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Live After 5

 

Live After 5 returns this summer on a new night, at a new time, and in three new locations across Downtown Raleigh for an extended six-date run.

For 2026, Live After 5 is going on tour, with six free shows in three iconic downtown locations: Moore Square, Raleigh Union Station, and Seaboard Station.

Held on select Thursday evenings at a new starting time of 7 pm from May through August, Live After 5 will once again transform downtown into a midweek destination for live music, community, and connection.

This year’s series is brought to you by Downtown Raleigh Alliance with support from Capitol Broadcasting Company through our exclusive media partners at MIX 101.5, That Station, and WRAL.

The 2026 lineup, produced in partnership with Deep South Entertainment, features a mix of emerging and established artists that reflect the breadth and depth of music being made in North Carolina right now, from Asheville jam to country, R&B, soul, and homegrown indie rock.

Each Live After 5 event offers a block-party atmosphere featuring live performances, local food and vendors, with beer and wine for purchase. Admission is free.

As one of Downtown Raleigh’s most anticipated event series, Live After 5 continues to evolve while staying rooted in its mission: celebrating music, supporting local artists, and activating Downtown Raleigh’s public spaces to bring people together.

 

  • May 14 at Moore Square with Fireside Collective:
    • The Asheville-based newgrass-turned-eclectic jam band has spent over a decade honing a sound rooted in groove, community, and the kind of transcendent live experience that turns casual listeners into devoted fans.
  • June 4 at Moore Square with River Shook:
    • After a decade making their mark on country music with their first project (Sarah Shook & the Disarmers), River Shook debuts as a solo artist in 2026. Shook’s songwriting incorporates elements of indie rock and pop, putting them front and center as an act to watch: a one-of-a-kind artist who energetically pushes country music into new territory. River’s raw, emotionally charged performances have earned accolades from Rolling Stone, Billboard, and the Wall Street Journal.
  • June 18 at Raleigh Union Station with AZUL:
    • Raleigh’s own AZUL (Azul Zapata) is a genre-defying Argentine-American artist whose music weaves together jazz, soul, Latin funk, disco, and R&B into something wholly her own. A dynamic performer who sings in English and Spanish, AZUL brings infectious energy and powerful vocals to every stage she touches.
  • July 23 at Seaboard Station with Elora Dash:
    • Elora Dash is a multifaceted musician, vocalist, and producer whose voice effortlessly scales heights and explores depths. Her 5-piece ensemble skillfully blends elements of jazz fusion, neo-soul, and R&B to craft music that is both innovative and soul-stirring.
  • July 30 at Moore Square with Fancy Gap:
    • The Raleigh duo of singer/songwriter Stuart McLamb (formerly of The Love Language) and producer Charles Crossingham makes sweeping, wistfully breezy indie-folk that has earned them collaborations with Sharon Van Etten and a spot on PBS North Carolina’s Shaped by Sound.
  • August 13 at Moore Square with Harvey Street:
    • Raleigh’s own Harvey Street closes out the summer with their signature “disciplined electricity” – high-energy indie and alternative rock that has taken fans by storm, selling out venues from North Carolina to Colorado.