Mary Chapin Carpenter coming to Durham with Tift Merritt

Singer-songwriter Mary Chapin Carpenter released her first orchestral album, earlier this year titled Songs from the Movie. She'll be on tour through the fall and will play the Durham in November with one of the Triangle's favorite expats.

Carpenter and will be backed by a pianist and guitarist/bouzouki player when she plays the Carolina Theatre in Durham on Tuesday, November 11, with Tift Merritt. Tickets will go on sale at 10 a.m. on Friday, July 18, via the venue box office and Ticketmaster for $37 to $88.50.

Check out the song "Only a Dream" from Songs from the Movie below.

Carolina Performing Arts announces 2011-12 season, Mavis Staples, Herbie Hancock & much more

With the 2010-11 seasons of college performing arts winding down, it's time for the 2011-12 seasons to roll out, and Carolina Performing Arts at UNC is first up.

The schedule is full of some of the usual classical, jazz and dance performances, including trumpeter Wynton Marsalis returning on March 15, 2012, but it's the more contemporary performers that piqued our interest.

Louisiana pianist and composer Allen Toussaint will team up with legendary soul singer Mavis Staples for a performance on September 14, 2011.