Your ultimate guide to 200+ concerts, festivals and shows this summer in the Triangle
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Check out this roundup of the top outdoor concerts, movies, festivals, patios and rooftop bars to enjoy around the Triangle this summer.
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A.J. McLean of the Backstreet Boys returned to performing this spring for the first time in two years. And while the boy band is a veteran of stages all over the globe, the concerts in Las Vegas felt unexpectedly new — and emotional.
“I was backstage talking to our production manager, and I said, ‘Dude, why does this feel like the first show ever?” McLean told The News & Observer in an interview. “I think there was a different emotional feeling.”
Concerts and live performances were put on hold indefinitely when the pandemic hit. And while shows started returning last summer, they were limited, and music fans were still weary of being out in crowds while the next COVID-19 wave started to spike.
Now, bands like the Backstreet Boys are making up for lost time and are hitting the road in full force. The Backstreet Boys will be in Raleigh June 25.
“It’s like the world finally moved on,” McLean said. “And thank God, because people need live concerts, man. People need to go and get away from their 9-to-5 and just have fun.”
Venues in the Triangle have packed calendars, many with rescheduled shows. While many are COVID-19-aware, they have dropped vaccination and mask guidelines. But not all have. Some artists may choose to require proof of COVID-19 vaccine or COVID-19 tests taken before the show.
Here’s a look at concerts, performances and big-name comedy shows across the Triangle this summer.
Be sure to look closely when buying tickets for any entry requirements, including tests, vaccines, masks and what bags are permitted inside. These days, most events are mobile entry, and many venues don’t accept cash. As always, performances dates are subject to change.
And check back as we update this list with concerts and events as they’re announced.
Coastal Credit Union Music Park at Walnut Creek
3801 Rock Quarry Road, Raleigh
919-831 6400 or livenation.com
June 25: Backstreet Boys
July 1: Train, Jewel, Blues Traveler and Will Anderson
July 8: Luke Bryan, Riley Green, Mitchell Tenpenny and DJ Rock
July 9: OneRepublic with NEEDTOBREATHE
July 12: The Chicks with Patty Griffin
July 15: Chris Brown and Lil Baby
July 21: Tedeschi Trucks Band with Los Lobos and the Gabe Dixon Band
July 22: Dave Matthews Band
July 28: Pitbull with Iggy Azalea
July 29: Phish
Aug. 10: REO Speedwagon and Styx with Loverboy
Aug. 13: Keith Urban with Ingrid Andress
Aug. 14: “Encanto”: The Sing-Along Film Concert
Aug. 21: Jack Johnson with Ziggy Marley
Sept. 1: The Black Keys with Band of Horses and Early James
Sept. 7: Five Finger Death Punch with Megadeth, The Hu and Fire From the Gods
Sept. 17: Wu-Tang Clan & Nas
Sept. 27: Alice in Chains and Breaking Benjamin with Bush
Red Hat Amphitheater
500 S. McDowell St., Raleigh
919-996 8500 or redhatamphitheater.com
June 24: H.E.R. with Marzz Officiall
July 9: Whiskey Myers, Shane Smith and the Saints
July 15: Big Time Rush with Dixie D’Amelio
July 16: Barenaked Ladies, Gin Blossoms and Toad the Wet Sprocket
July 17: Cheer Live!
