New York-based singer-songwriter Loren Berí celebrates the release of his new album 'Stagehand' — alongside a companion book of poems — in an evening that brings together his indie music with premieres by contemporary classical composers. His songs like "My Brooklyn (Is Better Than Yours)" have been praised for their inventive storytelling and charismatic performance style. FLOOD Magazine called his breakout single a "wildly magnetic—and hilarious—homage to NYC," highlighting its bubbly synths and clever lyricism. Recent collaborations include the song "Al Pacino" with Glassio; contributions from Mauro Refosco (David Byrne, Atoms For Peace, Dirty Projectors) throughout 'Alby's Ghost'; and his song "Greta's Inn", featuring Kishi Bashi, which was included in Fortnite.

September 9, 2026

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The Grammy Museum is thrilled to welcome six-time Grammy Award-winning and Academy Award-winning filmmaker Questlove to National Sawdust in Brooklyn for a celebration and discussion about his music, his latest work directing the new documentary Earth, Wind & Fire (To Be Celestial vs. That's the Weight of the World), and more, followed by an electric live DJ set.

September 8, 2026

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"a thrillingly original dive into colonial history" (The Guardian). This concert celebrates the release of The Zarabanda Variations, a combined album and chapbook exploring the historical and present syncretism of Baroque music in 12 original songs, dances, and poems. A group of musicians convened by violinist/composer Keir GoGwilt, and in collaboration with acclaimed poet Edgar Garcia, bend the historical rhythms, rhymes and resonances of the Baroque. These artists traverse the colonial histories of the zarabanda dance in this unique multimedia collage of contemporary folkloric and improvised traditions, poetry, and new compositions.

August 31, 2026

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Dominican Italian break-out star YEИDRY joins us for the next edition of the Del Maguey Single Village Music Series July 30th. She’ll be previewing her long-awaited debut album 'Como Agua' with an intimate performance and conversation with Sasha Merci, diving into the three pillars of the record: the remedy, the ritual, and the mirror. This time we’re keeping the party going with a DJ set by Bronx-Dominican powerhouse duo Dos Flakos.

July 30, 2026

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Orlas draws its name from the Portuguese word for 'shores' or 'coasts.' Crafted by the dynamic collaboration of Victor Chicri and Vic Delnur, a father-and-son musical journey unfolds. This fusion encompasses, samba-jazz, bossa nova, disco-funk, and more, resulting in a captivating and genre-defying musical experience.

July 17, 2026

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Born from a shared love of boleros and the community-driven spirit of spaces like the Nuyorican Poet’s Cafe, Salon Parcha brings together artists exploring boleros, Afro-Latin rhythms, jazz, and their contemporary offshoots. Featuring guest artists each night, Salon Parcha is a space for experimentation, collaboration, and bold reinterpretations of tradition, where the lines between artist and audience are blurred and and our musical community can flourish.

July 15, 2026

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In Summer 2026, National Sawdust will present a work-in-progress sing-through of Tamar-kali’s The Swann. This intimate chamber work is inspired by the life and times of William Dorsey Swann, a formerly enslaved gender-bending resident of our nation’s capital. Swann was the first known person to dub themself a “queen of drag” and the first American on record to pursue legal and political action to defend the LGBTQIA community's right to gather.

July 10, 2026

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Join Kaoru Watanabe and the rest of the Bloodlines Interwoven band for a night of music, film, and food as we celebrate the premiere of the Bloodlines documentary by director Jon Fine. Shot over the course of a year as Bloodlines progressed from informal gatherings to work-in-progress concerts in NYC to three unforgettable performances at the Big Ears 2026 festival in Knoxville, the film tracks the trajectory of this unique project which uses cultural exchange and personal histories as a springboard for making ecstatic new music. The night will include dishes from the Bloodlines Kitchen – recipes inspired by the bandmembers’ family heritage – followed by a screening of the film and finally a jam session to end all jam sessions. RSVP to attend.

July 1, 2026

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Moderated by The New Yorker's Alec Wilkinson The Grammy Museum is thrilled to welcome Julian Lage to National Sawdust in Brooklyn for an evening discussing his latest album, Scenes From Above, his creative process, and more, with a special live performance.

June 29, 2026

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Few artists exult in the joyous exhilaration and intrepid spirit of communal music-making with the fervor and vitality of visionary bandleader, trumpeter, composer and arranger Steven Bernstein. ResoNation Trio convenes a new chordless trio with master improvisers Scott Colley on bass and Nasheet Waits on drums. The album’s contemplative explorations feel like a departure from the raucous spirit that characterizes so much of the trumpeter’s work, yet the trio discovers such an audacious beauty and celebratory gusto in these sparse environments that the music feels uniquely Bernstein’s. It is also a rarity in his oeuvre for featuring Bernstein — whose mastery of the little-used slide trumpet has become so central to his sonic identity — exclusively playing valve trumpet and flugelhorn. This special engagement at National Sawdust celebrates the release of ResoNation Trio's self-titled album on the Royal Potato Family label, as well as the release of a companion album, Ultra Resonance, in which legendary producer Scotty Hard wholly reimagines the trio’s music.

June 27, 2026

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Yasser Tejeda and Marcos J. López invite us into an evening of intimate music that will make us dance, blending sounds inspired by New York’s Latin community. This special night is part of the Young Masters series, a platform that honors artists who have achieved exceptional mastery early in their careers, celebrating them for redefining their fields and inspiring a new generation, in partnership with Parcha Projects, a NYC- and Puerto Rico–based discovery platform championing artists from the Caribbean.

