Welcome to Bowstring
Raleigh's Premier Live Music Venue, Event Space, and Neighborhood Bar
At Bowstring, we bring together a community of people that love live music and great vibes in a beautifully-restored historic building in downtown Raleigh, NC
Bowstring: A Neighborhood Bar & Music Venue
Bowstring was founded in Raleigh in 2020 and quickly became one of the most popular bar and venues in the Raleigh area. With four unique gathering spaces and three full bars, including a 10,000 sq ft turfed yard area, dubbed The Yard, Bowstring routinely hosts live music concerts with local and nationally-touring, private parties, watch parties, and more! Featuring in-house PA, lighting, and a 28’x20’x4′ covered stage, Bowstring is uniquely situated to host high-quality concerts and event.
Live Music & Events
Date
july
03jul7:00 pm10:00 pmThurston Howell Yacht Rock
Event Details
Get your tickets here! Ahoy mates! Prepare to set sail on a groovy voyage with Thurston Howell, Your Premiere Yacht Rock Spectacular! Picture this: a musical escapade that whisks
Event Details
Ahoy mates! Prepare to set sail on a groovy voyage with Thurston Howell, Your Premiere Yacht Rock Spectacular!
Picture this: a musical escapade that whisks you away on a nostalgic odyssey through the smooth sounds of the 70s and 80s, sprinkled with a dash of modern zest. The bridge crew of Captain J.P. “Silky” Lents on keys, alongside the dynamic duo of First Mate Cameron Love on guitar and Activities Director Leona Love on percussion, will have you feeling the wind in your hair with their soaring vocals! And the engine room rhythm section of Commodore Jasper Tenpenny on bass, Phineas Wigglesworth IX on drums, and Dr. Artemis Thatch on Sax, will have you dancing the night away on the deck! Thurston Howell crafts a symphony of classic hits all night long, from Toto and Michael McDonald, all the way to Hall and Oates and Steely Dan!
These seasoned musicians are not just performers; they are magicians, weaving soaring melodies, lush harmonies, and irresistibly tight grooves into every note. Imagine yourself swaying to the rhythm, captivated by the enchanting tunes, as Thurston Howell transforms any event into a lively spectacle. From concert halls and festival stages, to private soirées and corporate shindigs, they make it their mission to get your feet tapping and voices harmonizing to the most beloved soft rock anthems.
So, rally your crew, head to the edge of the dock, and climb aboard with the crew of the Thurston Howell! Because You Can’t Fake SMOOTH!
Doors at 6pm. No lawn chairs. Event Rain or Shine. No refunds.
more
Time
July 3, 2026 7:00 pm - 10:00 pm(GMT-04:00)
08jul7:00 pm10:00 pmBadfish - A Tribute to Sublime
Event Details
Tickets available here! Badfish is a vibe. Badfish is a sonic house party complete with plenty of gyrating fans sipping libations and enjoying various extracurricular activities. Badfish is feel-good music. For
Event Details
Badfish is a vibe. Badfish is a sonic house party complete with plenty of gyrating fans sipping libations and enjoying various extracurricular activities. Badfish is feel-good music.
For almost 25 years, the Rhode Island-based band – Joel Hanks on bass, Scott Begin on drums, Pat Downes on vocals and guitar, Danny Torgersen on horns, keyboards, and guitars – have successfully paid tribute to Sublime, the influential California group that brought ska-punk and reggae-rock to the mainstream. Badfish’s heartfelt celebration of Sublime’s musical spirit and legacy is so sought-after that they’ve headlined theaters, sold out shows, and played 15-20 gigs a month.
But now, Badfish is more. After two decades of Sublime reverence, Badfish originality is stomping into high gear. Badfish recently released its second new song, the anthemic, groove-fortified “F You Pay Me,” with special guest Grieves, as the follow-up to the band’s first single, “High With You.” Now the Sublime repertoire is nicely augmented by fresh original tracks that blend seamlessly together.
