Live music in Durham County, NC

Every live show around Durham County this week, each one checked against where it was posted.

13 shows this weekChecked Wednesday, October 21

Live music this week

13 shows across Durham County this week. All events →

Thursday, October 22

1 show

  • 7pm

    BluFSF Cuero: October Edition

    Durham · Stanczyks Music Bar, 1007 W Main St

    andmoreagain brings Be Your Own Pet’s 20th Anniversary Tour to Stanczyks in Durham, NC, with Farmer’s Wife and Mean Habit sharing the bill. Fresh from recent SXSW appearances, Nashville’s Be Your Own Pet has returned with the single Hand Grenade on Third Man Records, the band’s first new release since the 2008 album Get Awkward. Founding members Jemina Pearl Abegg, Jonas Stein, and Nathan Vasquez are joined by longtime drummer John Eatherly, carrying forward the high-energy spirit that has drawn praise from outlets like Pitchfork and Rolling Stone. Austin’s Farmer’s Wife blends 90s dirge rock, 60s psychedelia, and flashes of 80s cool into intense, story-driven songs that move between fragility and force. Interlaced guitars and hypnotic rhythms can open into free-form excursions, and the EP Faint Illusions pushes their recurring themes of decay and romance into a grittier space. North Carolina’s Mean Habit delivers a queer, femme-forward take on hardcore-inspired post punk, channeling raw emotion into personal and political lyrics that confront transphobic fetishization, the dynamics of intimate partner abuse within patriarchy, and the reclamation of dehumanizing spaces while urging autonomy and love. Advance tickets are $22.50, with $25 pricing on the day of the show.

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Friday, October 23

2 shows

  • 7pm

    Clint Black and more

    Durham · DPAC, 123 Vivian St

    Clint Black joins forces with the GRAMMY-nominated trio Midland, known for its retro nuevo sound, for a limited run of eight shows that unites two generations of country music on one stage. Expect an energetic night of hits and favorites as Black draws from staples like "Killin' Time," "A Better Man," and "Like the Rain," while Midland adds crowd-pleasers such as "Drinkin' Problem," "Burn Out," and "Sunrise Tells the Story." This rare collaboration blends classic and modern country with engaging storytelling for a memorable concert experience.

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  • 7pm

    Clint Black

    Durham · Durham Performing Arts Center, 120 Morris St

    Clint Black brings his hallmark country sound to Durham Performing Arts Center in Durham. The performance highlights smooth vocals, country storytelling, and a seasoned presence onstage. Audiences can look forward to familiar songs delivered with the polished style that has come to define his career.

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Saturday, October 24

2 shows

  • 5:30pm

    Songstories Live

    Durham · Boxyard RTP, 900 Park Office Dr

    Free

    Songstories Live brings artists and listeners together in an intimate setting at the Pavilion at Boxyard RTP. Three singer-songwriters will present original music along with the stories that inspired each piece, supported by session musicians from the local area. Admission is free for walk-ins. Performances take place under the covered Pavilion on the BeatBox stage, and plans may change in response to weather to keep the stage safe. If there is flooding, ice, or lightning, the event will be canceled. The lineup will be announced. By attending, guests consent to photography, video, and audio recording and authorize Boxyard RTP to use those materials in any medium for any purpose. For questions, email hello@boxyardrtp.com. To inquire about performing, email music@boxyardrtp.com.

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  • 6pm

    Loctober: The Loc Social

    Durham · The Shrine, 308 S Driver St

    Heart of Carolina and Lock Starz Salon present a community celebration at The Shrine in Durham that centers locs, culture, and connection. Expect music, thoughtful loc conversations, local vendors, and photo opportunities that highlight the people and stories behind every style. From fresh starts to long-established crowns, including sisterlocks, freeform, and wicks, all journeys are welcome, and friends without locs are encouraged to show support. Early bird tickets are $10 and general admission is $15.

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Sunday, October 25

4 shows

  • 11am

    Durham Underground Market

    Durham · Durham Central Park, 428 Roney St

    Presented by The MAKRS Society, this monthly market and concert series brings a rotating lineup of bands, more than forty local vendors, and a selection of food trucks to Durham Central Park. Attendees can explore unique goods, enjoy live music, and pick up food and beverages while spending time with friends and family. Vendors interested in participating can apply to be part of the series.

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  • 3pm

    Lowell Ringel Group

    Durham · Sharp 9 Gallery, 4608 Industry Ln

    The Lowell Ringel Group featuring David Leon spotlights a bassist, composer, and educator whose work has earned awards and whose approach reflects the tradition of Charlie Haden and Scott LaFaro. Expect melodic improvisations paired with a grounded, inventive pulse that anchors the music while leaving room for discovery. After completing both undergraduate and graduate degrees at the Frost School of Music, Ringel immersed himself in Latin jazz and Cuban styles, later performing and recording with artists such as Ignacio Berroa, Aymee Nuviola, Brian Lynch, Shelly Berg, Dafnis Prieto, and Martin Bejerano. As a writer, he brings together jazz sensibility, rhythmic drive, and elements of classical language to create pieces with vivid color. That perspective is captured on the self-titled 2019 release from his chamber jazz quintet Threeplustwo and on Geodesics, the 2020 album by the Finnish American collective Transatlanttiset. He resides in Forest Park, Illinois, and appears frequently around the Chicagoland scene. For this performance, Ringel leads on bass with David Leon on woodwinds, Keith Ganz on guitar, Evan Ringel on trombone, and Jake Richter on drums.