July 28: Iration, Atmosphere, Katastro, The Grouch
July 29: Fleet Foxes
July 30: Kehlani, Rico Nasty and Destin Conrad
Aug. 3: RuPaul’s Drag Race Werq the World Tour
Aug. 4: LANY, Surfaces
Aug. 6: Rise Against with The Used, Senses Fail
Aug. 7: Rick Springfield, Men at Work, John Waite
Aug. 13: David Gray
Aug. 20: Greensky Bluegrass and The Wood Brothers
Aug. 23: Goo Goo Dolls
Aug. 25: Jon Pardi, Lainey Wilson and Hailey Whitters
Aug. 26: Jamey Johnson, Blackberry Smoke and Megan Moroney
Sept. 3: Oliver Tree, Jawny and Huddy
Sept. 10: Lee Brice, Michael Ray, Jackson Dean
Sept. 14: Zach Bryan with Charles Wesley Godwin
Sept. 30-Oct. 1: IBMA Bluegrass Live! (part of IBMA World of Bluegrass). The Infamous Stringdusters, The Jerry Douglas Band with Peter Rowan Bluegrass Band, Sierra Hull, Balsam Range, Dom Flemons & Shultz’s Dream (with Brian Farrow, Dante’ Pope and Tray Wellington), Della Mae, Twisted Pine
Oct. 2: Black Pumas, The Record Company and The Heavy Heavy for Band Together’s Mighty Giveback
Oct. 3: Death Cab for Cutie and Low
Oct. 7: Maxwell with Ash Minor
Oct. 20: Koe Wetzel
Oct. 28: Turnpike Troubadours with Elizabeth Cook for Band Together’s Mighty Giveback
PNC Arena
1400 Edwards Mill Road, Raleigh
919-861-2300 or pncarena.com
June 22: Machine Gun Kelly with Avril Lavigne and iann dior
June 25: James Taylor
July 22: New Kids on the Block with Salt-N-Pepa, Rick Astley and En Vogue
July 23: Shawn Mendes with Dermot Kennedy
July 31: Rage Against the Machine
Aug. 12: WWE SmackDown
Aug. 18: Roger Waters
Aug. 20: Kevin Hart (comedy)
Aug. 26: My Chemical Romance with Turnstile & Soul Glo
Oct. 2: Panic! at the Disco
Oct. 7: Katt Williams (comedy)
Oct. 18: Greta Van Fleet with Durand Jones & The Indications and Crown Lands
Duke Energy Center for the Performing Arts
2 E. South St., Raleigh
919-996-8700 or dukeenergycenterraleigh.com
June 24: Rupi Kaur
July 9-10: “Paw Patrol Live- The Great Pirate Adventure”
July 16: Orchestra Noir: The Atlanta African-American Orchestra
July 23: Teachers Need to Laugh Comedy Tour with Joe Clair (comedy)
Aug. 5: Five for Fighting with The Verve Pipe
Oct. 1: Amanda Miguel & Ana Victoria Verdaguer
Oct. 2: NC Opera features Puccini “Manon Lescaut”
Oct. 11-15: “Sister Act,” presented by North Carolina Theatre
Oct. 21: Chris D’Elia (comedy)
Oct. 23: “Weird Al” Yankovic
Durham Performing Arts Center
123 Vivian St., Durham
919-680 2787 or dpacnc.com
June 22: Puscifer with Moodie Black
June 24: Air Supply
June 25: Amos Lee with Neal Francis
July 6: Celeste Barber (comedy)
July 19: Steely Dan
July 31: Boz Scaggs
Aug. 2-7: “Harper Lee’s to Kill a Mockingbird” (Broadway)
Aug. 9: Daryl Hall and the Daryl’s House Band with Todd Rundgren
Aug. 12: Arrival from Sweden: The Music of ABBA
Aug. 14: A.R. Rahman
Aug. 15: Lyle Lovett and His Large Band
Aug. 17: Mary Chapin Carpenter
Aug. 20: Kurtis Conner featuring Dean Hebscher and Jacob Sharpe (comedy)
Aug. 27: Jo Koy (comedy)
Sept. 8: Jim Jefferies (comedy)
Sept. 9: The Temptations and The Four Tops
Sept. 14-Oct. 2: “Frozen” (Broadway)
Oct. 6: Wanda Sykes (comedy)
Oct. 7: Brandi Carlile
Oct. 8: Father John Misty with Suki Waterhouse
Oct. 9: Tauren Wells with Aaron Cole and Lakewood Music
Oct. 12: Wardruna
Oct. 15: Diana Krall
Oct. 16: Steve Martin & Martin Short with Jeff Babko and the Steep Canyon Rangers
Oct. 18-23: “Annie” (Broadway)
Oct. 24: Daniel Howell (comedy)
Oct. 27: Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons
Oct. 30: Straight No Chaser
Carolina Theatre
309 W. Morgan St., Durham
919-560-3030 or carolinatheatre.org
July 16: Nimesh Patel (comedy)
July 31: Tim Heidecker
Aug. 6: Judy Collins
Aug. 10: Chris Isaak
Aug. 17: John Hiatt & The Goners featuring Sonny Landreth
Aug. 20: War on the Catwalk (comedy)
Sept. 4: Crowded House
Sept. 8: Croce plays Croce — 50th anniversary
Sept. 17: Matt Nathanson
Sept. 20: The Robert Cray Band
Sept. 28: Billy Bragg
Sept. 29: Sibling Rivaly Rout (comedy)
Sept. 30: Ninja Sex Party
Oct. 12: Craig Ferguson (comedy)
Oct. 13: Here Come the Mummies
Oct. 19: Joe Satriani
Oct. 23: Rumours of Fleetwood Mac
Oct. 24: Josh Gates Live!