June 26, 2026

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Join us on Monday, June 22nd for a FREE Community Happy Hour. Expect drink specials, lively conversation, and a tasting by Ten to One Rum! We're also proud to have Crystal Guardian joining us for this edition for a custom earplug pop-up. Come in get your earplugs fitted in 10 minutes and in just two weeks you'll have custom earplugs! RSVP for FREE today to reserve your spot.

June 22, 2026

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Inner Spaces is a duo project from trumpeter-composer Amir ElSaffar and sound artist Lorenzo Bianchi Hoesch — two artists for whom microtone is mother tongue and silence is material. ElSaffar moves between trumpet, voice, and santur, drawing on the Iraqi maqam tradition alongside the language of contemporary jazz. Bianchi Hoesch surrounds and transforms this acoustic presence with live electronics, building immersive sonic environments in real time. Together they have developed a modular, collaborative form that weaves electroacoustic landscapes, maqam, microtonal harmony, and open improvisation into a continuous, breathing whole. Their album Inner Spaces (Maqam Records / Ornithology Productions) has received four-star praise from DownBeat, Songlines, and Jazz Journal, with reviewers describing a music that is at once "spiritually ancient" and rigorously forward-looking — a "sonic laboratory" and a "mercurial slice of ambient jazz" rooted in a shared Iraqi maqam. In concert, the duo extends the recorded work outward: the room becomes part of the instrument, and each performance finds its own shape through flexible structures and improvisatory space. This is music that does not move quickly. It asks to be inhabited — heard with the full body, not just the ears.

June 21, 2026

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Derya Yıldırım and Grup Şimşek are internationally recognized for their unique and infectious sound that combines Anatolian folk with psychedelia, pop and soul influences. Co-presented with World Music Institute

June 20, 2026

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Sonido Gallo Negro is a band from Mexico City going back to the roots of psychedelic tropical music with guitars, eccentric organs, analog synthesizers, theremin...they mix exotic rarity and esoterism, which will alter your perception and force you to dance until you get exhausted. Add to it visual hypnotics and live performance by Dr. Alderete.

June 18, 2026

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Singer-songwriters Claud and Elliott Skinner invite us into an intimate evening of music shaped by the city they call home. Together, they bring two singular approaches to songwriting and performance that reflect the expansiveness and creative energy of New York’s musical landscape.

June 17, 2026

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A NationalSawdust+ evening weaving together sounds of deep nature, colorful stories from the field, and enthralling performances by the New Cicada Trio!

June 16, 2026

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The GRAMMY Museum is thrilled to welcome Grammy Award-winning artist Durand Bernarr to National Sawdust in Brooklyn for a celebration and discussion moderated by music journalist Mesfin Fekadu about the release of his album, BERNARR, his creative process, and more, with a special live performance.

June 15, 2026

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If We Could, Would We is the latest effort from Brooklyn-based duo Gracie and Rachel (Gracie Coates and Rachel Ruggles), who have become known for their innovative brand of elevated indie-pop, complete with baroque string work and piercingly spare song structures. After releasing their self-titled debut to critical acclaim in 2017, Gracie and Rachel have been seen on stages opening for Ani DiFranco, Tori Amos, Julien Baker, Lucy Dacus, and others. They have performed two NPR Tiny Desk Concerts and been praised by the outlet to “mix pop and classical in stark, infectious ways and make unforgettable, surprising music.”

June 12, 2026

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As a child, if you’re lucky, summer afternoons stretch out like a yawn, pool waves are as warm and engulfing as a blanket, the safety of your mother’s arms feels endless. On her new album, Neon Summer Skin, Bedouine, the project of Azniv Korkejian, explores this feeling of safety long before one can fully understand the concept. Written with vivid, honest and intimate imagery after visiting her family in Saudi Arabia, it tells the story of family and upbringing, and mourns the end of her childhood. There is a singular resonance and newfound heft in this music previously unheard in Bedouine’s discography.

June 11, 2026

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A NationalSawdust+ evening of performance and conversation exploring the essential in composing, writing, and creating recipes—and the concept of zero waste.

June 10, 2026

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Cellist Dr. Tommy Mesa performs the world premiere of Andrea Casarrubios' 'The Book of Signatures' for The Next Festival of Emerging Artists' 2026 season celebrating the vital contributions of women immigrant composers to the American musical landscape. Coinciding with the 250th Anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, this landmark program continues the Festival’s advocacy for diverse, global voices through a series of evocative world premieres.

June 6, 2026

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This concert spotlights five thrilling works by Brazilian-American composer Felipe Lara, offering a vivid journey through more than a decade of his distinctive musical voice. Spanning intimate solo writing to expansive large-ensemble works, the program reveals Lara’s fascination with structures and ideas drawn from musical fractals, mirrors, mosaics, and labyrinths. Influences from electronic music are translated into purely instrumental contexts, creatively expanding the expressive and sonic possibilities of acoustic forces. Together, these works trace Lara’s evolving artistic vision that is at once rigorously constructed and richly immersive.

June 3, 2026

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Student CoLab is National Sawdust’s flagship education program for middle school composers. This free culminating concert brings together original works created and performed by the students, spanning voice, guitar, piano, violin, electronics, and visual art—all written and designed by the participants.

May 31, 2026

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The GRAMMY Museum is thrilled to welcome Grammy Award-winning artist Wyclef Jean to National Sawdust in Brooklyn for a celebration and discussion moderated by the co-host of Complex's Everyday Struggle, Wayno about his upcoming seven album project Quantum Leap, his creative process, and more, with a special live performance. This event is part of the GRAMMY Museum’s New York City program series, which brings the Museum’s renowned education and public programs to the city. “A New York Evening With…” is generously supported by the Dawn and Brian Hoesterey Family Foundation.

