Tried-and-true recipe for a great time: a dash of warm weather, a heap of live music and plenty of good friends. With a jam-packed schedule of open-air tunes, we've put together your guide to the venues and concert series that make up more than 100 outdoor concerts in the Raleigh area this summer.

Note: This is a lot—but not all—of the outdoor concerts taking place. You can also save the date for Sister Hazel at Ting Park on May 11, a full calendar of tunes at Bowstring Pizza and Brewyard and many, many others.
 

Red Hat Amphitheater

This 6,000-seat venue that sits in the shadow of downtown Raleigh's skyline (and just steps from bars, restaurants and other nightlife spots) has a major lineup planned for 2024 with more than 35 shows on the calendar through the summer months.

• Queens Of The Stone Age, May 2
• Sum 41, May 9
• Chase Rice, May 10
• Orville Peck, May 30
• John Fogerty, June 5
• Brothers Osborne, June 8
• Bryson Tiller, June 9
• Khruangbin, June 11
• Chappell Roan, June 12
• Gary Clark Jr., June 13
• Dwight Yoakam, June 14
• Goose, June 18
• Cody Jinks, June 21
• Bailey Zimmerman, June 28
• A Day To Remember, July 2
• RAIN, July 10
• Totally Tubular Festival, July 13
• O.A.R., July 16
• Two Door Cinema Club, July 20
• Switchfoot, Blue October and Matt Nathanson, July 25
• Lamb Of God & Mastodon, July 27
• Jamey Johnson, Aug. 1
• 311, Aug. 10
• Still Woozy, Aug. 13
• Tate McRae, Aug. 16
• Bush, Aug. 27
• Stone Temple Pilots & +Live+, Sept. 1
• Justin Moore & Randy Houser, Sept. 6
• Goth Babe, Sept. 10
• Meghan Trainor, Sept. 12
• The Commodores, The Pointer Sisters and El DeBarge, Sept. 20
• Black Pumas & Cory Wong, Sept. 21
• Conan Gray, Oct. 3
• Lake Street Dive, Oct. 4
• Vampire Weekend, Oct. 9
• Ray LaMontagne and Gregory Alan Isakov, Oct. 13
• Lainey Wilson, Oct. 18
• Judah & the Lion, Oct. 20

Koka Booth Amphitheatre

Nestled in a landscape of tall pine trees and next to the beautiful Symphony Lake in Cary, Koka Booth Amphitheatre has more than 20 jazz, bluegrass, symphony and indie music shows lined up for the summer season.

• Josh Cellars Jazz Series: Helena Redman, May 1
• Summerfest Opening Night: Tchaikovsky Spectacular, May 25
• Trampled By Turtles, May 30
• Salute to John Williams with North Carolina Symphony, May 31
• Light Classics with North Carolina Symphony, June 7
• Steep Canyon Rangers with North Carolina Symphony, June 8
• Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue, June 11
• Little Feat: Can’t Be Satisfied Tour, June 13
• The Legendary Wailers ft. Junior Marvin and Third World, June 14
• Classical Favorites with North Carolina Symphony, June 15
• Swan Lake with North Carolina Symphony, June 21
• Cirque Under the Stars with North Carolina Symphony, June 22
• The Music of the Rolling Stones with North Carolina Symphony, June 29
• Songs of the ‘70s with North Carolina Symphony, July 6
• The Catalinas, July 13
• The Flaming Lips, July 17
• Jeffrey Osborne with The Whispers, July 20
• BRIT FLOYD P-U-L-S-E, July 27
• CAKE, Aug. 6
• SLASH: S.E.R.P.E.N.T. Festival, Aug. 7
• John Legend, Aug. 11
• Gin Blossoms And Toad The Wet Sprocket, Aug. 16
• Old Crow Medicine Show, Aug. 17
• Crowded House, Aug. 31
• Koe Wetzel, Sept. 7
• Melissa Etheridge And Jewel, Sept. 17

Coastal Credit Union Music Park at Walnut Creek

Big crowd, big acts and big tailgating. That's how things work at this 20,000-seat venue that has long been known as a can't-miss stop for music stars as they tour the Southeast.

