SOUTHEASTERN N.C. — 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: Outdoor concert guide: More than 100 (mostly free) summer shows in tri-county region
Thursday, June 27
Black Music Month Celebration Concert
WHQR MC Erny Gallery, 254 N. Front St., third floor • Free, but RSVP
A concert to celebrate gospel and R&B will take place downtown Wilmington at 7 p.m. WHQR is bringing together a host of Black musicians, with arts council executive director Rhonda Bellamy emceeing the event.
Featured will be local musician Jared Cline, known to play a blend of rock, acoustic and country tunes. Joining will be Wilmington native and vocalist Charles T. King III. King has performed since youth, where he got his start in church, and has traveled the states and throughout the local community to entertain audiences.
Vocalist Silvea Johnson is known to perform faith-based music, but also is a jazz singer and was classically trained in youth. She has recorded and toured as lead vocalist with Billboard Award-winning jazz trumpeter Tom Browne and performed live in the ‘90s on BET’s Jazz Central, hosted then by the late Lou Rawls.
Composer and musician Teddy Burgh is a flutist, saxophone and clarinet player, who has shared the stage with Ray Charles, George Duke, Stanley Clarke, Joe Chambers, and others. He attended Hampton University and currently performs with FROG Project, Mangroove, The Port City All-Stars, The Duke Ladd Trio, and Vermillion Sands.
There will be beer, wine, nonalcoholic beverages and snacks provided. The event is family-friendly, free and open to the public. Limited seating is available, so it’s important to send an email to rsvp@whqr.org with the name and number of people attending to ensure admission.
OTHER THURSDAY HAPPENINGS
“The Lines Only She Can See” Art Opening — Leland artist Whitney Futrell has an opening at Flytrap Brewing at 5 p.m. “The Lines Only She Can See” blends abstract and realism through its multiple illustrations of women. The show highlights “stories that have made us, broken us, challenged us, defined us,” according to the artist. “And sometimes we are the only ones who see the lines they left within us.” Performing live will be Josh Youse and Nachofalt vegan food truck will be on site until 8 p.m. The show is on display through September.
Kaleidoscope Festival — The Kaleidoscope Festival welcomes fans to a four-night dance event at multiple venues across Wilmington. The parties include music producers and artists creating a kaleidoscope of interactive and immersive sound and vision. Thursday kicks off at Pravda, featuring Pixel Dust, Practical Effects and Knappi, and Run DMT. Friday will have three shows: at a warehouse (929 N. Front St.) with Funktion One Sound, Freddy Todd, Deemstre and Ded Teddy; at Bourgie Nights (127 Princess St.) with Basura Boyz, Chandler Sinclair and Kakies; and at Palm Room with Krispee Biscuits, Miky Haze and Croozship. Saturday also will host three shows — again at a secret warehouse with Funktion One Sound, The Sponges, Diskull, B2B, Chandler Sinclair and the Kakies; at The Palm Room with Crisco, Ozztin and Tymellord; and at Bourgie Nights with DOMii, Light Blue Lights and ZFMoody. Sunday a golden hour sunset boat party takes place with Island Cruises, featuring Diskull, Chandler Sinclair, Disco Johnnie and the Kakie, with Funktion One Sound. Shows take place at various times, with tickets available from $20 to $150 (click links above to access).
Friday, June 28
Mocksie’s Dinner Pairing
Element Barclay Clubhouse, 1605 Barclay Pointe Blvd. • Tickets: $50
Wilmington’s non-alcoholic beverage company, Mocksie, is pairing up with cookbook writer and Food Network personality Fanny Slater.
There will be four courses served at the Element Barclay Clubhouse off Independence Boulevard. Each will be prepared by Slater, including a starter of two dips: serrano salsa and roasted garlic guacamole. The course will be served with an alcohol-free Cerveza Atletica or Ghia Salt and lime, the latter made with Mediterranean-inspired blends of powerful plants, fruits, and roots.
READ MORE: Mocksie focuses on booze-free bevs, opens in Soda Pop District this week
The second course will feature ginger-lemongrass pork meatballs and jalapeño crema. It will be paired with a non-alcoholic Paloma.
There will be beer-braised pulled chicken street tacos with grilled pineapple and coconut aioli served as the main entree. The tortillas are locally made by Nómada Tortillería and the course will come with a pineapple margarita.
