Snarky Puppy comes to the Carolina Theatre on April 10, 2026

Tickets On Sale Now

DURHAM, NC — October 21, 2025 — Five-time Grammy-winning collective Snarky Puppy will bring its unique soundscape to the Carolina Theatre of Durham on April 10, 2026. Tickets are now on sale at the venue’s box office and online at www.carolinatheatre.org.

“Maybe you didn’t notice, but this is Snarky Puppy’s world, and the rest of us only live in it.”
—The New York Times

Snarky Puppy “has always been a band that prioritizes the sound of the music,” says bandleader and bassist Michael League. Displaying a wide array of influences including funk, rhythm & blues, hard rock, classic soul, modern gospel, new tech, fusion and jazz, Snarky Puppy isn’t exactly a jazz band, it’s not a fusion band and it’s definitely not a jam band. It’s probably best to take Nate Chinen of the New York Times’ advice, as stated in an online discussion about the group, to “take them for what they are, rather than judge them for what they’re not.”

“Our soundscape has expanded dramatically over the years” says League. “When the band started, we were jazzier, brainy and music oriented. Moving into the Dallas scene we became groovier, more emotional, deeper in a sense. We focused more on communicating a clear message, understandable to a listener without dumbing things down”.

In January 2025, the band collaborated once more with the Metropole Orkest– the Netherlands-based hybrid ensemble renowned for fusing jazz, classical, and popular music on a symphonic scale. Captured live over three nights (January 17–19, 2025) in Utrecht, the project reunites the two groups a decade after their first joint effort, “Sylva” — an orchestral suite released in 2015 that earned the Grammy for Best Contemporary Instrumental Album the following year. The result of this collaboration – “Somni” – will be released November 21, 2025 via GroundUP Music.

“It’s by far the most ambitious project we’ve ever done…and it was one of the smoothest records we’ve ever made,” he says. “Every individual team just absolutely did their job with so much care and love — from the camera operators to our production team.” That spirit was reflected in the room. “The instant feedback was the warmest we’ve ever had. It was encouraging to know that after 22 years of doing what we do, the music is reaching people.”

Always evolving in its musical output, each new record brings a new vision and progressive direction, “Our rule is that it can’t sound like it sounded before” comments League, he continues, “the music has to feel like it’s moving somewhere”

This also raises the question – where will Snarky Puppy go next? For Snarky Puppy fans, the answer to this is a very exciting prospect.

For more information or to purchase tickets, visit www.carolinatheatre.org.

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About The Carolina Theatre of Durham: 

Carolina Theatre of Durham is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that manages the city-owned Carolina Theatre at 309 W. Morgan Street, Durham, NC 27701. The Carolina Theatre of Durham is dedicated to presenting vibrant, thought-provoking film and live performances that contribute to the cultural and economic vitality of downtown Durham and the Triangle Region. Visit carolinatheatre.org for more information. 

Contact: Hanna Mercer
Senior Director of Marketing, Carolina Theatre of Durham
(919) 560-3040 | hanna@carolinatheatre.org