Big news for live music lovers on the Outer Banks! Building upon VusicOBX’s legacy of bringing unforgettable live music shows to Roanoke Island Festival Park, a new production company, Live From OBX, has committed to a minimum of three more years of big-name shows on the Outer Banks — with hopes of stretching into many years beyond.
Live From OBX Director Aaron Flahardy wants it to be known right off that this is not a big production company swooping in to make a profit off an Outer Banks commodity. Just like VusicOBX, Live From OBX is a small, independent event producer with secure financial backing, and Aaron is no newbie in town.
Aaron worked with VusicOBX as marketing director for the last three years and was part of more than 30 VusicOBX shows. When VusicOBX founders and Outer Banks locals Brad and Rebecca Meyers decided they needed to take a break from event production to focus on their full-time business and their family, Aaron stepped in with the Meyers’ blessing.
“Aaron was introduced to us as someone who could help us better navigate the wild world of the live music industry, and his experience and knowledge, mixed with our vision on how we like a show to be executed, made for a beautiful union,” Rebecca says. “His desire to honor the culture we’ve built will no doubt continue this movement for years to come. He has our full support going forward and we will not only be alongside him enhancing the band and fan experience, but you will see us at most (if not all) shows pitching in with our boogie shoes on. That’s why we started this from the beginning, and we couldn’t be more excited to watch it grow.”
Photo: VusicOBX's Brad and Rebecca Meyers with Aaron Flahardy (center), founder of Live From OBX.
Aaron, born and raised in Greenville, N.C., has 20 years of experience in the live music industry — from working grassroots shows in small clubs to coordinating large outdoor events with artists from Lynyrd Skynyrd to Snoop Dogg.
“I love what I do,” Aaron says. “I verbally say that out loud every day. I wake up excited every day to do what I do.”
While he is not an Outer Banks resident, Aaron assures that he has spent the last three summers here and has come to love it. “I want to reassure the community that I am hyper-conscious about the local culture and communicating with locals about every decision.”
Aaron was booking and producing shows at Greenfield Lake Amphitheater in Wilmington when Live Nation purchased the managing rights at the venue from the City of Wilmington, thus limiting any profit margin for independent producers. Right after he got this news and effectively lost his job, he was introduced to Brad and Rebecca and went to work for them.
What makes live music shows at Roanoke Island Festival Park doable, Aaron says, is that the venue is managed by the state, not a big company. Also extremely important to VusicOBX’s success is the support of the locals. Aaron recognizes the unique culture and mindset of the Outer Banks and says over the last three years he learned a great deal how important it is to cater to the locals.
“I take a lot of pride in the fact that we do around 71 percent local ticket sales, local being within 99 miles, so driving distance for the night,” Aaron says. “And it goes up to more than 80 percent local for some country shows. It’s really cool to see this level of engagement from the community. I’ve booked shows in places like Winston-Salem, Wilmington, Greenville, Surf City and Jacksonville and could never count on that much local support.”
“I want to take care of the locals and visitors and make sure they’re having a good time and returning to the shows,” he adds.
Live From OBX plans to keep things very similar to the VusicOBX way of doing things.
“If it’s not broke don’t fix it,” Aaron says.
Photos: Just another summer night at Roanoke Island Festival Park
The park layout, free parking, free shuttles and most everything we loved about the VusicOBX shows will remain, but there will be a couple of small alterations. Aaron mentions starting the shuttles earlier so people can enjoy Manteo’s social district before the show. He also mentions enacting a new shoe requirement – at least flip flops – due to liability and the number of foot injuries they see every year.
Aaron also wants to continue the tradition of taking care good care of the artists.
VusicOBX welcomed artists with fun fishing, surfing and boating excursions on the Outer Banks and many other perks. “That’s how we got on the map so quick with the artists,” Aarron says.
The Live From OBX 2025 concert lineup is already in the works. Five acts have already been booked. Live From OBX is committing to 10 shows for 2025 with the possibility for 15, depending on park availability. Aaron says we can expect a continuation of country and reggae shows, which do great on the Outer Banks, and legacy shows similar to the Beach Boys and KC and the Sunshine Band, which did better than expected in 2024. Aaron is looking into getting some ‘80s music in as well.
Meanwhile, VusicOBX, which just got its 501c3 status, will continue to produce small boutique events at local venues and hotel takeovers and will work with Live From OBX to offer experiences like after-parties and pre-show charity events.
It’s going to be a great summer for live music on the Outer Banks. Stay in touch with Live From OBX at LiveFromOBX.com and look for announcements on Instagram and Facebook about their 2025 lineup and season tickets. Outer Banks This Week will also be keeping you fully up to date.
About the Author Molly Harrison
Molly Harrison is managing editor at OneBoat, publisher of OuterBanksThisWeek.com. She moved to Nags Head in 1994 and since then has made her living writing articles and creating publications about the people, places and culture of the Outer Banks.
