Wilmington, NC
About an hour’s detour off of I-95, Wilmington, North Carolina is an ideal stop for any tour up or down the East Coast. Particularly in the summer months, Wilmington, known as the “Port City of Progress and Pleasure,” is full of vacationers thirsty for a taste of local music and nightlife, as reflected by the city’s diverse venue landscape. In the last decade, Wilmington has become a destination for independent musicians, label scouts and fans. Aside from fronting one of the town’s most successful indie bands, The Majestic Twelve, Wilmington’s Kenyata Sullivan organizes the annual WE Fest, a multi-day, totally DIY, volunteer-run extravaganza during the week of Memorial Day Weekend. Now in its 11th year, WE Fest aims to expose underground talent and establish a community within the independent scene. Also, with UNC-Wilmington providing a youthful edge to the city’s makeup, touring musicians are sure to find an eager audience.
Guide to Gigging in Wilmington
Book a Gig: Venues
The Soapbox
255 N. Front St.
Wilmington, NC 28401
(910) 251-8500
www.soapboxlaundrolounge.com
The Soapbox Laundro-Lounge is likely one of the most unique venues anywhere in the world. It is both a thriving music venue featuring bands from throughout the region in a number of genres, as well as a full-service laundromat. To book a gig, send information and a CD to the attention of “Soapbox Booking.” If you have an upcoming show, or are an established band that has played The Soapbox in the past, you may email Brent Watkins at booking@soapboxlaundrolounge.com.
Front Street Music Hall
15 S. Front St.
Wilmington, NC 28401
(910) 342-0505
Front Street Music Hall is the largest live music venue in the area and features line-ups of local, regional and national acts in multiple genres. The bi-level club boasts an upstairs bar and game room that looks onto the stage, and a downstairs main room with three bars and an outdoor patio. For booking information, email booking@thefrontstreetmusichall.com or send a press kit to the office at the address above.
The Whiskey
1 S. Front St.
Wilmington, NC 28401
(910) 763-3088
www.myspace.com/wilmingtonwhiskey
Located on the corner of Front and Market Streets, The Whiskey features live music every night of the week. The venue leans heavily towards the jam band genre and more traditional kinds of rock, but is open to great music in other genres. The Whiskey is particularly known for continuing to embrace the seemingly lost art of the “artist residency.” For information about booking, email the venue through MySpace.
Bella Festa
125 Princess St.
Wilmington, NC 28401
(910) 251-2688
www.myspace.com/bellafesta
Bella Festa offers excellent genre variety from night to night in any given week, featuring 1980s music, DJs and its live music weekend. Send all booking inquiries and press kits to the attention of “Booking” at the address listed above and send an email to bookingbellafesta@hotmail.com so they can confirm they have received and reviewed your kit.
Lucky’s Pub
2505 S. College Rd.
Wilmington, NC 28412
(910) 792-1812
www.myspace.com/luckyspubnc
Metal, punk, ska and hardcore bands should check out Lucky’s Pub. Lucky’s is the proving ground for heavy local bands and the natural destination for touring acts like Murphy’s Law. For booking information, email the venue through MySpace.
Promote a Gig: Media
WSFM/98.3 FM
25 North Kerr Ave.
Wilmington, NC 28405
(910) 332-0983
www.surf983.com
Surf 98.3 is Wilmington’s alternative and new-rock station. The station airs a local music show, The Scene, on Sunday nights from 6 to 7 p.m. Local and regional bands who would like to be considered for airplay should send press packages and CDs care of MUD to the address above.
The Beat
4326 Market St., Ste. 18
Wilmington, NC 28403
(910) 793-3668
The Beat proudly proclaims itself as “The Music Magazine of Coastal Carolina,” and this is very much the case. Based right in Wilmington, this free magazine covers all music for the Wilmington and southern North Carolina coastal region. For more information on how to get covered in The Beat, email Jeff Reid at jreid@ec.rr.com.
Gear/ Repairs
Guitar Lab
P.O. Box 10422
Wilmington, NC 28404
(910) 619-9379
www.guitarlab.org
Guitar Lab’s Joel Reed is a certified luthier who specializes in fretwork, setups, wiring, pedal modifications and other repairs and services. Guitar Lab is open Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. For more information, call or email guitarlab@gmail.com.
Finkelstein Music
6 S. Front St.
Wilmington, NC 28401
(910) 762-5662
www.finkelsteins.com
This general store turned music and jewelry store has been around since 1906. Today, the store does do some fretted instrument repair, depending upon the situation. Call ahead for repairs. Finkelstein Music is open Monday through Saturday from 9:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.
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