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, Aug. 10
Morgan Wade
Greenfield Lake Amphitheater, 1941 Amphitheater Dr. • Tickets: $29.50 and up
The 28-year-old country singer from Floyd, Virginia, is coming off her set at Lollapalooza in Chicago last weekend.
Wade made her splash on to the country scene in 2018 with her first self-released album “Puppets with My Heart,” recorded with backing band The Stepbrothers.
She followed it up in 2021 with “Reckless,” released on the label Thirty Tigers. The sophomore effort came to be after she performed at FloydFest alongside artists like Jason Isbell, whose guitarist, Sadler Vader, helped shape the record.
Lauded by Rolling Stone and New York Times as a once-in-a-generation talent, Wade has paired up with Isbell and Vadler again for her Aug. 25 release “Psychopath.” The track, “Fall In Love With Me,” dropped last week. It’s one of 13 from “Psychopath,” also featuring support of Nashville’s top musical talents and songwriters — Julia Michaels, Natalie Hemby, Liz Rose, Lori Mckenna, Ashley Monroe, Angaleena Presley.
Wade’s concert begins at 6 p.m. at Greenfield Lake Amphitheater.
OTHER THURSDAY EVENTS
Spencer Bland and Jordan Huggins — The two comedians and podcasters from “Bop or Flop” — dishing on the music scene — will take to the Dead Crow mic at 511 N. Third St. at 7 p.m. Bland discusses the world at large, like Bitcoin. “It just feels scammy,” he said at one show. “Every dude that I talk to about it is like, ‘No, dude, just sign up on this app that no one’s ever heard of using my special link and if you do, we both get a percentage of a percentage of a percentage of a fake internet dollar. That just sounds like Mary Kay for white dudes.” His debut comedy album, “Dinner at 4pm,” charted number one on iTunes and Amazon Comedy Charts, while Huggins’ “Beefy” was just released in July. Huggins often brings in his relationships to his bits, like getting married during a pandemic: “The best thing that happened during the pandemic was that she got an IUD.” Tickets are $10 and can be purchased here.
CACKLE: A live comedy showcase — Local bottle shop Fermental is also hosting a comedy showcase at 600 S. 17th St., starting at 7:30 p.m. Hosted by comic Lisa Buck, it will feature the comedic talent of Steve Melia, Nick Racioppi, and Juliet Ramsey. It’s free to attend, both family- and dog-friendly, and has on-street parking available throughout the Cargo District.
Jazz at the Mansion: Jim Ferris Trio — A collaboration with Cape Fear Jazz Society, Bellamy Mansion is hosting the Jim Ferris Trio at 6:30 p.m. A former Raleigh act, Jim Ferris Trio transplanted to Wilmington in 2018, bringing its stylings of standard and contemporary jazz, funk and fusion sounds on sax, flute, keyboards, piano, vocals and drums. Tickets can be purchased at the gate starting at 6 p.m. Rates are $25 for general admission, $20 for members and volunteers, and $15 for students with acceptable ID. Chairs and blankets are welcome; the event will take place rain or shine. Beer, wine, and snacks are available for purchase at the venue.
The Hatch Brothers — Formed in 2010 out of Wilmington, the four-piece rock band will host a show at Bowstring Burgers and Brewyard, 1002 Princess St., at 6:30 p.m. Orchestrated by lead singer, guitarist, and songwriter Sam Hatch, the group blends rock, blues, jazz, and folk. The brothers have been playing together since 2010 and released their debut album, “Twelve Bar Grievances,” in the fall of 2021. The band’s set includes covers across various genres of music along with originals.
Friday, Aug. 11
‘The Dog Logs‘
Thalian Hall Bucky and Ruth Stein Theatre, 310 Chestnut St. • Tickets: $34
Big Dawg Productions continues its 2023 season with “The Dog Logs,” a production written by CL Johnson that examines the lives of dogs from every breed, age, and situation.
The canines are performed by humans, including Chase Harrison, Susan Auten and Randy Davis, among others. They take on the personalities of various dogs, such as a Rottweiler who’s having neighbor problems or an aging pup that finds love late in life. The monologues are moving, funny and heartbreaking, and showcase the themes of friendship, romance, revenge and loyalty.
“The Dog Logs” is co-directed by Tamica Katzmann and Beth Corvino and runs Aug. 10 through 13 and Aug. 17 through 20 at 310 Chestnut St. Showtimes are at 7:30 p.m. Thursdays through Saturdays, with 3 p.m. matinees on Sundays.
Also during the two-weekend run, four rescue groups will feature dogs listed for adoption. Canine For Service will be featured Aug. 10, Paw’s Place on Aug. 11, S.O.A.R. on Aug. 12 and Unforgotten Souls on Aug. 17.
OTHER FRIDAY EVENTS
Red Panda — Before Big Something takes the Greenfield Lake stage Saturday night, its members are pairing up with Greensboro guitarist and songwriter Ranford Almond for a show at Bourgie Nights. An acoustic set will be performed by Loud Music Company as well. The doors are at 8:30 p.m. with tickets $20 in advance and $25 day of.
Saturday, Aug. 12
CAM Fam Fest
Cameron Art Museum, 3201 S. 17th St. • Free
Families are welcome to enjoy festivities at Cameron Art Museum for free this Saturday from 10 a.m. to noon.
There will be live music by Mr. Mark, face-painting, art stations featuring printmaking, drawing, and silk painting, inspired by “Obe to Olibio,” a new outdoor sculpture by Dana Gingras that will be unveiled. A free community screening of “The Point” — an animated film about acceptance that inspired the sculpture — will take place at noon.
