Outdoor concerts are a great way to spend time outside during the beautiful summer months. Whether you choose to take the kids for a fun family night out or maybe get the chance to sneak away for an outdoor date night, below is a list of local concerts in Hickory, Newton, Morganton, Lenoir, Lincolnton and the surrounding areas of the NC Western Piedmont. Grab your chairs or a blanket, pack a picnic dinner and head to one of these fabulous events to listen to some great music out in the fresh air.
Find all of these great kid-friendly outdoor concerts and music series on our calendar of local family fun. Check back regularly as we'll be adding more as we come across them. Know of something missing? Send in the details using our submit an event form.
Sails Original Music Series (Hickory)
The City of Hickory's Sails Original Music Series of original music preformed live under The Sails on the Square Friday evenings in May, June, and September begin at 7 p.m.
- May 5 - The Get Right Band
- May 12 - The Foreign Landers
- May 19 - Leon Timbo
- May 26 - Eddie 9V
- June 2 - Taylor Ashton
- June 9 - Victoria Victoria with Charlie Hunter
- June 16 - Mac Arnold & Plate Full O’ Blues
- Sept 1 - Mellow Swells
- Sept 8 - Zoe & Cloyd
- Sept 15 - Amanda Anne Platt & The Honeycutters
*Performance at Samuel Davis Multipurpose Field, Taft Broome Park - Sept 22 - Rissi Palmer
- Sept 29 - Brother Boys
Special Thanks to Our Sponsors: Atriax, Neill Construction Company, Protection Products, Bob Sinclair Music, Larry’s Music & Sound, Pfahlert Creative Labs, Olde Hickory Brewery, and Crowne Plaza
Jazz on Tap Legacy Concert Series (Hickory)
1st Annual series of outdoor Jazz Concerts on the CommScope Stage in front of the Olde Hickory Taproom from 4 PM to 6 PM.
- April 2 Troy Conn Guitar And Mike Holstein Bass
- April 16 Russ Wilson Vocals And Noel Friedline Keys
- April 30 Byron Hedgepeth Vibraphone And Mike Holstein Bass
- May 14 Doug Henry Sax, Adam Booker Bass, Michael Jefrey Stevens Keys
- Sept. 3 Byron Bean Dixieland Band
- Sept. 17 Todd Wright Quartet
- Oct. 1 Holly Hopkins Jazz Trio
- Oct. 8 Maria Howell Vocalist And Noel Friedline Keys
Swingin' Under the Stars (Hickory)
The FREE outdoor event features the Hickory Jazz Orchestra.
May 28th 6:30 PM - 9:30 PM
Family Friday Nights (Valdese)
Friday nights, Memorial Day through Labor Day. 7 pm to 10 pm at Temple Field behind the Old Rock School.
- May 26, Ace Party Band
- June 2 - Skate Rink Jukebox
- June 9 - The Night Move Band
- June 16 - Shake Down Band
- June 23 - LJTT
- June 30 - The Tonez
Independence Day Celebration & Fireworks on Main St. - July 7 - Fracxured
- July 14 - Southside Saints
- July 21- Chasing Phoenix
- July 28- Smitty & The Jumpstarters
- August 4 - Shelby Rae MOore Band
- August 11 - Southside Station
- August 12 - Ryan Perry
Waldensian Festival on Main Street - August 18- Stella Rising
- August 25- The Super 60s
- September 1 - New Local
Finale
TGIF Concert Series (Morganton)
Friday nights May through July. Bands perform at Historic Burke County Courthouse Lawn in Morganton from 7pm till 10pm with food and beverage vendors opening at 6pm.