Outdoor show, rain or shine. No refunds. No lawn chairs or pets.
more
Time
July 8, 2026 7:00 pm - 10:00 pm(GMT-04:00)
11jul7:00 pm10:00 pmSoulShine - An Allman Brothers Experience
Event Details
Grab tickets here! SoulShine is a group of seasoned New York musicians who, through their mutual love of the Allman Brothers Band, have united for the sole purpose of bringing
Event Details
SoulShine is a group of seasoned New York musicians who, through their mutual love of the Allman Brothers Band, have united for the sole purpose of bringing you the ultimate Allman Brothers experience. The seminal catalogue of the Allman Brothers singalongs and jams are carefully replicated with all of the important attention to detail: spot on guitar and vocal harmonies, two drummers, a real Hammond B-3 organ with Leslie speaker, mind-bending improvisation and amazing slide guitar playing, all in front of a dazzling video backdrop display. Come out and enjoy an experience you will not soon forget!
Featured in the band for the past 5 years is Chris Burke on Hammond organ, piano and vocals. Norm Dodge and Geoff Hartwell share guitar duties and vocals. Bob Goetz is featured on bass and vocals and sharing the drum chairs are Ron Negro and Rob Wallis.
Outdoor show, rain or shine. No refunds. No lawn chairs.
more
Time
July 11, 2026 7:00 pm - 10:00 pm(GMT-04:00)
16jul7:00 pm10:00 pmUmphrey's McGee
Event Details
Get tickets here! Chicago’s eclectic rock band Umphrey’s McGee has been keeping fans on their toes for nearly 28 years now. Though often pigeonholed into “jam band” circles,
Event Details
Chicago’s eclectic rock band Umphrey’s McGee has been keeping fans on their toes for nearly 28 years now. Though often pigeonholed into “jam band” circles, Umphrey’s doesn’t fit that traditional mold, and their fans don’t either. Is it prog rock? Song-forward, Beatles-esque arrangements? Be careful, they might hit you with some metal riffs mid-set, too. Pushing 3,000 live gigs and 300 million+ tracks streamed, you-had-to-be-there moments include the band’s performance at the first-ever Bonnaroo and selling more CDs (remember those?) than any other act on the bill.
A leader in the live music world, Umphrey’s McGee became the first group to launch its own single-artist streaming service with UMLive.net, which houses recordings of every show since 2005. The service has since grown and now lives on through Nugs.net, used by the likes of Pearl Jam, Bruce Springsteen, and more.
Beyond intimate backstage encounters and ski trips with their most diehard fans, Umphrey’s McGee instituted the groundbreaking “Headphones & Snowcones” program, granting fans access to professional headphones and a soundboard-quality mix to listen wirelessly at shows. At their UMBowl, they empowered the audience to vote on the setlist in real-time and choose favorite improv themes via text message. In 2017, they stepped into another realm altogether by integrating themselves into VR platforms and 360 video. All of the above has earned the band status as kings of the live music scene, with standing yearly engagements at iconic venues, their own events in Morocco (Morockshow), Iceland (Rockjavick) and Dominican Republic and Mexico (Holidaze), and co-hosting Chillicothe, IL’s long-running Summer Camp festival.
In April 2025, Umphrey’s led their faithful fans on another bucket list musical adventure: Morockshow, a three-night event in Marrakech, Morocco. This marked yet another signature international destination for the band’s one-of-a-kind live experiences.
Following their 2022 full-length Asking For A Friend, which showcased more evolved songwriting and thoughtful arranging, the band released the Out of Focus EP in July 2025 followed by their full length Blueprints album in September 2025. The new material draws from deep fan engagement, with compositions born from live “Raw Stewage” segments voted on by the UM faithful. These songs were recorded live during their exclusive Top Note Sessions at Chicago’s Metro, fusing the raw energy of improvisation with studio-quality fidelity.
As Umphrey’s McGee steps into their next chapter, they remain a band in constant evolution—restless, fearless, and deeply connected to their audience.