• Foo Fighters, May 7
• Hank Williams Jr., May 17
• Niall Horan, June 7
• Dave Matthews Band, June 14
• HARDY, June 15
• Maggie Rogers, June 19
• Outlaw Fest feat. Willie Nelson, Bob Dylan, Robert Plant & Alison Krauss, June 23
• Red Hot Chili Peppers, June 26
• Alanis Morissette, June 27
• Barbie The Movie: In Concert, July 5
• I Prevail & Halestorm, July 9
• KIDZ BOP LIVE 2024, July 12
• The Queens Of R&B: Xscape & SWV, July 20
• Third Eye Blind, July 21
• Dirty Heads & Slightly Stoopid, July 26
• Sam Hunt, July 27
• New Kids On The Block, July 28
• The Doobie Brothers, July 31
• Cage The Elephant, Aug. 3
• Train & REO Speedwagon, Aug. 9
• Chicago and Earth, Wind & Fire, Aug. 12
• Glass Animals, Aug. 16
• Dan + Shay, Aug. 17
• Styx & Foreigner, Aug. 21
• Boyz II Men, Sept. 6
• Megadeth, Sept. 7
• Hootie & the Blowfish, Sept. 13
• Creed, Sept. 18
• Staind & Breaking Benjamin, Sept. 21
• My Morning Jacket and Nathaniel Rateliff, Sept. 28
• Whiskey Myers, Oct. 26

Summer Concert Series at North Carolina Museum of Art

This unique performing arts and film venue—a work of art itself—has hosted an outdoor summer series featuring a range of musical performances, family entertainment, blockbuster movies and classic films for more than 25 years now.

• Jazz at the NCMA : Gregory Porter, The Baylor Project, May 23
• Jazz at the NCMA: Brian Culbertson, May 30
• Jazz at the NCMA: Samara Joy, Superblue: Kurt Elling & Charlie Hunter, June 6
• Jazz at the NCMA: Babyface, June 7
• Juneteenth Joy: A Celebration of Freedom and Gospel Music with Kirk Franklin, Maurette Brown-Clark, June 14
• Wilco, June 18
• Jazz at the NCMA: Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra with Wynton Marsalis, June 27
• Jazz at the NCMA: Boney James, Maysa and Kenny Lattimore, July 11
• Jazz at the NCMA: El Gran Combo de Puerto Rico, Luciana Souza and Chico Pinheiro Duo, July 18
• Connells, Dillon Fence, Love Tractor, July 19
• Movie/music event: “Purple Rain” and deejay dance party, “NCMA Groove: The Joy of 80s Pop!”, July 27
• Andrew Bird, Amadou & Mariam, Aug. 20
• Concert For Kids: Pierce Freelon, Aug. 24
• African American Cultural Festival Presents: P.J. Morton, Avery Sunshine, Aug. 30
• Opera in the Park with the North Carolina Opera, Sept. 12
• Guster, Sept. 28
• Movie/music event: “Batman” with soundtrack performed by 50-piece orchestra directed by James Olmstead, Oct. 4

Midtown Beach Music Series

Celebrating 15 years as a Raleigh summer tradition in 2024, this weekly Thursday night beach music event in North Hills attracts diverse and lively crowds—bring your dancing shoes! Admission is $5.

• Blackwater Band, May 2
• Band of Oz, May 9
• Spare Change, May 16
• The Chairmen of the Board, May 23
• Too Much Sylvia, May 30
• Jim Quick & Coastline, June 6
• Sleeping Booty, June 13
• Cat5 Band, June 20
• The Embers featuring Craig Woolard, June 27

Live After 5

This free, block-party style music series—taking place on the last Wednesday of each month—will be a celebration of women in music in 2024, featuring four electrifying evenings of tunes on Fayetteville St. in the heart of downtown Raleigh. 

• SunQueen Kelcey & The Solar Flares with 22 Strings Band, May 29
• Elora Dash and Azul, June 26
• Kate Rhudy and Blue Cactus, July 31
• Sixpence None the Richer and Brooke Hatala, Aug. 28

Friday Night on White

This free, family-friendly concert series in downtown Wake Forest takes place on the second Friday of each month throughout spring and summer. Food trucks will be on hand as will beer from White Street Brewing Company and Norse Brewing Company (both brewed literally just steps away from the main stage).

