Edgefest 2023,

Kerrytown Concert House (KCH)  • Ann Arbor, Michigan
Wednesday-Saturday, October 18-21, 2023

Kerrytown Concert House announces Edgefest 2023, its 27th annual 4-day festival; an exploration of new music, improvised and composed. This year’s theme is “Rescued and Ready” as the festival features a diverse and deeply inclusive roster of innovative artists (local to international, emerging to established) who have survived the pandemic constraints, to bring their new and inspirational music and collaborations to the eager Edgefest audiences which now include many from across the USA, Canada, Europe and Japan.

“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

 

2023 Lineup

(Subject to changes/additions)

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 18, 2023

edgefest WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 18, 2023

7 PM | Tim Haldeman, saxophone
& Jesse Kramer, drums:
A Tribute to the late Barbara Kramer, Jesse’s mother
Sponsored by:
Ferguson, Widmayer, & Clark PC

8 PM | James Ilgenfritz (bass/composer)
Ensemble
Marion Hayden, bass
Stephen Rush, synthesizer/piano
Marc Hannaford, synthesizer/piano
JoVia Armstrong, percussion
Ian Antonio, percussion

9 PM | Teiku
Rafael Leafar, reeds
Peter Formanek, saxophone
Jonathan Barahal Taylor, drums/percussion
Josh Harlow, piano
Jaribu Shahid, bass
Sponsored by:
Luis Torregrosa

10 PM | XXE = Fluke-Mogul/Rosenbloom/Holmes
Gabby Fluke-Mogul, violin
Tcheser Holmes, drums
Mara Rosenbloom, piano
Sponsored by:
Alan Feller

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 19, 2023

Edgefest thursday october 19 2023

7 PM | Andrew Bishop, reeds

8 PM | Michael TA Thompson (drums) Quintet
Mara Rosenbloom, piano
Deanna Relyea, voice
Piotr Michalowski, reeds
Ken Filiano, bass
Sponsored by:
Luis Torregrosa
Nimish Ganatra, Niraj Ganatra & Bonnie Patterson

9 PM | Rempis/Reid/Abrams
Dave Rempis, saxophones
Josh Abrams, bass
Tomeka Reid, cello
Sponsored by:
Keith Martin

10 PM | The Northwoods Improvisers Sextet
Mike Johnston, bass and Native American flutes
Nick Ashton, bass
Jack O’Brien, cello
Dominic Bierenga, winds
Donovan Boxey, winds
Mike Khoury, violin
Sponsored by:
Marc Andren & Christine Reardon

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 20, 2023

Edgefest friday october 20 2023

7 PM | James Brandon Lewis, saxophones
& Chad Taylor, drums
Sponsored by:
The Robert D. Bielecki Foundation

8 PM | Human Rites Trio
Jason Kao Hwang, viola/composer
Ken Filiano, bass
Andrew Drury, drums
Sponsored by:
Michael Resil

9 PM | Alexander Hawkins, piano
Joe McPhee, reeds
Tomeka Reid, cello
Sponsored by:
Keith Martin
Marc Andren & Christine Reardon

10 PM | Luke Stewart (bass) Exposure Quintet
Edward Wilkerson, reeds
Ken Vandermark, reeds
Jim Baker, piano
Avreeayl Ra, drums
Sponsored by:
Frank Rubolino

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 21, 2023

edgefest saturday afternoon october 21 2023

12 PM | Edgefest Parade
Scarlett Middle School band students (Caroline Fitzgerald, Band Director) plus Edgefest artists and community members participate in this raucous and exciting moment in the Kerrytown downtown/Farmers’ Market area.

2 PM | wilder/hall quartet
Kaleigh Wilder, reeds
Ken Vandermark, reeds
Ben Hall, drums
Jaribu Shahid, bass

3 PM | Satoshi Takeishi, percussion
& Shoko Nagai, piano/accordion
Sponsored by:
Deep Friendship: The Connie Crothers Legacy Project

 4 PM | Hemphill Stringtet
Sam Bardfeld, violin
Curtis Stewart, violin
Tomeka Reid, cello/leader/composer
Stephanie Griffin, viola
Sponsored by:
Keith Martin

edgefest saturday evening october 21 2023

7 PM | GRAND FINALE EVENING @ BETHLEHEM UCC

The Forest
Percussion Ensemble
Michael Wimberly
Andrew Drury
Gustavo Aguilar
Lesley Mok
Leah Bowden

Tim Berne’s (saxophone) Oceans And
Hank Roberts, cello
Aurora Nealand, accordion/clarinet/voice
Sponsored by:
Keith Martin

Michael Malis (pianist/composer) Ensemble
Premiere of “In Search of Softer Selves”
Wendell Harrison, reeds
Marcus Elliot, reeds
Kaleigh Wilder, saxophone
Allen Dennard, trumpet
Vincent Chandler, trombone
Zekkereya El-magharbel, trombone
Ben Willis, bass
Marion Hayden, bass
Jonathan Barahal Taylor, drums

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

EDGEPASSES

EDGEHEAD EDGEPASS TIER 1

$350

$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.

EDGEHEAD EDGEPASS TIER 2

$300

$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.

GENERAL ADMISSION EDGEPASS

$200

Includes admission to all Edgefest events. Does not include reserved seating.

TO PURCHASE RESERVED SEATING EDGEHEAD EDGEPASSES
CALL (734) 769-2999
OR EMAIL ABBY@KERRYTOWNCONCERTHOUSE.COM

TO PURCHASE GENERAL ADMISSION EDGEPASSES, CLICK HERE.

You may pay by credit card over the phone, by mailing a check
to 415 N. 4th Ave. Ann Arbor, MI 48104, or pay at the door.

DAY PASSES

WEDNESDAY PASS

$60

Includes admission to all Wednesday Edgefest events.

THURSDAY PASS

$60

Includes admission to all Thursday Edgefest events.

FRIDAY PASS

$60

Includes admission to all Friday Edgefest events.

SATURDAY PASS

$75

Includes admission to all Saturday Edgefest events.

TO PURCHASE DAY PASSES, CLICK HERE
OR CALL (734) 769-2999.

SINGLE CONCERT TICKETS

TICKETS FOR INDIVIDUAL PERFORMANCES AT EDGEFEST 27 CAN BE PURCHASED HERE.

EDGEFEST 27 GRANTORS & SPONSORS

The Marjorie M. Fisher Fund
at the Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan

national endowmwnt for the arts logo