If you live in Durham, and you don’t see a free, outdoor concert this summer, you’ll only have yourself to blame. Hot on the heels of the recent announcement of the “Find Your Cool” concert series, Golden Belt has unveiled its own string of free shows in the humid air. “GB Live” celebrates the fifth anniversary of the multi-use downtown arts space that—like many of Durham’s cooler spots—exists in a renovated industrial space.
The series of five concerts begins on Friday, May 17 and will occupy four other Fridays, concluding on July 19. The programming, which spans an impressive array of genres for such a compact set of shows, does its best to represent the diversity of Durham’s music scene. Hammer No More the Fingers, a Bull City favorite thanks to their muscular and buoyant indie rock, play the first date. They will give way to proficient country-rock ensemble Michael Rank and Stag, super-smooth soul singer Kim Arrington, Greensboro-based afro-jazz exploration The Brand New Life, and quirky blues purveyor Justin Johnson backed by the cover-heavy Skinny Bag of Sugar. Again, all of the shows are free and outside at the Golden Belt — unless it rains, in which case the events move inside. Grab some shades and a shirt you won’t mind sweating through and enjoy. The full schedule is below:
Hammer No More The Fingers — May 17
Michael Rank and Stag — June 7
Kim Arrington — June 21
The Brand New Life — July 5
Justin Johnson and Skinny Bag Of Sugar — July 19