- May 5- Blue Ridge Ukulele Festival presents The Dancing Fleas
- May 12- Christ Taylor & The Rumor
- May 19 - Mood Ring
- May 26 - Baby Black
- June 2 - Moose and Friends
- June 9 - Mac Arnold
- June 16 - Brandon Bethel
- June 23 - Radio Ready
- June 30 - Thomas Anthony & the Livehouse Band
- July 7 - (No Concert on July 7)
- July 14 - Scott Moss and the 100 Dollar Handshakes
- July 21- Throwback Collaboration Band
- July 28- IMY2
Summer Music Madness (Lenoir)
Friday nights June through mid-August starting at 7pm (except where noted) on the square in Downtown Lenoir.
- June 9 - FracXured
- June 23 - Soul Watt
- July 7 - Groove Masters Band
- July 21- Shelby Rae Moore Band
Family Fridays at the Amphitheater (Conover)
Every other Friday in June and July at Conover Station in downtown Conover. Concerts start at 7pm and the splash pad is open late for the kids!
- INFORMATION COMING SOON
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Home Town Concert Series (Hudson)
Friday nights June through early July from 7-9pm at Hickman Windmill Park (behind Town Hall) in Hudson.
- INFORMATION COMING SOON
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Hildebran Cruise-In Concerts (Hildebran)
Fourth Saturday of each month May-September from 5-9:30pm at Hildebran Town Hall.
- May 27- Night Moves (Fireworks!)
- June 24- Euphoria Band
- July 22- Fantasy Band
- August 26- Low Down South
- September 23- Night Moves
Summer Concert Series (Connelly Springs)
Last Saturday of each month May - September from 5:30-9:30pm at the Connelly Springs Pavilion
- May 13th - Bantum Rooster
- June 10th - 8OZ Nation
- July 8th - The Tams
- August 12 - Dirty Grass Soul
- September 9 - Trial by Fire
- October 14 - The Extraordinaries
Alive After 5 (Lincolnton)
Last Thursday of each month May - September. DJ Johnny B stirs up the fun at 6pm before the band kicks off at 7pm on Main Street in front of the Courthouse in Lincolnton.
- May 25th - Too Much Sylvia
- June 22nd - Cat5
- July 27th - Jim Quick & Coastline
- August 24th - The Entertainers
- September 14th - Dirty Grass Soul
Summer on the Square Concert Series (Taylorsville)
Located at the Rotary Performance State in Downtown Taylorsville at 7 PM Rain or Shine.
- Saturday, June 3: Carson Peters & Iron Mountain, bluegrass/gospel
- Saturday, July 22: Shake Down Band, beach/dance
- Saturday, August 26: Night Move Band, beach/dance
Summer Concert Series (Claremont)
Various Friday Evenings- Food and Beverage available starting at 6:30 PM and Live Music Starting at 8 PM
- May 26th- Freebird, Lynyrd Skynyrd Tribute
- June 16th- The Catalinas
- August 11th- Ole '97 Johnny Cash Tribute
Jive After Five (Maiden)
Various Fridays throughout the summer from 5:30-9:30pm at Maiden Town Hall
- May 12th - Too Much Sylvia
- May 19 - Cat 5
- June 9 - Jim Quick and Coastline
- June 16 - Ryan Perry (County)
Worth The Drive!
Nights in the Garden (Belmont)
Guests can enjoy the Garden in the beautiful evening hours during Garden Nights on select Thursdays from 4 to 9 p.m. throughout the summer. Enjoy a beverage from one of the Garden’s bars, grab some food from the food truck, enjoy the garden. There will be either live music or a movie on the lawn.
- Thursday, May 18
6-8pm – Anna Harrell - Thursday, June 1
Starting at dusk – Movies on the Lawn - Thursday, June 15
6-8pm – Mike DeLaura - Thursday, June 22
6-8pm – Caleb Davis - Thursday, June 29
6-8pm – Katie Oates - Thursday, July 6
Starting at dusk – Movies on the Lawn - Thursday, July 13
6-8pm – PJ Brunson - Thursday, July 20
Starting at dusk – Movies on the Lawn - Thursday, July 27
6-8pm – Chelsea Locklear
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