Duke Performances Announces Schedule for 2011 Music in the Gardens Series

With its Music in the Gardens Series, Duke Performances showcases the richness of the area's musical resources and Durham's burgeoning local music scene. In the past year, Durham's music culture has seen some extraordinary achievements.  Grammy wins for both the Carolina Chocolate Drops and Merge Records, plus the addition of Motorco Music Hall and the Casbah to the set of Durham music venues which have given independent musicians more opportunities than ever to perform.

The 2011 season of Music in the Gardens features a mix of styles from regionally-based up and coming acts and locals making their name nationally. Concerts begin on Wednesday, June 2 and are staged on the grounds of the 55-acre Sarah P. Duke Gardens - lawn chairs, picnics and blankets are encouraged.

Performers include: two-time Grammy-nominated Steve Riley and the Mamou Players, Shirlette and the Dynamite Brothers featuring Justin Robinson of Carolina Chocolate Drops, and neoclassical folk act Lost in the Trees. For a full schedule look here, for tickets here.

Set in the Sarah P. Duke Gardens, among the most celebrated gardens in the US, Music in the Garden is yet another great reason to visit Durham and delve into what is sure to be a celebrated music scene.

Grammys? Yup, Got Those Too

Last night was a time to shine for the music business - some argue the Grammys are the industry's biggest night. That said, Durham sure looked good up there...it was a rather big night for the place where great things happen.

The Carolina Chocolate
Drops

First off, Durham's Carolina Chocolate Drops won a Grammy for Best Traditional Folk Album. They are touring now, so check out their website for dates and venues.

Durham-based Merge Records has a little band on their label that may be a familiar name. Arcade Fire won for Album of the Year. In case that's not clear...this is an incredibly big deal for the label, the band...and maybe even for the home team in the Bull City.

Lastly, one of Durham's own took the stage to perform. Any fan of The Avett Brothers knows that the cellist (yup, they have a cellist) is none other than Joe Kwon who lives here. He also runs a food blog that offers great variety since he blogs about what he eats while on the road...around the world on tour. It's called Taste On Tour and it's definitely worth a read.

So, Durham has added to its list of Grammy winners. These newcomers join the likes of Nneena Freelon and Branford Marsalis who make Durham their home.

Getting Loud in Durham

Durham is home to a long history of taking hold of opportunities and squeezing greatness from them. Just look at the tobacco, textile, health care, and biotech industries for examples. Coming on strong in the last decade have been creative industries like culinary arts, design, advertising, and more recently, the music industry.

Already home to Merge Records and ReverbNation, Durham has welcomed two live music venues in the last half of 2010. Both Casbah and Motorco Music Hall have hit the scene as stops on the independent music circuit that are garnering serious attention and praise from touring artists and local bands alike.

With the Grammy Awards coming up on February 13, Durham has four opportunities to show the music world it’s serious about being a community where great music happens.

Arcade Fire, a Merge Records band, has been nominated for three Grammy awards including Album of the Year for its album “The Suburbs.” Signed onto Merge Records in 2001, Arcade Fire was previously nominated for its 2007 album “Neon Bible” but a win on February 13 will be the first for the group and for Merge Records, a Durham based company which is emerging as a hard hitting independent record label.

In addition to Merge Records' success, Durham’s own, Carolina Chocolate Drops, are up for an award in the Best Traditional Folk Album category for their major-label debut “Genuine Negro Jig.” Formed in 2005, the Carolina Chocolate Drops are a string band who expose more listeners to traditional string music. Their style, described by Rolling Stone Magazine as “dirt-floor-dance electricity,” will be on tour through the United States starting in New York, New York in February.

Durham has been moving to the music ever since it “birthed the Piedmont Blues” and with such talented record labels, music groups, and live music venues, Durham will continue to move forward as a leader in the industry.