MISSY LANE’S BLOCK PARTY LAUNCHES THIS OCTOBER — A NEW FALL MUSIC FESTIVAL IN DOWNTOWN DURHAM

Durham, NC — This fall, downtown Durham will debut a major new cultural event when Missy Lane’s Charitable Foundation, Missy Lane’s Assembly Room LLC, and Stretch Music LLC present the first-ever Missy Lane’s Block Party on Saturday, October 4, 2025, along the 300 Block of East Main Street — directly in front of Missy Lane’s Assembly Room.

Inspired by the Art of Cool Festival (2014–2017) under the leadership of founder Dr. Cicely Mitchell, Missy Lane’s Block Party is launching as a high-energy Durham live music festival designed to fill the streets with performances, food, art, and community in partnership with Chief Xian aTunde Adjuah. This fall music festival in North Carolina will showcase top-tier national acts across two stages — the Call Stage and the Response Stage — creating a continuous flow of music throughout the day.

Tier 1 Lineup Includes:

  • Chief Xian aTunde Adjuah

  • Bilal

  • Revive Big Band with special guest Nao Yoshioka

  • Kiefer

  • Braxton Cook

  • Butcher Brown

  • Zo! & Tall Black Guy

  • Tomoki Sanders

  • Elena Pinderhughes feat. Samora Pinderhughes

  • J Hoard

  • Additional performers will be announced soon.

Beyond the music, Missy Lane’s Block Party will feature:

  • Youth Activity Zone — family-friendly space with activities and interactive programming

  • Food Pavilion — a curated selection of regional culinary favorites

  • Community Organization Tents — learn, engage, and connect with nonprofits and initiatives

  • Vendor Marketplace — artisan goods, crafts, and specialty products

  • Divine 9 & Civic Organization Plots — spaces dedicated to fraternities, sororities, and civic groups to gather and engage with festival-goers

Missy Lane’s Block Party is proud to announce Toast POS as the festival’s Visionary Partner. The event is also presented in partnership with the City of Durham (via the Cultural and Public Arts Program Grant) and Durham County Main Library. More partners will be announced in the coming weeks.

In addition to ticketed performances, the festival will offer free community programming in collaboration with the Durham County Main Library, with details to be announced soon.

I'm ecstatic about bringing the Stretch Music sound back to NC. It's hard to put into words what it means to partner with Dr. Cicely Mitchell to birth new light for the community. We're gonna take the best of Stretch Music Fest and Art Of Cool and add the neighborhood's flair to create a Block Party of legend at Missy Lanes so get ready! - Chief Xian aTunde Adjuah

“Missy Lane’s Block Party is about more than the stage,” says Dr. Cicely Mitchell, co-founder and curator. “It’s about creating an experience that brings people together and leaves a lasting impression.”

WHEN: Saturday, October 4, 2025
WHERE: 300 Block of East Main Street, Durham, NC
TICKETS: $60–$250, on sale now at missylanesblockparty.com

CALL TO ACTION: Be part of the inaugural Missy Lane’s Block Party — an unforgettable new Durham fall music event. Purchase tickets today, sign up to volunteer, or enter one of our competitions.

MEDIA CONTACT:
 info@missylanes.com

ABOUT CHIEF XIAN aTUNDE ADJUAH

Chief Xian aTunde Adjuah (formerly Christian Scott) is a two-time Edison Award-winning, six-time Grammy-nominated trumpeter, composer, and producer celebrated for his groundbreaking “Stretch Music” style — blending jazz, hip-hop, African rhythms, and electronic elements. His performances are globally recognized for their technical mastery and innovative sound.

ABOUT MISSY LANE’S ASSEMBLY ROOM

Located in downtown Durham, Missy Lane’s Assembly Room is a premier live music venue offering intimate, high-quality concert experiences across jazz, soul, R&B, and beyond. In addition to performances, Missy Lane’s serves as a dining, cocktails, and community gathering space, attracting music lovers from across North Carolina and beyond.

ABOUT MISSY LANE’S CHARITABLE FOUNDATION

Missy Lane’s Charitable Foundation is a nonprofit committed to advancing music education, arts programming, and cultural events in Durham and surrounding communities. Through festivals, concerts, and outreach programs, the foundation fosters access to the arts for diverse audiences.

ABOUT DR. CICELY MITCHELL

Dr. Cicely Mitchell is the co-founder and curator of Missy Lane’s Assembly Room and Missy Lane’s Block Party. She previously co-founded and led the award-winning Art of Cool Festival, which brought world-renowned artists to Durham while spotlighting emerging talent. A leader in both community engagement and arts programming, Dr. Mitchell continues to create impactful cultural experiences in North Carolina.