WILMINGTON — Li’l Friday is a weekly roundup of events in art, music, theater, comedy, pop-up markets and more.
All events featured were scheduled as of Thursday; however, it’s wise to check in ahead of attending any one. Inclement weather, changes in schedules and unforeseen circumstances may shift for organizers at the last minute
READ MORE: Azalea Festival celebrates more than 20 springtime events
Take note: This weekend includes 20-plus Azalea Festival events as well, which PCD covered fully earlier in the week. However, you can catch up on all those details by clicking the link to the article above.
Below are other events taking place throughout the community.
Thursday, April 13
Navy Week
Various locations • Free
In addition to Azalea Festival and below happenings, Navy Week has returned to Wilmington for the first time since 2019. It takes place through Sunday, April 16, with more than 75 sailors participating in a host of activities, such as helping build a home for Habitat for Humanity and help revitalizing a home for Wilmington Area Rebuilding Ministry, or offering insight into Navy heritage aboard the USS Battleship North Carolina.
The goal of the week is to educate the public about the Navy. Public tours of the USS San Jacinto (CG-56) will be offered downtown on Friday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., and the Navy band will perform on Saturday at 1:30 p.m. as part of Azalea Festival’s Tunes and Blooms.
Thursday night the United States Navy Band Southeast Deckplate Brass Band will perform at Kenan Auditorium at 7:30 p.m. Under the direction of Lt. Junior Grade Nicholas Nadal, the band is located on board Naval Air Station Jacksonville and serves the military and civilian communities. The show is free but tickets must be procured here.
Navy members, such as Admiral Daryl Caudle, of Winston-Salem and a graduate of North Carolina State University, will be represented in the Azalea Fest parade as well at the street fair.. Caudle is leading community engagements and will meet leaders in education, as well as speak with local businesses, veterans, and government leaders. He also serves as a distinguished guest of Azalea Festival.
Find the full schedule of events here.
OTHER THURSDAY EVENTS
Carly Pearce — A Kentucky musician who takes on the traditional sounds of country with pop influence is taking over the Live Oak Pavilion stage as part of the Azalea Festival. Carly Pearce first garnered recognition five years ago with her debut “Every Little Thing.” Since, she has won a Country Music Award an American Country Music award Music for “I Hope You’re Happy Now” with Lee Brice, featured on the album “Carly Pearce.” She also earned a 2022 Artist of the Year award, the 2021 CMA Female Vocalist of the Year and ACM Female Artist of the Year. Pearce was nominated for her first Grammy this year and will tour with Blake Shelton later in 2023.
Friday, April 14
Poor Man’s Garden Party
Eagle’s Dare, 420 N 3rd St. • Free
While Azalea Fest continues official celebrations throughout Wilmington, including its annual private garden party for festival sponsors and donors, one downtown bar at Third and Red Cross streets is hosting a celebration for the public. The Poor Man’s Garden Party will take place at Eagle’s Dare from 3 p.m. to 1 a.m. “Ditch those pastels for some overalls and trade those boat shoes in for some cowboy boots!” its invite reads. Live music begins at 5 p.m. with Juno, Brown Dirt Cowboys and Alexis Reana.
But the fun won’t stop Friday. The Eagle’s Dare also will open Saturday for the Azalea Fest Parade, located directly on the Third Street route two blocks from City Hall. Webo’s Food Truck will be parked onsite, and there will be more music starting at 11 a.m., with Sea Songs For Little Pirates, family-friendly tunes created by Jason Andre of local band The Midatlantic. Following will be Paper Stars at 1 p.m., Folkstone String Band at 3 p.m., Jared Petteys and the Headliners at 5 p.m. and THE COWPOKES at 7 p.m.
Saturday’s music is part of Alt-Zalea Fest, featuring all free music in venues in the Brooklyn Arts District (more on that under Saturday’s event).
OTHER FRIDAY EVENTS
Hobby Greenhouse Sale — The annual spring plant sale hosted by the local Hobby Greenhouse Club takes place all weekend long, April 14 through 16, from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Friday and Saturday and noon to 5 p.m. on Sunday. A portion of proceeds benefit horticulture scholarships at both Cape Fear Community College and Brunswick Community College. Plants will include everything from natives, succulents and tropicals to vegetables. Only cash and checks are accepted and the sale takes place rain or shine. More information can be found here, and the event is hosted at 2318 Metts Ave.
