending time with her Golden Pyrenees. Reach her at alexandria@localdailymedia.com or on Twitter @alexsands_

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