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Sounds of Downtown:
The music scene in Wilmington congregates in the historic district

By: Tiffanie Gabrielse

As Wilmington residents and visitors stroll the Riverwalk along Water Street, where do they pause along the way to enjoy a great cocktail and hear live music between Thirsty Thursday and Sunday? Downtown Wilmington has a variety of poisons to satisfy any palate. It is notorious for providing genres of music that fit even the most individual of taste—this summer is no exception. The music venues in our historic district are gearing up for a full summer of highly anticipated shows to keep residents frequenting its streets.

Hell’s Kitchen, for example—located at 118 Princess Street—is a family-owned-and-operated bar that provides upscale bar food, live music and “no gimmicks,” as promised by managers Drew Flynn and Adam Nooch. Famous for being the bar on the tweeny-trendy ‘90s television series “Dawson’s Creek,” music-lovers should look forward to hearing the hugely popular and crowd-pleasing L Shaped Lot, The Organix, Big Daddy Love, The Fustic and Jah Creation in the coming weeks and months.

The devil is calling us to take the heat in this kitchen on Wilmington’s hottest night, Saturday. All bands begin at 10:30pm, and food is served until an insanely and unmatched time of 1:30am. Forget staying home to watch “Saturday Night Live”—set that DVR to record and get a few drinks early! Patrons will be looking forward to next weekend before they even leave the door. To help kickstart another mundane work week all over again, Hell’s Kitchen offers Monday-night entertainment beginning at 7:30pm with Trivia Man Adam!

Down the way and around the corner, The Goat and Compass looks forward to hosting music this summer as well, ranging from reggae-soul, to Americana, to bluegrass. Hear Eric Miller and Alex Lenier from L Shaped Lot, Jesse Stockton, Trent Boswell, No Dollar Shoes and The Root Soul Project. Beginning on weekends at 9:30pm and Sundays at 7pm, The Goat and Compass never fails to bring in bands that not only garner a strong local following but also a regional following flowing all the way to Myrtle Beach. Promising to bring in a huge crowd, make plans to hear Fred Flynn, known for his originals and covers. The Goat and Compass is off the beaten path in a section of town that is booming with growth: The Brooklyn Arts District.

Don’t forget to relax and crack open a brew in the back on their popular beer garden patio. The Goat and Compass is located at 710 N. Front Street.

In the mood for acoustics in the court yard? Visit The Reel Café at 8pm on Thursdays and 9:30pm on weekends. This summer we can all look forward to Mike O’Donnell, Jeremy Norris, Big Fish and Rob Ronner. Rumor also has it, since over 200 people jam-packed the second floor last time they performed, everyone’s favorite band Machine Gun may be making a return in August.

“We anticipate them showing up again,” manager John Cordell informed. He mentioned it as though he was trying hard not fully confirm his closely guarded summer secret. With a brand new lunch and dinner menu available, offering al dente pastas and perfect fillets, The Reel Café promises “you won’t be bored.” And how could we? It’s one of the only venues that hosts four bars! Check it out at 100 S. Front Street.

Have the urge to enjoy peanuts and throw shells on the floor, but could do without the cheerleader-esque line dancing? Go to The Whiskey, located directly on the corner of Front and Market streets in historic downtown Wilmington. This is the place to be for heavy drinking and people-watching through their floor to ceiling windows.

Host to live music every night, and the creative Karaoke Ugly on Sundays, The Whiskey is quoted to cater to the young and the old and anyone who loves good music. Visit their MySpace site at www.myspace.com/wilmingtonwhiskey to view show calendar, drink specials and remember their three promises: they’ll “get you drunk, laid and provide the best live music around!“

This summer hear The Get Nice, Quarter Boy, ASG, The Organix, Giraffe and the Jackals, Blunt Harvey and The Never with Cary Ann Hearst. Make sure not to drink too much and pass out before witnessing the highly anticipated Dung Beatles—it’s their one-time reunion show and demanded not to be missed! The Whiskey will drown all sorrows at 1 S. Front Street.

With all these bands to see and venues at which to toast, who’s going to do the laundry piling up on your bathroom floor? Clean clothes are needed for work during the upcoming week, but no one says another band and cocktail can’t be enjoyed while it‘s being done. Stroll in with laundry slung over the shoulder to The Soapbox Laudro-Lounge—their laundry is open!

With 11 washers, four dryers, one folding table, one cart, one fun mirror and more to come, there’s no excuse not to be able to place that last load by midnight. Starting at 9pm, sip on over 90 varieties of beer, liquor, coffee and espresso drinks, and prepare for the week ahead. Located at 255 North Front Street, this summer expect to hear Elf Power, Groundation, Larry Keel and the Natural Bridge with Passion Creek and Harvey Milk playing with Weedeater. Visit their Web site at www.thesoapboxlaundrolounge.com, and don’t forget the Riverview bar in the back upstairs.

With many other bars and live entertainment venues in historic downtown Wilmington, spend weekend nights this summer exploring them all, while stimulating our local economy and supporting local music at the same time.