May 27, 2026

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Park Avenue Artists and the Miles Davis Estate present The Voice of Miles: A Symphonic Celebration, a bold new show that transforms the acclaimed documentary Miles Davis: Birth of the Cool into a dazzling concert experience. Through the show, pairing Davis’ original, isolated trumpet recordings with a live orchestra, audiences will experience the sound and story of the genius who reshaped jazz as never before. Featuring an ensemble of Juilliard alumni.

May 26, 2026

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Opera Montana and the Seagle Festival present selections from a new opera based on Norman Maclean’s classic novella, A River Runs Through It, now celebrating the 50th anniversary of its publication. John Maclean, son of Norman Maclean and author of Home Waters and other works, will read passages from his father’s book paired with corresponding music from the new opera. The work, commissioned by Opera Montana, is slated to premiere in Bozeman, MT on September 18, 2026.

May 20, 2026

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Opera Montana and the Seagle Festival present selections from a new opera based on Norman Maclean’s classic novella, A River Runs Through It, now celebrating the 50th anniversary of its publication. John Maclean, son of Norman Maclean and author of Home Waters and other works, will read passages from his father’s book paired with corresponding music from the new opera. The work, commissioned by Opera Montana, is slated to premiere in Bozeman, MT on September 18, 2026.

May 20, 2026

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Join us at National Sawdust for a free Community Happy Hour from 6:30–8:30 PM in celebration of Mental Health Awareness Month. Kick things off with happy hour drink specials, then join a live conversation on mental health care access with the Foundation of Community Psychoanalysis, followed by an audience Q&A where you can be part of the discussion. Afterward, stay for more music, drinks, and time to connect—the evening is a chance to truly unwind together.

May 19, 2026

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New York Youth Symphony's most collaborative event of the year. NYYS Musicians from Orchestra, Chamber Music and Jazz perform world premieres of original works by NYYS composers which are conducted by members of the Robert L. Poster Apprentice Conducting program. It is a truly special, don't-want-to-miss evening.

May 18, 2026

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First launched in 2017–18, the BMP: Next Gen was created to empower and inspire the next wave of visionary composers, singers, and artists. By bridging the gap between academic study and professional artistry, this program nurtures emerging talents, offering them the platform and resources they need to revolutionize opera and music-theatre.

May 17, 2026

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First launched in 2017–18, the BMP: Next Gen was created to empower and inspire the next wave of visionary composers, singers, and artists. By bridging the gap between academic study and professional artistry, this program nurtures emerging talents, offering them the platform and resources they need to revolutionize opera and music-theatre.

May 16, 2026

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Pequena Vertigem de Amor — the third full-length in Sergio Sayeg’s expanding catalogue as Sessa — is not just an evolution in the São Paulo artist’s sound; it is a transformation. Like a camera lens slowly zooming out, Sessa’s records reveal a progression from the private, carnal and earth-bound erotic desires probed on 2019’s Grandeza, to an exploration of the limits and possibilities in relationships between people in love on 2022’s Estrela Acesa.

May 9, 2026

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Ana Roxanne is a New York based musician working at the interzone of electric meditation, dream pop, and ambient songcraft. Her self-titled EP was later reissued by Leaving Records before signing with Kranky for her official full-length debut, 2020's Because Of A Flower.

May 8, 2026

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Bowling Green State University and the MidAmerican Center for Contemporary Music present a vibrant evening of new music at National Sawdust, celebrating the 50th anniversary of the College of Musical Arts. This special event showcases the innovative spirit and artistic excellence that have defined five decades of creative work at BGSU, featuring performances by distinguished faculty and talented student musicians. Audiences will experience a dynamic program of cutting-edge compositions, that highlights diverse voices, BGSU alumni, and faculty composers. Join us for an inspiring program that celebrates legacy, creativity, and the future of contemporary music.

May 4, 2026

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On April 30, Del Maguey & Parcha welcome Julieta Venegas for an intimate evening of music and conversation about her upcoming album and memoir Norteña. The Single Village Music Series brings some of the most exciting voices in Latin music into intimate spaces, pairing live music and conversation with the flavors and stories of our Single Village mezcales. It is about connection and discovery, where the same care that goes into every song meets the same care that Del Maguey families pour into every batch of mezcal.

April 30, 2026

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This program weaves together themes of nature, ecopoetics, and heritage through a new work for string quartet and mezzo-soprano by composer Anthony Cheung, inspired by the poetry of Arthur Sze and Victoria Chang. Sze’s work, often associated with the ecopoetics movement, and Chang’s reflections on the natural world, both draw from traditional Asian poetic forms while resonating deeply with contemporary sensibilities. This collaboration amplifies Asian voices across disciplines—poet, composer, and performers alike—and reflects a shared reverence for nature and cultural inheritance.

April 25, 2026

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This free, hands-on workshop invites middle and high school students (ages 12+) to create their own interpretation of the Knotted Gun. The event is led by The Non-Violence Project North America Foundation, who work globally to inspire young people through education, creative tools, and community-based programs. One design from this workshop will be selected and developed into a permanent sculpture in National Sawdust's lobby. Free to attend. All materials and pizza included. Space is limited. RSVP now.

April 25, 2026

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Be present for a rare behind-the-scenes opera experience. Time to Act is a newly commissioned opera by composer Laura Kaminsky and librettist Crystal Manich, confronting the American epidemic of gun violence through the voices of high school students navigating trauma, identity, and healing. This special event marks the commercial audio recording of the opera for national release on the award-winning classical label Bright Shiny Things.

