SOUTHEASTERN N.C. — Li’l Friday features plenty of ways to enjoy the weekend via theater, music, art, culinary happenings 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, Sept. 11
Choir! Choir! Choir!
Wilson Center, 703 N. Third St. • Tickets: $15 – $47.98
A Canadian choir that gained popularity by bringing together groups of people to sing pop, rock and other genres of music is welcoming audiences to Wilson Center at 7 p.m.
The group began in 2011 and is led by Daveed Goldman and Nobu Adilman, who host public singalongs to create a communal, engaging experience that tethers strangers through harmony and soulful connection.
What started as a one-off for a birthday party, Choir! Choir! Choir! has grown into bringing together thousands of people to learn a song or two and sing it together. Perhaps one of the group’s most popular tracks performed interactively has been Leonard Cohen’s “Hallelujah,” with 1,800 people singing in unison. Goldman and Adilman split the audience up into varied parts and conduct them through the performance, which is normally accompanied by an acoustic guitar.
The choir also has gained popularity by hosting events in homage to artists following their deaths, such as David Bowie and Prince in 2016. The group even paired with famous musicians such as Rufus Wainwright for “Hallelujah” and David Byrne who led the choir singing Bowie’s and Brian Eno’s “Heroes” during the Under the Radar Festival.
The Wilson Center show, dubbed “Hallelujah: An EPIC Anthems Sing-Along,” will feature Cohen’s ballad, as well as tracks from Joni Mitchell to Whitney Houston to Shania Twain.
OTHER THURSDAY EVENTS
Swing Dance Lessons — If you’ve always wanted to put some groove into your step, then head over to the Historic USO building in downtown Wilmington, at Orange and Second streets. The three-part swing dance class on Thursdays, an hour of class and an hour of social dancing thereafter. The classes will focus on pop turn, sugar pushes and momentum and no partner or experience is needed. It costs $10; cash and Venmo accepted at the door. The event is hosted by Cape Fear Swing Dance Society.
Friday, Sept. 12
Nico Carney
Dead Crow Comedy Room, 511 N. Third St. • Tickets: $22-$30
Brooklyn-based comedian Nico Carney is best known for the podcast “Boy’s Club” and will be starring in the upcoming feature film, “She’s the He.”
The comic, writer and actor often includes in his routines content about growing up in Savannah, Georgia, as a transgender male: “People are very curious about trans people these days. People will ask me sometimes: ‘How did you know, when did you know?’ And it happened to me the same way it happens to all of us, ya know? Caitlyn Jenner bit me.”
Carney has appeared on “Late Night With Seth Myers” and was named Vulture’s 2024 Comic You Should Know. He will be at Dead Crow on Saturday and Sunday, at 7 p.m. and 9:30 p.m., with tickets from $22 to $30.
OTHER FRIDAY EVENTS
Billy Currington and Kip Moore — Country music stars Billy Currington and Kip Moore will be making a stop at downtown’s Live Oak Bank Pavilion Friday evening. Currington is a Georgia native with 12 No. 1 singles, including 4-time Platinum hits “People Are Crazy,” “Good Directions,” “Must Be Doin’ Somethin’ Right.” Equally skilled at delivering upbeat summertime anthems, as well as exploring the complexities of life and love with a poignant ballad, Currington has recently released new songs “Everything Is Changing,” “City Don’t” and “Anchor Man.” Hailed as “an uncompromising, genre-defying artist firing on all cylinders” (Vice/Noisey) and “one of country’s more thoughtful artists” (Billboard), multi-platinum singer/songwriter Moore has over 1 billion streams and 2.5 million monthly listeners, having released five critically acclaimed albums and penned over a dozen chart-topping singles. Hits include “Somethin’ ‘Bout a Truck,” “Hey Pretty Girl,” “Beer Money,” and “More Girls Like You.” Tickets start at $92 here.
Saturday, Sept. 13
Bourbon, Bluegrass and Brews Festival
Waterline Brewing, 721 Surry St. • Free
From 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. a party is taking place at the foot of the Cape Fear Memorial Bridge celebrating bourbon, beer and bluegrass.
There will be live music from Massive Grass and Folkstone Stringband, plus bourbon tastings by End of Days, Cape Fear Distillery and Momentum. The barbecue will be served by Feelin’ Swine BBQ and KT’s BBQ.
Waterline will be serving its beer, speciality cocktails and vendors will be on site.
OTHER SATURDAY EVENTS
Port City Jerry Day — Greenfield Lake Amphitheater is hosting the annual fundraiser for the United Way of the Lower Cape Fear. Port City Jerry Day has been taking place for seven years, celebrating the music of the Grateful Dead frontman Jerry Garcia. Musicians include local bands and headliner HyRyder, a Grateful Dead tribute act. Local artist vendors will also be on site. Gates open at 5 p.m. and tickets are $10. The annual fundraiser grosses tens of thousands of dollars, with all proceeds benefitting education, health, and income programs in Brunswick, Columbus, New Hanover, and Pender counties.
