For beach music fans, it can feel like you need a score card to keep up with the concerts that are being announced for the coming summer months. With each passing week, advance tickets go on sale for events by touring artists who are heavy hitters.
The Freeman Arts Pavilion in Selbyville was scheduled to place tickets on sale at 10 a.m., Thursday, March 10, for its second round of 2022 concerts. A highlight is the Sunday, July 17, appearance by pop favorite Sheryl Crow, who sold out a previous show there.
Her opening act this year will be acclaimed blues guitarist Keb’ Mo’; there will be a combination of fixed seats and “bring your own chair” general admission with prices to be announced.
Freeman has also added shows by country star Chris Young, a rock double-bill by Guster with the Wood Brothers, and a host of tribute acts.
The first round of ticket sales last month led to a quick sellout by Rock ’n’ Roll Hall of Fame inductee Bonnie Raitt (with opener Lucinda Williams) for Friday, June 24. Seats remain for alternative icon Elvis Costello on Friday, Aug. 19 ($59 to $79), but two of the front sections have sold out.
In Ocean City, the folks behind the OC BikeFest said the Zac Brown Band will play its chicken-fried southern rock at the Inlet on Thursday, Sept. 15, following opening act Travis Tritt (with $65 tickets on sale now). More performers are to be announced for the 11th annual festival, which runs Sept. 14-18.
Rock fans in OC still await the upcoming announcement that will detail the inaugural Oceans Calling festival, which is to take place at the Inlet from Sept. 30 through Oct. 2.
However, its promoters revealed Tuesday that a sister event, the Sea Hear Now music festival and professional surfing competition, will occur in Asbury Park, NJ, and be headlined by Stevie Nicks on Saturday, Sept. 17 and Green Day on Sunday, Sept. 18.
In the more immediate future, St. Patrick’s Day falls on Thursday, March 17 — but the celebration will start a week early in Ocean City.
At the Seacrets nightclub complex, this year’s Irie-ish Music Fest St. Patrick’s Party will take place from noon to closing Saturday, March 12 (following the city’s annual holiday parade).
The schedule of performers includes John McNutt’s Keltic Rock Warriors (1 p.m.); My Hero Zero (1:30 p.m.); Band of Make Believe (5 p.m. in the Morley Hall); Triple Rail Turn (5 p.m. in the tiki bar); Lima Bean Riot (6 p.m.); Until Sunrise (9:30 p.m.); and Gypsy Wisdom (10 p.m.).
Sussex County’s historic Clayton Theatre in Dagsboro is continuing to augment its movie schedule with concerts. At 3 p.m. on Sunday, March 13, the stage will play host to Sinatra 101 with Sean Reilly ($25).
In addition to singing classics from the Frank Sinatra catalog, Reilly will take time to share some history with the stories behind the songs. It is a fitting match, as the Clayton was opened way back in 1949 (and is the last of Delaware’s first-run, single-screen movie theaters).
In Dewey Beach, tickets will go on sale at 10 a.m. Friday, March 11, for a summer appearance by Delawarean-made-good Chuck Wicks at the Bottle & Cork nightclub. The country musician and Smyrna native will appear Thursday, July 14 ($20).
The Cork will open for its 86th season at 5 p.m. on Saturday, May 7, with eight consecutive hours of free music by Love Seed Mama Jump, Laura Lea & Tripp Fabulous, DJ Knappy and My Hero Zero.
The Nalu Surf Bar & Grill in Dewey was set to open for the season at 4 p.m. Thursday, March 10 (with acoustic rock by Matt Quinton from 7-11 p.m.). Matt Avery will play from 9 p.m. to midnight Friday and Saturday, March 11-12, and admission is free all weekend.
Email Roger Hillis at rogerhillis@gmail.com
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