Arts District

WTMD Announces 2018 First Thursday Concerts

Starting on May 3, this annual festival includes a lineup of local and national talent.

With spring officially upon us, it’s time to start looking ahead to outdoor concert season. Each year, that starts with First Thursdays, presented by Towson’s alternative radio station WTMD.

From May through September on the first Thursday of the month, music lovers from near and far flock to the Canton Waterfront to hear a mix of local and national talents perform against the backdrop of the Baltimore harbor. Last year, the beloved monthly music festival grew from one to two stages, now including six bands and drawing thousands of attendees.

This year, 89.7 FM kicks things off on May 3 with an all-star lineup, featuring alt-rock legends Belly, who will be headlining in celebration of their first new album in 23 years, as well Philly rockers Low Cut Connie, D.C.’s roots band The Nighthawks and blues group Tom Principato Band, as well as Baltimore’s own soulful Ursula Ricks Project.

Throughout the rest of the summer, the series will highlight big-name acts like charismatic indie-soul quartet Lake Street Dive, soul sensation Bettye LaVette, and former Black Crowes bandmate-turned-Southern solo artist Jackie Greene. Local artists like power pop singer Andy Bopp and Cali-by-way-of-Ellicott City native Lauren Ruth Ward will also be in tow, plus indie darlings like Richmond pop singer Natalie Prass, San Francisco folksters The Family Crest, and L.A.’s electric Lo Moon.

The event will now include 15 food vendors, including Asian street-food eats from Ekiben, creative ice cream flavors from Taharka Bros., and farm-to-table fare from Wild Thyme. 

As in past years, the concerts are free and rain or shine. Music starts at 5:30 p.m.

See the full lineup—as of press time—below:

May 3: Belly, Low Cut Connie, Loma, The Nighthawks, Tom Principato Band, Ursula Ricks Project

June 7: Family Of The Year, Typhoon, Jessica Lea Mayfield, Danielia Cotton, Natalie Prass, Lauren Ruth Ward

July 5: Lake Street Dive, Andy Bopp, Van William, The Glorious Sons, etc.

Aug. 2: Bettye LaVette, Lo Moon, The Family Crest, The Legendary Shackshakers, Dave House & The Mermaid, etc.

Sept. 6: Jackie Greene, Daniel Nicole, etc.