Presented by Duke Arts Presents
For the penultimate Arts on East concert, Rebecca Porter with her band the Rhinestone Roses performs unflinchingly personal songwriting that cuts straight through. Blending Appalachian honky-tonk with cinematic storytelling, she pushes at the edges of country and Americana. Her work centers identity, resilience, and voices often left out of the traditional country canon.
This evening is curated by Country Soul Songbook, a Durham-based collective dedicated to amplifying marginalized voices in American roots music through performance, collaboration, and community-centered programming.
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Duke University East Campus
712 Broad Street
Durham, NC 27705
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Venue Details
Born in Guam and raised in Virginia, Rebecca Porter writes unflinchingly personal songs that challenge the boundaries of genre and amplify voices often left out of the country canon. With commanding live performances and a cinematic debut album, Porter’s work invites listeners into stories of identity, resilience, and acceptance. Her 2023 EP Queen of the Local and 2025 debut album Roll With the Punches have earned national and international recognition, including features on NPR’s Mountain Stage, No Depression, The Bluegrass Situation, KEXP, and Lonesome Highway.
Arts on East concerts will take place every Wednesday from May 27 through June 24 on Duke’s East Campus. Previously called Music in the Gardens, this series has been renamed to reflect its new location. This year, each event will be hosted by Stormie Daie and curated by a different Durham-based partner, highlighting the breadth of artistic voices that shape the city.
Each Arts on East concert is free and open to all – no tickets are required. Events will feature a community market organized by Kamara Thomas and food will be available to purchase from The Palace International and food truck partners. Visitors are encouraged to bring lawn chairs, picnics, and blankets.
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This event is part of the
We the People: A Duke & Durham Initiative
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