Dog days make for a big Wilmington weekend, with a talking-canine play, concerts and more

After a couple of relatively slow weekends in terms of events, things start to pick back up in the Wilmington area this weekend.

There's a solid lineup of concerts with something for most everybody, including big-name touring acts and tribute bands, as well as shows from some of Wilmington's best independent musicians.

Plus, there's a classical music festival, a zine festival, a play in which dogs can talk and, for the sportsman, a wacky body surfing competition.

For more ideas, check out our big list highlighting outdoor concerts in the area, including shows on non-weekend days and in Pender and Brunswick counties. If you're looking for Brunswick County events specifically, we do a separate list for that.

ALL WEEKEND

'The Dog Logs'

At Thalian Hall (studio theater): Wilmington's Big Dawg Productions lives up to its name with this play by CL Johnson featuring a canine cast of characters. Structured kind of like "The Vagina Monologues," the play contains a series of monologues, some funny, others touching, with human actors directed by Tamica Katzmann and Beth Corvino playing a range of dogs and giving voice to the animals' hopes, dreams, fears and frustrations. The language is R-rated, so leave the kids at home. 7:30 p.m. Aug. 10-12 and 17-19, 3 p.m. Aug. 13 and 20. Tickets are $28, with some proceeds going to area animal rescues. 910-632-2285.

Vivace music festival

At CFCC Wilson Center: Wilmington's annual classical music festival wraps up its two-week run with three concerts featuring talented players from around the globe. On Thursday, pianist Alexander Kobrin, a gold medalist in the prestigious Van Cliburn competition, will play works by Beethoven, Schubert, Brahms and Schumann. On Friday, another top-notch classical pianist, Sergei Babayan, will perform pieces by Liszt, Rachmaninov and Vladimir Ryabov. Saturday's closing concert will feature an ensemble of Vivace musicians playing work by Dvorak, Haydn and Myroslav Skoryk. Single tickets start at $25 ($10 for students) per concert for in-person shows, and are $20 for virtual tickets, with package deals available. 910-362-7999 or VivaceMusicFoundation.org.

Nathan Macintosh

At Dead Crow Comedy Room: High-strung stand-up comic with a rising profile rolls into town for a weekend of shows after releasing a well-regarded comedy special, "Money Never Wakes," earlier this year. Macintosh, who has made multiple appearances on "The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon" and other talk shows, has some great material about how all his friends are having babies, and how they would rather let you hold their baby than their phone. 7 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. Aug. 11-12, tickets are $18 and $28.

Louis the Rapper & Rob: Earth-One

Two chances to catch this double bill featuring rapper/writer/producer Louis, who is one of Wilmington's best hip-hop artists, and Charlotte rapper Rob: Earth-One. The latter's new single, "Goin Crazy," is a heady blend of pop, hip-hop and indie rock with a slick acoustic hook laid under a banging chorus and a rapid-fire mid-song break. 9 p.m. Saturday at Jimmy's in Wrightsville Beach is a Y2K-themed event; 2 p.m. Sunday at the Eagle's Dare downtown is a hip-hop barbecue.

THURSDAY

Morgan Wade

At Greenfield Lake Amphitheater: Up and coming Nashville singer is ostensibly a country artist, but on her latest single, "Fall In Love With Me," she uses her husky voice to deliver what is essentially a head-bobbing pop banger. Her new album, "Psychopath," drops Aug. 25. 6 p.m. Aug. 10, tickets start at $30.

Eggy

Shaka Taco: Connecticut jam band has mixed exploratory originals with unexpected covers to build a decent fan base over the last couple of years. Show is at the Hampstead location of Shaka Taco, which has a beer garden stage. 7 p.m. Aug. 10.

FRIDAY

Exercise

At the Opera Room: Album release show for Wilmington indie rockers Exercise and their new effort, "Shrug." Don't let the laid-back title fool you: Exercise's songs are energetic and angular, with a mathy punk sheen. Openers are Halen Sykes and Max Gowan. 8 p.m. Aug. 11, 21 and up only.

