Easy escapes for concerts abound across the Carolinas
The big concert tours have many stops planned this summer across the Carolinas.
The most daunting task in planning an easy escape to see a show might be deciding where to go to see whom.
The Francis Marion University Peforming Arts Center in Florence has two major dates in the next month, first with Clint Black on Friday, then Indigo Girls – Amy Ray and Emily Saliers – with the Florence Symphony Orchestra, June 20.
A sampling of other acts across the state includes Bruno Mars June 13 at the Colonial Life Arena in Columbia, and the Average White Band, June 28 at Charleston Music Hall.
Two outdoor venues in North Carolina – the Walnut Creel Amphitheatere in Raleigh and PNC Music Pavilion Charlotte, will welcome such acts as Tim McGraw (June 22 and 21, respectively), Kiss and Def Leppard (July 20 and 19) and Lionel Richie (July 19 and 17), so if one date doesn’t fit your schedule, try the other one.
Caleb Johnson, an Asheville, N.C., native who last week won the 13th season of Fox TV’s “American Idol” and performed the national anthem Sunday on “The National Memorial Day Concert” on PBS, will revisit his home state on the “Idol” tour, coming July 13 to the Durham Performing Arts Center.
That site also will welcome the eldest surviving Beatle, drummer Ringo Starr, touring again with his All-Starr Band, June 22, and two multi-time winning professionals from ABC’s “Dancing with the Stars,” Julianne and Derek Hough on their “Move Live on Tour,” June 29.
A few miles west on Interstate 40, Steely Dan – Walter Becker and Donald Fagen – will play Aug. 4 in the Greensboro Coliseum Complex’s War Memorial Auditorium.
Also, with venues plotting out their calendars so far in advance, we’ve included many fall dates, for folks who are hungry to buy their tickets as soon as possible. The Zac Brown Band, which will fill the night with music June 13 at the PNC pavilion in Charlotte, also will have its fourth annual “Southern Ground Music & Food Festival,” Oct. 11-12 at Blackbaud Stadium in Charleston, where the Charleston Battery soccer team plays. Ticket sales open at 10 a.m. Saturday.
If you go
Surcharges might apply to ticket purchases.
FLORENCE CIVIC CENTER
Where | Florence Civic Center, 3300 West Radio Drive, at Interstates 95 and 20
Who/what, when and how much |
Buy tickets | 800-745-3000 or www.ticketmaster.com
Arena information | 843-679-4525 or www.florenceciviccenter.com
FRANCIS MARION UNIVERSITY PERFORMING ARTS CENTER
Where | 201 S. Dargan St., Florence
Who, when and how much |
Information | 843-661-4444 or www.fmupac.org
NORTH CHARLESTON COLISEUM AND PERFORMING ARTS CENTER
Where | 5001 Coliseum Drive, between International Boulevard and Montague Avenue, off Interstate 526, one exit west of I-26.
Who/what, when and how much | Most in arts center:
Tickets | 800-745-3000 or www.ticketmaster.com
Information | 529-5000 or www.northcharlestoncoliseumpac.com
CHARLESTON MUSIC HALL
Where | 37 John St., Charleston
Who/what, when and how much |
Information | 843-853-2252 or charlestonmusichall.com
FOURTH ANNUAL ‘SOUTHERN GROUND MUSIC & FOOD FESTIVAL
Who | Zac Brown Band
When | Gates open noon Oct. 11-12
Where | Blackbaud Stadium (home of the Charleston Battery soccer team), Charleston – From U.S. 17 in Mount Pleasant, take Interstate 526 west to Exit 23B, and go left on Clements Ferry Road, left onto St. Thomas Island Drive, to stadium, one mile on left.