April 23, 2026

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Be present for a rare behind-the-scenes opera experience. Time to Act is a newly commissioned opera by composer Laura Kaminsky and librettist Crystal Manich, confronting the American epidemic of gun violence through the voices of high school students navigating trauma, identity, and healing. This special event marks the commercial audio recording of the opera for national release on the award-winning classical label Bright Shiny Things.

April 22, 2026

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Experience a groundbreaking musical convergence as eight-time GRAMMY Award-winning pianist and composer Arturo O'Farrill is joined by visionary cellist and composer Akua Dixon and her highly acclaimed Quartette Indigo. The evening's program will defy genres and bridge traditions, all within the acoustically superb and intimate setting of National Sawdust.

April 16, 2026

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Born from a shared love of boleros and the community-driven spirit of spaces like the Nuyorican Poet’s Cafe, Salon Parcha brings together artists exploring boleros, Afro-Latin rhythms, jazz, and their contemporary offshoots.

April 15, 2026

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Mali Obomsawin is a bassist, vocalist, songwriter and composer. She is a citizen of Odanak First Nation. Obomsawin’s bold artistry punctures the complacency of colonial time with irresistible sound. An international touring artist and celebrated accompanist, her current projects include her eponymous experimental ensemble, the rock band Deerlady, and the Julia Keefe Indigenous Big Band. Obomsawin's expansive artistic practice models the complexity of 21st century Indigenous art.

April 12, 2026

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Come join Ella Reese, Halle Burnett, and Remi Baker for a talent-packed evening as these three young ladies swoon the night away with songs that will remind you that Girls really do Just Want to Have Fun. Organized by Ella Reese, an NYC-based singer-songwriter, Girls Just Wanna Have Fun will be an emotionally vibrant night. Ella, Halle and Remi, all currently students at NYU’s Clive Davis Institute of Recorded Music, prove that soul and sincerity still have a home in modern music. Get ready for electrifying performances of both original music and covers, to sing, to dance, oh… and to HAVE FUN! (This event is open to all genders:) April 4th at 7pm.

April 4, 2026

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Okonski’s compositions emphasize space and melody, pairing expressive piano lines with subtle rhythm and texture. A longtime collaborator with Durand Jones & The Indications, he has also worked with Say She She, BJ the Chicago Kid, and Scott McMicken, among others. All three Okonski releases, including 2025’s Entrance Music are out now on Colemine Records.

April 3, 2026

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Vocalist, composer, and producer Sofía Rei presents Antónima, her new album arriving April 3, 2026, via GroundUP Music. Rooted in Folk and Futurism, the expansive artistic vision that defines her current work, the album explores the meeting point between folk-rooted Latin American traditions and forward looking sonic innovation.

April 2, 2026

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Pianist Eunbi Kim’s sonic memoir "it feels like a dream" features a soundworld of classical music threaded with an indie-pop awareness– expanded by the hypnotic projected visuals of new media artist Xuan. This immersive multimedia performance explores issues of family and identity, offering listeners the soundspace to meditate on the dreams they carry and pass on. "it feels like a dream" includes works by Daniel Bernard Roumain (DBR), Angélica Negrón, Pauchi Sasaki, and Sophia Jani for piano, pre-recorded voices, and electronics written for and performed by Kim. The evening will open with the world premiere of a new work by Pauchi Sasaki written for Kim, followed by additional music by Zosha Di Castri.

March 31, 2026

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Based on groundbreaking research about near-death experiences, Infinitesimal blurs the boundaries between science, memoir, theater, and music, transmuting chamber opera into an expansive sonic landscape, pushing the expressive limits to reimagine the singer-pianist duo. It showcases queer and female voices through the shared experiences of its central characters and "amplifies the vital interconnection between humans" (Paradiso.Pure Living). Dancing at the threshold between our existence and what lies beyond it, Infinitesimal is directed by Kevin Newbury and composed and performed by pianist Nicole Brancato and baritone Jeremy Weiss.

March 28, 2026

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“Division of Time," an evening-length work for cello, Yamaha Disklavier™ piano and jugglers, features cellist Jeffrey Zeigler and London-based Gandini Juggling performing music composed by Eric Nathan with choreography by Gandini Juggling, in a groundbreaking celebration and exploration of music, movement, and technology. "Division of Time" speaks about humanity and its relationship to numbers, weaving a dramatic arc that is both thrilling and touching, complex and visceral, poetic and humorous.

March 25, 2026

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“Division of Time," an evening-length work for cello, Yamaha Disklavier™ piano and jugglers, features cellist Jeffrey Zeigler and London-based Gandini Juggling performing music composed by Eric Nathan with choreography by Gandini Juggling, in a groundbreaking celebration and exploration of music, movement, and technology. "Division of Time" speaks about humanity and its relationship to numbers, weaving a dramatic arc that is both thrilling and touching, complex and visceral, poetic and humorous.

March 25, 2026

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Inspired by Vagabon's artist residency recently in Italy, Vagabon & Friends is a night of experimentation and surprise. Vagabon performs works in progress alongside fan favorites, joined by friends (Ziwe, Amindi, & more) from music and comedy for an intimate, unpredictable evening with surprise guests. Bring your friends and step into the creative living room of Vagabon & Friends.

March 24, 2026

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Eternal Research presents Rite of the Demon: Spring, an evening of collaborative experimentation between contemporary artists and ancient oracles. Featuring LA’s Fierra Ex Machina—inventors and developers of the Demon Box—alongside NY-based sound artist and researcher Ivana Dama and special guests, this multimedia event melds storied mediums with cutting-edge transmedia to offer the key to the Oracle of Delphi’s origin: the powers of transcendent vision.

