The 2024 Bethany Beach Seaside Concert Series will begin June 6 and continue through Oct. 27, town staff announced this week.
Summer concerts will take place on Thursday nights in June, July and August at 7:30 p.m. September and October shows will take place on Saturday and Sunday nights at 6:30 p.m. The Fourth of July week is an exception, with nightly events Sunday through Thursday.
A total of 11 acts will be making their debut on the Bethany bandstand. They will join an array of returning groups and crowd favorites. Audience polls show rock is still the No. 1 requested genre, followed by tribute, then a tie for third between country and pop. The series will well represent these genres and support a broad demographic.
“The audiences are accustomed to seeing show bands now,” said Events Director Julie Malewski. “They come to the bandstand to appreciate the caliber of the talent, not just to listen to music.”
The Dave Matthews Tribute Band is the only nationally touring tribute to DMB. The group will make a stop in Bethany on June 6. Malewski said the show delivers sounds that DMB fans are drawn to, such as high energy violin, jazzy saxophone, sparkling acoustic guitar, smooth bass and explosive drumming. The following Thursday will feature Cellofest, a culmination of a week of classical cello instruction hosted in Bethany Beach by The Cello Museum.
July introduces the biggest number of new acts to the lineup. This year’s Fourth of July parade and fireworks will take place on Thursday, July 4. The 1974 will provide the evening entertainment, playing big ’70s hits by those little ’70s bands.
Kids/teen nights will once again take place each Wednesday in July. Carnival Night on July 3 will feature the return of children’s entertainer Mr. Jon, followed by variety entertainer Boston Bachert, who combines magic, juggling, circus arts and more. Mr. Hetfield’s Rock & Roll Summer Camp will showcase this year’s new crop of young, local talent on July 31.
July 11 features the unique stylings of the U.S. Army Six-String Soldiers. This five-member group is the most followed military music group in the world and performs country, Americana, and bluegrass music with unique acoustic covers.
The rock show by 7 Bridges: The Ultimate Eagles Experience will take place on July 18. This group uses no backup tracks or harmonizers as they execute the Eagles sound and deliver a blend of hits to capture all levels of Eagles fans.
Michigan singer-songwriter Kanin Wren channels Swifties with her Taylor Swift Experience on July 25. Wren’s show incorporates fun choreography and multiple costume changes while covering hits from Swift’s album anthology.
Aug. 1 brings local band Decade 80, who will appeal to the “Headband Nation” with anthems from that decade. Parrotbeach will pay homage to the late great Jimmy Buffett with a summer season finale on the Sunday of Labor Day weekend, Sept. 1.
Kenny Chesney fans can flock to No Shoes Nation Band on Sept. 28. Hailing from Boston, these five musicians pay tribute to country star Chesney, whose showmanship and incredible catalog of Billboard hits sells out stadiums nationwide.
The Rock Orchestra returns for another year, but this time the gathering of Delaware Valley musicians will deliver note-for-note renditions of the Fleetwood Mac catalog on Oct. 6.
All events are dependent upon weather and beach conditions.
Summer movies will take place on Mondays on the beach off Garfield Parkway June 3 through Aug. 26, and fall movies will be shown on Fridays on the Bandstand Sept. 13, 20 and 27 — all at dusk.
Bonfires will take place in October.
The Town of Bethany Beach offers these and other events for free to the public, including the Poseidon Festival and Songwriter Showcase. More details and weather updates will be posted at www.townofbethanybeach.com, under Activities and on its social media pages.
Poseidon Festival
May 26-28
• May 25 — Entrain
• May 26 — US Navy Country Current
2024 Seaside Concert Series
June
• June 6 — The Dave Matthews Tribute Band
• June 13 — Cellofest
• June 20 —Ronstadt Revue
• June 27 — The Hathway Brothers
• June 30 — 287th Army Band
July
• July 2 — The Flying Ivories
• July 3 — Carnival Night, 6-9 p.m., Mr. Jon, Boston Bachert
• July 4 — The 1974
• July 10 — Burn the Jukebox
• July 11 — US Army Six String Soldiers
• July 17 — Teenage Satellites
• July 18 — 7 Bridges
• July 24 — Kidsinger Jim
• July 25 — Kanin Wren’s Taylor Swift Experience
• July 31 — Mr. Hetfield’s Rock & Roll Camp
August
• Aug. 1 — Decade 80s
• Aug. 8 — USAF Max Impact
• Aug. 15 — US Navy Sea Chanters
• Aug. 22 — Still Surfin’
• Aug. 29 — Van Halen Nation
• Aug. 31 — Jesse Garron
September
• Sept. 1 — Parrotbeach
• Sept. 14 — The Fabulous Dialtones
• Sept. 15 — Broadway at the Beach
• Sept. 21 — Real Diamond
• Sept. 22 — Love Seed Mama Jump
• Sept. 28 — No Shoes Nation Band
• Sept. 29 — High Noon
October
• Oct. 5 — Quiet Fire
• Oct. 6 — The Rock Orchestra
• Oct. 12 — The Jimmies
• Oct. 13 — La Unica
• Oct. 19 — Rick K Road Trip
• Oct. 20 — The Soul Crackers
• Oct. 26 — Dan & Dan Band
• Oct. 27 — 70s Flashback