It follows a young Oblio (born with a round head) lives in a land where everyone else has a pointed head and goes on a series of adventures that leads to him embracing his uniqueness.
There also will be demonstrations given in plein-air painting and working with pastels. At 11 a.m. local choreographer Kevin Lee-y Green will lead DREAMS students through social dances that derive from hip-hop.
CAM Café will be open, selling popsicles and ice-cream sandwiches and there will be family-friendly tours open to explore CAM’s current exhibitions, available in both Spanish and English.
OTHER SATURDAY EVENTS
Stone Soup Zine Fest — A pop-up market celebrating do-it-yourself publishing will take place from noon to 5 p.m. at the ILM Bottleworks building, 921 Princess St. All ages are welcome to sort through a bevy of self-published magazines, including mini-comics, small press, alternative, and underground media and art. Admission is free; vendors from across the East Coast will be on site. Locals, such as GLOW teacher and artist HP Fangs and Tales of Cape Fear’s Angle Fernot, will be on hand. It’s free to attend; zines and art individually priced.
Curated on Castle — Castle Street’s outdoor vintage market takes place the second Saturday every March through November, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. This weekend it’s set up in the lot at Sixth and Castle streets, across from Michael Moore Antiques and adjacent to Luna Caffe. Vendors include Second Skin Vintage, Gravity Records, and Jess James + Co., as well as up to 20 local independent vintage collectors selling clothing, records, home decor and more. Free to attend, items priced to purchase.
Big Something —The Burlington, North Carolina, alternative rock outfit is coming back to the Greenfield Lake Amphitheater stage to bring its myriad sounds — jazz, reggae, hip-hop, rock, funk — to fans. The group, inducing Ben Vinograd, Casey Cranford, Matt Laird, Jesse Hensley, Josh Kagel and Nick MacDaniels, has opened for musicians such as B-52s, Galactic and Umphrey’s McGee, but culled its own following throughout the last 14 years and across six albums. The show will also feature Doom Flamingo, a six-piece synthwave band from Charleston, South Carolina Tickets are $29.50.
Freedom Bridge Animal Rescue Fair — New Anthem Beer Project on Greenfield Street in the South Front District is hosting a dog pre-adoption event from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. with Freedom Bridge. The rescue helps at-risk animals in need of shelter to find furever homes; it’s run by all volunteers. Pups will be in the taproom to visit with potential new families. Freedom Bridge is also accepting donations of dry puppy food (Purina Pro or Pedigree preferred) and puppy training treats. New Anthem will donate $1 of every featured pint sold to Freedom Bridge.
Let’s Glow Latin Dance Party — The Studio Collective welcomes dancers who want to learn merengue to head to 5629 Oleander Drive at 8 p.m. for a 30-minute lesson. Thereafter, social dancing will open until 11 p.m. — salsa, bachata, merengue, cha-cha and more. A bachata challenge team will also give a performance. The studio will be glowing in neon with black lights, so attendees are encouraged to wear their brightest glow-in-the-dark attire. The cover is $10 and BYOB welcome; bottled water provided.
‘Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets’ — A free matinee screening will take place at 12:30 p.m. at the Leland Cultural Arts Center, 1212 Magnolia Way. Blankets, chairs, and snacks are welcome, but not alcohol or pets. There also will be free popcorn available and attendees can create Harry Potter-themed crafts during the film.
Paddle Cancer Pickleball Tournament — An event to fundraise for one local is taking place this weekend at Legion Stadium. More than 100 people have registered for the Paddle Cancer Pickleball Tournament, to benefit Lisa Schaffer-Anderson. Entry fees are $20 for singles and $30 for doubles. The tournament takes place from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. at 2149 Carolina Beach Road. here will be food trucks parked on site and a raffle.
Sunday, Aug. 13
Brit Floyd
Wilson Center, 703 N. Third St. • Tickets: $44 and up
The tribute band honoring British rockers Pink Floyd will take over Wilson Center stage Sunday night to celebrate the band’s 50-year anniversary of its seminal release, “Dark Side of the Moon.”
Debuting in March 1973, the 10-track rock album features well-known tracks like “Time,” “Us and Them,” “The Great Gig in the Sky” and “Brain Damage.” It will be performed by Brit Floyd, founded in 2011 by musical director Damian Darlington (guitar, lap steel, vocals). Its rotating group of members has even performed with Pink Floyd touring saxophonist and rhythm guitar player Scott Page.
Brit Floyd includes a multi-million dollar light show, iconic circle screen, lasers, inflatables, and theatrics. Besides celebrating “Dark Side of the Moon,” the band will perform tracks from other releases, including “The Wall,” “Wish You Were Here,” “Animals,” “The Division Bell,” and “Meddle.”
Tickets start at $44 and another show will take place Monday evening at 7:30 p.m. for those who can’t make Sunday’s performance.
OTHER SUNDAY EVENTS
Illustrated Lecture with Daniel Jones — Cameron Art Museum’s cultural curator Daniel Jones is hosting a lecture regarding the heroes of the Battle at Forks Road. CAM is located on the historic grounds of the Battle at Forks Road, where the United States Colored Troops fought in a final skirmish that helped end the Civil War and contributed to the fall of slavery. In 2021, the Durham artist Stephen Hayes’ sculpture “Boundless” was erected to honor the USCT soldiers that fought for their own freedom. Jones’ hour-long lecture, beginning at 1 p.m., will highlight the lives of soldiers and their descendants. It’s free though a $5 donation is suggested and pre-registration is encouraged.
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