Duke School of the Arts Delighted to announce that this year’s Garden Music Festival is now free show everyone that will work with Country Soul Songbook (CSSB). Music in the Garden: Country Soul Songbook Edition will feature five concerts showcasing the work of musicians who fulfill the CSSB’s mission to amplify the historical legacy of American roots music, specifically country, Americana, folk, and rock. Marginalized voices (BIPOC and LGBTQIA+ artists). The full lineup will be announced in May.
Music in the Garden is a popular annual concert series held outdoors in the Sarah P. Duke Garden on the Duke University campus. This year, the concert will be broadcast live online for the first time WXDU 88.7 FM, Duke University Radioallowing viewers to tune in live from anywhere in Durham or online at wxdu.org.
May 29 to June 26, 2024
Wednesday 7pm | Sarah P. Duke Garden
Free for all
Weekly concerts will be broadcast live on WXDU.
Tickets are issued one week before each performance; reservations for the first concert will be open on May 21.
Learn more about this new partnership at INDYWeek
By artists, for artists
A collection of country soul songs by Kamala Thomas and registerwill curate each date of the season by selecting local, regional and national musicians to perform their original compositions and pay tribute to under-recognized voices in the American roots classic.
In the days leading up to each show, CSSB will facilitate collaborations between local musicians and visiting guests. Artists will rehearse for concerts and compilation album recordings.
“These are exactly the voices and music that Duke School of the Arts seeks to amplify through our showcase series, and Country Soul Songbook is an ideal partner for this effort,” said Aaron Shah, program director at Duke School of the Arts. Aaron Shackelford said.
“Our vision is to invite more community members to not just sit on the grass with us, but to be more involved on the stage and, perhaps more importantly, in who is invited to that stage and why. Have a say -Aaron Shackelford.
“This initial initiative will set a precedent for bringing the perspectives and skills of partner organizations to garden music audiences. This partnership allows us to leverage the resources of Duke School of the Arts to advance the artistic insights of our many talented neighbors and cultural organizations Strength and talent.
“I have always viewed garden music as a pillar of Durham’s cultural landscape, and we are excited to kick off the local summer concert season with our intersectional community of local and visiting artists.” — Kamala Thomas
“We hope to continue spotlighting a myriad of artists, so the opportunity to curate the entire five-week series gives us the space and resources to fulfill our mission of bringing the music scene into action. We can’t wait to share the lineup with you,” Country Soul Songbook associates said founder Kamara Thomas.
“Country Soul Songbook believes in the power of music to bring communities together, not just for the sake of music,” said Kym Register, co-founder of CSSB. In keeping with this belief, each concert will feature a community partner, turning the spotlight to some of the cultural workers and food organizations whose efforts are critical to creating and sustaining Durham’s vibrant community.
Left: Photo of Kamara Thomas by Derrick Beasley, Right: Photo of Kym Register by Cameron Cook
Learn more about Country Soul Songbook
About music in the garden
Weekly concerts will begin every Wednesday at 7pm ET from May 29 to June 26, 2024. Points are available at dukarts.org. While the concert is free, space is limited and reservations are required. To make these concerts accessible to all, Duke School of the Arts will partner with community organizations throughout Durham to distribute up to 50% of inventory. If you would like to recommend a community partner, please email arts@duke.edu.
Garden Concerts are held on the lawn behind the Doris Duke Center. Lawn chairs, picnics and blankets are encouraged. Pets are not allowed. Outside food and beverages, including beer and wine, are allowed and can be purchased on-site. The lawn will be open at least 30 minutes before the show, and parking in the gardens is $2/hour until 7 p.m.
The full lineup will be announced in early May.
Presented by the Duke School of the Arts in partnership with Sarah P. Duke Gardens and Country Soul Songbook, with support from WXDU and Duke University Summer Programs.
