Note: Authored by David Menconi, this piece has been produced in partnership with Raleigh Arts. Menconi's latest book, "Oh, Didn't They Ramble: Rounder Records and the Transformation of American Roots Music," was published in the fall of 2023 by University of North Carolina Press. His podcast, Carolina Calling, explores the history of the Tar Heel State through music.
In Raleigh, N.C., the downtown district’s crown-jewel venue is the Martin Marietta Center for the Performing Arts. It’s a historic facility with a history going back nearly a century. Way back in 1932, Raleigh Memorial Auditorium opened at 2 E. South St. at the southern end of the city’s main Fayetteville St. corridor.
A major 1990 renovation increased Memorial’s audience capacity to 2,369 seats, and a larger expansion project in 2001 added three more performing arts venues to the current complex. There’s also 1,750-seat Meymandi Concert Hall, 600-seat A.J. Fletcher Opera Theater and 150-person capacity Kennedy Theatre.
Add it all up, and the four venues of the Martin Marietta Center host more than 600 total events per year. Collectively, they attract approximately 400,000 guests annually to theater, ballet, opera and live comedy events, as well as concerts in virtually every style of music.
Below, we highlight eight events of varying types coming to Martin Marietta venues this spring (and even some eating and drinking hot spots to help round out your evening).
Judy Collins
Feb. 14 at Fletcher Opera Theater
An interpretive folk singer, Collins has been a huge star since the 1960s. She shows no signs of stopping anytime soon at age 85, with a voice that remains amazingly pure. Of note, she also served as inspiration for and subject of Stephen Still’s 1969 Crosby Stills & Nash classic “Suite: Judy Blue Eyes”—and that trio’s Graham Nash brings a show titled “More Evenings of Songs and Stories” to Meymandi on April 2.
Feb. 21 at Raleigh Memorial Auditorium
This season’s major blues event, “The Blues Is Alright Tour” comes to Memorial as the 13th annual Raleigh Blues Festival. This year’s model features a lineup of Tucka, Pokey Bear, West Love, J-Wonn, Theodis Ealey and Live in the Flesh Band.
North Carolina Symphony presents Beethoven: Symphony No. 9
Feb. 21-22 at Meymandi Concert Hall
Under the conductor’s baton of Carlos Miguel Prieto, the North Carolina Symphony will perform this venerable classic at its Meymandi Concert Hall home court. But the Symphony also has some pop-music programming coming to Meymandi this spring, including The Music of Queen (March 14-15) and Brass Transit: The Music of Chicago (May 2-3).
Carolina Ballet presents Alice in Wonderland
March 13-30 at Fletcher Opera Theater
Carolina Ballet presents a world premiere based on the 1865 Lewis Carroll children's epic, featuring work by guest choreographer Gianna Reisen and set-design artist Rebecca Rebouche. Carolina Ballet’s other shows this spring are Tchaikovsky Piano Concerto (April 24-27) and Swan Lake (May 15-18), both at Memorial.
Los Tigres Del Norte
March 22 at Raleigh Memorial Auditorium
2025 marks the 50-year anniversary of legendary Norteno superstars Los Tigres del Norte (The Tigers of the North), an occasion they’re marking on the road. Los Tigres bring their “Aqui Mando Yo” tour to Memorial on March 22.
Heather McMahan
March 29 at Meymandi Concert Hall
Netflix standup star McMahan is also a popular podcaster (“Absolutely Not!”), and she brings her “Bamboozled Tour” to Maymandi on March 29. Also coming to Raleigh on the standup front are Danae Hays’ “The First Time Tour” at Fletcher on April 5, and Nikki Glaser’s “Alive and Unwell Tour” at Memorial April 12-13.
North Carolina Opera presents The Marriage of Figaro
April 4 and 6 at Raleigh Memorial Auditorium
The closing show of North Carolina Opera’s 2024-25 season, The Marriage of Figaro is a classic Mozart opera with a battle-of-the-sexes storyline. Performed in Italian with English translation projected above the stage.
May 3 at Raleigh Memorial Auditorium
One of the most acclaimed duos in the recent history of Americana music, Welch and Rawlings have won just about every award and honor there is to win—including UNC-Chapel Hill’s Thomas Wolfe Prize for Literature in 2018.
More upcoming performing arts events at Martin Marietta Center for the Performing Arts
- Carolina Ballet presents Bolero, Feb. 6-23
- North Carolina Symphony presents The Music of Motown, Feb. 7-8
- The Steel Wheels, Feb. 21
- Abbey Road: A Beatles Tribute, March 20
- Willie Watson, March 21
- Trisha Paytas, March 29
- North Carolina Master Chorale presents Tales of Enchantment, April 5
- Jim Henson's Labyrinth: In Concert, April 28
- Stavros Halkias, April 29
- The High Kings, April 30
- Della Mae with Laurie Lewis and Alice Gerrard, May 16
- Samara Joy, June 5
Where to eat and drink in downtown Raleigh
For a pre-show meal or a post-show drink, these 10 picks are within easy walking distance of the Martin Marietta Center for the Performing Arts in downtown Raleigh.
- 10th and Terrace, for rooftop drinks just steps from all the entertainment;
- Poole's Diner, for Southern eats at one of Raleigh's most iconic restaurants;
- Gravy, for hearty tomato-based dishes at one the area's favorite Italian eateries;
- Chido Taco, for a laid-back atmosphere with can't-miss tacos and Mexican beer;
- Whiskey Kitchen, for patio vibes and a menu of hand-crafted classics;
- Bittersweet, for late-night cocktails or desserts (or dessert cocktails);
- The Pit; for authentic whole-hog barbecue paired with local brews;
- The Haymaker, for hip cocktails served with hip-hop vibes;
- Element Gastropub, for a highly-rated plant-based dinner;
- Flavor Hills Restaurant and Bar, for good times at one of downtown Raleigh's newest (and tastiest) gathering spots.
Header photo by FlyBoyNC
