Country star Ashley McBryde kicks off concert season at The Cork in Dewey

The three-day Memorial Day weekend is less than two weeks away, and coastal businesses are prepping for what is predicted to be an onslaught of vacationers. The American Automobile Association (AAA) projects a 7 percent increase in travel volume over last year — which would make it the third busiest such holiday weekend since 2000.

Beach bars and restaurants are in tourist mode already, and have started presenting live music events galore.

In Dewey Beach, the Bottle & Cork will host its first concert of the season Sunday, May 21, when country star Ashley McBryde performs after an opening act set by Harper O’Neill. Tickets sold out almost immediately when they went on sale back in February.

Next up after that on the Cork concert calendar is the semi-annual appearance by the Bacon Brothers, who will play at 8:30 p.m. Thursday, June 1 ($40). As of Monday, there were 235 tickets remaining for Kevin and Michael Bacon’s show at the 1,100-capacity venue.

The Cork also just announced that tickets will go on sale at 10 a.m. Friday, May 19, for a summer concert featuring comedic hair-metal act Steel Panther (with prices to be announced). The quartet is set to perform Tuesday, July 18.

In Ocean City, country singer Jimmy Charles will shoot a music video for his new song “To Beach Their Own” on the outdoor stage at Seacrets at 5 p.m. on Thursday, May 18. Those who want to appear in the crowd shots are encouraged to wear bright colors. The Nashville performer grew up in Ocean City and Berlin, and graduated from Stephen Decatur High School.

In Milton, the second annual Rally for Our First Responders charity benefit will be held outside at Hudson Fields from noon to 6 p.m. on Saturday, May 20. (The rain day is Sunday, May 21.) Tickets are $20, with children under 12 admitted free. The inaugural event raised $80,000 which was split between various local emergency agencies.

There will be four bands this year, including three local favorites — Sweet Leda, Lower Case Blues and the Fitzkee Brothers.

The national headliner this year at Rally for Our First Responders will be Brother & Sister: An ABB Family Tribute Band. The group is led by siblings Melody and Vaylor Trucks, who are the daughter and son of original Allman Brothers Band drummer Butch Trucks.

Brother & Sister: An ABB Family Tribute Band will also perform at another location the previous evening. It will play the Lewes-area dinner concert venue the Room at Cedar Grove at 6:30 p.m. Friday, May 19 ($85).

Grammy winner John Ford Coley will play his hits such as “Love Is The Answer” and “I’d Really Love to See You Tonight” during a sold-out appearance at the Room at Cedar Grove on Sunday, May 21.

Back in Dewey, The Starboard nightclub is getting a head-start on summer by featuring live music left, right and center — and it never has a cover charge. Gypsy Wisdom will appear at 9:30 p.m. Friday, May 19. There will be two bands in one day on Saturday, May 20; The 19th Street Band plays at 2:30 p.m., followed by The Royals at 10 p.m. Kristen Kwolek (from Kristen & the Noize) will play acoustically at 10 p.m., Sunday, May 21.

As mentioned in this column last week, the new sister business called Starboard Claw is expected to open across the highway sometime in the next two weeks. The newly-constructed, two-story building will focus on seafood.

Email Roger Hillis at rogerhillis@gmail.com

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This article originally appeared on Salisbury Daily Times: Beach venues get into tourist mode ahead of Memorial Day holiday