Opening notes

BIG ACTS AND FAMILIAR NAMES: PREVIEWING CONCERT SEASON

As temperatures rise, the music also heats up. And from indoor stages to waterside amphitheaters, local concertgoers have even more shows to choose from this year. Here’s a sampling of some of the upcoming performances.

Live Oak Bank Pavilion

10 Cowan Street (Riverfront Park) livenation.com

APRIL 29: WALKER HAYES – Walker Hayes brings his country-pop tunes to the riverfront amphitheater, with country singer-songwriter Ingrid Andress opening.

MAY 10: ROBERT PLANT & ALISON KRAUSS – The Led Zeppelin legend and bluegrass powerhouse team up on tour after their second collaboration album Raise the Roof was released in 2021.

MAY 30 AND 31: DAVE MATTHEWS BAND – Grammy-awardwinning Dave Matthews Band plays two nights, bringing songs spanning from the 1990s to the band’s tenth studio album, Walk Around the Moon , set to be released in May.

JUNE 22: TROMBONE SHORTY & ORLEANS AVENUE + ZIGGY

MARLEY – New Orleans icon Trombone Shorty stops in Wilmington for his summer tour, joined by co-headliner Ziggy Marley. Mavis Staples and Robert Randolph also perform.

JULY 14: BARENAKED LADIES – More ’90s nostalgia hits take the stage with Canadian college rockers for their (now seventh) Last Summer on Earth tour.

JULY 18 AND 19: PHISH – Rock band Phish jams over two summer evenings. While founding member Trey Anastasio has performed in Wilmington before, this is the band’s first tour stop in the Port City.

Greenfield Lake Amphitheater

1941 Amphitheatre Drive (Greenfield Lake Park) livenation.com

APRIL 14: INDIGO GIRLS – With sixteen albums under their belt, the folk-rock duo brings their songs spanning the decades to the lakeside amphitheater.

APRIL 29: BEN FOLDS – Singer, songwriter, composer, author, podcast host, and arts advocate Ben Folds performs locally ahead of his first album in eight years –What Matters Most

MAY 28: SIERRA FERRELL – In 2021, Sierra Ferrell’s label debut album, Long Time Coming , was released to critical acclaim. She brings her eclectic style to Wilmington for her Long Time Going tour.

JUNE 23: RODRIGO Y GABRIELA – The Mexican acoustic guitar duo returns to Greenfield Lake, with a new album out in April.

JULY 16: MICHAEL FRANTI & SPEARHEAD – Michael Franti also returns to the amphitheater, with his collection of feel-good and do-good singles.

North Carolina Azalea Festival

Live Oak Bank Pavilion, 10 Cowan Street (Riverfront Park) ncazaleafestival.org

A few of the main stage acts have been announced, as of press time, for the annual North Carolina Azalea Festival,