Edgefest 30: FREEDOM AT THE EDGE | Wednesday-Saturday, October 7-10, 2026

@ET-DC@eyJkeW5hbWljIjp0cnVlLCJjb250ZW50IjoicG9zdF90aXRsZSIsInNldHRpbmdzIjp7ImJlZm9yZSI6IiIsImFmdGVyIjoiIn19@ KERRYTOWN CONCERT HOUSE (KCH) • ANN ARBOR, MICHIGAN WEDNESDAY-SATURDAY, OCTOBER 7-10, 2026 Kerrytown Concert House proudly announces Edgefest 2026, its 30th annual four-day festival of new music, improvised and composed. This milestone year carries a theme as expansive as the art form itself: Freedom at the Edge. With freedom as its unifying spirit, Edgefest 2026 gives space and support to a pluralistic and deeply inclusive mosaic of innovative artists and composers, local and international, young and emerging alongside seasoned and established, who will bring their music and collaborations into performance spaces and classrooms throughout the Detroit, Ypsilanti, and Ann Arbor area. Together, they will revive and generate new artistic energy, inspired by the very freedoms and principles enshrined for Americans 250 years ago. Edgefest presents world-class cutting-edge jazz, creative improvisation, and category-defying music too often overlooked in the commercial marketplace. Often celebrated as America’s only truly original native art form, jazz becomes a living vessel for those founding ideals. Edgefest 2026 will honor that legacy by commissioning new works dedicated to the freedom theme, championing artists whose visions boldly push the creative boundaries of the music forward. Community is the lifeblood of Edgefest, not merely as an ideal, but as lived practice. In-depth school workshops and an improvised music parade offer the next generation fun and accessible introductions to uncompromising creativity, while deepening public appreciation for this vital musical tradition. Artists, audiences, and neighbors gather not just as spectators, but as participants in a shared experience, a community spirit that mirrors the democratic, pluralistic promise at the heart of Freedom 250. At the edge of tradition and innovation, freedom finds its music. WHAT IS EDGEFEST? Founded in 1997, Edgefest is an award-winning annual avant-garde jazz and creative new music festival with a unifying purpose: to explore new music created by today’s composer-performers from the United States and beyond. Under the direction of founder Dave Lynch, it began as a single-day event and is now a major 4-day festival that includes collaborations and educational outreach. “The annual rite of fall in Michigan music…running off the beaten tracks.” DownBeat Magazine “There’s no doubt that if you want to hear accomplished music in an intimate space with excellent sound in the company of a respectful crowd, Edgefest is the place to be.” John Sharpe New York City Jazz Record “If you’ve got an ear for adventurous music that doesn’t care much for the constraints of genre, labels or convention, then you should be in the audience for Edgefest.” Mark Stryker Detroit Free Press “To paraphrase the state motto of Michigan, if you seek a deeper groove, look about you.” Lawrence Cosentino Signal to Noise “One of the premier national events for avant-garde and improvisational music in the world.” Mike McGonigal The Detroit Metro Times “Edgefest sits squarely at the nexus of improvised music and contemporary composition, ignoring, nay obliterating, any concern of genres and boundaries…Edgefest once again cast its bright light on some of the world’s most exciting and challenging music.” Arlene & Larry Dunn I Care If You Listen 2026 Lineup Lineup and artists appearing subject to change. FEATURED ARTISTS Craig Taborn, solo piano Amir ElSaffar’s New Quartet Amir ElSaffar, trumpet Tomas Fujiwara, drums Tania Giannouli, microtonal piano Ole Mathisen, tenor saxophone Fay Victor’s Herbie Nichols SUNG Fay Victor, voice, lyrics & arrangements Michael Attias, alto & baritone saxophones Anthony Coleman, piano Ratzo Harris, bass Tom Rainey, drums New Origin Joe Fonda, bass Harvey Sorgen, drums Christophe Rocher, clarinet Dimensionality Andrea Wolper, voice Ursel Schlicht, piano Lou Grassi, drums Ken Filiano, bass Teiku Josh Harlow, piano Jonathon Barahal Taylor, percussion Jaribu Shahid, bass Jason Stein, bass clarinet Stein / Smith / Shead Trio Jason Stein, bass clarinet Damon Smith, bass Adam Shead, drums Andrew Bishop, reeds William Hooker Quartet William Hooker, drums Mara Rosenbloom, piano Charlie Burnham, violin Jair-Rohm Parker Wells, bass Hannah Marks “Feed the Fire” Quartet Hannah Marks, bass Nathan Reising, alto saxophone Jonathan Paik, piano Steven Crammer, drums Northwoods Improvisers Mike Johnston, bass, flutes Nick Ashton, drums Donovan Boxey, saxophones, percussion Dominic Bierenga, saxophones, bass clarinet, flute Mike Khoury, violin Jack O’Brien, bass, cello Tony Holland, saxophones Michael TA Thompson Quintet Michael TA Thompson, drums Mara Rosenbloom, piano Ken Filiano, bass