Dessert consists of fudgy toasted coconut black bean brownies, paired with a dark hemp and chocolate mole spritz.
Tickets are $50 and available here.
OTHER FRIDAY HAPPENINGS
Fungus Among Us Fest — At Station No. 2 on Castle Street a festival featuring 10 musical acts will get underway at 3 p.m. Featured will be Honeysickle, The Queens Giant, Fun Gize, Pretty Odd, Vibes Alive, KiloGroove, Ethan Hanson, Frank Grant, Terry Childers, Curtis McLaughlin and Ron Wilson, and Adam Osarczuk. Arts vendors will be set up, showcasing local creations by Joyful Art, YUM THC, Stones and Bones, and half a dozen others. Food trucks will be parked on site, including Poor Piggy’s and Jeremiah’s Ice. There also will be corn hole, a 50/50 raffle, scavenger hunt and other games. Tickets are $10 — or wear YUM THC attire and get in for $5. Station No. 2? is located at the corner of Fifth Avenue and Castle Street.
Halloween in July — It’s the Fourth Friday Downtown Gallery Walk and one participant is celebrating with Halloween in July. City Gypsy Boutique, located at 122 S. Front St., is serving Bloody Marys, candy and snacks, hosting a costume contest and featuring 49 artists in its boutique. Its neighbor, Sun and Moon Tattoo Sanctuary, is also participating, offering tattoos with a portion of proceeds to benefit the local nonprofit Kids Making It. Event takes place from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. and is free.
GRiZmas in July — Live Oak Bank Pavilion (10 Cowan St.) is bringing back the electronic DJ and saxophonist GRiZ (Grant Kwiecinski) for his annual GRiZmas in July retreat on the southeastern coast of North Carolina. The Detroit-born songwriter and producer will perform both Friday and Saturday nights at the downtown Riverfront venue, bringing in dubstep, trip hop, and other sounds for dancing fans. Tickets are sold out to the Live Nation show, though verified resales are posted here; check out Sunday for GRiZ’s fundraiser in Carolina Beach.
Love is Bald Fundraiser — A fundraiser to benefit Make-a-Wish Foundation of Eastern North Carolina is taking place at 6:30 p.m. at Bakery 105. Love is Bald is hosting its 11th annual fashion show and fundraiser to celebrate cancer patients and survivors. It started in 2010, six years after a circle of close friends to Peyton Dergay launched the nonprofit to honor her after she passed away from cancer. Tickets?
‘The Little Mermaid’ — Disney’s famed musical is brought to life by the local theater company, Opera House, for two more weekends. A love story for all ages, and based on Hans Christen Anderson’s iconic film, the stage version is produced with music by eight-time Academy Award winner Alan Menken, lyrics by Howard Ashman and Glenn Slater, and book by Doug Wright. The story follows a teenage mermaid, Ariel, fascinated by life above the sea, who pines for a landlocked Prince Eric. She makes a bargain with the sea witch, Ursula, to trade her fin for legs in order to be with the prince but things don’t go as planned. Her father, King Triton, must decide to make a sacrifice for his daughter. The show features songs including “Under the Sea,” “Kiss the Girl” and “Part of Your World,” with music directed by Brian Whitted. Jason Aycock and Brooklynne Williamson choreographed the scenes, with show direction by Sarah Rodgers. The show stars Mary Mattison, Kellen Hanson, Heather Setzler, Bianca Shaw, Kaleb Edward Edley and others. It runs through Aug. 6. The show starts at 7:30 p.m., with matinees at 2 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday. Tickets are $32.
Moonlight Dance — Davis Center at Maides Park is hosting a Moonlight Dance from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m at 1101 Manly Ave. There will be music, dancing, arts and crafts, refreshments and more. It’s family-friendly, with pre-registration required here. Call 910-341-7867 for more information.
Saturday, June 29
Langston Kerman
Dead Crow Comedy Room, 511 N. Third St. • Tickets: $18-$28
Langston Kerman already has an impressive resume as a writer (Academy Awards 2016 for Chris Rock), actor (“Insecure”), executive producer (“PAUSE”) and podcaster (“My Momma Told Me”).
