Duke Performances is thrilled to announce the return of Music in the Gardens, now FREE to all. This long-running concert series is held outdoors at Sarah P. Duke Gardens and will include a five-concert showcase of nationally-renowned artists. View the 2023 line-up below!
Music in the Gardens concerts take place 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 permitted. Food and water will also be available for purchase on-site from The Palace International, with ice cream from Scoop Local. The lawn will open at 6 p.m. before each concert. University parking at the Gardens is $2/hour until 7 p.m. In the event of rain, an alternate location will be announced by 1 p.m. on the day of the event.
Reservations are highly recommended and will be made available at dukeperformances.org on Tuesdays at 11 a.m. one week prior to each performance date. The exact on-sale dates are listed below. We will also accept walk-ups on the day of each event on a first-come, first-served basis until the event has reached capacity.
Duke Performances’ 2023 Music in the Gardens series is a Duke Arts initiative presented in partnership with Sarah P. Duke Gardens and That Station and supported by Duke Continuing Studies and The Forest at Duke. The series is made possible, in part, with support from Duke Summer Session.
Wednesday, June 7 at 7PM
Reservations open Tue, May 30 at 11 a.m.
Rebekah Todd’s “Cosmic Soul Rock” is an eclectic blend of blues, folk, rock, and soul music guaranteed to get the 2023 Music in the Gardens series off to an unforgettable start.
Wednesday, June 14 at 7PM
Reservations open Tue, Jun 6 at 11 a.m.
Back by popular demand, two-time Grammy Award winner Terrance Simien returns to Music in the Gardens to lead his 5-piece Zydeco Experience band in an exhilarating celebration of zydeco music, Louisiana tradition, and Simien’s Creole roots.
Wednesday, June 21 at 7PM
Reservations open Tuesday, June 6 at 11 a.m.
Softly powerful vocals layered over captivating and skillful guitar playing are the defining characteristics of XOXOK’s “atmospheric soul music” – an expansive blend of soul and jazz.
Wednesday, June 28 at 7PM
Reservations open Tuesday, June 20 at 11 a.m.
After a nearly four-decade career, vocalist-bassist Melissa Carper has suddenly found herself thrust onto the national stage when “Ramblin’ Soul,” her first nationally-released solo album, was named one of 2022’s best country albums in Rolling Stone.
Wednesday, July 5 at 7PM
Reservations open Tuesday, June 27 at 11 a.m.
Hailed as an “Americana wunderkind” by Rolling Stone when he burst onto the music scene in 2017, Christian Lopez is now a prolific and mature artist, set to release his fourth studio album, “Magdalena,” on June 9.