Piotr Michalowski, reeds Deanna Relyea, voice Ken Kozora – Birds of a Feather Ken Kozora, trumpet Kenn Thomas, piano Shoshke-Rayzl Yuni, guitar Piotr Michalowski, reeds Djallo Djakate, percussion Oluyemi Thomas Trio Oluyemi Thomas, bass clarinet Kenn Thomas, piano Jaribu Shahid, bass Vinny Golia / Ken Filiano / Michael TA Thompson Celebrating Vinny Golia’s 80th Birthday Vinny Golia, reeds Ken Filiano, bass Michael TA Thompson, drums Roscoe Mitchell (saxophone) leads 2 sets (Oct. 8 & 10) with Detroit artists TBA Junk Jazz Aya Sekine, piano, electronics Djallo Djakate, drums, electronics Creative Arts Orchestra featuring Roscoe Mitchell, with a world premiere by Michael Malis Roscoe Mitchell, guest Creative Arts Orchestra, ensemble Marcus Elliot, director Michael Malis, composer A Conversation with Roscoe Mitchell moderated by Marc Hannaford Roscoe Mitchell, guest Marc Hannaford, moderator More TBA WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 7, 2026 Hannah Marks, bass Nathan Reising, alto saxophone Jonathan Paik, piano Steven Crammer, drums Oluyemi Thomas, bass clarinet Kenn Thomas, piano Jaribu Shahid, bass Mike Johnston, bass, flutes Nick Ashton, drums Donovan Boxey, saxophones, percussion Dominic Bierenga, saxophones, bass clarinet, flute Mike Khoury, violin Jack O’Brien, bass, cello Tony Holland, saxophones Damon Smith, bass Ursel Schlicht, piano Roscoe Mitchell, drums THURSDAY, OCTOBER 8, 2026 Ken Kozora, trumpet Kenn Thomas, piano Shoshke-Rayzl Yuni, guitar Piotr Michalowski, reeds Djallo Djakate, percussion Andrea Wolper, voice Ursel Schlicht, piano Lou Grassi, drums Ken Filiano, bass Josh Harlow, piano Jonathon Barahal Taylor, percussion Jaribu Shahid, bass Jason Stein, bass clarinet Michael TA Thompson, drums Mara Rosenbloom, piano Ken Filiano, bass Piotr Michalowski, reeds Deanna Relyea, voice EVENT DATE/TIME TBA Roscoe Mitchell, guest Creative Arts Orchestra, ensemble Marcus Elliot, director Michael Malis, composer Roscoe Mitchell, guest Marc Hannaford, moderator FRIDAY, OCTOBER 9, 2026 William Hooker, drums Mara Rosenbloom, piano Charlie Burnham, violin Jair-Rohm Parker Wells, bass Joe Fonda, bass Harvey Sorgen, drums Christophe Rocher, clarinet Jason Stein, bass clarinet Damon Smith, bass Adam Shead, drumsFay Victor, voice, lyrics & arrangements Michael Attias, alto & baritone saxophones Anthony Coleman, piano Ratzo Harris, bass Tom Rainey, drums SATURDAY, OCTOBER 10, 2026 Amir ElSaffar, trumpet Tomas Fujiwara, drums Tania Giannouli, microtonal piano Ole Mathisen, tenor saxophone Aya Sekine, piano, electronics Djallo Djakate, drums, electronics Celebrating Vinny Golia’s 80th Birthday Vinny Golia, reeds Ken Filiano, bass Michael TA Thompson, drums Andrew Bishop, solo saxophone Craig Taborn, piano Roscoe Mitchell, drums Detroit artists TBA VIEW THE EDGEFEST 2025 PROGRAM EDUCATION & OUTREACH Selected Edgefest artists will create a 2-day residency at Scarlett Middle School. The artists will collaborate with Director of Bands Caroline Fitzgerald to provide “out of the box” creative activities not part of the traditional curriculum. The students will appear at Kerrytown as they participate in the Edgefest parade at noon on Saturday. All community members are invited to participate in this unconventional and rather raucous parade that has now a long history with Edgefest! TICKETS & EDGEPASSES Single set tickets can be purchased by clicking the “Buy Tickets” button under each set name/time in the lineup section (click the dropdown arrow to view). Edgepasses will be available starting in late June. Day passes and individual set tickets will be available in late summer 2026. EDGEPASSES TO PURCHASE RESERVED SEATING EDGEHEAD EDGEPASSES, CALL (734) 769-2999 OR EMAIL [email protected] You may pay by credit card over the phone, by mailing a check to 415 N. 4th Ave. Ann Arbor, MI 48104. + $150 of the total cost is a tax-deductible donation in your name to the Kerrytown Concert House. + Includes a premium reserved seat (rows 1-3*) for all Edgefest events. Specific seats subject to availability. *Due to cuts in grants and funding and the need for private support for this year’s festival, seats in rows 1 are reserved for those who commit to sponsoring Edgefest at the $1,000+ level in addition to the cost of their Tier 1 pass. + $100 of the total cost is a tax-deductible donation in your name to the Kerrytown Concert House. + Includes a premium reserved seat (rows 4-5) for all Edgefest events. Specific seats subject to availability. + Includes admission to all Edgefest events. Does not include reserved seating; seating is first-come, first-served. DAY PASSES + Includes admission to all Wednesday Edgefest events. + Includes admission to all Thursday Edgefest events. + Includes admission to all Friday Edgefest events. + Includes admission to all Saturday Edgefest events. EDGEFEST30 GRANTORS & SPONSORS