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Music Everywhere

Wilmington hosts the Cape Fear Blues Festival, an extravaganza of authentic blues music featuring three days of local, regional and national blues group performances, all-day blues jam, kickoff party, and blues workshops.

A highlight of the event is the famous Blues Cruise on the Henrietta III riverboat offering three blues bands on three decks with three bars plus local cuisine, all in an exciting evening sunset cruise on the beautiful Cape Fear River.

Another popular festival, celebrating its 30th anniversary in 2010, is the North Carolina Jazz Festival. This three-day event, held at the Wilmington Hilton Riverside in early February, features nationally known as well as local jazz musicians.

This year, such favorites as Bucky Pizzarelli, John Allred, Mark Shane and Frank Tate will be featured among a host of other talented musicians. There will be a plethora of jazz styles too, from contemporary to New Orleans to traditional jazz sets. A patrons party will be held on the Henrietta III and a good time will be had by all who attend.

Pleasure Island also hosts two major music festivals each year. In June 2009 the 24th Annual Beach Music Festival will be held and in October, the 16th Annual Seafood, Blues and Jazz Festival will take place.