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Partying with Kooley High

Kooley High Performs at Music In Gardens

The crowd gets into the Kooley High performance

It's a party whenever local band, Kooley High is around, and yesterday the party was at Duke Gardens.

On a humid evening, a diverse crowd of about 300 people came out to enjoy food, drinks and Kooley High's hip-hop music. In its third year, the Duke Performances-sponsored Music in the Gardens series features local music artists in a striking outdoor setting behind the Doris Duke Center.

"It's great. It has good music and good people," said Solomon Burnette, an NCCU graduate. "It's kind of hot, but the music is good enough that people don't seem to mind."

Sue Edelberg said she has been coming to almost every one of the concerts this season. "What caught my eye were the local bands on the flyers," Edelberg said. "They have the illest line up I have ever seen from any outdoor series."

"This is a great space to have something like this," said Napolieon Wright. "It's intimate and small, but it's outside."

The concert attracted a large number of Durham community members. The crowd was lively, with people bobbing their heads, waving their arms in the air and even some getting up to dance by stage.

Ken Rumble, marketing director of Duke Performances, said the concert series has been effective in reaching out to different audiences in Durham.

"We thought they (Music in the Gardens) would be fun and popular." He said the event has exceeded his expectations and it keeps bringing in larger audiences.

Area resident Helen Shaffer said she loved the diversity, with a large number of people being from NCCU.

"Such an eclectic mix of people out here, for one thing, is really special," she said. "Durham is such a big melting pot."

In addition, the show attracted a number of Kooley High regulars. Lindsey Lecroy, a Kooley High fan, came with two friends. "The audience really got into the show," Lecroy said.

"It's great to see the band live," Wright said. "They have great live performances."

And Kooley High member responded in kind. "It was great with the kids up dancing and having fun," said Rapsody, the only female performer in Kooley High. "It was like a party on stage and I love playing outdoors."