Fall & Winter "Blues" - Where to find live music this off-season

As you can imagine, there's a ton of live music and entertainment to check out throughout the Summer on the Outer Banks. But what about the off season? Well fret not! Though not known to many, there is still plenty of local, live music to enjoy during the off-season on this sandbar. If you're in need of some sonic enjoyment, here are a few of our favorite spots to eat, drink, and enjoy some tunes this Fall & Winter.

Art’s Place
With the slogan, “Locals welcomed, tourists tolerated,” Art’s Place is the local music venue to go to if you want to feel like a local. A neighborhood hangout, dubbed the public living room of Kitty Hawk by Our State, Art’s Place is a hidden gem tucked in between the beach houses  at milepost 2.5 on the beach road. A small, intimate music venue, this is place to go to get up close and personal with local musicians. They provide a great, cozy space to listen to music all throughout the off season.

Check out their Jazz night on Mondays, featuring Joe Mapp and the Coordinates, featuring a rotation of musicians including the likes of Joe Mapp on guitar, Mick Vaughn on bass guitar, and Dan Martier on drums, playing fusion jazz that will take you on, as OBXsurfinfo.com describes it, “a musical path to enlightenment.” Every Wednesday night you will find open mic night hosted by long time local musician Monte Hooker. On Friday nights, go see a variety of rotating local acoustic musicians that will not disappoint. While you are there, try out their famous burger, recently voted one of the best burgers in North Carolina by Our State, and wash it down with a $2 PBR, served all day every day.

Trio Wine, Beer, and Cheese
Trio is another place you can expect to find great live music all year round.  It is the perfect, cozy place to get a gourmet grilled cheese and a glass of wine on a cold, winter night. With a fabulous selection of fine wines, beer, and cheese, they set themselves apart by creating a more cosmopolitan atmosphere than other spots on the Outer Banks, while at the same time providing an inviting and cozy atmosphere to see live music in the off season..

You can find an eclectic mix of local Outer Banks musicians and visiting artists at Trio 3-5 nights a week.  From bluegrass, to reggae, to indie rock, jazz, and acoustic, there is something for everyone. In the off season, you will find live music there every Tuesday, Friday and Saturday night, starting at 6 PM on Tuesdays and 7:45 PM on the weekends. Upcoming acts include The Reef, The Wilders, The Amigos, Marc Murray, Ruth Wyand, Mama’s Black Sheep, and Big Wide Grin. On Sundays at noon come eat brunch with the backdrop of a variety of acoustic musicians including Jeremy Russell and Derek Smith.

Coastal Provisions
Recently voted Best Oyster Bar by Best of the Beach, Coastal Provisions Oyster Bar and Wine Bar Cafe is the place to take a date for live, relaxing acoustic music and some of the best, fresh seafood on the beach. With solo acoustic acts every Friday night in the off season, Coastal Provisions offers a more fine dining, romantic atmosphere to enjoy great seafood with the backdrop of mellow tunes played by the likes of local artists such as Christian Benedi and Ashley Robinson. If you are flying solo, fear not! Sit at the bar and enjoy their great wine and beer selection and nosh on one of their tasty appetizers like their crab dip or shrimp broil while you enjoy the music. Music starts at 5:30 PM every Friday night and reservations are recommended.

Rooster's Southern Kitchen
Rooster’s Southern Kitchen is the place to bring the whole family to enjoy some southern hospitality, authentic southern cuisine, and a great selection of local musicians that play live three to four nights a week in the off season. Roosters provides a great inviting setting for the family to enjoy classic southern comfort food with a twist, such as shrimp and grits and chicken and waffles, while enjoying tunes from local legends like Phil Watson, The Wilders, Dr. Tom, Greg Shelton, Butch Burrows, and Monte Hooker. Check out their Working Women Wednesdays every Wednesday, an event for women (and men) to gather, chat, have fun, get manicures, eat, drink and listen to great live music. As they say on their website, “The South loves to eat AND entertain!” Working Women Wednesdays goes from 6-9PM and Friday and Saturday night music starts at 7 PM. Check their schedule for some occasional Thursday night acts as well!

Outer Banks Brewing Station
Outer Banks Brewing Station is one of the main late night venues of the Outer Banks, bringing in national and well known acts, as well as local favorites to the stage throughout the year. With live music every Saturday from 10 PM- 2 AM in the off season, this is the place to go for the younger crowd, or for a night out away from the kids. They have a nice, big stage and plenty of room for dancing.

Upcoming bands include The Jamie Pridgen Band, Sean K. Preston and the Loaded Pistols, and Slick One, a reggae band from Virginia. They also have Ladies Night every Wednesday, and DJ Ohkay every Friday throughout the winter. Enjoy their selection of craft beers while you are there. If you want to enjoy music with the family, check out their Jazz Brunch every Sunday from 11:30 am - 3:30 pm featuring local musicians starting at 12:00. If it's a pretty day, they have a kids playground, bean bag toss, and plenty of grassy area to run around in to keep the kids busy while you enjoy the tunes.


Check out our live music calendar for nightly listings and visit these other venues that also have live entertainment in the off-season: New York Pizza Pub, Poor Richard's, Mulligan's, Gaffer's (Ocracoke), and Turner's (Avon). The weather may be getting cold around here but the Outer Banks is still alive and well! 

- Maggie Miles