North Carolina Museum of Art
Joseph M. Bryan Jr. Theater in the Museum Park, 2110 Blue Ridge Road, Raleigh
919-839-6262 or ncartmuseum.org
June 23: Jazz at the NCMA: Ledisi sings Nina with guest Al Strong
June 30: Jazz at the NCMA: Jonathan Butle with guest Avery Sunshine
July 7: Jazz at the NCMA: Take 6 with guest Najee
July 14: Jazz at the NCMA: Arturo O’Farrill and the Afro Latin Jazz Ensemble with guest Veronica Swift
July 17: NCMA Groove: The Joy of Soul (dance)
Aug. 26: Choreographers Spotlight Series, sponsored by Carolina Ballet
Sept. 2: Stephanie Mills with Will Downing
Sept. 14: Lake Street Drive with The Dip
Sept. 18: NCMA Groove: The Joy of Latinx Music (dance)
Oct. 1: Watchhouse with Allison De Groot and Tatiana Hargreaves
Oct. 8: Music at the Museum Festival
Koka Booth Amphitheatre
8003 Regency Parkway, Cary
919-462-2025 or boothamphitheatre.com
June 23-25: Billy Strings
June 26: N.C. Symphony Summerfest: The Music of Queen
June 27: Pat Benatar and Neil Giraldo
July 1: N.C. Symphony Summerfest: Dvořák: Symphony No. 9 “From the New World”
July 2: Smooth Nights at KBA series: Norman Brown, Alex Bugnon and Marion Meadows
July 8: Summer Jam: Feel Good Show of the Year with The Commodores with guest Average White Band
July 9: N.C. Symphony Summerfest: Disco Fever
July 16: N.C. Symphony Summerfest: Sidecar Social Club
July 25: Andrew Bird and Iron & Wine with guest Meshell Ndegeocello
Aug. 2: Fitz and the Tantrums and Andy Grammer with guest Breland
Aug. 16: Kidz Bop Live
Aug. 19: Smokey Robinson
Sept. 7: Collective Soul and Switchfoot
Sept. 9: Rock-N-Romance with Ambrosia, John Ford Coley, and Peter Beckett (the voice of Player)
Sept. 10: Smooth Nights at KBA series: Jazz Greats: Incogniti and Maysa
The Ritz
2820 Industrial Drive, Raleigh
919-424-1400 or ritzraleigh.com
June 25: Trap Bingo
July 1: Purity Ring
July 20: Hanson
Aug. 30: Black Label Society
Aug. 31: Giveon
Sept. 4: Interpol
Sept. 16: Alec Benjamin with Sara Keys
Sept. 18: Clutch
Sept. 23: iDKHOW and Joywave
Sept. 27: Architects
Sept. 30: COIN
Oct. 8: Judah & The Lion
Oct. 11: Sammy Rae & The Friends
Oct. 15: Chelsea Cutler
Oct. 18: Mother Mother
Oct. 21: Hippo Campus
Cat’s Cradle
300 E. Main St., Carrboro
919-967-9053 or catscradle.com
Other shows scheduled for Cat’s Cradle Back Room.
June 23: Bikini Kill and H.C. McEntire
June 24: Melvins with Helms Alee and Harsh Mellow
June 26: School of Rock Chapel Hill mid-season show
July 1: Can’t You Hear Me Rockin’: A Tribute to the Rolling Stones
July 10: Bayside, Pinkshift, Save Face
Aug. 30: Boris, Nothing
Sept. 9: Spiritualized Live
Sept. 12: Briston Maroney, Medium Build
Sept. 13: SALES
Sept. 22: The Spill Canvas
Sept. 23: Flor, The Wldlife, Good Problem
Sept. 25: Movements
Sept. 26: Girlpool
Sept. 27: Osees, Bronze
Sept. 29: Electric Six, Supersuckers
Haw River Ballroom
1711 Saxapahaw-Bethlehem Church Road, Saxapahaw
July 6: Lost Dog Street Band with Willi Carlisle
Aug. 5: Town Mountain
Aug. 20: Snail Mail with Momma and Hotline TNT
Aug. 21-22: Lucinda Williams
Sept. 23: Andrea Gibson
Sept. 27: Jenny Lewis
Sept. 29: Tinariwen
Oct. 6: Alex G, Barrie
Oct. 13: Kurt Vile and The Violators, Julia Shapiro
Oct. 17: Madison Cunningham with Bendigo Fletcher
FREE CONCERTS
Moore Square Busker Series
Free music from local buskers Wednesday, Friday and Saturday from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. outside Square Burger in downtown Raleigh. raleighnc.gov/moore-square
Rock the Park
Free concerts at various Durham parks every months this summer. CJ Baker and September, an Earth Wind & Fire tribute band, will play July 9 at Rock Quarry Park. DJ Terminator X & The Sample Supreme, old school hip-hop group, will play at Southern Boundaries Park on Aug. 6. Concerts start at 6 p.m.