The L.A.-based comedian is coming through the Port City’s Dead Crow Comedy Room this weekend, performing two shows each on Friday and Saturday nights. Kerman’s stand-up has been hailed by Vulture in 2018 upon the release of his comedy album, “Lightskinned Feelings,” listed among the best top 10 of the year.
He appeared on Comedy Central in 2022 on “White People Can Keep Secrets.”
“I like Canada,” he said. “They’re doing some progressive shit. I saw a white woman washing windows. … You understand how exciting that was for me. Just walking past, like, ‘Oh, shit, y’all do that? I didn’t know you had those muscles.’”
Tickets are $18 to $28 with shows at both 7 p.m. and 9:30 p.m.
OTHER SATURDAY EVENTS
Summer Sunshine Night Market — Hawthorne at the Green Apartments, located at 3515 Adirondack Way, welcomes shoppers from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. There will be more than 25 vendors, with food, music and a raffle. It’s located on the green lawn in front of Tidal Creek Co-op, 5329 Oleander Drive, #100.
Double-Cherry Pie — From 7 p.m. to 9 p.m., Southport band Double-Cherry Pie — consisting of Scott Rivers and Jason Purcell — will perform at Greenfield Lake Yacht Club. Performing together since 2016, the duo does covers of Led Zeppelin, Snoop Dogg and even Luke Bryan. The yacht club is at 1756 Carolina Beach Rd.; no cover charge.
Sunday, June 30
GRiZmas in July Fundraiser
Carolina Beach Pier, 1800 Carolina Beach Ave. N. • Tickets: $25-$30
GRiZ performed two sold-out shows in downtown Wilmington and will finish off the weekend at the north end of Carolina Beach to host a fundraiser for Ocean Cure.
The nonprofit helps people overcome physical challenges to enjoy the beach — such as providing beach wheelchairs, installing accessible flooring at the Carolina Beach Boardwalk, and providing adaptive surf boards.
Last year the show was held at the south end and welcomed roughly 4,000 people, raising $18,000. This year it’s expected to exceed that number.
“Our hope is that we will probably raise in the neighborhood of $20,000 to $30,000 for Ocean Cure for this one event,” organizer Patrick Conley told Carolina Beach city council during a January presentation about the fundraiser.
Special guest Flamingosis will also be playing.
Free shuttle services are offered for ticket holders beginning at 11 a.m. Sunday from Pelican Lane (next to Nollie’s Taco Joint, 1.5 miles away from the venue); city parking and private lots are open. Gates open at noon, with show starting at 1 p.m. Shuttle services will stop running at 6 p.m.
Tickets are sold out.
OTHER SUNDAY HAPPENINGS
The Runarounds — A new up-and-coming band, The Runarounds, are performing at downtown’s Bourgie Nights on Sunday at 7 p.m. Consisting of William Lipton, Axel Ellis, Zende Murdock, Jesse Golliher, and Jeremy Yun, the band is the focus of local filmmaker Jonas Pate’s in-the-works show that shot its pilot in Wilmington last year. The band has been on tour since, creating new music and releasing a “Live at USC” EP, recorded with Talking Heads’ Jerry Harrison, all the while many continue to go to college and act (Lipton is on “General Hospital” and was nominated for an Emmy for his original song, “Darling Darling”). This is their first public performance in Wilmington and open to all ages; tickets are $12 in advance ($17 under 21) and $15 day of show ($20 under 21).
‘La Traviata’ — Opera Wilmington is hosting its annual performance at UNCW’s Kenan Auditorium show for one final weekend: July 28, 7 p.m., and Sunday, July 30, 3 p.m. Verdi’s “La Traviata” follows Violetta, the Lady of the Camellias, who is heartbroken by Alfredo and escapes her public life as a popular courtesan. The show stars Elizabeth Stovall as Violetta, Darius Gillard as Alfredo, and Michael Rallis as his father Giorgio. Tickets are $17.50 and up.
The Johnson’s Corner Boys — At Live at Ted’s (2 Castle St.), from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m., a newly formed bluegrass band will be taking the stage for an intimate performance. The Johnson’s Corner Boys are made up of Jacob and Graham Brewer (The Brewer Brothers), Marshall Brown (The Smoky Dunes), and a recent addition to Wilmington’s bluegrass community, Matt Hogue. They perform high-energy traditional ‘grass and interpret classics. Tickets are $10 in advance, $15 at the door.
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