Doors at 6pm. No lawn chairs, no dogs. Event rain or shine. No refunds.
more
Time
July 16, 2026 7:00 pm - 10:00 pm(GMT-04:00)
17jul4:00 pm6:00 pmFree Phish Pre-Party | Big Shrimp
Event Details
Free event! Big Shrimp is a young high-octane progressive improvised rock band formed in 2024 in Bridgeport, Connecticut, blending danceable funk, exploratory rock, and fearless improvisation into a sound that’s as
Event Details
Free event!
Big Shrimp is a young high-octane progressive improvised rock band formed in 2024 in Bridgeport, Connecticut, blending danceable funk, exploratory rock, and fearless improvisation into a sound that’s as intricate as it is infectious. Built on diverse, catchable songwriting delivered by all four members Jared Sage Cowen (Guitar/Vocals), Max Perrotti (Bass/Vocals, Daniel Cohen (Keys/Vocals), Henry Thomas (Drums/Vocals), Big Shrimp’s material has quickly earned national attention, including placement on Spotify’s Modern Jam Band editorial playlist.
Known for their adventurous live shows, the band balances tightly crafted originals with fresh, unexpected covers — from Down Under to Elmo’s Song — all filtered through their playful, high-energy lens. These performances have helped cultivate a fiercely loyal fanbase known as The Prawn Stars, whose growing presence in rooms across the country has fueled the band’s rapid rise. That momentum landed Big Shrimp on Grateful Web’s “Top 12 Upcoming Jam Bands to Watch in 2026,” further cementing their status as a breakout act.
more
Time
July 17, 2026 4:00 pm - 6:00 pm(GMT-04:00)
17jul7:00 pm10:00 pmJayson Arendt with Julia Golden
Event Details
Grab your tickets here! Join us for an unforgettable live performance by Jayson Arendt — a nationally touring country artist with local roots as a Fuquay Varina
Event Details
Join us for an unforgettable live performance by Jayson Arendt — a nationally touring country artist with local roots as a Fuquay Varina native and UNCW baseball alum.
Fresh off his American Idol audition where he earned a Golden Ticket to Hollywood, and currently performing as the left fielder for the Texas Tailgaters, he’s bringing serious momentum (and talent) back to Raleigh.
Opening for Jayson is special guest, Julia Golden, a Sanford native and recent contestant on The Voice!
Don’t miss a night of local NC talent that will soon be taking off in country music!
Event is rain or shine. No refunds. No lawn chair or dogs.
Doors open at 6pm.
more
Time
July 17, 2026 7:00 pm - 10:00 pm(GMT-04:00)
18jul7:00 pm10:00 pmRed Not Chili Peppers
Event Details
Get tickets here! RED NOT CHILI PEPPERS pay tribute to the ultimate funk rock quartet: a band who has developed one of the largest die-hard followings in the world by
Event Details
RED NOT CHILI PEPPERS pay tribute to the ultimate funk rock quartet: a band who has developed one of the largest die-hard followings in the world by transcending four decades of chart-topping success.
Combining nostalgic hits, full throttle energy, and virtuosic performances, the Red Nots channel the raging party that has given the Chili Peppers international acclaim and regal rock and roll status. Having performed at many of the country’s most prestigious concert halls as well as every major tribute festival, the Red Nots’ undying devotion to the classic California sound has filled venues and rocked audience’s socks off all over the US and abroad. With a huge song catalog that spans every era of the Chili’s prolific career at their command, every Red Nots show provides a unique live music experience.
Formed in 2009, the Red NOT Chili Peppers quickly rose to become the nation’s most active Chili Pepper tribute as well as spanning the globe through Dubai, Brazil, Mexico, and Japan. With world-class musicians on the roster, the Red Nots have stopped at nothing to develop the most accurate re-creationof the distinctive alternative funk rock sound pioneered by the Red Hot Chili Peppers.