• Irresistible Groove, May 10
• Bounce! Party Band, June 14
• The Brickhouse Band, July 12
• Sleeping Booty Band, Aug. 9
• Crush, Sept. 13

Performances at the Page

This lively series of free concerts features musical styles from near and far—all taking place in the beautiful gardens of the Page-Walker Arts & History Center in downtown Cary.

• Roadhouse Storytellers, June 7
• Jamrock, July 12
• Celebration of Bluegrass, Aug. 2

Bands, Bites and Boats at Bond Park

One Friday per month, Fred G. Bond Metro Park and Boathouse in Cary plays host to musicians, food trucks, beers and after-hours boat rentals.

• My Cousin Skinny, May 3
• 2DIGH4, June 7
• Taylor Schiess, July 5
• Mysti Mayhem Duo, Aug. 2
• Paige King Johnson, Sept. 6
• Garland Mason, Oct. 4

Live Music Wednesdays at Waverly Place

A longtime family favorite destination for a fun night out—thanks to a kids' play area and plenty of A-plus dining spots just steps away (Enrigo Italian Bistro, Gonza Tacos y Tequila, Tasu Asian Bistro and more)—this series of free Wednesday night jam sessions at Cary's Waverly Place is always a good time. 

• The Embers, May 8
• The Soul Psychedelique, May 22
• North Tower Band, June 12
• Bounce Party Band, June 26
• Heads Up Penny, July 10
• Miss Mini and The Sand Band, July 24
• Bantum Roosters, Aug. 14
• The Amazing Lounge Lizards, Aug. 28

Live in the District at Park West Village

This free weekly beach music series at Park West Village in Morrisville pulls together good tunes, craft brews and local food trucks for a family-friendly night out.

• Jim Quick & The Coastline Band, May 2
• The Tams, May 9
• Miss Mini & The Sandman Band, May 16
• The Magnificents, May 23

Packapalooza

Aug. 24
This annual all-day block party and street festival, drawing more than 80,000 attendees, caps off North Carolina State University's Wolfpack Welcome Week at the start of another academic year. The free and open-to-the-public event features more than 300 vendor booths lining Hillsborough St., along with food, games, arts and crafts, visual and performing arts and more. A headlining music act will be announced soon.

Hopscotch Music Festival

Sept. 5-7
Three days, more than 100 bands, a handful of venues across downtown Raleigh, a full schedule of totally-free day parties and 25,000 fans—it's no wonder why Hopscotch Music Festival is time and time again named one of America's can't-miss music events. The acts—and genres—are as wide-ranging as the venues they play in (seen below, the City Plaza stage holds thousands of festival goers, while the City of Oaks' favorite dive bar, Slim's Downtown, holds just a lucky 100 or so).

The 2024 lineup is yet to be released, but expectations are high after a blowout 2023 event featured Pavement, Denzel Curry, Japanese Breakfast, King Krule, Margo Price, Dinosaur Jr. and way more.

IBMA Bluegrass Live! powered by PNC

Sept. 27-28
The arrival of a toe-tappin', banjo-strummin' week of non-stop week of bluegrass in downtown Raleigh has been one of the most anticipated times of the year for more than a decade now. The International Bluegrass Music Association brings their business conference, along with the world's most talented bluegrass musicians, to Raleigh during this week. Those musicians then perform in clubs, on street corners and in hotel lobbies-anywhere they can find a jam session-during the Bluegrass Ramble. Then the week is capped off with Bluegrass Live! powered by PNC, a two-day festival that sets up five stages of free music, a dance tent, tons of art vendors and more.

The lineup for the 12th—and final—IBMA Bluegrass Live! event was just released, with tickets for the Main Stage at Red Hat Amphitheatre going on sale in May. 

It was announced in 2023 that this year's event would be the final act for the festival in Raleigh, and that PineCone—a local non-profit committed to promoting and preserving the roots of music history in the Raleigh area and beyond—will build a new homegrown music event to take its place beginning in 2025. More details on that coming later!

Photo credits: Midtown Beach Music Series, North Hills; Coastal Credit Union Music Park at Walnut Creek, Garrett Poulos