Not a ton of big events or festivals in the Wilmington area this weekend, but there are a bunch of smaller events, which, for my money at least, can be just as fun, if not more so. It's a good weekend to check out some music, with a nice mix of local bands and touring acts from Boone, Asheville and elsewhere. More of the area's free summer concert series start back up this weekend as well. Plus we've got comedy, including one show that will deliver laughs for Mother's Day, and a historic Brunswick County venue is hosting a musical revue. Let's see what's going down this weekend.
Need a break? Play the USA TODAY Daily Crossword Puzzle. Opey Olagbaju
May 10-11 at Dead Crow Comedy Room : Affable stand-up comic and writer (CBS' "Bob Hearts Abishola," Max's "Close Enough") was part of the 2019 class of the New Faces of Comedy at Montreal's Just For Laughs festival. Olagbaju touches on such topics as his Nigerian roots and the weirdly racist undertones of "Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory."
7 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. May 10-11, tickets are $18 and $28 . Basilisk Burlesque
May 10-11 at Bourgie Nights : It's a two-night stand for this burlesque troupe, featuring performers with such names as Lady Persephone, Sallie O'Malley, Puppie Buffe, Lacy Noir and Rusty Dawn.
8 p.m. doors, 9 p.m. show, May 10-11, tickets are $20 in advance, $25 day of show. 'That '70s Music'
May 10-12 at the Amuzu Theatre : Southport's historic Amuzu Theatre hosts this live revue celebrating the music of the 1970s. With hits from such stars as musically diverse as Dolly Parton, Tammy Wynette and Tonya Tucker to Diana Ross, Donna Summer and Gloria Gaynor, along with favorites from rock opera "Jesus Christ Superstar."
7:30 p.m. May 10-11, 3 p.m. May 12. Tickets are $25 and available in advance at Ricky Evans Gallery in Southport (910-457-1129) and Color Me Carolina in Oak Island (910-933-4531). Free Concert Friday
May 10 at The Eagle's Dare : Free concert series presents the
Nirvana tribute act Nirvani .
4 p.m. gates, 7 p.m. opener, 8 p.m. headliner. Free. Ocean Front Flicks
May 10 at Oceanfront Park, Kure Beach : Catch a pirate-themed movie on the beach as part of this weekly series. This week's flick is 2007's "Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End."
8 p.m. May 10, free. Loud Music Company
May 11 at Greenfield Lake Amphitheater : Five-band bill of local acts connected with Wilmington music school Loud Music Co. Blues-rockers The Queen's Giant will start things off, followed by Loud Kids (ages 10 to 12), Minor Issues (a teen band),
all-women pop covers act The Hot Flashes and, of course, eponymous headliner Loud Music Co., which plays rock, blues and pop.
6-10 p.m. May 11, tickets are $38. 360 All Stars
May 11 at CFCC Wilson Center : Touring, family-friendly show combines BMX biking, basketball and breakdancing with beatboxing, acrobatics and drumming into a one-of-a-kind show they call a "supercharged urban circus." Part of the Wilson Center's Wonder Series of shows for the whole family.
7:30 p.m. May 11, tickets are $45 for adults, and just $10 for students (K through college). 910-362-7999. Kicking Bird
May 11 at Waterline Brewing : Wilmington rock and pop band is a great live act, with singer-guitarist Shaun Paul and his wife, singer-keyboardist Shayla, delivering hooky songs that rock while often carrying a girl-group sheen.
8 p.m. May 11, free. Galloway
May 11 at Reggie's 42nd Street Tavern : Boone indie pop band has a punchy new single, "Burner Line," that sounds like it could've been a hit on '90 radio. Opening acts are Wilmington acts Hyperloops and GTD.
8 p.m. doors, 9 p.m. show May 11, tickets are $5, $10 for ages 18-20. Cape Fear Fandom Faire
May 11 at New Hanover County Northeast Branch Library : Family event will celebrate various types of fandom, both geeky and non-geeky alike. There will be story time for young kids, along with author panels, a cosplay contest, a demonstration by the Society for Creative Anachronism and more.
10 a.m.-4 p.m. May 11, free. Saturday Sunset Concert Series
May 11 at 10 Harnett St. (boat yard behind Marina Grill and Tequila's Waterfront ): Free downtown concert series got started last weekend and continues this weekend with longtime Wilmington rock covers band Machine Gun.
6-9 p.m. May 11, free. Seth Walker
May 11 at Live at Ted's : Asheville Americana artist — and author, of 2021's touring-musician memoir "Your Van Is On Fire" — rolls into town to play this intimate Castle Street listening room. Walker has lived in New Orleans, Nashville, Austin and now North Carolina, and a little flavor from each spot finds its way into his style.
8 p.m. May 11, tickets are $22. Momedy Comedy
May 12 at Smoke on the Water : Give the gift of laughter for Mother's Day with mother-daughter comedy duo Nancy Witter and Annie Witter.
Nancy Witter competed on Nickelodeon show "Funniest Mom in America" in 2005 and appeared in its associated, nationwide Mom's Night Out comedy tour. She's got great material about her family, her marriage and the differences between living up North (where's she from) and down South. Annie Witter got her comedy genes from her mom and can often be seen on stages around Wilmington. Amanda Goodyear and Shannon Perez will host, and the event includes swag bags, a "vendor village" and more.
3 p.m. May 12, tickets are $40. Summer Music Series
May 12 at Crystal Pier, Wrightsville Beach : Summer music series from the Oceanic restaurant features live music most Thursdays and Sundays all summer long. This week, Sunday's featured artist is
Wilmington singer Paige Bacon .
Noon-3 p.m. May 12, free. Rock the Dock
May 12 at Bluewater Grill : Eric Metts will play this free, weekly outdoor music series in Wrightsville Beach.
4-8 p.m. May 5, free.