Other scheduled performers include | Big Head Todd and the Monsters, Blues Traveler, Boy & Bear, Gov’t Mule, Ashley Monroe, Old 97’s, Preservation Hall Jazz Band, Rodrigo Y Gabriela, St. Paul & the Broken Bones, Darrell Scott, Steep Canyon Rangers, and The Wailers
How much | Two-day general admission passes start at $169; one-day general admission $97-$107
Information | 877-435-9849 or charleston.southerngroundfestival.com
COLONIAL LIFE ARENA
Where | 801 Lincoln St., Columbia
Who/what, when and how much |
Tickets | 855-456-2849 or www.lmctix.com
Information | 803-576-9200 or www.coloniallifearena.com
BON SECOURS WELLNESS ARENA (FORMERLY BI-LO CENTER)
Where | 650 N. Academy St., Greenville
Who/what, when and how much |
Tickets | 800-653-8000 or www.ticketmaster.com
Information | 864-241-3800 or bonsecoursarena.com
North Carolina
CROWN CENTER – COLISEUM, THEATRE AND ARENA
Where | 1960 Coliseum Drive, Fayetteville, N.C.
Who/what, when and how much |
Tickets | 800-653-8000 or www.ticketmaster.com
Information | 910-438-4100 or www.crowncoliseum.com
WALNUT CREEK AMPHITHEATRE
Where | 3801 Rock Quarry Road, Raleigh, N.C.; take Interstate 95 north to I-40 west to Exit 303 for Jones Sausage Road
Who, when and how much |
Tickets | 800-745-3000 or www.livenation.com/venues/14476/walnut-creek-amphitheatre
Information | 919-831-6400
PNC ARENA
Where | 1400 Edwards Mill Road, Raleigh. From I-95, take I-40 west to Exit 290 to N.C. 54.
Who/what, when and how much |
Tickets | 800-745-3000 or www.ticketmaster.com
Information | 919-861-2300 or www.thepncarena.com
DUKE ENERGY CENTER FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS
Where | 2 E. South St., Raleigh, N.C., between Salisbury and Wilmington streets, five blocks south of the N.C. State Capitol
Tickets | 800-745-3000 or www.ticketmaster.com
Information | 919-996-8700 or www.dukeenergycenterraleigh.com
DURHAM PERFORMING ARTS CENTER
Where | 123 Vivian St., Durham, next to Durham Bulls Athletic Park
Tickets | 800-982-2787 (phone orders required for purchases by residents outside North Carolina) or www.ticketmaster.com
Information | 919-688-3722 (DPAC) or www.dpacnc.com
GREENSBORO COLISEUM COMPLEX
Where | 1921 W. Lee St., Greensboro, N.C.; from Interstate 73/U.S. 220 north, follow U.S. 220 as it turns into Freeman Mill Road, then cross I-85 and proceed for about two more miles, then left on Ellington Street.
Who/what, when and how much |
Tickets | 800-745-3000 or www.ticketmaster.com
Information | 336-373-7400 or www.greensborocoliseum.com
TIME WARNER CABLE ARENA
Where | 333 E. Trade St., Charlotte, N.C.
Who/what, when and how much |
Tickets | 800-745-3000 or www.ticketmaster.com
Information | 704-688-9000 or www.timewarnercablearena.com
PNC MUSIC PAVILION CHARLOTTE
Where | 707 Pavilion Boulevard, Charlotte, N.C., near Interstates 85 and 485; from I-77 north, take I-85 north to Exit 48 for I-485 east, then first exit for U.S. 29, then right on Pavilion road.
Who/what, when and how much |
Tickets | 800-745-3000 or www.livenation.com
Information | 704-549-1292
OVENS AUDITORIUM
Where | 2700 E. Independence Blvd., Charlotte
Who/what, when and how much |
Tickets | 800-745-3000 or www.ticketmaster.com
Information | 704-372-3600 or www.ovensauditorium.com
THE FILLMORE CHARLOTTE
Where | 1000 N.C. Music Factory Blvd., Charlotte
Who/what, when and how much (advance) |
Tickets | 800-745-3000 or www.livenation.com
Information | 704-916-8970 or fillmorecharlottenc.com
Savannah, Ga.
Where | Savannah Civic Center, 301 W. Oglethorpe Ave.
Who/what, when and how much |
Tickets | 912-651-6556, 800-351-7469 or www.etix.com/ticket/online/
Information | 912-651-6550 or www.savannahga.gov/index.aspx?NID=604
This story was originally published May 30, 2014 at 12:00 AM with the headline "Easy escapes for concerts abound across the Carolinas."