March 22, 2026

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Mai Khôi & the Dissidents present a 2-in-1 concert performance: first, they will present “Bad Activist,” where Mai Khôi recounts her journey from pop stardom to activism through a spellbinding mixture of original music, projections, archival footage, and theatrical performance. Throughout the narrative, “Bad Activist” confronts urgent political issues including the legacy of imperialism, the deleterious effects of censorship on arts and speech, and the worsening human rights situation in Vietnam. The story ends with Khôi’s exile in the United States, where she is once again confronted with the same rising authoritarianism she fled six years ago.The band will perform music from their upcoming album “Five Years in Exile,” which will be available for the first time following the show. Their new songs address issues of climate change, political incarceration, and corporate oligarchy, as well as personal stories of love, loss, and life away from home.

March 21, 2026

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Join artist/activist Madame Gandhi for a guided musical meditation on the Spring Equinox, followed by a live set launching the release of her new album “Love Letters from Brooklyn,” in partnership with Gender Amplified.

March 20, 2026

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Join Del Maguey Single Village Mezcal and PARCHA for the next chapter of the Single Village Music Series: intimate, soulful gatherings where live music, artisanal mezcal, and meaningful conversations with cultural leaders come together to honor the journey behind the sounds we hear and the spirits we share. For this edition, we welcome Argentine rocker Marilina Bertoldi for an intimate performance and conversation with acclaimed poet, comedian, and actor ALOK, March 18th at National Sawdust.

March 18, 2026

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The Refugee Orchestra Project shares music by composers who were forced to leave their homelands, as they express these life-altering experiences through music and story-telling. Join refugee composers and performers on their journey, as we celebrate what it means to live the American dream.

March 13, 2026

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Join us at our venue on Tuesday, March 10, at 6:30 PM for a relaxed evening of connection and conversation. Enjoy drink specials, meet members of our team, and get a sneak peek of The Drop, a new playlist curated by Paola Prestini.

March 10, 2026

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Phoenix Collective, conceived by visionary tap dancer Michela Marino Lerman, is a boundary-expanding ensemble where rhythm, movement, and improvisation converge. This iteration of Phoenix Collective is co-developed with the electrifying drummer Savannah Harris, forming a creative partnership rooted in deep listening, rhythmic inquiry, and collective invention.

March 8, 2026

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The name of Wet’s fourth album, “Two Lives,” originated during a dramatic moment in 2022. Singer-writer Kelly Zutrau was in Portland with the producer Buddy Ross (Frank Ocean, Haim), and the two were struggling to focus on music. But Zutrau was jolted into action when she received some surprising news: She was pregnant. At first, she felt overwhelmed by grief. Her future suddenly felt narrow and constricted, the limitless potential of youth yanked from her in a single moment. That day, she wrote the lyric that would define the mood of the entire record: “I wish I could live two lives.” Zutrau and Ross wrote most of “Two Lives” in the days following the positive pregnancy test. “Two Lives” is a document of the uncertainty that surrounds life’s major transitions.

March 7, 2026

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The name of Wet’s fourth album, “Two Lives,” originated during a dramatic moment in 2022. Singer-writer Kelly Zutrau was in Portland with the producer Buddy Ross (Frank Ocean, Haim), and the two were struggling to focus on music. But Zutrau was jolted into action when she received some surprising news: She was pregnant. At first, she felt overwhelmed by grief. Her future suddenly felt narrow and constricted, the limitless potential of youth yanked from her in a single moment. That day, she wrote the lyric that would define the mood of the entire record: “I wish I could live two lives.” Zutrau and Ross wrote most of “Two Lives” in the days following the positive pregnancy test. “Two Lives” is a document of the uncertainty that surrounds life’s major transitions.

March 6, 2026

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The name of Wet’s fourth album, “Two Lives,” originated during a dramatic moment in 2022. Singer-writer Kelly Zutrau was in Portland with the producer Buddy Ross (Frank Ocean, Haim), and the two were struggling to focus on music. But Zutrau was jolted into action when she received some surprising news: She was pregnant. At first, she felt overwhelmed by grief. Her future suddenly felt narrow and constricted, the limitless potential of youth yanked from her in a single moment. That day, she wrote the lyric that would define the mood of the entire record: “I wish I could live two lives.” Zutrau and Ross wrote most of “Two Lives” in the days following the positive pregnancy test. “Two Lives” is a document of the uncertainty that surrounds life’s major transitions.

March 5, 2026

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The conjunction of the lyrical voice, the bandoneon, and the strings finds the propitious and ironic color for this rare ritual designed for a dramaturgy with tango reminiscences.

March 1, 2026

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What is the sound of our personal histories? What happens when our family stories become melody and rhythm, and when that music fills the air in a room of listeners? Join Kaoru Watanabe and a dynamic ensemble of artists at National Sawdust for Bloodlines Interwoven—an evocative evening of original music and storytelling that honors the beauty of cultural inheritance and collective memory.

February 25, 2026

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Join us for an evening featuring the work of composer Huang Ruo, including the NY Premiere of "A Dust In Time" performed by members of the National Sawdust Ensemble and "Song of Everlasting Regret" performed by mezzo-soprano Kelly Clarke and pianist Joanne Kang. Huang Ruo’s "A Dust In Time" traces a meditative journey inspired by Tibetan Buddhist sand mandalas. The one-hour palindromic passacaglia grows towards ecstasy from silence before returning to its source.

February 18, 2026

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National Sawdust and Gabriela team up for a DJ takeover on Friday the 13th, just ahead of Valentine’s Day. Featuring Eli Escobar and Cosmo, the night brings deep grooves, driving beats, and all-out dancing on National Sawdust’s immersive Meyer Constellation Sound System. This is not a concert. It is a full-room dance floor built for movement, fun, and losing yourself in the sound. Whether you are single, coupled, or dodging Valentine’s plans altogether, this is the place to dance it out before the holiday hits. And on the spookiness of Friday the 13th. Bad luck optional. Good music guaranteed.

