Usually, I do a rambling little intro to this roundup, but there's so much happening this week, let's get right to it.
For even more options, including concerts on weeknights, many free, check outour big ol' list of outdoor summer concerts in the Wilmington area below.
Music and fresh air:Full list of outdoor summer concerts in the Wilmington area for 2024
ALL WEEKEND
Cape Fear Blues Festival
June 7-9 at the Rusty Nail: The 27th annual Cape Fear Blues Festival returns to this Fifth Avenue juke joint. Seven acts will play on two stages over three days, with blues guitarist and Billboard-charting artist Bobby Messano headlining 7 p.m. Saturday. Also Saturday, it's Eddie Big Legs and The Wayfarers (2 p.m.), Tullie Brae (4 p.m.) and Big Al and The Heavyweights (9 p.m.). The Don Johnson Project kicks things off Friday with blues, Motown and more, and The Rhythm Bonesand Brett Johnson featuring Tarsha Murphy take the stage Sunday. 8 p.m. Friday, 2 p.m. Saturday, 3 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Sunday. Tickets are $10 Friday only, $15 Saturday night only, $40 all day Saturday. Sunday early show is free, $5 for later show.
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'The House That Gordy Built'
June 8-9at Thalian Hall: Wilmington's Techmoja Dance & Theatre Co. presents this original musical revue conceived and directed by Kevin Lee-Y Green. It features more than two dozen instantly recognizable hits from the famed Motown label founded by Berry Gordy.7:30 p.m. June 8, 2 p.m. June 8-9. 910-632-2285.
Theater review:Motown revue at Thalian Hall features transportive moments despite sound issues
'Much Ado About Nothing'
June 8-28at Greenfield Lake Amphitheater: Cape Fear Shakespeare on the Green returns for its 31st summer season at Greenfield Lake. Wilmington theater standout Kendra Goehring directs "Much Ado About Nothing." The comedy is about the bickering Benedick and Beatrice, who find love roadblocked by their own strong-minded personalities, while the amour of Claudio and Hero is thwarted by a mix of malevolent meddling and the prejudices of society.8 p.m. June 8-9, 14-16, 21-23 and 26-28. Free admission, donations accepted. Picnics welcome, with concessions available.
Julia Hladkowicz
June 7-8 at Dead Crow Comedy Room: Veteran touring comic was a New Face at Montreal's esteemed Just For Laughs festival in 2015. She's been on all the shows and networks, and has some great, edgy material about the more annoying and even disturbing aspects of marriage, among other topics. 7 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. June 7-8, tickets are $18 and $28.
'Mama Won't Fly'
June 6-23 at Brunswick Little Theatre: Comedy from the writing team of Hope Jones Wooten about a Southern daughter who drives cross-country to attend her brother's wedding, her fear-of-flying mother in tow. Hijinks ensue. 7:30 p.m. June 6-8, 14-15 and 21-22, 3 p.m. June 9, 16 and 23. 910-447-2586 or BrunswickLittleTheatre.com.
Port City Music Festival
June 5-9, various venues: 16th annual festival of classical music features world-class players performing work by such composers as Mozart, Bach, Hayden, Handel, Debussy, Mahler and more. All concerts are free, with donations accepted. For full schedule and lineup, go to PortCityMusicFestival.org.
FRIDAY
Blab School
June 7 at Satellite Bar & Lounge: Punk band with members based in Carolina Beach and the Triangle plays a release show for its scorching new, self-titled album on Wilmington's Fort Lowell Records. Among other bangers, Blab School's song "Scroll" is a blistering indictment of the endless doomscroll: "There’s too much to look at/ All effort just falls flat/ Can’t seem to stop/ I’m clicking on buttons/ Just staring at nothing/ Return to the top ... Scroll down." With Wilmington punk icons Tercel, whose recent song "Tiny Towns" also slays. 7 p.m. June 7, free.
Airlie Gardens Concert Series
June 7at Airlie Gardens: Super-popular concert series kicks off this week with reSOUL playing dance tunes, some rock, and even country.Parking is off-site at the Northeast Library, 1241 Military Cutoff Road, with free shuttle service to the concerts starting at 5 p.m. Chairs, blankets andpicnics are allowed, and guests can purchase food and beverages Front Street Brewery, Planet Smoothie and Noni Bacca. 6-8 p.m. June 7. Tickets are $10, $3 for ages 4-12, free for ages 3 and under.910-798-7700.
Friday Night Live
June 7at The Pier at Port City Marina: Longtime '80s cover band The Breakfast Club headlines this outdoor concert series. 6 p.m. gates, 7 p.m. show, tickets are $10.
SATURDAY
'Peter Pan'
June 8at CFCC Wilson Center: Wilmington Dance Theatre and the Wilmington Conservatory of Fine Arts present this take on the classic story by J.M. Barrie about the boy who never grows up. 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. June 7, tickets start at $15. 910-362-7999.
Mud Day
June 8 at Wilmington Children's Museum: Annual celebration of making a mess invites your kids to come and literally play in the mud. They'll have a rinsing area, so bring swimsuits, a change of clothes and a towel. 9 a.m.-noon June 8, tickets are $15, $5 for members.
Mayfaire Music on the Town
June 8 at Mayfaire Town Center: The Wilmington shopping center is bringing backa short run of its old music series to celebrate Mayfaire's 20th anniversary. This week's band is rock act Shotgun Taxi. Bring chairs and/or blankets. 6-8 p.m. June 8 on the lawn across from Fuel Fitness. Free, no pets.
SUNDAY
Dock Street Pride Fest
June 9, downtown Wilmington: Wilmington's biggest, baddest Pride party will take over Dock Street between Front and Second, with revelers able to bounce between The Husk and Duck & Dive bars. Features a stage with DJs and drag performances, with vendors, face and body painting, and lots of dancing. Noon event, 4 p.m. drag show, 1-4 p.m. vendors.
The Woggles
June 9 at The Ocean Grill & Tiki Bar: After not having music last year while the pier was being repaired, this beloved Carolina Beach venue is bringing back tunes in a big way. Longtime Athens, Georgia, garage rockers The Woggles will play their first Wilmington-area show in many years with a revamped lineup and raucous new single, "Telling Me Lies." 7-9 p.m. June 9, free.
