Picture this: A warm summer evening with a gentle breeze keeping the heat of an Outer Banks summer day at bay. You have a cold beverage at your side, and live music is filling the air. There are many reasons why people visit the Outer Banks, and while live music isn’t always at the top of the list, perhaps it should be.
There are a surprising number of venues offering live outdoor music across the OBX. We may have missed one or two, but this is a comprehensive list to get you started. Of course, there are indoor music venues as well, but that list is even more extensive.
From May through September, there is almost always live music happening somewhere. As the days get shorter and the temperatures cool, the scene naturally slows down.
Corolla Outdoor Music Venues
Corolla Beer Garden
1148 Ocean Trail
(252) 597-1500
This venue features live music Monday through Thursday, with an emphasis on acoustic guitar and solo performances. With over 20 beers on tap and light snacks, it’s a perfect evening spot. During the daytime, it operates as a coffee bar.
Duck Outdoor Music Venues
A quick note about live music in Duck: Remember back in college when you and your friends would go barhopping? Tap Shack, the Backside Bar, NC Coast Grill & Bar, and Aqua are all close enough together that you can relive those glory days… though a little moderation might be a good idea.
Blue Point Back Bar
1240 Duck Rd, Duck
(252) 261-8090
The outdoor music site for the legendary Blue Point Restaurant, the Back Bar offers an amazing setting overlooking the Currituck Sound. It’s a small, intimate space where a tent covers the seating area, giving some protection in case of rain. Drinks and light snacks are available, and the food at the main restaurant is famous for good reason. Blue Point is located on the north end of the Duck Boardwalk.
Tap Shack
1209 Duck Rd, Duck
(252) 480-0032
Located behind Coastal Cravings, Tap Shack can probably be considered the premier outdoor music venue in Duck. Its large stage and capable sound system can handle just about any band. At least once a month, a nationally touring musician or group is featured. A large tent covers most of the tables, offering protection from the rain. Parking can be an issue, so your best bet is to use the public parking at the Duck Village Green and walk over.
The Backside Bar (at Roadside Bar & Grill)
1193 Duck Road, Duck
(252) 261-5729
The Roadside Bar & Grill is a funky, wonderfully informal spot for great food. The Backside Bar, located behind the main restaurant, carries that same funky feeling over to its live music. With scattered seating and plenty of room to roam, it’s a great gathering place for the whole family.
NC Coast Grill & Bar
1184 Duck Rd, Duck
(252) 248-3211
The views across the Currituck Sound are spectacular, and the music is on the mellow side—usually acoustic or jazz. It’s the perfect place to relax with a beer, a glass of wine, or a mixed drink and simply enjoy life. The food at NC Coast is innovative and wonderful. Parking is very limited, so finding public parking and walking is recommended.
Aqua Restaurant
1174 Duck Rd, Duck
(252) 261-9700
Situated on the south end of the Duck Boardwalk, Aqua boasts amazing views across the Currituck Sound where the sunsets are nothing short of breathtaking. The music, almost always acoustic, is perfect for the setting. It’s all outdoors, so there’s no music if it rains, but when the weather is right, Aqua may be the most spectacular setting on the Outer Banks to hear live music. The restaurant has a well-deserved reputation for using fresh, local ingredients to create world-class cuisine.
Kitty Hawk Outdoor Music Venues
Ocean Boulevard
4700 N Virginia Dare Trail, Kitty Hawk
(252) 261-2546
While not quite oceanfront, the sound of the surf is ever-present since the beach is just across the street. A really pleasant outdoor seating area and talented local musicians make Ocean Boulevard a favorite spot for music, food, and a drink. The restaurant also has quite a reputation for its martinis, by all means, try one … or two.
Art’s Place
4624 N Virginia Dare Trail, Kitty Hawk
(252) 261-3233
With its dedicated stage, plentiful outdoor seating, and generally relaxed atmosphere, the backyard of Art’s Place seems to have it all, making it one of the larger outdoor venues on the Outer Banks. Before there was music in the backyard, or even the Thursday night open mic, Art’s Place was justifiably famous for its burgers. They still are. And for you musicians, grab your instrument and play a few tunes at the open mic on Thursday nights.
Kill Devil Hills Outdoor Music Venues
Outer Banks Brewing Station
600 S Croatan Hwy, Kill Devil Hills
(252) 449-2739
The backyard seating area may be the largest of any outdoor restaurant venue on the Outer Banks. The stage isn’t quite as large as the Tap Shack’s, but it suits the purpose well. Expect a wide variety of music, acoustic, rock, blues, ensuring there’s something for every taste. The venue has plenty of tables, covered areas, and sun umbrellas. Best of all, the full Brewing Station menu is available. Heating stations make it pleasant to be outside even on a cool spring or autumn night.
