Live Music on the Outer Banks: A 2025 Guide for Summer Travelers 🎶

OuterBanks Live Music 2025

The Outer Banks (OBX) has long been known for pristine beaches and relaxed coastal culture, but in recent years it has also emerged as a premier destination for live music. From Corolla to Hatteras, visitors can pair daytime surf sessions with evenings spent listening to national touring acts and local performers in venues that range from historic amphitheaters to ocean-front decks. The result is a polished yet welcoming entertainment scene that enhances any vacation itinerary. Below you will find list of the some of the best Outer Banks music venues.

Roanoke Island Festival Park — Manteo
Set on the Albemarle Sound, Roanoke Island Festival Park offers a 4,000-seat amphitheater whose “Live From OBX” series is bringing acts such as Aaron Lewis (July 23) and Kool & The Gang (August 30) for summer 2025. The entire audience enters via a wooden footbridge over the water, providing panoramic sunset views before the music begins. Check the park’s events page for the full schedule.

Outer Banks Brewing Station — Kill Devil Hills
Powered by its own wind turbine, the Brewing Station combines craft beer with a spacious backyard stage that hosts headliners like Bumpin Uglies & Kash’d Out on August 12 and a rotating roster of tribute bands throughout the season. Patio shows remain family-friendly until 9 p.m.; late sets become 21-plus. The 2025 lineup is posted under “Live Music” at obbrewing.com.

Soundside Event Site — Nags Head
Overlooking Roanoke Sound, this community green hosts the free Soundside Live Sunset Concert Series on three consecutive Thursdays in June. Expect a blend of funk, blues, and bluegrass alongside food trucks and children’s activities, all benefitting Mustang Outreach—a nonprofit dedicated to music education on the OBX.

Tap Shack @ Coastal Cravings — Duck
Tucked behind a popular local eatery, Tap Shack presents live music nightly during summer and occasional ticketed events such as Keller Williams. The open-air setting includes picnic tables, lawn games, and a well-curated craft-beer list, making it ideal for families earlier in the evening and adults later at night. Follow @tapshackduck on Instagram for the 2025 schedule.

Fish Heads Bar & Grill — South Nags Head
Perched directly on the Outer Banks Pier, Fish Heads offers unobstructed Atlantic views and nightly acoustic sets from May through September (6-9 p.m.). Patrons can enjoy the popular one-dollar shrimp special while watching the ocean beneath their feet—an experience unique among OBX venues. Visit Outer Banks This Week for the current calendar.

Turner’s High Moon Bar — Avon
Known as Hatteras Island’s late-night focal point, Turner’s schedules bands or DJs five evenings a week during peak season, with regional blues, funk, and rock filling a reclaimed-wood interior that recalls a classic honky-tonk. Lineups run until 1 a.m. and are announced on Instagram at @turnershighmoonbar.

Bonzer Shack — Kill Devil Hills
Bonzer Shack pairs coastal cuisine with an outdoor sand-floor stage hosting the weekly “Bonzer Beats” series, spotlighting island-reggae and acoustic performers. Visitors often gather around the fire pit between sets or sample house-made rum cocktails. The venue posts weekly updates on Facebook.

Roadside Bar & Grill / Backside Bar — Duck
A renovated 1930s cottage leads to a garden patio where local bands perform Wednesday through Sunday. From acoustic Americana to surf-rock, the programming reflects Duck’s laid-back culture, and occasional oyster roasts add culinary flair. Weekly set lists appear on the restaurant’s social-media feeds.

Outer Banks Bluegrass Island Festival — Manteo (Oct 16–18)
Although not a fixed venue, the three-day Bluegrass Island Festival deserves mention for bringing leading names such as Ricky Skaggs, Steep Canyon Rangers, and The SteelDrivers to Manteo each fall. Waterfront camping and after-hours jam sessions aboard local cruises create a distinctive festival atmosphere. Full details are available at bluegrassisland.com.

Planning Tips for the 2025 Season

• Reserve tickets for high-profile shows (especially at Festival Park) by late spring.
• Monitor each venue’s **outer banks live music calendar** on the day of your show; summer thunderstorms can prompt schedule adjustments.
• Families looking for all-ages entertainment will appreciate Soundside Live and early sets at Fish Heads or Tap Shack, while night-owls may prefer Turner’s High Moon or Brewing Station’s post-9 p.m. concerts.

A Balanced OBX Itinerary

Start the morning with sunrise on the beach, followed by a few carefree hours under an umbrella provided by Farmdog Beach Services. After a refreshing break, enjoy an early dinner in Duck and an outdoor show at Tap Shack, then conclude your evening with a headliner in Kill Devil Hills. The seamless transition from shoreline relaxation to first-rate live music outer banks entertainment is what makes the region so appealing.

See You on the Sand

Whether your taste runs to classic rock tributes, contemporary country, or traditional bluegrass, summer 2025 in the Outer Banks offers a refined yet inviting concert scene that complements any seaside holiday. Be sure to allocate at least one full beach day during your stay: Farmdog Beach Services can supply chairs, umbrellas, stand-up paddleboards, and safety guidance so you can focus on savoring the coast—and the music—to the fullest. We look forward to helping you create a safe, enjoyable, and memorable OBX experience.