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.
Thursday, July 11
Flipturn
Greenfield Lake Amphitheater, 1941 Amphitheater Drive
A Florida indie-rock band is coming through Greenfield Lake Amphitheater Thursday.
Members Dillon Basse (vocals), Tristan Duncan (guitar) and Madeline Jarman (bass) started the group in high school but added guitarist and synthesizer player Mitch Fountain and drummer Devon VonBalson after college. They released their first EP in 2018 and signed to Dualtone Records two years ago.
At that time, flipturn released its debut LP, “Shadowglow,” and has toured playing popular festivals including Lollapalooza and Shaky Knees.
Thursday’s show is sold out but verified resales can be found here.
Friday, July 12
Maddy Smith
Dead Crow Comedy Room, 511 N. Third St. • Tickets: $20-$30
With multi-millions of YouTube views and gaining recognition on five seasons of Nick Cannon’s improvisational comedy and rap battle show, Wild ‘N Out (MTV, VH1), Maddy Smith has become revered for her quick wit and fearless roasts.
She’s also the headliner at Dead Crow Comedy Room this weekend. The NYC-based comic has opened for Bert Kreischer and Theo Von and regularly performs at the Comedy Cellar, as well as making appearances on BET and HBO.
Always the funny friend, Smith began comedy a decade ago after quitting her job at an asset management firm to film Wild ‘N Out. She speaks from personal experiences and muses on life’s observations.
Smith performs Friday and Saturday at 7 p.m. and 9:30 p.m.; tickets are $20-$30.
OTHER FRIDAY EVENTS
Broken Hearts — Port City Marina’s Friday Night Live at the Pier continues its series to bring tribute bands to a stage overlooking the Cape Fear River. Entry is $10 to catch Broken Hearts, a Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers cover band. The shows begin at 7 p.m. at 10 Harnett Street.
Saturday, July 13
Big Something
Greenfield Lake Amphitheater, 1941 Amphitheater Drive • Tickets: $37.50
GLA is welcoming back the big energy of Big Something to celebrate its Sweet 16 — yes, the 16th time the ban has performed at the venue since it formed in 2009.
Originally from Burlington, North Carolina, Big Something fuses elements of original rock ‘n’ roll, funk, bluegrass, EDM, jazz and hip-hop — so varied at times it’s hard to believe the same group makes all the songs in its catalog. It’s touring in support of last year’s release, “Headspace.”
Openers will be Susto and Krispee Biscuits. Catch up on Port City Daily’s interview with the band here. Tickets to the show are $37.50, available here.
OTHER SATURDAY EVENTS
Curated on Castle Street — Taking place the second Saturday each March through November, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Curated on Castle is set up at Sixth and Castle streets. It features 20 independent vendors and nearby businesses, like Gravity Records and Jess James + Co. In downtown proper at the Cotton Exchange, there will be 10 vendors in the outdoor courtyard from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and area merchants will be open.
YMCA’s Tri-Span 5K & 10K — Runners will have a chance to exercise their endurance and help a local organization continue serving area youth at YMCA’s Tri-Span 5K and 10K. Spanning from 7 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. at Riverfront Park, the event is celebrating 40 years in 2024. The course takes runners through historic downtown Wilmington and along the Cape Fear Riverwalk. The 5K is an out-andback course through downtown Wilmington while the 10K course will take you over all three downtown bridges. Find out more and register for $35 to $60 here.
The Hermit Mural Restoration Project — The famed Fort Fisher Hermit, Robert Harrill, is honored in a mural on Carolina Beach’s The Last Resort building (621 St Joseph St.). This Saturday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., The Island Men, in partnership with Carolina Beach Bar Club and Carolina Beach Mural Project, are hosting a fundraiser to restore the Hermit mural “School of Common Sense.” Painted by local artist Rob Fogle, the wall and mural both need some refurbishment and the artist will be on site selling signed giclee prints of the piece. In addition to helping preserve the artwork, there will be BBQ plates for sale as well as a raffle, and Seaworthy will serve a special Hermit cocktail from Friday, July 12, through Sunday, July 14, with proceeds donated to Island Men. The nonprofit donates all of its funds to area youth and civic organizations in education, athletics, and more; however, proceeds from this will go to the restoration of the mural, with any overrun of proceeds benefiting CB Mural Project for their Centennial Public Art projects as Carolina Beach celebrates 100 years in 2025. Harrill holed up in an abandoned World War II bunker at Fort Fisher State Recreation Park in 1962, having hitchhiked to Fort Fisher from the mountainous region of North Carolina. He became the second most visited attraction in the area — just behind the Battleship — before his death in 1972.
Pickle Party — Yep, it’s all about the dill … or the bread ‘n’ butter … or the spicy and hot. A pickle party is being held at Fermental in the Cargo District, serving pickle beers, pickle wine and more. It takes place from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. featuring items like Prairie’s spicy pickle Monster sour ale or Stem’s salted cucumber hard cider, Brine Wines’ pickled pinot grigio and Oliver Meadery’s pickle mead. There also will be a pickle-eating contest at 4 p.m., with food truck Los Compas Taco Zone parked at 5 p.m. Live music will be performed by bluegrass act Masonboro Sound at 7 p.m.
Sunday, July 14
Mac N Cheese Cookoff
Brunswick Beer XChange, 201 Village Road NE, Leland • Tasting Fee: $5
Love mac and cheese and helping out a local nonprofit that ensures school-aged children have access to healthy food?
The Mac N Cheese Cookoff in Leland is bringing the two together in honor of National Mac ‘N Cheese Day. Participants who want to enter their dish for judging can do so for $5 here. There is also a $5 tasting fee, with voting starting at 3 p.m. from participants. Bragging rights and prizes awarded to first and second place.
All proceeds will be donated to Nourish NC. The nonprofit strives to alleviate food insecurity and provides supplemental meals and snacks to the 1 in 5 children in New Hanover County through its various programs.
Learn more about it here.
OTHER SUNDAY EVENTS
The Disco Biscuits — Philadelphia jam band The Disco Biscuits are performing at Greenfield Lake Amphitheater. Allen Aucoin (drums), Marc “Brownie” Brownstein (bass guitar, vocals), Jon “The Barber” Gutwillig (guitar, vocals), and Aron Magner (keyboards, synths, vocals) blend psychedelic rock, electronic music, soul, blues, jazz and classical music into one sound. The band leans heavily into electronic sounds and is known as some of the early stalwarts on the trance-fusion scene in the late ‘90s. They’ve released seven studio albums to date, including 2024’s “Revolution in Motion.” Tickets to the show are available for $52 here.
G. Love and Special Sauce — Hip-hop-blues-rock artist G. Love and his band Special Sauce are performing in the Soda Pop District Sunday evening with reggae artist Mihali. G. Love has performed in Wilmington for years and this weekend’s show will pay homage to blues legends, with the performer adding in modern pop twists. Twiddle co-founder, Mihali will be performing coming off his July 12 drop of the new single “Wise Man.” Doors open at 6 p.m., with show at 7 p.m. Tickets are $37.50; see photos of G. Love’s show from last year here.
Bastille Day — Brasserie du Soleil in Lumina Station is celebrating Bastille Day on Sunday. Bastille Day is the largest national celebration in France — the anniversary of the Storming of the Bastille, signaling the beginning of the French Revolution. From 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. and 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. Brasserie will operate service, with a special Bastille Day brunch menu. Also at 3 p.m. they will host the third annual waiter race, pitting servers against one another to showcase their best agility and balancing skills with glasses of Champagne. As well there will be live French music from noon to 2 p.m.
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