Jack Brown’s
800 S Virginia Dare Trail, Kill Devil Hills
(252) 715-3328
It’s not a large area, but a surprising number of people can fit into the Jack Brown’s backyard. It features a nice stage with a very good sound system. Jack Brown’s is all about burgers and beer, and they have a huge selection of both.
Nags Head Outdoor Music Venues
Fish Heads Bar & Grill (at Outer Banks Fishing Pier)
8901 S Old Oregon Inlet Rd, Nags Head
(252) 441-5740
Looking for some good old-fashioned rock ’n’ roll? Fish Heads is the place to go. Located in South Nags Head right on the ocean, it is a fishing pier, after all, Fish Heads is the quintessential Outer Banks music experience. Expect a nice sea breeze, people walking by with fishing poles, and some foot-stomping, hard-driving sounds. There is a covered area by the bar and lots of outdoor seating. Parking can be an issue, but somehow, it always works out.
Roanoke Island / Wanchese Outdoor Music Venues
Johanna’s at Wanchese Tiki Hut
708 Harbor Road, Wanchese
(252) 706-7335
On the south end of Roanoke Island lies the fishing port of Wanchese, and right on the waterfront is the Wanchese Tiki Hut. It’s a completely covered area with no walls, so it’s an outdoor venue through and through. The music is mostly acoustic with a smattering of other sounds. The food, it must be said, is outstanding—Johanna is one of the best chefs on the Outer Banks.
Currituck Mainland Outdoor Music Venues
While not technically the Outer Banks, the Currituck mainland is just on the other side of the Wright Memorial Bridge and has a couple of spots that must be included.
Buffalo City Distillery
8821 Caratoke Hwy, Point Harbor
(252) 491-7255
The corn for the spirits distilled here is grown in nearby Hyde County, and the whiskey is not bad at all. The seating area is small and somewhat intimate, perfect for sipping a drink and listening to live music. Take some time to learn about how the whiskey is made; it’s an interesting tale.
Sanctuary Vineyards
7005 Caratoke Hwy, Jarvisburg
(252) 491-2387
Sanctuary Vineyards might be considered an honorable mention since its weekly music is focused on the “Acoustic Sunset” Thursdays, but the setting is so nice and vineyard manager John Wright books such interesting talent that it makes the main list. What truly moves this to the “must-see” category are the special events held here. The Big Currishuck on the Saturday after Thanksgiving is the main event, but at least four other fun festivals throughout the year feature some of the best regional bands around. And yes, the wine is quite nice.
Major Outdoor Music Venues
Roanoke Island Festival Park
1 Festival Park, Manteo
(252) 423-5200
This is a huge stage that can handle any sized group, the Virginia Symphony once made a yearly pilgrimage here. The sound system is excellent, and the setting, with Roanoke Sound as a backdrop, is stunning. The seating area is a large, open grass field that slants down toward the stage. While Manteo is not technically on the Outer Banks, it’s so close that debating it is quibbling. For many reasons, Festival Park is considered the premier outdoor music venue in the region.
Soundside Event Site
6800 S Croatan Hwy, Nags Head
(252) 473-2138
More of a multi-purpose site than a dedicated music venue, the Soundside Event Site needs to be included for its large stage and outstanding sound system. Live music here is usually part of a larger event. This is where the annual Outer Banks Seafood Festival is held, as well as Brewtag, the yearly attempt to prove beer kegs can fly.
Honorable Mentions
There are a few more places that don’t have regularly scheduled music, but their location and circumstances are so special they deserve a mention.
First Friday in Manteo
Taking place on the first Friday of each month from April through October, downtown Manteo’s “First Friday” is a wonderful combination of a street fair, art show, and live music. Music often happens on the steps of the Dare Arts building, with more performances at the nearby Magnolia Pavilion and other spots around town.
Duck Amphitheater
Located on the Town of Duck Town Green, this venue hosts a variety of events throughout the summer, including live music. The premier event, however, is the Duck Jazz Festival, held on the second weekend of October every year. It’s free, the music is amazing, and the setting is perfect, a grassy knoll slanting down to a stage shaded by trees, with the Currituck Sound as the backdrop. It doesn’t get much better than this.
Dowdy Park in Nags Head
Dowdy Park has become many things for the community: a great children’s playground, a large field for festivals, and a central gathering place. While music isn’t a daily feature, when it is, the stage is large enough for a small band, the sound system is very good, and the open grassy area makes for a very pleasant concert experience.