CaryLIVE! Is an ongoing concert series at Downtown Cary Park that features bands from across the country playing their original music live! The season runs from April to October, with the next concert on June 29th featuring the Nicotine Dolls. We spoke with Ryan O’Quinn, Program Specialist for Downtown Cary Park, to learn more about the series:
How did CaryLIVE! begin?
The original goal behind CaryLIVE! was to have up-and-coming artists from across the country come to Cary and play their original music – not covers. It was a chance for our residents and visitors to experience music from artists they possibly had never heard of but were still well known. Most of the visiting bands will typically sell out shows in their home regions, so being in Cary they are able to play for mostly new audiences. Many have come back to play at other local venues like the Cat’s Cradle, Kings and more. The series used to be held on a temporary stage near the fountain, but now that the Park is open, the concerts are back and are better than ever before.
Why does Downtown Cary Park host this series?
The Park provides a space where we can host world-class acts at the Great Lawn Pavilion. Our stage, lights and sound equipment are state-of-the-art and provide an incredible concert-going experience from the massive Great Lawn. These concerts are FREE, like much of our programming, to ensure everyone has access to cultural experiences that enrich their lives and bring people together from across the Triangle – and beyond. Our first act in April had people visiting from as far as Texas.
What are you looking forward to most this season?
We already hosted one concert back in April, Alejandro Aranda. It was incredible. We had a great turn out with well over 1,000 folks enjoying the music, food from food trucks and beverages from Market 317 and The Bark Bar within the Park. It’s so fun to see everyone enjoying musical acts they may have never heard of and to see big fans travel to the Park from all over to enjoy the shows. We hope this series introduces people to new, national acts and just provides a great time for everyone to enjoy something that brings us all together – the love of music.
Interested in attending a CaryLIVE! Event? Take a look at the key info below:
- The dates and acts at each upcoming concert:
- June 29 – Nicotine Dolls
- August 24 – Doc Robinson
- September 28 – Act Pending
- October 19 – Act Pending.
- These concerts are FREE.
- Bring a chair or blanket for a comfortable viewing experience.
- Food and beverage available onsite – Food Trucks, The Bark Bar, Market 317, brewery vendors.
- You can find all the info about CaryLIVE! here.
- You can learn about all events are the Park here.