Date: June 1, 2013
Keep the kids entertained and your wallet fat this summer with free or low-cost live outdoor concerts throughout the Triangle area. Here is what summer 2013 has in store. Check websites for updates, as scheduling changes may occur.
Jump to:
Cary
Carrboro
Chapel Hill
Clayton
Durham
Garner
Hillsborough
Holly Springs
Raleigh
Saxapahaw
• Starlight Concert Series
Enjoy free concerts at 7 p.m. on select Fridays — June 14 and 28, and July 12 and 26 — featuring eclectic local and regional groups at the Page-Walker Arts & History Center Garden. Food and lawn chairs are permitted. Call 919-460-4963 for details.
• Sertoma Series
Enjoy free outdoor Hometown Series concerts May-August at varying times, and PineCone Series concerts June 15 and July 13 at 6 p.m. Both concert series take place in Bond Park at the Sertoma Amphitheatre. Call 919-469-4069 for more information about those performances. The Downtown Performer Series takes place June 21 and 27 at the corner of Academy Street and Kildaire Farm Road. Call 919-469-4061 for information on the Downtown Series performances. A final Seven O'clock Rock Series performance takes place June 27 at 7 p.m. at the corner of Academy and Chatham streets and features Beach Night With the Magnificents Band. See the performance schedule at the Town of Cary's website (search for Sertoma Series, Downtown Performer Series or Seven O'clock Rock Series).
• Wind Down Wednesdays at Waverly Place
Come out for free concerts and family entertainment on the promenade every Wednesday night through Aug. 21, 6-9 p.m. Take lawn chairs. Coolers not permitted. Visit Waverly Place's website for details.
Carrboro:
• After Hours: Early Summer
Beat the heat Thursday evenings with free music June 6, 13, 20 and 27, 6:30-8:30 p.m., on the Weaver Street Market lawn at 101 E. Weaver St. in Carrboro. After Hours concerts resume Aug. 15 (see below). See Weaver St. Market's website for schedule.
• After Hours: Late Summer
Spend the summer evenings listening to free music every Thursday, Aug. 15-Oct. 20, 6-8 p.m., on the Weaver St. Market lawn at 101 E. Weaver St. in Carrboro. Learn more at Weaver St. Market's website in the Events section.
• Jazz & More Brunch
This free outdoor jazz series takes place on Sundays, June 2-Oct. 20, 11 a.m.-1 p.m., on the Weaver Street Market lawn at 101 E. Weaver St. in Carrboro. Take chairs and blankets. Purchase a la carte brunch items in the store. Visit Carrboro's website for more information.
Chapel Hill:
• Carolina Inn's Fridays on the Front Porch
Enjoy free live music every Friday through Oct. 4, 5-8 p.m. Purchase food or drinks in advance. Visit Carolina Inn's website for more details.
• Locally Grown Music & Movies Series
This free live concert and movie series takes place on top of Rosemary Street's Wallace Plaza every Thursday, June 28-Aug. 23, at 8 p.m. Visit Locally Grown's schedule for details.
• Music Maker's Roots and Leaves Series
Listen to free blues and Southern traditional music every Friday night in June at 6 p.m. on the Village Green at Southern Village. For details, visit Music Maker's website.
• Southern Village Sunday Night Outdoor Music Series
Enjoy free Sunday concerts on the Village Green at 6 p.m. through Oct. 13. To learn more, visit Southern Village's website.
Clayton:
• Clayton Town Square Concerts Series
Attend free concerts June 20, July 18, Aug. 15 and Sept. 12, 7-9 p.m., in Clayton Town Square at 110 W. Main St. Enjoy merchandise and gift card giveaways along with other surprises. Take lawn chairs and blankets. Visit Downtown Clayton's website for details.
Durham:
• Find Your Cool Summer Concert Series
Downtown Durham has launched a new summer concert series on Thursdays, 7-8:30 p.m., through Aug. 8 at the CCB Plaza at 201 N. Corcoran St. (with the exception of July 4). Enjoy bands performing a range of music — from soul to salsa. In case of rain, concerts are moved indoors to The Pinhook at 117 W. Main St. Learn more at Downtown Durham's website (click on Summer Concert Series).
