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 Everclear at Ting Park on May 10, 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 2025 with more than 35 shows on the calendar through the summer months.

• Warren Zeiders, April 25
• Coheed and Cambria, May 13
• The String Cheese Incident, May 16
• Teddy Swims, May 17
• Trivium + Bullet For My Valentine, May 18
• I WANT MY 80’s TOUR starring Rick Springfield, John Waite and more, June 4
• Dispatch Summer Tour 2025 With John Butler, G. Love & Special Sauce, June 7
• WALLOWS, June 11
• The Black Keys, June 12
• beabadoobee, June 16
• The Driver Era, June 20
• Flatland Cavalry & Ian Munsick, June 21
• 311, June 25
• HAUSER, June 27
• Kansas & 38 Special with The Outlaws, June 28
• Barenaked Ladies, July 15
• The Head and the Heart, July 16
• Counting Crows, July 17
• Primus, July 23
• “Weird Al” Yankovic, July 24
• Goo Goo Dolls, July 26
• The Flaming Lips & Modest Mouse, Aug. 2
• Blackberry Smoke, Aug. 7
• The Red Clay Strays, Aug. 16
• Ben Rector, Aug. 21
• Caamp, Aug. 30
• Chevelle, Sept. 3
• Pixies with Spoon, Sept. 9
• Sierra Ferrell, Sept. 10
• Leon Bridges with Charley Crockett, Sept. 12
• Billy Currington + Kip Moore, Sept. 13
• Parker McCollum, Sept. 20
• The Marfas, Sept. 23
• Rilo Kiley, Sept. 24
• Jon Pardi, Oct. 10
• Tedeschi Trucks Band, Oct. 17
• John Legend, Oct. 30

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.

• RÜFÜS DU SOL, May 9
• Halsey, May 29
• Keith Urban, May 31
• Luke Bryan, June 7
• Riley Green, June 14
• Avril Lavigne, June 17
• Rod Stewart, July 8
• Styx & Kevin Cronin + Don Felder, July 9
• The Offspring, July 16
• Big Time Rush, July 18
• Cyndi Lauper, July 22
• Outlaw Festival: Willie Nelson, Bob Dylan, Turnpike Troubadours and more, July 27
• Mumford & Sons, July 29
• Thomas Rhett, July 31
• Kesha and Scissor Sisters, Aug. 3
• Lord Huron, Aug. 5
• Dierks Bentley, Aug. 8
• Jason Aldean, Aug. 21
• Blink-182, Sept. 3
• James Taylor and his All-Star Band, Sept. 4
• Pantera, Sept. 11
• Nelly with Ja Rule and Eve, Sept. 13
• The Lumineers, Sept. 16
• Uncle Charlie's R&B Cookout, Sept. 19
• $Suicideboy$, Oct. 5
• Pierce the Veil, Oct. 25

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.

• Sidecar Social Club, April 23
• Alison Krauss & Union Station feat. Jerry Douglas, April 27
• Chris Janson & Parmalee, May 10
• Kool & The Gang, May 17
• Rhapsody in Blue with North Carolina Symphony, May 24
• The Music of John Williams with North Carolina Symphony, May 30 
• A Summer Night in France with North Carolina Symphony, June 6
• Disco Fever with North Carolina Symphony, June 7
• Beethoven Symphony No. 5 with North Carolina Symphony, June 13
• Tropical Rock for 5 O'clock ... Somewhere with North Carolina Symphony, June 14
• Mozart & More with North Carolina Symphony, June 21
• From Classical to Broadway with North Carolina Symphony, June 28
• Leftover Salmon & The Infamous Stringdusters, July 11
• Iron & Wine & I'm With Her, July 13
• Lost 80's Live feat. A Flock of Seagulls, Big Country and more, Aug. 3
• Toad the Wet Sprocket, Aug. 21
• UB40, Aug. 24
• The Australian Pink Floyd Show, Aug. 30
• Laurie Berkner, Sept. 14
• Maren Morris, Sept. 17
• Mt. Joy, Sept. 23
• Vance Joy, Sept. 24

Midtown Beach Music Series

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

• Liquid Pleasure, April 24
• The ToneZ, May 1
• The Soul Psychedelique Orchestra, May 8
• Chairmen of the Board, May 15
• Gary Lowder & Smokin' Hot, May 22
• Jim Quick & Coastline, May 29
• The Catalinas, June 5
• Too Much Sylvia, June 12
• Blackwater Band, June 19
• The Embers ft. Craig Woolard, June 26

Live After 5

This free, block-party style music series—taking place on second-to-last last Wednesday of each month—will feature four electrifying evenings of tunes on Fayetteville St. in the heart of downtown Raleigh. Lineup announcement coming April 30!

• Weekend Excursion and Tre. Charles, May 21
• Rissi Palmer and Duck, June 18
• Kooley High and Charly Lowry, July 23
• Chatham Rabbits and Jack The Radio, Aug. 20

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).

• Sleeping Booty Band, May 9
• Bounce Party Band, June 13
• The Band Punch, July 11
• The Brickhouse Band, Aug. 8
• Liquid Pleasure, Sept. 12

CaryLIVE! at Downtown Cary Park

This lively series of free concerts features musical styles from near and far—all taking place at fun-filled Downtown Cary Park. 

• Flowmingos, May 17
• Dustbowl Revival, June 28
• Squirrel Nut Zippers, Aug. 23
• Tae & The Neighborly, Oct. 18

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.

• Sarah Kohrs Duo, May 2
• Laurenicole Duo, June 6
• Eg Peters, July 11
• Corey Stuart, Aug. 1
• 2DIGH4 Duo, Sept. 5
• Kai Wilson, Oct. 3

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, June 4
• The Magic Pipers, June 11
• The Ray Band, June 18
• North Tower, June 25

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 1
• Miss Mini & The Sandman Band, May 8
• The Tams, May 15
• Blackwater, May 22

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 2025 lineup is yet to be released, but expectations are high after a blowout 2024 event featured St. Vincent, Wxaxhatchee, Faye Webster, Guided by Voices, Ty Segall and way more. 

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