Bands, Bites and Boats at Bond Park
Live music and food trucks at Bond Park Boathouse in Cary the first Friday of every month from April to October. Admission is free. Costs for boat rentals and food. Details at townofcary.org.
Cary Live
Free concerts and food trucks Saturday evenings at the former library site in downtown Cary, 310 S. Academy St. Concerts scheduled July 9, Sept. 10 and Oct. 22. Details at townofcary.org.
Park After Dark
Concerts and food trucks on select Wednesdays at the former library site in downtown Cary, 310 S. Academy St. Concerts scheduled July 20, Aug. 17, and Sept. 21. Details at townofcary.org.
Performances at the Page
Free concerts in a variety of genres at the Page-Walker Arts & History Center Garden, 119 Ambassador Loop, Cary. Shows scheduled July 29 and Aug. 5. Food truck on site. Call 919-460-4963 if there’s inclement weather. Details at townofcary.org.
Acoustic Evenings in the Park
Weekly concerts held Wednesdays, 6 to 9 p.m. at Waverly Place in Cary from June 1 to Sept. 28. waverlycary.com
Friday Night on White
Free concerts from 6 to 9 p.m. in downtown Wake Forest on South White Street on July 15, Aug. 12 and Sept. 9. Food trucks and beer and wine for purchase. wakeforestnc.gov
Outdoor concerts in Apex
Outdoor concerts scheduled at Apex Nature Park Amphitheatre from 7 to 9 p.m. on July 23, Aug. 6, Aug. 20, Sept. 17. apexnc.org
Fridays on the Front Porch
Weekly outdoor concerts at the Carolina Inn in Chapel Hill on Fridays from April 29 to Oct. 14, from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Food trucks are also on site.
Downtown Live in Chapel Hill
Free concert series at various locations on Franklin and Rosemary streets. Concerts scheduled June 25. downtownchapelhill.com
Wine Down Wednesdays
Free weekly concerts through Oct. 19 outside La Vita Dolce, 610 Market St., Chapel Hill, in Southern Village. Concerts are scheduled every Wednesday from 6 to 8 p.m. lavitadolcecafe.com
Summer at the Springs
Free concerts at the Holly Springs Cultural Center, 300 W. Ballentine St. Concerts scheduled July 1, Aug. 5
Saturdays in Saxapahaw
Local bands and a farmer’s market are held every Saturday through Aug. 27. The market opens at 5 p.m. with music from 6 to 8 p.m. Free admission, but donations accepted. Hawriverballroom.com
FESTIVALS
July 2 and 4: Festival for the Eno at West Point on the Eno City Park, Durham. Enofest.org
July 22-23: Peak City Pig Fest, Apex
July 28-31: Galaxy Con, Raleigh
Aug. 5-6: Beer, Bourbon & BBQ Festival at Booth Amphitheatre
Aug. 27-28: Lazy Daze Arts and Crafts Festival, Cary
Aug. 27: Packapalooza
Sept. 17-18: Centerfest in Downtown Durham
Sept. 27-Oct. 1: IBMA Wide Open Bluegrass
Oct. 6-9: Shakori Hills GrassRoots Festival of Music & Dance
Oct. 8: Hum Sub Diwali at Booth Amphitheatre
Oct. 15: NC Wine Festival at Booth Amphitheatre
Oct. 13-23: N.C. State Fair
TBA: Hopscotch Music Festival, Raleigh
This story was originally published June 22, 2022 at 5:45 AM.