Ahna Ell & Tanner Lackey

At Banter: Indie songwriter Ahna Ell is new to Wilmington, but she's played her lazily lilting, laid-back yet compelling tunes all over the country, most recently as an opener for indie-pop songstress AI Olender. Friday night's show at the cozy Second Street nook Banter (the first show in Banter's back garden) will welcome Ell's new EP. Opening act is Tanner Lackey, bassist for electronic Wilmington indie-folk act Lady Die. 8-10 p.m. Aug. 11. $5.

Mars in Spring

At Greenfield Lake Yacht Club: Wilmington indie-rockers are led by top-notch guitarist and songwriter Mike Swart, who's been making the local scene since his days with power-pop act The Jackson Hives in the early 2000s. Mars In Spring has a similar vibe, with meaty choruses, delicate guitar interplay and some poppy hooks. 7-9 p.m. Aug. 11, free.

Bibis Ellison

At Airlie Gardens: Wilmington singer brings her soulful voice and interpretations of classic rock and pop to the popular Airlie Gardens Concert Series. 6-8 p.m. Aug. 11. Parking is off-site at the New Hanover County Public Library's Northeast Branch, which is where you catch the free shuttle. Concessions not available, but chairs, blankets and picnics are allowed. Tickets are $10, $3 for ages 4-12, free for ages 3 and under, and must be purchased in advance. 910-798-7700.

Friday Night Live

At The Pier at Port City Marina: Cover band Troubador headlines this free, outdoor concert series downtown, held right on the Wilmington Riverwalk overlooking the Cape Fear River. 6-10 p.m. Aug. 11, free. $1 wristband purchase required to buy alcohol.

SATURDAY

Big Something

At Greenfield Lake Amphitheater: North Carolina jam band Big Something, known for blending multiple genres into songs at its high-energy shows, plays Wilmington most every year, and it's always a big event. This year will be no different, with opening act Doom Flamingo taking the stage before two full sets from Big Something. Plus, there's an official pre-concert show at Bourgie Nights downtown with the band Red Panda, which includes some members of Big Something, and an after-party at the Palm Room in Wrightsville Beach with The Keith Allen Circus. 6 p.m. Aug. 12, tickets start at $30.

Haley Heath

At Bourgie Nights: Wilmington singer and songwriter Haley Heath has attracted a bit of a following for her low-slung indie folk tunes that recall a more hazed-out Cat Power. Heath's new single, "Wanted Out West," which she'll debut Friday, continues in that vein, but with more of a rootsy, Western flair that stays clean and sharp but without sacrificing any of the attendant darkness. Opening acts are songwriters Elonzo Wesley from Charlotte and Mackenzie Roark from Richmond, Virginia. 7 p.m. Aug. 12, $10 in advance, $15 day of show.

Stone Soup Zine Fest

At ILM Bottleworks: Third annual celebration of self-published magazines, cartoonists and small-press graphic arts returns, this year at ILM Bottleworks in the Soda Pop district. Featuring artists and publications from all over the country, as well as from Wilmington, including Port City art hero HP Fangs and Angela Fernot of the "Tale of Cape Fear" graphic novel anthology. Noon-5 p.m. Aug. 12, free.

WHOMPORAMA

At Carolina Beach: Body surfing is such a good feeling that anyone who's ever ridden an ocean wave without benefit of a surf/boogie board probably feels like they're the best to ever do it. They're not, though, as the guys and gals of Whomporoama, billed at the Intergalactic Bodysurf Championship, will show you. If you think you've got what it takes to body surf with the big boys, though, the contest is open to everyone, with entry fees going toward the expansion of the Carolina Beach Skatepark. Official afterparty is 7-9 p.m. at The Sandspur in CB, with rock 'n' roll from Wilmington's Suck Rock collective. 7 a.m.-3 p.m. Aug. 12 at the Hamlet Street beach access in Carolina Beach.

SUNDAY

Brit Floyd

At CFCC Wilson Center: Internationally known Pink Floyd tribute show is a full-on experience, with projections, a light show, inflatables and, of course, impeccable renditions of some of the best-known psychedelic rock songs of all time packed into a three-hour concert. This year Brit Floyd will focus on songs from "Dark Side of the Moon," released 50 years ago in 1973, but other Pink Floyd songs will pepper the set as well. 7:30 p.m. Aug. 13-14, tickets start at $44. 910-362-7999.

This article originally appeared on Wilmington StarNews: Things to do in Wilmington NC Aug. 10-13 2023, with concerts, theater