American Tobacco Concert Series Moves Location

You can't complain about a free concert in Durham, but American Tobacco is ensuring that visitors will have an even better time at this year's concert series.

American Tobacco’s wildly popular summer music festival is moving to Diamond View Park -- the bigger, even grass-ier expanse between DPAC and DBAP -- allowing more people to enjoy even more attractions.

Now known as Center Stage (previously On the Lawn), the five-event series will feature marque, family-friendly opening and headline bands as well as food trucks, a bounce house, a beer tent and more time to enjoy the fun -- two to three hours.

The high level of quality associated with American Tobacco concerts is guaranteed by the same partnership that’s worked together for years -- the campus’ events team and WUNC-FM’s Back Porch Music.

Signing on as Center Stage’s sponsors are Miller Lite, Yuengling, Leinenkugel’s, Samuel Adams, Railhouse Brewery, North Carolina Mutual Co., Hanging Rock Pure Play, YMCA and DPAC.

Stretching from Friday, May 17 to Friday, October 4, the free series will highlight top flight opening and headlining acts performing from 6-9pm:

• Friday, May 17, 6-9pm - Celtic traditionalists, Solas.
• Friday, June 7, 6-9pm - Dance party with Yo Mama’s Big Fat Booty Band w/ Ironing Board Sam
• Thursday, July 4, 5-8pm - A special collaboration with the Art of Cool featuring The Beast + Big Band as well as DJ, Apple Juice Kid.  
• Friday, September 20, 6-9pm - Yep Roc Showcase: Dave Alvin and the Guilty Ones with Aoife O’Donovan
• Friday, October 4, 6-9pm - Special double bluegrass bill: 3rd Time Out and Mipso 

In addition to music, Center Stage will feature more attractions than American Tobacco has yet seen, including a beer tent, food trucks, a kids’ bounce house and hula hoops, custom corn hole lanes, art and other vendors, plus tents devoted to Bull City Bucks, FOX 50 and WUNC.

“American Tobacco always seeks to raise the bar, and the move to Center Stage means we’ll have more room to deliver more of what has made our music series so popular,” says Michael Goodmon, vice president of real estate for Capitol Broadcasting Company, which owns ATC. “We are immensely grateful to the fans who’ve made our concerts such a success, and look forward to giving them an even bigger and better experience in 2013.”

For more information about events in Durham, visit the Durham Event Calendar.