You’d be hard-pressed to find a more scenic spot for a concert than Westerly Town Beach in Misquamicut, Rhode Island. After all, this beautiful site on Atlantic Avenue features views over Block Island Sound and soft, golden sand, creating a peaceful and relaxing atmosphere to take in some live music.
Tunes on the Dunes is a summertime concert series at the Westerly Town Beach pavilion. There are two concerts weekly between early July and the middle of August, giving visitors plenty of time to check them out.
These concerts are free and run from 6:00 until 8:00 PM, so you can use them as your starting point for a night on the town, too. Here’s a look at the 2023 schedule for Tunes on the Dunes in Westerly, RI.
Monday Night Jams
The series’ Monday night concerts are called Money Night Jams, and the schedule is notable for the 2023 season. It all starts on July 10 with a performance by Never Enough and the Peel N’ Eat All-Star Band. That show will be followed by John Ford Coley with The Cryers on July 17, The Fake Experience on July 24, and John Cafferty and the Beaver Brown Band on July 31.
The fun continues into August, as David Tessier’s All-Star Band of All-Stars will perform on August 7, and Souls on Fire will take to the stage on August 14.
All of these concerts will attract significant crowds to Westerly Town Beach, so getting there early and securing a prime spot in the sand is highly recommended. Getting there well before start time also makes it more likely you’ll find parking nearby.
Wednesday Blues on the Beach
The Wednesday night concerts, called Wednesday Blues on the Beach, start on July 12 with a show by Ed Peabody and the Big Blue Thang. That show will be followed up by Roomful of Blues on July 19 and The Blues Beatles on July 26.
Jeff Pitchell and Texas Flood will make an appearance on August 2, and there will be a special performance by Swining Blues from Texas featuring Johnny Nicolas and Katie Shore with special guest Greg Piccolo on August 9. The season’s final show will be a concert by Carl Ricci and 706 Union Avenue on August 16.
Much like the Monday night concerts, the sand will fill up with spectators early in the evening on Wednesdays, so getting to the beach early and scoping out the perfect vantage point is recommended.
Things to Do Before and After the Show
Misquamicut is one of South County’s most popular locations, as the beaches are beautiful, and there’s plenty to do in the surrounding area. As a result, you can spend the entire day nearby before the show or arrive in the evening and make a night of it.
If you come earlier in the day, Misquamicut State Beach is worth your time. It’s an incredibly scenic spot with lots of parking, a playground, and a snack shack, giving you everything you need for a day in the sun.
Another option is Atlantic Beach Park, a historic venue with an arcade, a carousel, and the Windjammer Surf Bar. The Windjammer is a popular lunchtime restaurant featuring live music between 1:00 and 5:00 PM every summer. You can enjoy some music with an early dinner before heading to Westerly Town Beach for another concert if you wish.
The Windjammer is also open until 11:00 PM every night during the summer, making it the perfect place to stop for a drink or two after any Tunes on the Dunes performance. Gino’s by the Beach and Paddy’s Beach Club are other nearby spots open late throughout the busy season.
Check Out Tunes on the Dunes 2023
You can’t go wrong with any of these Tunes on the Dunes performances because they’re free, high-end concerts in one of South County’s most beautiful locations. Locals and visitors alike love these shows and make a habit of attending as many as possible throughout the summer.
As a bonus, vacation rentals are available in the Misquamicut area, ensuring you can access these concerts and the surrounding amenities without traveling far. Many of these rentals are within walking distance of Dunes on the Beach, too, so you can stroll along the sand to any beachfront concert you want to check out.