Wednesdays at 6:30 PM | September 9–30, 2026
Duke Arts returns to American Tobacco Campus in September with a new season curated by Grammy-nominated singer-songwriter Tift Merritt. This year’s series honors the women whose artistry and audacity have shaped generations of musicians. Merritt has invited participating artists to reflect on the women who influenced their own creative lives and showed them how to carve space for their own work in music.
Now in its sixth year, Duke Arts at American Tobacco has become a signature September tradition in downtown Durham. This ongoing partnership between Duke Arts and American Tobacco Campus brings world-class artists to the heart of the city through free public performances open to all audiences.
Duke Arts at American Tobacco is presented by Duke Arts in partnership with American Tobacco Campus and Tift Merritt. Generous support of this series is provided by the Mary Duke Biddle Foundation.
Two-time Grammy Award–winning songwriter Patty Griffin is one of the most beloved voices in American folk and Americana. For more than two decades, she has written songs that capture the small moments and big emotions that shape everyday life.
From NPR’s Tiny Desk to award-winning screen work, banjoist and songwriter Kaia Kater fuses folk, bluegrass, and contemporary roots music to tell stories of heritage and home.
Drawing on folk and Americana traditions, Cherokee artist Ken Pomeroy creates quietly powerful songs whose poetic lyrics have appeared in “Reservation Dogs” and the “Twisters” soundtrack.
Madison Cunningham moves between indie folk, rock, and art-pop, known for layered arrangements and fearless songwriting—an approach that earned her a Grammy Award for Best Folk Album.
Tift Merritt is a Grammy-nominated songwriter and one of Americana’s most quietly influential voices. Originally drawn to writing before learning guitar through her father’s Percy Sledge songs, she has spent over two decades crafting a body of work defined by southern roots, poetic lyricism, and emotional depth. From her landmark debut Bramble Rose to the Grammy-nominated Tambourine, her music has earned lasting praise for its intimacy, independence, and enduring influence.
Beyond the stage, Merritt’s work spans storytelling, archival research, and artist advocacy. A Practitioner-in-Residence at Duke University, she explores creative process and cultural memory through projects like The Spark and her ongoing archival work, while continuing to champion musicians’ rights. Her latest album, Sugar, her first in nearly a decade, finds her returning with a luminous, deeply personal collection recorded live in Nashville, capturing an intimate, unguarded energy and exploring love, resilience, and the quiet sweetness of everyday life.
Additionally, Merritt is part of the revisioning of The Gables, a 18-room hotel, bar and gathering space in Raleigh, NC, set to open this September.
These outdoor concerts are free, appropriate for all ages, and open to the general public. No registration is needed. Come early, bring a chair or blanket, and enjoy food and drinks from any of the 15 bars and restaurants on campus. Alcoholic beverages are allowed ONLY if they have been purchased from an establishment participating in The Bullpen Social District; all other alcoholic beverages are strictly prohibited. The stage is located under the Lucky Strike water tower, and the closest parking is at the South Parking Deck at ATC.
Concerts are weather permitting, with notice of cancellation announced at dukearts.org and via Duke Arts social media accounts on the day of the event.
For more information about American Tobacco Campus, visit https://americantobacco.co/your-visit/
Where are the concerts held? The stage is located under the Lucky Strike water tower at American Tobacco Campus, 300 Blackwell Street
Durham, NC 27701.
Is the series free? Yes! All concerts are free, appropriate for all ages, and open to the general public. No registration required!
Where should I park? The closest parking is at the South Parking Deck at ATC.
What should I bring? Bring a blanket or lawn chair, and come early to secure your spot!
Will there be food available? Enjoy food and drinks from any of the 15 bars and restaurants on campus.
Is alcohol allowed? Alcoholic beverages are allowed ONLY if they have been purchased from an establishment participating in The Bullpen Social District; all other alcoholic beverages are strictly prohibited.
Patty Griffin, Madison Cunningham, Kaia Kater, and Ken Pomeroy will headline the 2026 Duke Arts at American Tobacco concert series curated by Grammy-nominated singer-songwriter Tift Merritt.
Duke Arts is excited to invite audiences to gather for two free outdoor concert series: Arts on East and Duke Arts at American Tobacco. Each series is programmed in collaboration …
Free concerts at American Tobacco Campus every Wednesday in September under the Lucky Strike Water Tower Featuring Shana Tucker, Kenny Sharp, Dior Ashley Brown and Denitia—open to all and no tickets required …
Closing out the series this year, Nashville-based artist Denitia has spent years remapping country music. Her sound drifts between Nashville roots and Brooklyn edge—acoustic guitar and pedal steel woven with shimmer, soul, and restraint.
Don’t miss out — Dior Ashley Brown is an award-winning emcee, poet, and activist whose work fuses music and social change. A powerhouse of the D.C. arts scene, she uses her voice to uplift women and honor hip-hop’s roots.
Join us as Nashville-based artist Kenny Sharp takes the stage and delivers a Southern-fried blend of soul, funk, country, blues, and rock. He calls it “Brown Liquor Music”—a sound that’s smooth, punchy, and deeply rooted.
Shana Tucker kicks off the Duke Arts and Hayti Heritage Center at American Tobacco series on September 3 with her signature “ChamberSoul” sound — a captivating blend of jazz, classical, folk, acoustic pop, and soul, anchored by cello and voice.
Acclaimed artists from the Music Maker Foundation’s record label take over American Tobacco Campus in this free event. No reservations are required.
This double-bill of two North Carolina-based family Gospel ensembles showcases Gospel as one of the quintessential musical genres of the American South. This event is free and open to the public. No reservations are required.
Buckwheat Zydeco Jr. leads his father’s Grammy Award-winning Ils Sont Parti Band, one of the few zydeco groups to achieve mainstream success. This event is free and open to the public. No reservations are required.
Multinational salsa band Conjunto Breve was founded by percussionist Brevan Hampden in 2012. Members of the band come from all corners of the Americas. This event is free and open to the public. No reservations are required.