With the warm weather in full gear, it’s a great time to visit the Creative District and catch a family-friendly outdoor summer concert. Outdoor summer entertainment seems endless in Raleigh and the Creative District has lots to offer. Here is your guide to the concerts:
2012 Sunday in the Park Concert Series
The City of Raleigh Parks & Rec department kicked off their 2012 Sunday in the Park Concert Series this past weekend. On the first through fourth Sundays of each month a different band will take the stage, rotating among Fletcher Park, Pullen Park, Lake Johnson Park, and Lake Wheeler Park.
When: First through Fourth Sundays each month through September- Time: Concerts begin at 6pm
- Cost: FREE
- More info: bring your lawn chairs and picnic baskets, alcohol is not permitted, concerts cancelled due to inclement weather are not rescheduled, download the flyer
Concert Lineup
- June 3 at Fletcher Park – Milagro Saints (folk, rock, country)
- June 10 at Lake Wheeler Park – Tight Squeeze (classic rock, blues, country)
- June 17 at Lake Johnson Park – Ron Baxter (jazz)
- June 24 at Pullen Park – The Village Band (sousa, concert, show tunes)
- July 1 at Fletcher Park – Gravy Boys (acoustic Americana)
- July 8 at Lake Wheeler Park – SWAG (rock, blues, surf, 90’s grunge)
- July 15 at Lake Johnson Park – Katie Garfield (acoustic guitar)
- July 22 at Pullen Park – Nick Driver Band (acoustic rock)
- Aug 5 at Fletcher Park – Triangle Taiko (drumming)
- Aug 12 at Lake Wheeler Park – Grass Street (bluegrass)
- Aug 19 at Lake Johnson Park – Last Call (classic, southern, blues rock)
- Aug 26 at Pullen Park – Raleigh Concert Band (marches, showtunes)
- Sept 2 at Fletcher Park – Sandbox (fun, twangy interactive children’s music)
- Sept 9 at Lake Wheeler Park – Laura Ridgeway w/Capital Transit (vocal harmony, jazz, swing)
- Sept 16 at Lake Johnson Park – Triangle Brass Band (volunteer brass/percussion band)
- Sept 23 at Pullen Park – Triangle Taiko (drumming)
NC Art Museum Summer Concerts
The NC Art Museum is also bustling with a busy outdoor concert schedule. From Indie to Dance to Guitar to Country and more, the NC Art Museum offers a diverse summer concert program. Bring your own food or purchase it on site. They have amphitheater seating with reserved seats or general admission and lawn seating near the top. Check the NC Art Museum’s website for complete food and beverage policies and ticketing and seating information.
Concert Lineup
- Sun, June 10 at 7pm – AfroCubism
- Sat, June 30 at 10:30am – Doc Watson Symposium
- Sat, June 30 at 8pm – Celebrating Doc: Doc Watson Deep River Rising with special guest musicians Wayne Henderson and Jeff Little
- Tues, July 10 at 7:30pm – Andrew Bird with special guest Mavis Staples
- Sat, July 14 at 8pm – Neko Case with special guest Kelly Hogan
- Wed, July 18 through Thurs, July 19 (times vary) – Shen Wei Dance Arts
- Sat, July 21 at 6:30pm – Justin Roberts and the Not Ready for Naptime Players
- Sat, July 28 at 2pm – Alloy Orchestra’s Not for Kids Only
- Sat, July 28 at 9pm – Alloy Orchestra, accompanying silent-film classic The Phantom of the Opera
- Fri, Aug 3 at 7pm – Les Primitifs du Futur, followed by screening of Midnight in Paris
- Sat, Aug 4 at 7pm – Les Primitifs du Futur, followed by screening of Hugo
- Fri, Aug 17 at 8pm – Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue
- Sat, Aug 25 at 8pm – Mary Chapin Carpenter
- Fri, Sept 14 through Sun, Sept 16 at 6:20pm – Paperhand Puppet Intervention
Oak City 7 Summer Concerts
The Oak City 7 is a new series of outdoor summer concerts being held in the downtown Raleigh City Plaza area and 100% supported by private sponsors. Oak City 7 concerts are held on alternating Thursdays between Memorial Day and Labor Day and will feature two stages of bands. The events are FREE and will feature local vendors for beer and food purchases. Bring a lawn chair, the dog, and the kids and enjoy fun music all summer long. Events begin at 5pm with live music from 5:30-9pm.
Concert Lineup (main stage):
- Thurs, May 31 – Saints Apollo, Antique Firearms, Tres Chicas
- Thurs, June 14 – Nick Autry, The Balsa Gliders, Katharine Whalen & Her Fascinators
- Thurs, June 28 – The Dune Dogs, Dark Water Rising, I Was Totally Destroying It
- Thurs, July 12 – The Broadcast, Chris Hendricks Band, Crooked Fingers
- Thurs, July 26 – Lila, Once and Future Kings, Annuals
- Thurs, Aug 9 – Archbishops of Blount Street, Jack the Radio, Hobex
- Thurs, Aug 23 – Paleface, Debonzo Brothers, Big Daddy Love
Check out the complete list of performers on the main stage and second stage.
Music on the Porch Summer Series
The Music on the Porch concert series is back this summer at Mordecai Historic Park on alternating Fridays through October 12th. They ask for a donation of $5 and typically have food trucks on hand for purchase or you can bring your own food and beer. Events run from 6-9pm. Check out the Creative District’s Music on the Porch article for more information.
As mentioned above, there are a ton of avenues for outdoor summer concerts. Alternating Thursdays are for Oak City 7 in downtown Raleigh at City Plaza; alternating Fridays are for Music on the Porch at Mordecai Historic Park, first through fourth Sundays are for Sundays in the Park at rotating City of Raleigh parks; and sprinkled throughout the summer are concerts at the NC Art Museum.