Alabama Theatre & House of Blues Spring 2026: Shows You Don’t Want to Miss
The house lights dim. Two thousand seats go quiet. Then the first note hits — and it rolls through you, chest-deep, the kind of sound you feel before you hear it. The Alabama Theatre does this to people. You walk in thinking “nice little beach town show” and walk out wondering how a venue this good ended up eight minutes from your vacation rental.
This spring, both Barefoot Landing venues — the Alabama Theatre and the House of Blues — are stacking lineups that rival anything between Raleigh and Charleston. NEEDTOBREATHE is making their NMB debut. The Hotel California Eagles tribute already sold out once. And ICONIC is back for another season of the production that made this theatre famous. Whether you’re planning a couples’ night out or a family evening, there’s something on stage worth building a night around.
Both venues are about 8 minutes from our condo at 601 Hillside Dr N.
Alabama Theatre
The Grand Strand’s premier live entertainment venue, founded by the country group Alabama, delivers polished variety shows and guest artist concerts year-round. The room itself is something — plush red seats fanning out beneath a soaring balcony, the kind of old-school theatre architecture that makes every show feel like an event before anyone steps on stage.
February
| Date | Show | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Feb 5–12, 17 | ICONIC | The Alabama Theatre’s new variety show — music, comedy, dance |
| Feb 15 (Sun, 7 PM) | NEEDTOBREATHE | NMB debut! One of the biggest names to play the Alabama Theatre |
| Feb 21 (Sat, 7 PM) | Ultimate Neil Diamond Tribute | Jay White’s acclaimed tribute |
| Feb 28 (Sat, 7 PM) | The Seven Wonders | Fleetwood Mac tribute — back by popular demand |
March
| Date | Show | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Mar 1 | Jeff Allen | “My First Final Farewell Tour” — hilarious stand-up |
| Mar 2–5 | ICONIC | Variety show continues |
| Mar 13 (Fri, 7 PM) | Hotel California | Eagles tribute — previously sold out, limited tickets |
ICONIC
Starting in February and running through October, ICONIC is the Alabama Theatre’s signature production — a high-energy variety show with music spanning every genre, comedy, dance, and special effects. The lighting alone is worth the ticket: laser grids sweeping the audience, the stage shifting colors mid-song, and pyro effects that make you flinch in your seat. Your kids will be slack-jawed. Your parents will be singing along. It’s family-friendly and the kind of production you wouldn’t expect at a beach town venue. If you’ve never been to the Alabama Theatre, this is the one to catch.
Tickets: ~$35–50. Book at alabamatheatre.com.
House of Blues
The iconic live music venue brings touring acts across every genre to an intimate, vibrant setting at Barefoot Landing. The House of Blues is a different animal from the Alabama Theatre — darker, tighter, the bass thumping through the floorboards, folk art covering every inch of the walls. You smell the kitchen before you see the stage. When the lights hit and the band kicks in, you’re close enough to feel the heat off the amps.
February
| Date | Show | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Feb 15 (6 PM) | Dropkick Murphys | St. Patrick’s Day Tour — high-energy punk/Celtic |
| Feb 20 (7 PM) | Zoso | The Ultimate Led Zeppelin Experience |
| Feb 27 (7 PM) | Chicago Rewired / REO Survivor | Tributes to Chicago and REO Speedwagon |
March
| Date | Show | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Mar 8 (7 PM) | Aly & AJ | Places to Run Tour 2026 |
| Mar 14 (9 PM) | Gasolina Party | Latin music night (18+) |
| Mar 19 (7 PM) | Mammoth | The End Tour |
| Mar 22 (7 PM) | Max McNown | The Cost of Growing Up Tour |
Don’t Miss: Sunday Gospel Brunch
Running every Sunday, the House of Blues Gospel Brunch is live gospel music with an all-you-can-eat brunch buffet. Picture this: a plate stacked with shrimp and grits and biscuits, a gospel choir hitting a note that sends chills down your arms, and sunlight streaming through stained glass. It’s one of those “only at the beach” experiences — uplifting, delicious, and unlike anything else on the Grand Strand. Reserve ahead.
Murder Mystery Dinners
The House of Blues also runs Murder Mystery Dinners — interactive dinner theater where you’re part of the whodunit. The lights are low, the waitstaff are suspects, and by the second course you’re whispering theories across the table while the “detective” works the room. A unique date night option. Check the schedule for dates.
Make a Night of It
Both venues are inside Barefoot Landing, so combine the show with the full complex:
5:30 PM — Arrive at Barefoot Landing. Browse shops, walk the waterway boardwalk as the late sun turns the ICW coppery and the first string lights flicker on along the storefronts.
6:00 PM — Dinner. Greg Norman’s for steakhouse splurge, Crooked Hammock Brewery for craft beer and yard games, or LuLu’s for family fun.
7:30 PM — Show at Alabama Theatre or House of Blues.
10:00 PM — Post-show drink at Big Chill Island House’s rooftop, or walk the lit boardwalk along the ICW.
One trip, full evening, 8 minutes from the condo.
Tips
- Buy tickets early for guest artist concerts — shows like Hotel California sell out.
- Variety shows (ICONIC, ICONIC) are usually available closer to the date.
- Dinner + show works perfectly since both venues are inside the Barefoot Landing dining ecosystem.
- Arriving early? Hit Alligator Adventure or Duplin Winery before the show.
Greg Norman’s at 6, NEEDTOBREATHE at 7:30, Home by 10
That’s an actual Tuesday night this spring: steak and Intracoastal sunset views at Greg Norman’s, a short walk to the Alabama Theatre, and NEEDTOBREATHE shaking the walls in their NMB debut. Or swap it for the Dropkick Murphys at House of Blues on a Saturday, the Gospel Brunch on Sunday morning, Hotel California on a Friday. Every one of those nights ends the same way — eight minutes back to 601 Hillside Dr N at Ocean Keyes, still humming the encore, knowing the beach is a ten-minute walk away when you wake up.
No one plans a beach vacation around a concert. But when the concert is eight minutes from the condo and the lineup looks like this, you’d be crazy not to.
Check Availability & Book Your Stay
See the full Barefoot Landing guide and the complete things to do guide for more NMB entertainment.
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