September 10, 2025
American Tobacco Campus
Presented by Duke Arts Presents
Duke Arts at American Tobacco
Raised on Muscle Shoals soul and James Brown funk, Nashville-based artist Kenny Sharp 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.
A former rapper turned vocalist, Sharp writes with a storyteller’s heart and a musician’s ear. He’s worked with sync teams and studios from L.A. to Miami and won Nashville’s 2024 Music City Mayhem, rising to the top of over 650 contestants.
Sharp’s songs are rooted across the American south, offering a rich sonic blend that goes down even easier than the best brown liquor.
Artist Website | Facebook | Instagram
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.
Now marking its fifth year, “Duke Arts at American Tobacco” is a free community concert series that originally began in 2021 as an initiative by Duke Arts and American Tobacco Campus to provide outdoor public arts events during the Covid-19 pandemic.
This year’s September concert series celebrates 50 years of the Hayti Heritage Center, featuring artists selected by the Center. The series is presented by Duke Arts in partnership with American Tobacco Campus and Hayti Heritage Center.
Generous support of Duke Arts at American Tobacco is provided by the Mary Duke Biddle Foundation.
American Tobacco Campus
300 Blackwell Street
Durham, NC 27701
FREE
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