February 13, 2026

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The renowned performer of Philip Glass’s music in a performance of “classics” of the minimalist repertory, iconic music by Philip Glass and Brubaker’s own piano reworkings of ambient pieces by Brian Eno, including portions of Music for Airports. Eno heard Glass playing in England, Glass made versions for orchestra of the groundbreaking music of Eno and David Bowie. At National Sawdust, American pianist Bruce Brubaker unites the music of Philip Glass and Brian Eno.

February 12, 2026

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KP + Mato is the collaborative project of Mato Wayuhi (Oglala Lakota) and Katherine Paul (Swinomish / Iñupiaq), known as Black Belt Eagle Scout. Together, the two artists merge their worlds—Mato’s boundary-bending hip-hop, soul, and experimental production with KP’s soaring guitar textures and raw, melodic indie rock. The result is a lush, emotionally charged sound that lives somewhere between dream pop, electric storytelling, and ancestral pulse.

February 10, 2026

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“Sometimes you gotta write the songs you need to hear,” musician, actor and author Lola Kirke says of the title track of her new album Trailblazer. “The culture a lot of us are living in is designed to make you feel like you’re failing. That you’re headed in the wrong direction if you’re not consuming and conforming. It’s easy for me to forget that. So I wrote a song to remind me.”Such is the affirmation that begins Kirke’s third full length LP—a singular blend of classic country tropes and ethereal sonic landscapes: “when you feel like a failure, baby you’re a trailblazer.” Released on the heels of her debut book, a memoir-in-essays entitled Wild West Village (Simon and Schuster 2025) chronicling her dysfunctional upbringing in London and New York City, the highs and lows of her career as an actress in Hollywood and her unusual path to Nashville and country music, it’s safe to say: Kirke’s trailblazing ability isn’t so murky. In fact, it’s dazzlingly clear.

February 7, 2026

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Britton & The Sting is an alternative soul band fueling the NYC music scene. Recently Support act on Sammy Rae & The Friends world tour. Sold out performances at The Apollo, Williamsburg Musical Hall, Rockwood Music Hall, Nublu, Joes Pub among others. Featured in Vanity Fair, Vogue, Fault Magazine, and the New Yorker. Their Waves of funk, gospel, rock, testimony collide with mesmerizing melodies that carry their journey driven music deep into your soul. LETS GET DRUNK AND GO TO CHURCH, their anthem, is Listened to in over 44 countries. Paper Magazines, “Bops Only” 10 songs you need to start your Weekend Right list. 2020 NPR Tiny Desk Submission Top Pick.

February 6, 2026

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An immersive performance that combines electronic music and contemporary dance, and evolves into a rave. Future Forms is a cross-genre performance project that places the creative processes of choreography and electronic composition in direct dialogue. The work examines how movement and sound influence one another in real time. Creating an environment that functions as part performance, part participatory ritual, and part club rave. A core aim of the project is to dissolve traditional boundaries between performer and audience, inviting attendees into a more active and embodied role throughout the night.

January 30, 2026

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What is the sound of our personal histories? What happens when our family stories become melody and rhythm, and when that music fills the air in a room of listeners? Join Kaoru Watanabe and a dynamic ensemble of artists at National Sawdust for Bloodlines Interwoven—an evocative evening of original music and storytelling that honors the beauty of cultural inheritance and collective memory.

January 29, 2026

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This concert launches our annual Composers Now Festival, a vibrant celebration of collaboration across the artistic spectrum, uniting a diverse array of presenters and performers from all corners of New York City through the month of February. Renowned venues, cutting-edge ensembles, major orchestras, visionary opera and musical theater companies, and innovative dance organizations all come together to showcase works by living composers. These dynamic partnerships not only elevate artistic experience but foster a community where composers are an active and visible presence—attending every event and engaging directly with audiences.

January 28, 2026

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The Lydian Gale Parr is a poetic oratorio composed by Alaina Ferris, with a libretto by Karinne Keithley Syers. It follows a ghost of war traveling through time, pleading for an end to violence. Guided by a cyberglockenspiel, (a midi- and movement-controlled, spatialized vibraphone designed by Eamon Goodman,) this kaleidoscopic piece invites audiences into the recursions, fragments, and community of selves that constitute the Lydian and their ceaseless quest. Lydian has been developed through residencies at New Dramatists, The Tank, Bushwick Starr, and Barnard Movement Lab, as well as National Sawdust.

January 21, 2026

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The GRAMMY Museum is thrilled to welcome Cash Cobain to National Sawdust in Brooklyn for a celebration and discussion about his latest music, rising career, and more, with a special live performance. MODERATED BY MUSIC JOURNALIST IVIE ANI.

January 20, 2026

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We Don’t Need the Sea to Drown is a multi-disciplinary performance from Sxip Shirey and Coco Karol that combines stories gleaned from Karol’s movement interview with NY-based artists and community leaders with Shirey’s renowned use of sound objects with the duo’s celebrated choral form, the Gauntlet, where corridors of singers pass a libretto downstream in cascadinging tones and phrases, as audiences experience waves of sound.

January 17, 2026

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For the fourth year in a row, on January 10, Winter Jazzfest’s signature Marathon heads to Brooklyn for its second night; a night of expansive sounds spread across Music Hall of Williamsburg, Brooklyn Bowl, Superior Ingredients, Loove Labs Annex, Baby’s All Right, National Sawdust, and Union Pool. Like our Manhattan Marathon, our Brooklyn Marathon highlights artists who blur genre lines while staying rooted in jazz’s spirit of invention.