Event rain or shine. No refunds. No lawn chairs.
more
Time
July 18, 2026 7:00 pm - 10:00 pm(GMT-04:00)
23jul7:00 pm10:00 pmEdwin McCain
Event Details
Tickets available here! Veteran singer/songwriter Edwin McCain had his major-label breakout in the mid-’90s with Honor Among Thieves. McCain became a Top 40 “Radio Star” with chart-topping singles and soundtrack
Event Details
Veteran singer/songwriter Edwin McCain had his major-label breakout in the mid-’90s with Honor Among Thieves. McCain became a Top 40 “Radio Star” with chart-topping singles and soundtrack success with the songs “I’ll Be” and “I Could Not Ask For More”. More recently, Edwin has been touring with Hootie & the Blowfish, Collective Soul, and Train; and had a “breathtaking” experience performing hit songs disguised as Nessy, The Loch Ness Monster during a run to the Final Five during season #13 of the hit US TV show The Masked Singer.
His first full studio album in 15 years was released in 2025. Edwin co-produced Lucky with Lee Brice and Jerrod Niemann. The album’s ten tracks span blues, soul, rock, and folk influences. From the rollicking opening track “Chasing a Memory” to the aching ballad “Love Me or Leave Me Alone” to the Southern rock tribute “Sing for You,” Lucky reflects McCain’s musical roots while embracing modern inspirations, including an electronic edge on “Empire.”
Dubbed a “great American romantic” by The New York Times, McCain continues to connect with fans through his music as well as viral TikTok videos where his witty, self-deprecating humor—often at the expense of his exasperated daughter—has won over a new generation of fans. A podcast based on his TikTok life and more touring are in the near future for McCain, but the fame part of the life does not phase him. “I found myself in this sweet spot doing this for 35 years,” Edwin muses. “And if I end up playing for tourists on a deck in Hilton Head one day? That would be OK, too.”
NO LAWN CHAIRS. NO PETS. EVENT RAIN OR SHINE. NO REFUNDS. Doors @ 6pm.
more
Time
July 23, 2026 7:00 pm - 10:00 pm(GMT-04:00)
25jul7:00 pm10:00 pmFudge with Tomorrow's Problem
Event Details
Tickets available here! Tomorrow's Problem is an energetic and upbeat band from Columbia, South Carolina. Formed at the University of South Carolina, the band later moved to Charleston,
Event Details
Tomorrow’s Problem is an energetic and upbeat band from Columbia, South Carolina. Formed at the University of South Carolina, the band later moved to Charleston, SC to craft their debut EP. Drawing inspiration from legends like Jimi Hendrix and Red Hot Chili Peppers, along with modern influences like Spacey Jane and Mt. Joy, Tomorrow’s Problem has built a reputation for their captivating live shows. Their sets are a high energy blend of dynamic moments, and a crowd that feels like part of the show.
After wrapping up their first tour across 22 cities in the fall of 2025, the band is diving into new recordings and leaning into a fresh creative direction, while already looking forward to getting back on the road and hitting even more new places in 2026.
Doors at 6pm. Outdoor show, rain or shine. No refunds. No lawn chairs.
more
Time
July 25, 2026 7:00 pm - 10:00 pm(GMT-04:00)
Full Bar
20+ Rotating Taps including Beer, Cider, and N/A
Options w/ Seasonably-Fresh Hand-Crafted Cocktails
Bowstring Pizza Bus
Private Events
- We are happy to host your private group, corporate event, wedding event, birthday celebration, watch party, charity event - you name it!
- Featuring state-of-the-art PA system, multi-feature house lighting setup, an 8,000 square foot turfed yard area with tents optional, a 2,500 garage bar, and two private covered patio spaces with heaters.
Bowstring Pizza Bus
Craft Cocktails and Beer
Party Reservations & Events
What Are Our Clients Saying ?
Buy Concert Tickets Today!
Don’t miss out on one of our stellar live music performances, buyyour tickets today before the show sells out!