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  • 6:30pm

    Sunday Salsa Social

    Durham · Triangle Meeting Space, 2603 S Miami Blvd

    A long-running weekly salsa social that has been going strong since 2009 welcomes dancers with a beginner-friendly salsa lesson to kick things off, followed by plenty of social dancing. The playlist leans around 45 percent salsa and about 40 to 45 percent bachata, with a small number of cha cha, kizomba, merengue, and cumbia selections sprinkled in. Admission is $10, or $8 for active military and students with ID. Most DJs can accept Venmo and credit cards, but bringing cash is wise because card payments may include an additional fee. Guests 17 and under are free with an accompanying adult, or $5 if attending on their own. The DJ roster typically rotates among Abuelo Salsero Jack Wolf, Salsa Mike (Michael Delucia), Pedro Paz, and Monte Alban (Eliuth Cruz Lopez), and the lineup is subject to change. For questions, contact Jack Wolf at jackhwolf49@gmail.com or 919-245-8393 or 743-208-5497.

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  • 7:30pm

    Dogwood Tales

    Durham · Rubies on Five Points, 1008 E Lawson St

    Presented by andmoreagain, this night at Rubies on Five Points in Durham brings together Dogwood Tales with bedrumor. Advance tickets are $15 and $18 on the day of the show. Dogwood Tales, from Harrisonburg in the Shenandoah Valley, is led by longtime friends Kyle Grim and Ben Ryan on guitars and vocals, joined by drummer Jake Golibart and bassist Danny Gibney. Their forthcoming album, Every Star in Rockingham County, reflects small town life with vivid detail, from the personal reflections of “Mt. Jackson” to playful nods in songs like “Princess Peach” and the memories woven through “McMemories.” Their sound blends pedal steel, close harmonies, bright drumlines, tasteful guitar work, and even bits of nostalgic video game texture, creating a mix that feels intimate and expansive at once. Scenes in “Angel Dreams” paint moments as specific as a quiet meal at Southern Kitchen, offering storytelling that feels close to home. Sharing the bill, bedrumor is a Greensboro outfit led by Lazuli Ortiz and Ryan Mole. Their music sits in the indie rock lane with a clear jazz influence, and for live performances they invite additional musicians to bring the arrangements to life. Influences range from Herbie Hancock and King Krule to Big Thief and Ichiko Aoba, and Lazuli produces the project’s recordings at home, the inspiration behind the band’s name.

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Tuesday, October 27

4 shows

  • 7:30pm

    Beck

    Durham · DPAC, 123 Vivian St

    Beck appears at DPAC in Durham, NC, buoyed by the momentum of his new song "Ride Lonesome." Beck produced the track, with mixing by Nigel Godrich, and it echoes the mood and textures of Morning Phase, which won the 2015 Grammy for Album of the Year, as well as 2002's Sea Change, with several musicians from those albums taking part. Beginning with intimate acoustic guitar and rising to a stirring finale, the song points to a fresh yet familiar direction for the artist. Ticket access includes a public onsale along with presales for Citi Cardmembers, the artist, Friends of DPAC, Spotify, and Live Nation, with Citi Cardmember Preferred tickets also available.

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  • 7:30pm

    Dolly Parton Tribute

    Durham · Stanczyks Music Bar, 1007 W Main St

    A pop-up chorus tribute to Dolly Parton fills Stanczyks Music Bar in Durham with community singing that celebrates her life and music while honoring her dedication as an ally to the LGBTQ+ community. Proceeds support the LGBTQ+ Center of Durham. Everyone is welcome, and the emphasis is on singing together in a warm, nonjudgmental atmosphere.

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  • 7:30pm

    Christian McBride & Ursa Major

    Durham · Reynolds Industries Theater at Duke University, 125 Science Drive

    Eleven-time GRAMMY winner Christian McBride leads Ursa Major, a dynamic group that pairs his seasoned artistry with a team of up-and-coming talents. The renowned bassist, composer, bandleader, educator, and host of NPR’s Jazz Night in America moves easily among straight-ahead jazz, R&B, hip hop, and classical influences. With saxophonist Nicole Glover, guitarist Ely Perlman, pianist Mike King, and drummer Savannah Harris, the ensemble brings a lively, forward-looking energy to the stage. McBride created Ursa Major to champion emerging voices and to keep the collaborative spirit of jazz front and center.

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  • 8pm

    Beck

    Durham · Durham Performing Arts Center

    Beck performs live in concert at Durham Performing Arts Center in Durham, NC.

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