Live music in Durham, NC

The Carolina Theatre of Durham presents a back-to-back screening of two landmark movie musicals. The program opens with Rob Marshall’s Chicago (PG-13, 2002, 113 min). In 1920s Chicago, chorus hopeful Roxie Hart and headliner Velma Kelly land on death row and vie for the help of smooth-talking attorney Billy Flynn. Their struggle to avoid execution becomes headline-grabbing entertainment that blurs the line between notoriety and fame. The film won six Academy Awards, including Best Picture, and features high-energy musical numbers and razor-sharp satire. The evening continues with Bob Fosse’s Cabaret (PG, 1972, 124 min). Set in 1931 Berlin, American singer Sally Bowles performs at the Kit Kat Klub as the Nazi party rises, while the enigmatic Master of Ceremonies presides over a glittering refuge from the encroaching turmoil. Fosse’s direction and choreography shape a haunting, sophisticated musical, highlighted by Liza Minnelli’s Academy Award winning performance.

Luther S. Allison leads a sextet featuring Brandon Woody on trumpet, Lenard Simpson on alto saxophone, Jeffery Miller on trombone, Jonathon Müir-Cotton on bass, and Michael Piolet on drums, with Allison at the piano. Praised by the New York Times for breathing fresh life into the jazz piano tradition while honoring its legacy, the Charlotte, North Carolina native is a widely sought-after multi-instrumentalist whose playing draws on blues and gospel with firm roots in bebop and soul. His credits include performances with Jazzmeia Horn, Helen Sung, Samara Joy, Rodney Whitaker, Etienne Charles, The Baylor Project, and Ulysses Owens Jr., highlighting a bandleader recognized as a standout voice among his generation.

Dogstar and The Backfires are performing live at The Ritz in Raleigh. The show is scheduled to start at 7:00 PM, with local venue time used for the schedule.

Haw Wire is a Raleigh-based newgrass trio that mixes classic bluegrass favorites with inventive takes on contemporary songs and their own originals. Expect brisk picking and close harmonies for a lively performance that appeals to traditionalists and progressive bluegrass fans alike. See them at Yonder: Southern Cocktails & Brew for a dynamic live set.

Stanczyk's Music Bar in Durham hosts a ska showcase featuring three local bands for $15: The Spectacles, The Unsustainables, and Ruler! Each group has a new record available now or arriving soon, and the merch table is the place to look for copies to take home.

Durham Parks and Recreation presents a free, family-friendly Summer Concerts in the Park event now hosted at Rock Quarry Park, featuring live music, a relaxed setting, and food trucks. This date spotlights Ally J with a mix of country, soul, R&B, Motown, and funk. Bring a blanket or chair and settle in with friends and family to enjoy the music. The concert is rain or shine, and alcohol and smoking are not permitted.

RadioStar brings a high energy night to Zinchouse Winery & Brewery, spanning the 80s MTV era through the 2000s. Expect danceable, singalong favorites with hits from artists such as Journey, AC/DC, Def Leppard, Jon Bon Jovi, Pat Benetar, Alanis Morrisette, Guns and Roses, The Outfield, Walk the Moon, Jimmy Eat World, Backstreet Boys, Radiohead, Britney Spears, Paramore, Blink-182, Killers, Nirvana, and Fall Out Boy. A lively celebration of chart-toppers across decades, perfect for anyone who loves classic and modern pop-rock anthems.

Les Trois Chats brings danceable hot club jazz inspired by Django Reinhardt, blended with the lively swing tradition of the Benny Goodman and Charlie Christian sextets. The program also eases into smooth Brazilian bossa nova for a rich mix of rhythms and moods. The group features Triangle musicians Robert Striegler on guitar and vocals, Jodi Miller on violin, Josh Brinkman on clarinet and sax, and Ian Finlay on upright bass.

Will Campbell leads a jazz sextet that highlights his roles as alto saxophonist, composer, and arranger. He serves as Director of Jazz Studies and Professor of Saxophone at UNC Charlotte, holds a DMA from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, and earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the University of North Texas. During his time at UNT, he performed with the One O’Clock Lab Band and conducted the Three O’Clock Lab Band. From 1999 to 2019 he was part of the University of North Texas Summer Jazz Workshop faculty and has been invited to direct All-State Jazz Bands in Texas, New Mexico, Oklahoma, South Carolina, and North Carolina. Earlier in his career he toured internationally and recorded with the Harry Connick, Jr. Orchestra. His writing has appeared in Jazz Education Journal, The Saxophone Journal, Teaching Music through Performance in Jazz, and The Saxophone Symposium, and his compositions and arrangements are published by University of Northern Colorado Jazz Press and Dorn Publications. He is an Artist and Clinician with the Conn-Selmer Company and a Performing Artist with D’Addario Reeds. The ensemble features Dave Finucane on tenor saxophone, Evan Roberson on trombone, Greg Santa Croce on piano, Jason Foureman on bass, and Kobie Watkins on drums, with Campbell on alto saxophone.

