Beach stages heat up all around with Memorial Day, and yes, a Taylor Swift party is coming

Roger Hillis

The Memorial Day weekend will signal the beginning of the tourist season, and throngs of people are expected to hit area beaches this year. Revelers who are in the mood for some live music will find plenty of choices to accommodate them.

Sold-out country show opens big Bottle & Cork weekend in Dewey

In Dewey Beach, the Bottle & Cork nightclub will kick things off in high gear this week when award-winning country star Nate Smith performs to a sold-out house Thursday, May 23. The tickets actually went on sale last fall; the Oct. 18 pre-sale moved 535 tickets in the first eight hours, and all 1,200 were gone shortly after the rest went on sale to the general public Oct. 20.

Smith’s profile continues to rise. He was named Best New Male Artist of the Year at the Academy of Country Music Awards earlier this month, where he dueted with pop princess Avril Lavigne on his song “Bulletproof.”

Country star Nate Smith will play a sold-out concert at the Bottle & Cork in Dewey Beach on Thursday, May 23. Smith was named Best New Male Artist of the Year at the Academy of Country Music Awards earlier this month.
Country star Nate Smith will play a sold-out concert at the Bottle & Cork in Dewey Beach on Thursday, May 23. Smith was named Best New Male Artist of the Year at the Academy of Country Music Awards earlier this month.

The Cork is also gearing up for the return of national emo-rock act Dashboard Confessional at 8:30 p.m. Thursday, May 30 ($55).

A “low-ticket alert” has been issued for the Taylor Party dance bash set for 8:30 p.m. Friday, May 31 ($25). In fact, it may be sold out by time you read this; a mere 32 tickets remained at last count. The traveling DJ party which pays homage to Taylor Swift sold out a booking this past winter at the Cork’s nearby sister business, the Rusty Rudder.

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Ocean City's Seacrets adds two big shows to summer lineup

In Ocean City, Seacrets has announced two additions to its summer concert series, both of which will take place outside on the beach stage. Reggae-rock act the Long Beach Dub Allstars will perform Wednesday, July 10, following a 7 p.m. opening set by Keep Flying ($15 or free with local ID). Philly favorites G. Love & Special Sauce will bring their 30th anniversary tour to Seacrets on Wednesday, July 17, after a 6:30 p.m. opener by Mihali ($30).

G. Love & Special Sauce perform at the inaugural Oceans Calling festival Oct. 1, 2023. The group will return to Ocean City to play Seacrets on Wednesday, July 17 ($30).
G. Love & Special Sauce perform at the inaugural Oceans Calling festival Oct. 1, 2023. The group will return to Ocean City to play Seacrets on Wednesday, July 17 ($30).

Seacrets has also posted a detailed, hour-by-hour guide on its social media and website about how its cover charges will work this year for the holiday weekend. As usual, prices will increase throughout the day. Friday, May 24, is $10 at 9 p.m., and $15 after 10 p.m. Saturday, May 25, is $10 to $40, and Sunday, May 26, is $5 to $20 (with the first 98 customers of the day being admitted free on both Saturday and Sunday mornings).

Admission will be free all day on Memorial Day Monday, May 27. There will be a plethora of cover bands and DJs cranking out the tunes each day.

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Classic rock double bill to close out Ocean City's Bikefest

Also in Ocean City, the organizers of the annual OC Bikefest have announced the entertainment for the final night of this year’s event. Co-headliners Styx and Cheap Trick will bring their respective catalogs of classic-rock hits to the Inlet stage Saturday, Sept. 14 ($90). The festival also includes a free performance by Buckcherry on Wednesday, Sept. 11; a triple play with Theory Of A Deadman, Sevendust and Nothing More on Thursday, Sept. 12 ($90); and Ted Nugent with Tesla on Friday, Sept. 13 ($90).

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Family-friendly Poseidon Festival coming to Bethany Beach

In Bethany Beach, the city’s bandstand near the Boardwalk will host its annual Poseidon Festival from May 24-27 with family-friendly activities and free music. A pair of rock acts are scheduled for Saturday, May 25. Local yacht-rock act Three Hour Tour will play sets at 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. National jam band Entrain, which is led by former Bo Diddley drummer Tom Major, will follow at 7:30 p.m.

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Rehoboth Ale House on the Mile books big acoustic show

Singer-songwriter Joey Harkum will perform at the Rehoboth Ale House On The Mile at 7 p.m. Sunday, May 26 ($18, $23). It is located just north of Dewey Beach on Route 1.
Singer-songwriter Joey Harkum will perform at the Rehoboth Ale House On The Mile at 7 p.m. Sunday, May 26 ($18, $23). It is located just north of Dewey Beach on Route 1.

Elsewhere in coastal Sussex County, the Rehoboth Ale House On The Mile (which is located just north of Dewey Beach on Route 1) has a smattering of tickets left for a solo acoustic concert by singer-songwriter Joey Harkum at 7 p.m., Sunday, May 26 ($18 in advance, $23 at the door barring an advance sellout). Harkum is the former frontman for the Baltimore rock group Pasadena; he is set to tour the country in November as the opening act for the Bumpin’ Uglies.

E-mail Roger Hillis at rogerhillis@gmail.com.

This article originally appeared on Salisbury Daily Times: Live music for Memorial Day weekend at Ocean City, Delaware beaches

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