Hundreds of students at Green Hope enjoy local entertainment and large-scale concerts each year, and there is no shortage of music entertainment in Raleigh, North Carolina this summer. The Triangle’s concert calendar is absolutely packed. From intimate downtown spots to massive stadium nights, Raleigh and Cary are hosting some of the biggest names in music. To help you navigate the season, we will break down the summer highlights, distinct vibes and best experience across the area’s top five venues. Loud music and happy fans pack seats at the Lenovo Center, Coastal Credit Union Music Park, Red Hat Amphitheatre and now even Carter Finley Stadium. But which is the best?
#1 Coastal Credit Union Music Park
Raleigh’s has no shortage of amphitheater venues. Red Hat Amphitheatre, Coastal Credit Union Music Park, and Koka Booth Amphitheatre are the largest. The clear winner is Coastal Credit Union Music Park. Hosting 20,500 guests, the site is the role model for a large-scale tailgating environment with lawn space. The location offers a variety of genres including Pop, Rock and Country. In the past years, it was very common that artists made sure to stop by the smaller city, Raleigh, during the week before heading to Charlotte for a larger show on their tour on the weekend. But as Raleigh grows, it is becoming a hotter spot for artists. Last year at Coastal Credit Union Music Park, scheduling was dominated by big name country artists such as Luke Bryan, Jason Aldean, Riley Green and Thomas Rhett. Some of the artists we are looking forward to seeing this year include Dave Mathews Band, Kesha, Phish and Tim McGraw. Green Hope student Jackson Wall (‘26) spoke on his experiences at Coastal Credit Union Music Park. He said, “It’s a large event space, it takes a while to wait in line for the gates but it was always worth it. I went to Luke Bryan and Jason Aldean in the past few years and it was some of the best moments of my high school experience with my friends. I am planning on attending the Pitbull concert soon. It will be a fun way to hang out with friends as graduation lingers in our futures.” Attendees never forget their experience at this site. Although it does get hot, Coastal Credit Union takes the cake for outdoor venues
#2 Lenovo Center
If you prefer an indoor and air conditioned setting, West Raleigh has the perfect venue for you. Lenovo Center is home to the Carolina Hurricanes, North Carolina State University’s Men’s basketball team, and many other events each year. When it comes to high-production indoor events, the clear winner is the Lenovo Center. Hosting up to 21,266 guests, the site is the role model for arena setting entertainment. It has stadium level acoustics and massive light shows. The location offers a variety of genres including Pop, Rock, Rap and Latin music. Last year, the Lenovo Center scheduling was dominated by huge names like Billie EIllish, Lil Wayne, Tate McRae and Rascal Flatts. Some of the artists we are looking forward to seeing this year include Niall Horan, Cardi B and Weezer. Green Hope student Jossie DeSantis (‘28) claimed that this venue is the best one she has been to. DeSantis has attended concerts like Katy Perry, Rascal Flatts, Tate McRae and Billie Eilish. She prefers the indoor experience because there is no worry about the weather and every seat feels close, surrounding the artist. “I like the social aspect of concerts and I am looking forward to the memories I will make this year,” DeSantis mentioned. The Lenovo Center is the perfect spot for indoor music events.
Honorable Mention – Carter Finley Stadium
Carter Finley Stadium is home to North Carolina State University’s Football Team. It has a capacity of 57,583 seats when set up for a concert. It is a relatively new venue for concerts, but it hosted Beyonce in 2016 and U2 in 2009. Just last year the venue was reopened to music events, hosting Chris Brown, and it is looking to host more artists such as Noah Kahan and Guns N’ Roses this summer. The Noah Kahan Concert had so much buzz that it sold out almost instantly. Many NC State students have taken and will take the opportunity to attend in their home stadium. It is the largest concert venue in the Raleigh area and it brings a new variation in the venue style and stage style artists can choose to tour through.
Pro tip: Both Carter Finley Stadium and the Lenovo Center operate on completely cashless systems. Make sure your cards and digital wallets are ready to go before hitting the concession lines.
Whether you’re dancing under the stars or in an air conditioned arena, Raleigh’s diverse venues ensure this summer will be full of unforgettable memories.
