Live music in Durham, NC

Durham’s own Ally J brings live music to a rooftop setting alongside specials on food and drinks. Expect $6 glasses of rosé and bubbly and a $14 Girl Dinner with a tray that includes guac and chips, flavored popcorn, pickled veggies, and local cheeses. City views and craft cocktails set the scene, and there is no cover charge.

andmoreagain presents a live performance at Stanczyks in Durham, NC featuring Jenny Owen Youngs and Northcote with Julia Barfield. Tickets are $20 in advance and $25 the day of show, and tickets are on sale now. After a decade without a full-length release, Jenny Owen Youngs returns with Avalanche on Yep Roc Records, a project shaped by years of change that include global touring, a number one co-write, a popular podcast, a book deal, and extensive placements in film and television. Produced by Josh Kaufman and co-written with collaborators including S. Carey, Madi Diaz, Peter Silberman of The Antlers, and Christian Lee Hutson, the songs blend bright pop sensibilities with soft, atmospheric layers while reflecting on loss, resilience, and growth. Julia Barfield, a 22-year-old singer songwriter from Athens, Georgia, was raised in the North Georgia foothills and draws on folk and Americana influences. Her 2025 debut EP, Keep to Me, offers southern storytelling that holds both heartache and hope, delivered with a warm voice that feels gentle and assured.

Presented by andmoreagain, Stanczyks Music Bar in Durham, NC hosts an evening with Upon Your Dead Body, with When the Sun Sets and Letters to Part also on the bill. The South Texas outfit delivers emo marked by heartfelt intensity and a theatrical flair, weaving spoken word moments, driving melodies, Midwest emo touches, and math rock precision into a vivid set, drawing influence from La Dispute, Coheed and Cambria, Say Anything, Hail the Sun, and The Used. Letters to Part, an ambient-leaning alternative band from Orlando, blends shoegaze, emo, post-hardcore, and indie into reflective, dreamlike songs. Their catalog includes the debut album A Human Curse from 2017, the Mad’ouk EP in 2020, a 2023 live recording tracked at Red Lion Audio, the 2023 single Breathe, and the 2025 EP Bloom, which is paired with videos for The Weight I Let Go and With Your Heart. Tickets are $18 in advance and $22 on the day of the show.

Celebrate summer car cruises in a spacious, shaded lot where music sets a relaxed vibe. A 50/50 option adds to the fun, and there is a chicken restaurant just across the street for convenient refreshments.

Word Jazz brings Actors Improv's blend of on the spot theater and live music to Sharp Nine. Drawing on Ken Nordine's 1957 album of the same name, the show builds scenes from improvised monologues alongside a five piece band. Audience suggestions spark each moment, and off the cuff songs emerge throughout. Musicians Ricky Bloomfield on reeds, Rob Ladd on drums, Robbie Link on bass, Glenn Mehrbach on piano, and Scott Sawyer on guitar perform with Actors Improv, the South's longest running improv company.

Sunday Salsa Social, now in its 18th year since 2009, offers a welcoming night of Latin dance. It starts with a basic salsa lesson, then continues with social dancing. The music mix focuses on salsa and bachata, with a small number of cha cha, kizomba, merengue, and cumbia tracks. Admission at the door is $10, or $8 for active military and students with ID. Children 17 and under are free with an adult, or $5 if attending alone. Most DJs accept Venmo and credit cards, but bring cash to be sure, as card payments may include an added fee. The DJ roster typically rotates by week. Expect Abuelo Salsero Jack Wolf on first Sundays, Salsa Mike, also known as Michael Delucia, on second Sundays, Pedro Paz on third Sundays, and Monte Alban, Eliuth Cruz Lopez on fourth Sundays. When there is a fifth Sunday, the rotation cycles among them. The schedule is usual and subject to change. For questions, contact Jack Wolf at jackhwolf49@gmail.com or 919-245-8393 or 743-208-5497.