Music to Your Ears: Your 2023 Guide to FREE Summer Concerts

WILMINGTON, N.C. (CAPE FEAR WEEKEND) -

2023 Free Summer Concert Guide

Wilmington, North Carolina, is a vibrant and cultural city that offers a wide variety of events and activities, including free live summer concerts. If you’re a fan of live music and looking for some free outdoor entertainment, then you’re in luck!

Here’s a look at some of the best free live summer concerts in Wilmington and the surrounding beaches. We will continue to update this article as more concerts are added.

Sounds of Summer in Wrightsville Beach | Thursdays 6:30 PM - 8:00 PM

Wrightsville Beach Park | 4 Fran Russ Drive. Wrightsville Beach, NC 28480

Join WECT, and Cape Fear Weekend at the Sounds of Summer concert series at Wrightsville Beach Park. Every Thursday from June 15th to August 3rd. Pack your picnic blanket, and enjoy a different band weekly from 6:30 to 8:30 PM. Bring your picnic, lawn chairs, and snacks for an evening of music and fun! Coolers are welcome, but no alcohol is allowed in Wrightsville Beach Park.

The line up for bands for the series is as follows:

June 15th - Overtyme Band

June 22nd - ReSoul Band

June 29th - Southern Trouble

July 6th - Jack Jack 180

July 13th - Loud Music Company

July 20th - Brown Dirt Cowboys

July 27th - The Cruise Brothers

August 3rd - No Regretz

Free Concert Friday | Eagles Dare 6:00 PM - 11:00 PM

The Eagle’s Dare 420 N 3rd St, Wilmington, NC 28401

This concert series will run from May 5th to July 28th. Each Friday two bands will perform at the series and one local non-profit will benefit.

All shows are free, family friendly, and will have food trucks!

May 5th- SIGNAL FIRE w/Michael Eakins

May 12th - THE MIDATLANTIC w/ The Graes

May 19th - The Guns & Roses Experience w/ Audiomelt

May 26th - COWBOY-Kid Rock Tribute w/ Mark Sinnis and 825

June 2nd - DR. BACON w/ CHURCHYARD GHOST

June 9th -JARED PETTEYS + the HEADLINERS w/ THE PHANTOM PLAYBOYS

June 16th - SAME AS IT EVER WAS w/ THE SWELLIANS

June 23rd - SILENCE AND LIGHT w/ SHALLOW SIGNALS

June 30th - STRIKING COPPER BAND w/ JUSTIN FOX BAND

Friday Night Live on the Pier | Fridays 6:30 PM

The Pier at Port City Marina and Marina Grill 10 Harnett St, Wilmington, NC 28401

The return of “Friday Night Live! on the Pier” has been y announced by The Pier at Port City Marina and Marina Grill. The first of these free, kid-friendly performances by tribute bands will begin on June 2 on Friday. The concerts last from 6:30 to 10:00 p.m., and there will be refreshments for sale.

June 2nd - Satisfaction (Rolling Stones)

June 9th - Slippery When Wet ( Bon Jovi)

June 23rd - 20 Ride ( Zac Brown Band)

July 7th - Breakfast Club ( Classic 80′s)

August 4th - Tuesday’s Gone (70′s)

August 11th - Troubadour (70′s)

August 25th - Guardians of the Jukebox (MTV hits)

September 1st - Departure (Journey)

Hampstead Alive After Five concert series | Fridays 6:30 PM

Hampstead Kiwanis Park 586 Sloop Point Loop Rd, Hampstead, NC 28443

All concerts will begin at 6:30 p.m. Attendees are encouraged to bring blankets and chairs to enjoy the entertainment. Various food trucks will be on-site throughout the series. Alcohol and pets are prohibited. All current COVID-19 guidelines will be followed.

The free Friday evening concerts will feature live music by:

May 19th - Carl Newton’s Review

June 9th - Chocolate Chip and Company

June 30th - North Tower Band

July 21st - Heartstop

Boogie in the Park Concert Series | 1st and 3rd Sunday 5:00 -7:00 PM

Kure Beach Ocean Front Park 105 Atlantic Avenue Kure Beach, NC 28449

Bring your beach chair or blanket and enjoy free, live music by the sea! No concert July 4th or Labor Day weekends.

The Holden Beach Free Concert Series | Sundays 6:30-8:00 PM

131 Jordan Blvd, Holden Beach, NC 28462

The Holden Beach free concert series takes place every Sunday from May 29 through September 4, 2022 at the Holden Beach Pavilion. Bring a friend, bring a chair and get ready to dance!

May 28th - The Extraordinaires

June 4th - Continental Divide

June 11th - The Main Event Band

June 18th- Cat 5

June 25th - The Embers

July 2nd - The Tams

July 9th - Chairman of the Board

July 16th 0 The Entertainers featuring Craig Woolard

July 23rd - Band of Oz

July 30th - Blackwater Band

August 6th - Jim Quick and Coastline

August 13th - Too Much Sylvia

August 20th - Gary Lowder & Smokin Hot

August 27th - Carolina Kool

September 3rd - North Tower

Sunset Music Series at Mayfaire Town Center | Wednesdays 6 -8 PM at the plaza in front of Regal Cinema.

June 7: rock cover band Riff Tide NC

June 14: folk/pop duo The Graes

June 21: Americana performer Jeremy Mathews

June 28: rock ‘n’ roll student group School of Rock House Band

July 5: country performer Jenny Lynn Vaugh

July 12: Sam Hatch of The Hatch Brothers

Wilmington, North Carolina, offers a variety of free live summer concerts that are sure to please any music lover. From the Sounds of Summer Concert Series in Wrightsville to Boogie in the Park in Kure Beach, there’s something for everyone. So, grab your lawn chair and head out to one of these amazing concerts for a night of music, food, and fun.

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