Guitarist and singer Armand Lenchek leads Armand & Bluesology with roots deep in the blues. His career includes performances across North America and Europe with his own band and as a backing musician for Walter Lightnin’ Bug Rhodes, Nappy Brown, Skeeter Brandon, Bo Diddley, Maceo Parker, and others. In addition to extensive recording work as a sideman, he released two albums on the Newmoon Music label in 1997 and 2001. Rounding out the band are Joel Sugarman on bass, Bakru Hunsel on drums, and Becky Lenchek on vocals, each with a long history of performing in the area.

Huron Stage Music Venue hosts a night of original music featuring Forest Rising, Megayacht, and Square One. Three local bands share the bill for a varied showcase of homegrown material.

Shape-note singing at Five Oaks Seventh-day Adventist Church features selections from The Sacred Harp (2025) and The Shenandoah Harmony. First-time singers are encouraged, and books to borrow will be on hand. Accessibility information is available.

Saxophonist, composer, and author Walt Weiskopf appears with a powerhouse quartet that highlights his New York roots and wide-ranging experience. He launched his career at 21 with the Buddy Rich Big Band in 1981, then went on to release 25 critically acclaimed recordings and amass numerous sideman credits alongside artists including Buddy Rich, Frank Sinatra, Steely Dan, Donald Fagen, Boz Scaggs, and Michael McDonald. The ensemble features Weiskopf on tenor saxophone with Harry Appelman on piano, Amy Shook on bass, and Stefan Schatz on drums.

Enjoy an in-the-round music showcase featuring eight North Carolina songwriters, with performances from Daniel Anderson, Mayre Amanda McDaniel, Rich Russell, Dennis Kennedy, Brodie Cormack, Hunter Grant, Mysti Mayhem, and Nick Autry. Doors open at 5:00 PM, with the show starting at 6:00 PM.

A weekly Sunday dance social at Triangle Dance Studios, established in 2009 and now in its 18th year. It starts with a beginner-friendly salsa lesson, then moves into social dancing. The playlist favors salsa and bachata, with salsa making up close to half the music and bachata nearly as much, plus a few cha cha, kizomba, merengue, and cumbia tracks. Admission is 10 dollars at the door, or 8 dollars for active military and students with ID. Most DJs can accept Venmo and credit cards, but cash is recommended, and there may be an additional fee for card payments. Guests 17 and under are free with an accompanying adult, or 5 dollars if attending alone. The DJ lineup usually rotates by week, with DJ Abuelo Salsero Jack Wolf on first Sundays, DJ Salsa Mike and Michael Delucia on second Sundays, DJ Pedro Paz on third Sundays, DJ Monte Alban and Eliuth Cruz Lopez on fourth Sundays, and a guest DJ on fifth Sundays. For questions, contact Jack Wolf at jackhwolf49@gmail.com or 919-245-8393 or 743-208-5497. New visitors should know the building has no sign and looks like a two story cream colored house, and it is next door to Research Triangle Dental with a large sign.

The Wallflowers lead the bill, joined by special guest Aaron Lee Tasjan. Ticket options include a presale and a Live Nation presale, followed by a public onsale.

andmoreagain presents a night at Stanczyks Music Bar headlined by Rodeo Boys with support from Gainsay and Kai & Clyde. Advance tickets are $15, with $18 the day of the show. Rodeo Boys appear in support of Home Movies, their debut on Don Giovanni, blending country twang with grungy distortion for catchy alt rock. The lead single Sugar delivers feedback-soaked bite with a nod to acts like Bully and SPICE, Dog Leg scales up classic rock swagger with big solos and gravelly hooks, and Tomboy Radio wraps things up with shifting, progressive dynamics. The record charges forward for most of its roughly 40 minutes, easing only for the spacey folk of Hail Mary. Vocalist Tiff Hannay frames the group’s mission as a queer blue-collar band focused on amplifying the voices of young queer people in small towns. Gainsay formed in Durham in 2013 and features two lead singers with a sound shaped by American punk and post-hardcore influences stretching from Southern California to Washington DC. Bassist Dante and guitarist Joe trade vocals while layering gritty, melodic hooks and lyrics that span introspective to existential themes. Drummer Ryan provides precise, dynamic rhythms and soaring harmonies. A studio EP is planned for late 2026. Kai & Clyde, an alternative rock trio from Chapel Hill, features Kai Bishop on vocals and guitar, Clyde Lambe on bass, and Jude Dasher on drums. Their songs lean into a laid-back slacker rock feel with fuzzy guitars and memorable riffs.

Rodeo Boys are playing a punk show at Stanczyks in Durham. Tickets are available through Bandsintown via Spotify, with showtime set for 8:00 PM local to the venue.

The Philharmonik brings their alternative hip hop, spoken word, R&B, soul, and funk sound to Kings in Raleigh for an evening show starting at 7:00 PM. Tickets are listed as available through Bandsintown.

A new moon kirtan invites fresh energy and intention through shared sound. This gathering centers on group singing and chanting, traditions known to soothe the nervous system, support overall well-being, and help release lingering thoughts. Participation is flexible, whether lending your voice or simply resting in the vibrations while taking in community, laughter, and shared joy. Inspired by the idea that happiness grows when it is shared, the experience offers a gentle space for renewal through voice and resonance. Admission is $22.