January 10, 2026

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Beth Morrison Projects presents BMP: SONGBOOK, a two-night live performance event celebrating twenty years of groundbreaking innovation in American opera. This milestone production brings together the extraordinary artists who have defined BMP’s legacy, performing unforgettable selections from some of the company’s most iconic works.

January 8, 2026

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Beth Morrison Projects presents BMP: SONGBOOK, a live performance and multi-faceted celebration marking two decades of trailblazing innovation in American opera. Over two unforgettable evenings, BMP: SONGBOOK brings together extraordinary artists who helped shape BMP’s legacy, performing highlights from some of our most iconic productions.

January 7, 2026

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Join us at National Sawdust on December 18 from 6:30–8:30 PM for an evening of music, conversation, and great company. Enjoy a live DJ set by Twelve45 and a special tasting experience from our friends at Kato Sake Works, featuring their hand-crafted sake selections.

December 18, 2025

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The GRAMMY Museum is thrilled to welcome 2026 GRAMMY Award-nominated artist Ayra Starr to National Sawdust in Brooklyn for a celebration and discussion about her Best African Music Performance nominated song "Gimme Dat," her creative process, and more, with a special live performance. This event is part of the GRAMMY Museum’s New York City program series, which brings the Museum’s renowned education and public programs to the city. “A New York Evening With…” is generously supported by the Dawn and Brian Hoesterey Family Foundation.

December 16, 2025

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On December 14, Rebecca Foon takes the stage at National Sawdust for a performance that bridges the worlds of contemporary chamber music and ambient sounds. Known for her work with Saltland, Esmerine, and Thee Silver Mt. Zion, Foon’s music blends cello, voice, and minimalist electronics and beats into evocative soundscapes that radiate both intimacy and strength.

December 14, 2025

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“No harpist thus far has been more capable of combining all of the modern harp traditions — from Salzedo, through Dorothy Ashby, through Alice Coltrane — with such strength, grace and commitment.” - The New York Times

December 13, 2025

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Sensory Overload is a one-night showcase where percussion’s future takes center stage. Grammy-nominated innovator Kassa Overall, audiovisual architect Brett Bolton, and New Orleans-rooted trailblazer Brian Richburg Jr. (New Legaxy) each bend rhythm, electronics, and gesture into living compositions—collisions of jazz, hip-hop, electronica and generative visuals where every strike reshapes the soundworld in real time. This edition debuts groundbreaking new products for the EVANS Hybrid Sensory Percussion system, pushing creative boundaries and fueling artistry. Part performance lab, part jazz club, part dance floor, Sensory Overload is virtuosity, spontaneity, and technology in equal measure.

December 9, 2025

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A living legend of the guitar, Al Di Meola has spent five decades redefining what’s possible on six strings. From his groundbreaking work with Return to Forever to collaborations with John McLaughlin and Paco de Lucía, Di Meola’s artistry bridges jazz, world music, and contemporary fusion with unmatched technical mastery and lyrical depth. His latest release, TWENTYFOUR, continues a legacy of innovation—an expansive journey through intricate rhythms, global influences, and visionary composition. Whether on acoustic or electric, Di Meola’s performances are immersive experiences, blending virtuosity and emotion in equal measure. Don’t miss this rare opportunity to witness one of the most influential guitarists of all time in an intimate setting at National Sawdust.

December 8, 2025

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On December 7, 1985—exactly 40 years ago—the BRC burst into culture with our first-ever party (“Drop The Bomb” at Linda Goode Bryant’s JAM Gallery). Now, on this monumental anniversary, we’re pulling out even more stops… To celebrate our decades-strong community, we’re inviting some of our favorite musicians, artists, and deep-cut DJs to take to the stage and deliver the genre-expansive performances we’ve been championing since our founding. Doubling as a record release party for the 5th volume of our “Rock ‘n’ Roll Reparations” compilation series, audience members will not only be the first to hear the new record, they’ll be able to see some of the most dynamic bands play those songs live.

December 7, 2025

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After years of anticipation, Mona Miari takes the stage for a spellbinding evening celebrating her comeback with her debut album and the premiere of her newest musical project. Rooted in the sounds of Arabic heritage and carried by a voice that transcends borders, Mona’s music honors the home we carry within us — the questions, the dreams, and the life that shape who we are. This concert unfolds as a journey through memory and imagination, where every note becomes both a remembrance and a revelation. Joined by exceptional artists and dear friends, each bringing their own light to an evening of profound connection and effortless artistry. Together, they create a space where belonging feels both intimate and boundless — where tradition meets innovation, and music becomes a shared breath. An experience years in the making, this performance marks a defining chapter in Mona’s creative evolution — one that promises to linger long after the final note.

December 6, 2025

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BlackBox Ensemble performs the U.S. premiere of PIPA BOY: Three Scenes from the Post-Diaspora by Baldwin Giang, a multimedia work for ensemble and pipa player exploring global identity and the conditions of belonging and non-belonging. The video part features collaborations with three international filmmakers. The program also includes work by Anthony Cheung, Misato Mochizuki, and Giang's song cycle butterfly, posthumously.

December 5, 2025

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Join us for a very special listening party, celebrating the release of Meredith Monk’s newest album, 'Cellular Songs,' on ECM Records. Performed by the women of the acclaimed Meredith Monk & Vocal Ensemble (Monk, Ellen Fisher, Katie Geissinger, Joanna Lynn-Jacobs and Allison Sniffin) and percussionist, John Hollenbeck, 'Cellular Songs' features some of Monk’s most adventurous and daring writing for the voice, paired with violin, piano, body percussion and keyboard.

