14 things to do in Wilmington during a concert-packed summer weekend

Summer is a great time for concerts, and the Wilmington area has a ton of them this weekend.

From big outdoor concerts to intimate listening room shows, and featuring such genres as hard rock, jazz, blues, jam, punk and more, we've got plenty for you to check out.

And while it may be a music-heavy week, there are also a couple of fun comedy shows and a downtown Wilmington walking tour that'll fill you in on the area's legends and lore.

Let's get the weekend started.

For even more entertainment options, including concerts on weeknights, many of them for free, check out our big ol' list of outdoor summer concerts in the Wilmington area .

Get outside: Full list of outdoor summer concerts in the Wilmington area for 2024

ALL WEEKEND

Maddy Smith

July 12-13 at Dead Crow Comedy Room : Raunchy New York City comic is all over the reels on social media, where she's able to turn most any situation into the bluest moment possible. Smith also appeared for multiple seasons as "the white girl" on MTV show "Wild N Out." 7 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. July 12-13, tickets are $20 and $30 .

Live at Ted's weekend

July 10-14 at Live at Ted's : After going dark for the long July 4 holiday weekend, downtown's favorite listening room is back with five shows this week. Wednesday night is the Voice & The Pen songwriters' series, while Thursday sees the Vaughn Ambrose Trio playing jazz. On Friday, the Wes Collins Band will play intricate story songs and be joined by longtime Wilmington musicians John Fonvielle and Jeff Reid , while Saturday will feature Virginia blues rocker Acisse Jay . Ted's will wrap up its five-day stretch with an EP release show Sunday afternoon from jazz band Jay Killman & The Constellations . Times and tickets at LiveAtTeds.com .

FRIDAY

Turnstyles

July 12 at the Ocean Grill & Tiki Bar : Starting in the 1990s and into the early 2010s, Seth Moody was a ubiquitous force on the Wilmington music scene , playing in some two dozen bands (Reverse, Da Howlies, Summer Set, The Carvers and Deadly Lo-Fi, just to name a few) and heading up a few of his own, notably surf punk act The Noseriders . About a decade ago Moody moved to Memphis and he's become a big part of the scene up there. On Friday night, Moody will play a homecoming show at old Noseriders haunt The Ocean Grill in Carolina Beach with Turnstyles, the garage rock duo he shares with drummer Graham Winchester . On 2020 album "Cut You Off," and on 2023's "Turnstyles 2," the band reinterprets such Noseriders classics as "Ragdolled," "Fish Taco," "Cut You Off," "The Snake" and, with his wife Coco singing backup, "Corduroy Summer." See you at the pier! 7-9 p.m. July 12 at the Ocean Grill, free.

Leather Lung

July 12 at Reggie's 42nd Street Tavern : Massachusetts sludge metal act Leather Lung lays down thick, melodic and muscular grooves backing raspy — one might say leather-lunged — vocals. Opening acts are the bands Bronco and Waco. 7 p.m. July 12, tickets are $10 .

Cape Fear Legends & Lore

July 12 at Burgwin-Wright House & Gardens : Ninety-minute walking tour around downtown Wilmington will introduce you to some of the area's most indelible legends; some of them might even be true. Start at the historic Burgwin-Wright House, which dates to the 1700s. 9 a.m. July 12, tickets are $20 .

Free Concert Friday

July 12 at the The Eagles' Dare : Johnny Cash tribute band The Johnny Folsom 4 plays this concert series at Third and Red Cross streets. 4 p.m. gates, 6 p.m. opener, 8 p.m. headliner July 12. Free.

Friday Night Live

July 12 at The Pier at Port City Marina: Tom Petty tribute band Broken Hearts plays a show for this downtown Wilmington concert series held right on the Cape Fear River. 7 p.m. July 12, tickets are $10 .

Bands by the Beach concert series

July 12 at Middleton Park Amphitheater: Chocolate Chip & Co. will play soul and R&B for this concert series in Oak Island. Blankets, lawn chairs and picnics allowed. 6:30-8:30 p.m. July 12 . Free.

SATURDAY

Big Something

July 13 at Greenfield Lake Amphitheater : North Carolina jam band Big Something heads back to a venue it's played many times with a new album, "Headspace." Opening acts are South Carolina folk rockers SUSTO, who team with Big Something on the groovy single "Clouds Unplugged," and Wilmington's own electronic duo, Krispee Biscuits. Concert pre-party at BelleVue on North Fourth Street, after-party at Greenfield Lake Yacht Club with Jack the Radio. 4:40 p.m. July 13, tickets start at $40 .

Jeff Dye

July 13 at Buck Hardee Field : Outdoor comedy show headlined by the Christian comic Jeff Dye, whose act should appeal to the conservative crowd. Opening act is comic Matt Light. 7 p.m. gates, 8 p.m. show, tickets start at $25 .

Basilisk Burlesque

July 13 at Bourgie Nights : Burlesque show featuring performers with such names as Deviled Legs, Rusty Dawn and Meccah Muah should bring some titillation to your weekend. 8 p.m. doors, 9 p.m. show July 13, tickets are $20 in advance , $25 day of show.

SUNDAY

Bicycle Face

July 14 at the Ocean Grill & Tiki Bar : Jangly, twangy Greensboro punk act active in the late 1980s and early '90s is getting the band back together to rock this Carolina Beach pier. Bicycle Face recently released a remastered version of their 1992 album "Trust and Obey," which contains such timeless classics as "Teenage Identity Song." 7-9 p.m. July 14 , free.

The Disco Biscuits

July 14 at Greenfield Lake Amphitheater : Philadelphia jam band brings its self-described "trance fusion" to town along with a new album, "Revolution in Motion." After-party with Domicile at Greenfield Lake Yacht Club. 5 p.m. July 14, tickets start at $56 .

G Love & Special Sauce

July 14 at Bowstring Burgers & Brewyard : Blues-rapper G Love has played Wilmington many times over the years, back to the days of the old Mad Monk music venue. Opening act is guitar-strumming songwriter Mihali. 6 p.m. doors, 7 p.m. show, tickets start at $38 .

This article originally appeared on Wilmington StarNews: 14 things to do in Wilmington during a concert-packed summer weekend