Popular rock band is coming to the Raleigh area. How & when to see them play
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- Jefferson Starship is set to perform in North Carolina.
- The rock band will play April 18 at the Paul A. Johnston Auditorium in Smithfield.
- Tickets and VIP packages are available for the band’s 50th anniversary tour.
A popular band has been around for five decades — and will soon rock out in North Carolina.
Jefferson Starship is set to make a tour stop in Johnston County this April. The band — which popularized in the 1970s — will be “playing some of their classic hits along with new and gritty sounds,” according to a Tuesday, March 3 news release about the upcoming concert.
“Jefferson Starship has solidified itself as one of the most successful arena-playing bands of the classic rock era. While the band’s lineup has changed over the years, the current members, including co-founder David Freiberg, serve as a true testament to the timelessness and heart of the group.”
Here’s what to know about the band’s Raleigh-area show and how to get tickets.
When and where is the concert?
Jefferson Starship’s concert is scheduled for 7 p.m. Saturday, April 18. Doors will open at 6 p.m., according to the ticket vendor Etix.
The band is set to take the stage at the Paul A. Johnston Auditorium on the main campus of Johnston Community College in Smithfield. The campus is located off Interstate 95 and a roughly 30-mile drive southeast from downtown Raleigh.
The concert venue has about 1,000 seats and free nearby parking, according to the Johnston County Visitors Bureau.
How to get Jefferson Starship tickets
Tickets for the Smithfield show are on sale at etix.com. Tickets in the mezzanine cost $45 each, while seats on the orchestra level cost $50.
Fans also can choose from two different VIP packages, which include “premium” seats, signed memorabilia and other perks. Both of the packages cost more than $100 and have limited availability on the website.
In addition to Freiberg, the band’s current lineup includes “drummer Donny Baldwin, keyboardist Chris Smith, lead vocalist Cathy Richardson, and lead guitarist Jude Gold.” Founding member Paul Kantner died in 2016, and the “spirit of exploration and adventure he instilled in the band lives on in their music,” according to Etix and the Jefferson Starship website.
The Smithfield concert is one of about three dozen performances planned as the band celebrates its 50th anniversary. To see a full list of tour dates in the United States and abroad, visit jeffersonstarship.com/tour.
This story has been updated.
This story was originally published March 4, 2026 at 11:49 AM.
