Rock, pop and country music events on horizon as beach stages start to heat up

March traditionally signals a slow return to live music on area concert stages at the beach. While most of the seasonal businesses won’t reopen until later this month (in time for St. Patrick’s Day) — there will be some fun sights and sounds before that.

In coastal Sussex County, the Milton Theatre is keeping a busy entertainment schedule. Vermont-based touring musician Kat Wright and her backing band will take the stage Friday, March 4, to play songs from their various albums ($19).

The latest release is an EP called “Trio Sessions, Vol. 1.” Wright has been compared to Bonnie Raitt and Amy Winehouse, and mixes styles including folk, pop and rock. Ocean City singer-pianist Bryan Russo will open the show at 8 p.m.

The Milton Theatre will also be rocking at 7:30 p.m., Saturday, March 5, via popular Philly act Christine Havrilla & Gypsy Fuzz. Havrilla is also a soulful singer-songwriter, and will be celebrating her birthday at the show ($20).

Super TransAm will focus on rock anthems of the 1970s at the theater at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, March 10 ($25). Expect songs by the likes of Boston, Peter Frampton, Cheap Trick, KISS and Foreigner.

In Dewey Beach, the Bottle & Cork nightclub will place tickets on sale at 10 a.m., Friday, March 4, for a summer concert featuring “cross-country” performer Breland — who came up with that term to describe his mix of country, hip-hop and pop music.

The show on Thursday, Aug. 11, will likely include his hit “My Truck.” Breland has also charted with collaborations with Keith Urban (“Throw It Back”) and Dierks Bentley and Hardy (“Beers On Me”). Ticket prices are to be announced.

Country star Justin Moore will play a two-nighter at the Cork this summer. The price is $62 per evening for the shows on Thursday, June 30 and Friday, July 1 (the latter of which had a mere 133 tickets left as of this week).

Dewey is rather quiet at the moment — but not for long. I drove through Dewey on Tuesday evening, and every bar and restaurant in the town was closed that night. However, many have flashing signs on Route 1 describing what they’re up to.

While The Starboard nightclub is now open weekends year-round, it will host its annual Re-Opening Party anyway Thursday, March 17. As that is St. Patrick’s Day, music will be provided by the Celtic group La Unica.

Dewey’s Nalu Surf Bar & Grill will open for the season a week earlier, on Thursday, March 10. Directly across the highway from Nalu, the legendary Rusty Rudder will open for its 43rd season Friday, April 1.

In Ocean City, Fager’s Island has unveiled its pre-St. Paddy’s plans. It will feature acoustic quartet the 19th Street Band on the deck at 5:30 p.m., Friday, March 11, followed by Transfuzion playing inside at 9:30 p.m.

Baltimore group Barleyjuice will brings its Celtic sounds to the deck at 4 p.m., Saturday, March 12, with No Go Romeo inside at 9:30 p.m.

Fager’s has also placed tickets on sale ($66) for its fourth annual Wine Fest, to be held from noon to 4 p.m., Saturday, April 23. In addition to wine, there will be oysters and other munchies — plus ’70s disco by the party band Groovalicious.

Email Roger Hillis at rogerhillis@gmail.com

More: Salisbury native on ‘American Idol’ Season 20 hopes to seduce judges with 'powerful' pipes

More: St. Patrick's Day festivities return to Ocean City after pandemic hiatus

This article originally appeared on Salisbury Daily Times: Rock, pop and country music events are on the horizon