• Golden Belt Live Summer Concert Series
Enjoy live music June 7 and 21, and July 5 and 19, 6-8 p.m., at the Golden Belt in Durham. Hear bands and performers like Michael Rank and Stag; Kim Arrington; The Brand New Life; and Justin Johnson & Skinny Bag of Sugar. Concerts are located in the Golden Belt's front parking lot at 807 E. Main St. in Durham. Free parking is available in the back parking lot. Learn more at Golden Belt's website.
• Summer Days Nasher Nights: Live and Local
Enjoy free live music in the café by area musicians, as well as a brunch menu featuring local ingredients, noon-2 p.m. June 9 and 23, July 14 and 28, and August 11 and 18. Visit the Nasher Museum's website to learn more.
• Duke Performances 2013: Music in the Gardens
See regional indie rock and folk groups in the Sarah P. Duke Gardens on select Wednesdays June 5-July 31. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. and concerts start at 7 p.m. Take lawn chairs, picnics and blankets. Free for children 12 and younger, $12 for general public. To view schedule and order tickets, visit Duke Performances online.
• Center Stage at American Tobacco Concert Series
Enjoy free Friday concerts, 6-9 p.m., on the American Tobacco campus lawn June 7, Sept. 20 and Oct. 4. Enjoy live music, restaurants, food trucks, a kids zone, a zip line and more. (No picnics, coolers or alcohol allowed.) An Art of Cool 4th of July festival, 5-8 p.m., features live music from The Best + Big Band and DJ Apple Juice Kid. Visit the events calendar at the Tobacco Campus's website.
• The Streets at Southpoint's Music on Main
Listen to free concerts featuring adult contemporary, beach and light jazz music at Cinema Circle (across from South Point Cinemas) Saturdays, through Oct. 26, 6-8:45 p.m. Visit South Point's online events page for the schedule.
• Rock the Park Movie and Concert Series
Enjoy this free movie and concert series the first Saturday of the month June 8-Aug. 17, 6-8 p.m., at various Durham parks. Take blankets and lawn chairs. Food vendors will be available. To view schedule, visit Rock the Park's webpage.
Garner:
• Music Off Main Downtown Concert Series
Listen to free live music June 6 and 20, Aug. 15 and Sept. 19, 6-9 p.m., on the back lawn of the Garner Performing Arts Center. Take blankets and chairs. Coolers not permitted. For performance schedule, see Garner's website.
Hillsborough:
• Hillsborough Outdoor Music Series
Come to Hillsborough's Weaver Street Market at 228 Churton St. on Thursdays through July 27, 6-8 p.m., for free music on the lawn, weather permitting. View the schedule at Weaver St. Market's website.
• Last Fridays: Blues at Burwell
A different headlining band performs for free on the lawn of the historic Court House every last Friday of the month through Sept. 28, 6:30-9:30 p.m. View the schedule at the Last Fridays webpage.
Holly Springs:
• Summer at the Springs
Free outdoor concerts take place on the second and fourth Fridays from June through August, 7-9 p.m., at the Holly Springs Cultural Center. Take lawn chairs, blankets and picnic dinners. In case of inclement weather, concerts will be moved to Holly Springs Cultural Center's indoor theater. For details, visit Holly Springs's website.
Raleigh:
• Midtown Beach Music Series
Enjoy free music performed by popular beach bands like The Embers, Liquid Pleasure and the Fantastic Shakers on the Commons at North Hills on Thursdays, 6-9 p.m. Learn more at North Hill's website.
• Music in the Valley
Enjoy free live music Wednesdays, 6-9 p.m., at Crabtree Valley Mall on the patio. Enjoy food and drink specials during performances. Learn more at Crabtree Valley's website.
• Music of the Carolinas
A free series of nine concerts every second Sunday of the month from October to June at Daniels Auditorium in the N.C. Museum of History. See the Music of the Carolina's webpage for schedule.
• Oak City 7
This new free concert series continues every other Thursday May 30-Aug. 22, 5-10:30 p.m., in downtown Raleigh's City Plaza. The concerts will feature local and regional bands playing Americana, indie rock, folk rock and bluegrass music. See Oak City 7's website for more details.
Saxapahaw:
• Saturdays in Saxapahaw
Enjoy free outdoor concerts on Saturdays May-August, 6-8 p.m., on the Hay Wagon Stage at the Saxapahaw Rivermill Farmers Market. For details, visit Saturdays in Saxapahaw's webpage.
Compiled by Jessica Gaylord and updated June 1, 2013.
