Announcing: Music Near the Gardens 2025: The Pinhook Edition!
The Summer Concert Series Moves to Duke University’s East Campus with Free Concerts Every Wednesday from May 28–June 25, 2025 Duke Arts is excited to announce Music Near the Gardens, …
Duke Arts and The Pinhook are excited to announce the lineup for Music Near the Gardens: The Pinhook Edition, a free five-show series on Duke’s East Campus celebrating the vibrant musical communities that make Durham thrive.
Curated by The Pinhook owner Kym Register and hosted by Stormie Daie, each evening highlights artists who push creative boundaries and amplifies the diverse sounds of Durham and the surrounding region. On the lawn, the Since4Eva Market will feature local shakers and makers who make up The Pinhook’s creative ecosystem. After every Duke East Campus performance, the night continues with a free afterparty concert at The Pinhook.
Due to construction at the main entrance of Sarah P. Duke Gardens, this series is a temporary relocation of Duke Arts’ annual Music in the Gardens series. Tickets are not required for this series, which is free and open to all.
Durham legends The Lover Boyz kick off Music Near the Gardens with a powerhouse set. A four-part harmony group backed by some incredible local players, The Lover Boyz have delivered smooth vocals, sharp choreography, and undeniable joy to Durham for over 30 years. Come ready to dance at this opening show!
The Pinhook at 9 PM
Black Belt Eagle Scout is the musical project of Katherine Paul, an indigenous singer-songwriter based in the Pacific Northwest. Raised in the Swinomish Indian Tribal Community, where she sang and danced in Pow Wows, her deeply personal original music blends alt-rock with native music traditions.
The second act brings us home with the rooted, indie-folk songs of T. Gold out of Carrboro, North Carolina, led by Saman Khoujinian and Gabe Anderson, co-founders of of Sleepy Cat Records.
The Pinhook at 9 PM
The Pinhook owner Kym Register and their band, Meltdown Rodeo, open this set with a signature blend of twang-infused rock. Their set weaves together classic country-rock favorites with original songs that pair queer and counterculture themes with foot-stomping rhythms.
The second set brings a Lavender Country Tribute featuring Adeem the Artist honoring the pioneering work of Patrick Haggerty’s Lavender Country, the first openly gay country album.
The Pinhook at 9 PM
The penultimate concert in the Music Near the Gardens series kicks off with Durham-based artist Anjimile. Their introspective and driving indie-folk music weaves intricate guitar work with lyrical storytelling that explores identity, spirituality, and transformation.
Then, percussive powerhouse group Speed Stick takes the stage with their rhythmic experimentation with bold, genre-defying instrumentation.
The Pinhook at 9 PM
The final night of Music Near the Gardens pays tribute to the Save The Pinhook events that helped bail out the venue in 2016, when it was faced with $80,000 in back taxes. Artists and supporters rallied with a series of pop-up concerts and fundraisers, allowing The Pinhook to pay its debt and maintain its role as an essential community space in Durham.
This special evening celebrates The Pinhook’s vibrant community of artists, activists, and creatives with surprise performances from its past and present.
The Pinhook at 9 PM
Do you want a hint about the lineup? Keep your eyes on Pinhook and Duke Arts social media for clues!
This series is free and open to all – no tickets required – with concerts every Wednesday from May 28 – June 25.
Visitors are encouraged to bring lawn chairs, picnics, and blankets. Parking on East Campus is free after 5 p.m., and the lawn has several pedestrian entrances. In the event of rain, an alternate location will be announced on the Duke Arts website and social media channels by 1 p.m. on the day of the event. Additional visitor information will be provided via email and at dukearts.org as the events approach.
All concerts will be broadcast live on WXDU 88.7 FM, Duke University Radio, allowing audiences to tune in live from anywhere in Durham or online at wxdu.org.
Don’t miss an update! Sign up for the Duke Arts Presents mailing list for event reminders, programming updates, and more.
About Duke Arts Presents:
Duke Arts Presents is a program of Duke Arts, The Office of the Vice Provost for the Arts, dedicated to presenting world-class professional art on campus, in Durham, and beyond. All Duke Arts Presents events and exhibitions are open to the public. Learn more →
About The Pinhook:
A vital hub for Durham’s music and nightlife, The Pinhook is known for its inclusive, artist-centered focus on marginalized voices in music and performance. Learn more at thepinhook.com.
About Music in the Gardens and the Garden Gateway Project:
Duke Gardens is growing with the Garden Gateway, a transformational project to expand and enrich the experience for all visitors, arriving in 2026. During the construction period, most outdoor areas of Duke Gardens will remain open, but the historical location of the Music in the Gardens series is inaccessible to visitors. Learn more about the Garden Gateway project at gardens.duke.edu/gateway.
The Summer Concert Series Moves to Duke University’s East Campus with Free Concerts Every Wednesday from May 28–June 25, 2025 Duke Arts is excited to announce Music Near the Gardens, …