Sep. 27, 7:50 p.m., Durham Bulls Athletic Park
This unconventional hip-hop duo from Florida consists of Wil Baptiste, who plays the viola, and Kev Marcus, who plays the violin. They’ve been slowly bubbling up for a while with their fusion of classical string compositions and hip-hop beats—a perfect way to kick off night one of the festival.
Sep. 27, 8:45 p.m., Durham Bulls Athletic Park
At Raleigh’s first Dreamville Festival in April, Ari Lennox was an obscure up-and-comer, but her show-stealing performance had attendees revering her as the new standard of modern R&B. She brings a level of frankness and honesty to her music that’s similar to Erykah Badu, and her ability to connect with live audiences guarantees her a long-term seat in the spotlight.
Sep. 28, 7:15 p.m., The Pinhook
Kicking off Saturday evening, The Pinhook is hosting some of Durham’s best independent hip-hop artists, and LVitto is sure to get the vibe started off right. His new album, Soon, is an impressive display of his ability to bring the local hip-hop scene together to make great music, with appearances from Jooselord, Lord Fess (formerly known as Professor Toon), Ethan Taylor, and more.
Sep. 28, 8 p.m., The Pinhook
G Yamazawa is the pride of Durham hip-hop, and he doesn’t get to perform locally as much as he used to, so any chance to catch G play to his hometown crowd is something that should never be missed. His hit single “North Cack” introduced the world to “Carolina barbecue sauce with the slaw,” and when he drops that in an intimate venue like The Pinhook, there’s a real chance that the roof will fall off.
music@indyweek.com