“Cinderella” — The musical is based on 1957’s TV appearance with Julie Andrews, recreated in 1965 with Lesley Ann Warren. Another remake took place in 1997 starring Brandy as Cinderella and Whitney Houston as the Fairy Godmother. Thalian Association Community Theater will base its production on the ‘90s teleplay, showcasing actors of all ages, ethnicities, races and genders, who bring to life Cinderella, the Fairy Godmother, stepmother, stepsisters, Prince Charming, the white mice, and others from the ensemble. The production will begin at 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday and at 3 p.m. Sunday. Tickets can be purchased here.
Old Crow Medicine Show — Americana outfit Old Crow Medicine Show will perform as part of the Azalea Festival lineup at Live Oak Bank Pavilion, with gates opening at 5 p.m. Old Crow is touring in support of a new album, “Paint This Town,” recorded in its Nashville studio, Hartland — which opened in 2020. The group has a new record slated for release this year as well, featuring its blend of old-time music with folk and rock ‘n’ roll. The band has won two Grammys, was inducted into the Grand Ole Opry and went double-platinum with its iconic hit single “Wagon Wheel.” Read PCD’s interview with the act here.
Indigo Girls — For more than three decades the folk-rock of Emily Saliers and Amy Ray have entertained audiences far and wide. They have released 15 albums, and won the Grammy in 1990 for Best Contemporary Folk Recording for their self-titled album including their seminal hit “Closer to Fine.” Still going strong, they’re touring currently while also overseeing multiple side projects; read PCD’s interview with Saliers here. The duo will perform at Greenfield Lake Amphitheater at 7 p.m.
Pleasure Island Team Surf Fishing Challenge — Teams of four anglers each will compete in primary divisions of bluefish, red drum, black drum and sea mullet. Teams can weigh in three heaviest of each species in all divisions for a chance to win more than $10,000 in cash as a team. The competition includes anglers fishing from a Pleasure Island beach — no boats or sound or pier fishing allowed. Weigh-in is Sunday, 10 a.m. to noon, at tournament headquarters, Lazy Pirate (701 N. Lake Park Blvd.). Registration is Friday, 4 p.m. to 11 p.m. at HQ, with fishing time starting at 11:59 p.m. and closing Sunday at 11 a.m. An awards dinner takes place at Lazy Pirate at noon, with the ceremony happening at 1 p.m. and team raffle following thereafter. More information is available here.
Andy Woodhull — Dead Crow Comedy Room is welcoming comedian Andy Woodhull both Friday and Saturday, two shows each night at 7 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. A former geology and environmental studies major, Woodhull got his start in comedy more than a decade ago and has appeared on “The Late Late Show with James Corden,” “Conan,” “Live at Gotham” and “The Half Hour” on Comedy Central. He riffs on his own life, from his love for banana daiquiris — “the Caribbean is a safe space for daiquiri lovers,” he admitted in his “Live from Elkhart” special in 2021, admitting he often gets made fun of for the fruity concoctions. He recorded a comedy special for Dry Bar Comedy as well and released two albums, “Step Parenting” and “Step-Parenting 2.” Tickets are $18 to $28.
Saturday, April 15
Alt-Zalea Fest
Brooklyn Arts District, various locations • Free
The last Alt-Zalea Fest took place pre-pandemic in 2019.
“We were all set for 2020 and, well, you know,” Anna Mann, organizer of the event, wrote to Port City Daily this week.
Three years later, the free music event returns. Alt-Zalea was born out of a desire to highlight the local music scene in Wilmington. It came before Azalea Festival started a Blooms and Tunes event in 2022, featuring all local musicians on Greenfield Lake Amphitheater stage.
The brainchild of Allister Snyder, owner of the former Detour Deli once located in BAD — now The Half — strove to highlight local, original music in locally owned businesses.
“He asked me to help book the musicians and I have been doing that since 2015,” Mann said.
The event has drawn in hundreds of people to patronize local businesses four blocks away from the hubbub of Azalea Fest’s street fair, aligning Front Street. This year, eight businesses are participating featuring 50 musicians.
Mann said she began getting calls last year from area businesses about bringing back the festival.
“A lot of people who don’t love Azalea Fest’s imports come to Alt-Zalea for the local nature of it,” Mann said. “It was always one of my favorite days of the year, so I decided to go for it again. And I figured if I was going for it, I’d go all the way.”