Wilmington Goth Fest — Time to throw on your darkest cape or Romantic and Medieval-era fashions and head over to The Eagle’s Dare for the 2025 Goth Fest. DJ Straftanz will be spinning from 5 p.m. and in between sets. The lineup includes goth bands and a magic show starting at 6 p.m. with halovox, followed by Gothic Lizard (7 p.m.), Night Rivals (8 p.m.), Metamorph (9 p.m.), Delsin Monroe’s Magic Show (10 p.m.) and Wilmington’s very own Dead Cool (11 p.m.). DJ Straftanz will continue with the jams until 2 a.m. Tickets are $25 here and the show is open for ages 18 and up.
American Craft Walk — Some streets in downtown Wilmington will be blocked off Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. with 120 arts vendors lined up, selling everything from paintings to photography, jewelry to ceramics and more. The American Craft Walk takes place along Front Street, between Orange and Walnut streets, and Princess, between Front and Second streets. It’s free to attend, though prices vary from vendor to vendor. Learn more here.
Feast of the Pirates Festival — An annual festival along the Belville Riverwalk, Feast of the Pirates returns Saturday at 10 a.m. As hosted by Wilmington Harbor Enhancement Trust, bringing to life history and education along the Cape Fear River, the festival will include Varied business and arts and craft vendors will be on site — Country Roads Crafts NC, Apothecary Magic by Raven Cove Apothecary, and more — and there will be historical re-enactments. Food will be served by Bistro Bites by Big Ralph’s Rolling Bistro, and sweet treats by Chocolate and S’more. Be sure to grab your bandanas, eyepatch and tricorn hats, as costumes are welcomed and encouraged. It’s free to attend.
‘The Tragedy of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark’ — Shakespeare’s most popular tragedy will take over Wilson Center’s stage on Saturday in the form of dance. Co-created by choreographer and former National Ballet of Canada dancer Guillaume Côté and directed by Robert Lepage, “The Tragedy of Hamlet, “Prince of Denmark” is presented by Ex Machina. It embraces the dark physicality of Shakespeare’s characters, who embark on revenge and madness; the play has been heralded for its exploration of human psychology. The ballet uses minimal props and furniture, but rather leans into varied lifts, turns and such to illuminate the characters’s states of mind. Tickets to the show start at $47 here.
Sunday, Sept. 14
The Runarounds
Greenfield Lake Amphitheater, 1941 Amphitheater Drive • Tickets: $100
You’ve watched the show on Amazon, now it’s time to catch the band live.
The Runarounds is made up of Will Lipton, Zendé Murdock, Axel Ellis, Jesse Golliher, and Jeremy Yun, who have already played around town over the last few years, as they prepared to film their series of the same name. Having debuted on Sept. 1, “The Runarounds” was the most watched show on the platform the first week of September. It also happens to showcase Wilmington as it was filmed in town last year.
Created by Jonas Pate of “Outer Banks” fame — where The Runarounds actually got their start — the fictional show covers the bandmates graduating from high school and hustling to break into the music industry. They begin playing in small clubs, hit the road, fall in love and of course create “love songs that change the world.”
On Sunday, The Runarounds play Greenfield Lake Amphitheater as part of its 19-city Minivan Tour. The group plans to drop its self-titled debut album as well, though they have recorded a live EP with Talking Heads’ Jerry Harrison.
The show is sold out, but Ticketmaster is listing verified resale tickets for $100 here.
OTHER SUNDAY EVENTS
‘Cat VideoFest’ — Yes, you read that right: a festival of videos featuring cats. That’s what’s screening at Thalian Hall as part of its new release cinema series. For 1 hour and 14 minutes, “Cat VideoFest” showcases worldwide reels of kit-cats doing funny stuff: pawing at a tea cup for a drink, attempting to play with a squirrel at a sliding glass door, hiding among ornaments in a Christmas tree, wearing fur-lined capes, and the like. Screenings have taken place worldwide, each raising funds for local cat rescues and charities. A portion of proceeds from the Thalian screenings will help cats in need. From Oscilloscope Laboratories, “Cat VideoFest” will screen at the hall on Saturday at 1:15 p.m., 3:30 p.m., 5:45 p.m. and 8 p.m., and on Sunday, 1:15 p.m. and 4 p.m. Tickets are $10 to $12.
Wilmington Unplugged Sad Song Happy Hour — Like Billy Ocean’s famed lyric, “They’ll be sad songs to make you cry…” Wilmington Unplugged is leaning into the notion. Monthly at Bourgie Nights the collective features various acoustic artists performing tearjerkers or at the very least trying out new material for audiences. This week features Erik Bigsby, Jason Ward and Square One. Also part of the event is an open mic drawing for folks to sign up for a chance to perform in between sets. The event takes place from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. and there is no cover, though tipping the musicians is welcome. Bougie Nights is located at 127 Princess St.
Clem Snide — Live at Ted’s also will feature an artist whose latest work encapsulates “slow, sad songs about God and death. Clem Snide released his fifth album, “Oh Smokey,” which delves into contemplation about what happens after life. The album was inspired by tumultuous life events, including a divorce, a parting of ways with his manager, and leaving Nashville. Eef Barzelay is Clem Snide (named after a William Burroughs’ character) and has been hailed by Rolling Stone and NPR for his attentive songwriting. “Oh Smokey” was produced with Josh Kaufman (Hiss Golden Messenger), and will be featured along with other songs from Clem Snide’s catalog on Sunday, 4 p.m. Tickets are $20 here.
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