December 4, 2025

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Join us December 2nd for an intimate listening experience with Mexican breakout star HUMBE, who will share the stories behind the making of his ambitious new album 'DUEÑO DEL CIELO' in advance of its release, in a talk led by journalist E.R. Pulgar. This series celebrates the craft behind the voices and makers shaping culture today, and we can't wait to take a deeper look into this artists' groundbreaking work.

December 2, 2025

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On Saturday, November 22nd, National Sawdust hosts the second and final night of Fall of Freedom’s national launch with a double-screening of FREE JOAN LITTLE and STEAL THIS STORY, PLEASE!, two films that uplift and empower by centering truth and perserverance. FREE JOAN LITTLE is the story of the landmark 1975 trial of a young Black woman who resisted sexual assault and became a symbol of justice, courage, and collective action. STEAL THIS STORY, PLEASE! is a portrait of journalist Amy Goodman, whose decades-long reporting amplifies voices routinely silenced by power and media consolidation. The evening will close with a special talkback with Amy Goodman, filmmakers Yoruba Richen, Carl Deal, and Tia Lessin, moderated by Nermeen Shaikh.

November 22, 2025

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Fall of Freedom is an urgent call to the arts community to unite in defiance of authoritarian forces sweeping the nation. In response, artists are rising together - not in silence, but in music, movement, and creation - to remind us that art makes us free.

November 21, 2025

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Port City explores tango music throughout the genre’s history, and features bandoneon visionary Heyni Solera as soloist and composer. Palaver will perform danceable classics alongside contemporary tango-inspired compositions.

November 16, 2025

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Hannah Frances (b. 1997) is a vocalist, guitarist, composer, and poet that NPR’s Ann Powers calls “a stunning vocalist and songwriter, making monumental and mythic freak folk,” and was awarded Pitchfork’s Best New Music for her triumphant new album Keeper of the Shepherd. Through cutting lyricism and astute fingerpicked polyrhythms, Frances’ perennial sound melds avant-folk, progressive rock, and jazz.

November 14, 2025

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BOLDEN. is a fast-rising jazz house duo blending the soul of jazz with the rhythm of electronic music. Emerging from the UK’s vibrant underground scene, Reuben Barrett and Catherine Rannus, both gifted multi-instrumentalists with contrasting but complementary musical journeys, are forging a new path for modern jazz and electronic fusion.

November 12, 2025

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Flock of Dimes – the solo project of multi-instrumentalist and producer Jenn Wasner – releases her third album, The Life You Save, worldwide on October 10th, 2025, on Sub Pop Records. Across the last few decades – whether it be as Flock of Dimes, as half of beloved duo Wye Oak, or via one of her many collaborations with Bon Iver, Sylvan Esso, and a sprawling list of other musical juggernauts – Wasner’s extensive catalog displays her gift for balancing authenticity and directness with an unmistakable left-of-center sensibility. Her songwriting has always found her as a keen-eyed observer, a deeply empathetic and thoughtful storyteller with a skill for probing memory, heartbreak, and unhealed trauma, a shroud of syncopation or off-kilter guitar taking a song somewhere quietly prodigious.

November 8, 2025

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Born and raised in São Paulo, Plínio Fernandes fuses the tradition of classical guitar with Brazilian folk music. An exclusive Decca Gold recording artist, Plínio released his debut album “Saudade” in 2022, which hit Number One on the Billboard Traditional Classical Albums Chart. His second album, “Bacheando”, released in September 2023, explores Bach’s influence on Brazilian music and contrasts to his recently released EP, “Cinema”, which dives into five iconic movie soundtracks.

November 7, 2025

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Luna Composition Lab and ChamberQUEER present the second installment of The Nebula Project on November 3. This ongoing partnership, supported by the New York Community Trust, aims to foster emerging composers of diverse identities from Luna Composition Lab and cultivate their authentic voices through mentorship and the commissioning of new work.

November 3, 2025

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Internationally acclaimed composer and arranger Miho Hazama brings her Grammy-nominated “jazz chamber orchestra” m_unit to National Sawdust. Known for her uncanny yet highly skilled ability to create new works for some of the music’s most compelling voices – including Joshua Redman, Lionel Loueke, and Christian McBride, among many others – Hazama bonds urgency, exploration, and sophistication in her soundscapes. Don’t miss this special one-night event!

October 29, 2025

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“It doesn't matter if you can sing, it doesn't matter if you're melodic, you are a vibrational being. We are a vibrational species. What we call ‘music’ now is our communicative contribution as a species on and to planet Earth -- and it's one of our best contributions of all.” (Toshi Reagon) Come sing with us this fall! Join Toshi Reagon, Alsarah and the Nubatones, Taína Asili, The Bruces, New York Arabic Chorus, DJ Bill Coleman, Alexis Pauline Gumbs, Nona Hendryx, Baba Israel, Yasmine Lee, Legacy Women, Miguel Luciano, Nile Nights, Lizzie No, The Soapbox Presents, DJ Leecy T, and more as we collectively learn to sing songs of resistance and resilience together.

October 28, 2025

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Depending on the game, an Ace can be the highest or lowest card, zero or infinity. A breakup feels similar—one path crumbles, while all others remain infinitely possible. How do you write about heartbreak when you’re going through it? Ace, Grammy award-winner Madison Cunningham’s third record for Verve Forecast, tracks every part of it: falling out of love, having your heart broken, and then falling in love again. It’s about betrayal and betraying yourself. It is a stunning record and some of Cunningham’s best songwriting to date. It showcases her at the height of her powers.

October 26, 2025

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