More venues are featured in 2023, including Bottega, Palate, Three10, Edward Teach Brewery, Flytrap Brewing, Brooklyn Cafe, Kitchen Sink, and Goat & Compass. Each venue will have maps directing music lovers on the location of each stop and the seven or eight bands and performers each is hosting. The free music starts at noon Saturday, with different musicians featured every hour on the hour.
“I tell people it’s like a really well-organized open mic,” Mann said.
The event is all-volunteer based and community organized, with artists, sound engineers and others giving up their time willingly. New performers to this year’s event include Nathan (Nate) Gerry, Strange Raven, Rthbndr, Ondamor, and Josh Youse. Returning participants include Annie McLelland, Vicki Burton, Infinity Fortress, The Explainers, Emma Nelson, and Jim Ashley.
“We heavily encourage tipping,” Mann said.
OTHER SATURDAY EVENTS
An Evening of Ambient/Experimental Music — The sounds continue to permeate the weekend, as The Fuzzy Needle, located at 716 S. 17th St. in the Cargo District, is hosting three bands, including La Cerca from Tucson, Arizona and Wilmington’s own Subterrene and Fader. Tristan Turner will showcase visuals to screen against the music for a multimedia experience. The event is presented by Fort Lowell Records and admission is $5 minimum, though $10 is suggested to cover artist fees. The event is BYOB.
Lagerfest — Amid Azalea Fest and other activities, Lagerfest is taking place at Wrightsville Beach Brewery (6201 Oleander Drive) from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Tickets are $30 to $35 and include easy-sipping lagers from nine local breweries, including WBB and its sister Leland brewery, Brunswick Beer and Cider, Broomtail, Edward Teach Brewing, Flytrap Brewing, Mad Mole Brewing, Outer Dunes Brewing, Waterline Brewing, Waterman’s Brewing and Wilmington Brewing Company. Music will be provided by The Churchyard Ghost and Mike Blair and the Stonewalls.
Doggie Easter Egg Hunt and Art Market — Last weekend’s rainfall postponed Barzarre’s Easter celebration — a day of egg hunting for dogs and their humans. So the Castle Street business is reprising it this Saturday from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. Easter eggs will be scattered on the property, each one containing a treat and raffle ticket, and there will be golden eggs filled with coupons to use at the local vendors. Once people and their pets find eggs, they can enter into a raffle for a chance to win treats. Food, booze, and kombucha will be for sale.
Sunday, April 16
Father John Misty
Greenfield Lake Amphitheater, 1941 Amphitheater Drive • Tickets: $45
Father John Misty is making his Wilmington debut at Greenfield Lake, touring in support of 2022’s “Chloë and the Next 20th Century” (SubPop).
Josh Tillman got his start as Father John Misty a decade ago, after exiting as the drummer of Fleet Foxes. Since, he has collaborated with Beyoncé, Lady Gaga, Kid Cudi, and Post Malone, as well as won a Grammy in 2017 for his album “Pure Comedy,” as well as the Best Rock/Indie Video – International for its track “Things It Would Have Been Helpful to Know Before the Revolution.”
“Chloë” is his fifth album. A departure from fuzzed-out rock guitars and squalling horns, the 11 tracks embrace smoky jazz and orchestral soundscapes (“Buddy’s Rendezvous”) and theatrical scores easily suited for silent films (“Chloë”).
The show starts at 6 p.m.
OTHER SUNDAY EVENTS
Soda Pop District Block Party — A vendor market, featuring local makers and artisans, will be set up from noon to 4 p.m. in the Soda Pop District, located on Princess between Eighth and Tenth streets near downtown. Vendors will be set up at both Hi-Wire Brewing and the Bottle Works Building.
The Kennedys — Husband-and-wife duo Pete and Maura Kennedy have been creating folk rock for the greater part of three decades. They have toured worldwide with one of their folk inspirations, Nanci Griffith, even produced her latest album, and played at both of Bill’s Clinton’s inauguration. The duo has released 16 albums, including 2022’s “Soul & Inspiration: Nuggets From The Livestream Archive, Volume One,” featuring some of the best performances they conducted virtually during the Covid-19 pandemic. Tickets are $25 here for the show at Live at Ted’s, 2 Castle St., from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m.
Tips and comments can be directed info@portcitydaily.com.
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