Artown 2026 Headliner Artists
Friday, May 22, 2026 @7:30pm
Ballets Jazz Montreal Dance Me: The Music of Leonard Cohen
Dance Me is an exclusive creation inspired by the rich and profound work of Montreal-based poet, artist and songwriter, Leonard Cohen.
Approved by Cohen during his lifetime, this riveting homage to the famed artist evokes the grand cycles of existence in five seasons, as described in Cohen’s deeply reflective music and poems. Three internationally renowned choreographers were entrusted with putting movement to Cohen’s legendary songs: Andonis Foniadakis, Annabelle Lopez Ochoa and Ihsan Rustem. Their powerful and profound choreographic world reflective of Cohen’s singular work is brought to life by 14 BJM performing artists
Thursday, July 2, 2026 @8pm
Direct from Sweden: The Music of ABBA
“The music of ABBA” are no strangers to the incomparable sound and look of Sweden's greatest music export with meticulous attention to costumes, make-up, musical arrangements, movements and the singing, nothing is left to chance. Adding a few of Abba's live traits such as great solos, musical numbers and a complete live band with back-up singers, ensures an extra dimension unheard of in most similar productions. Our cast has performed with Mamma Mia The Musical and has also worked with original members of ABBA throughout the years and our costumes were designed by the same designer who designed ABBA's original costumes. Dance, sing along and enjoy the hits such as Dancing Queen, Chiquitita, Waterloo, Mamma Mia, The Winner Takes it All, Fernando, SOS, Take a Chance, Money Money Money, Knowing Me Knowing You, Super Trouper, Gimme Gimme Gimme, Voulez-Vous and many more. With over 400 million records sold ABBA is Sweden's biggest export ever! When the Musical “Mamma Mia” hit the American Stages in 2000 it became an instant classic and the ABBA tribute was born. ABBA is the greatest pop group of all time, only compared to Elvis and The Beatles. ABBA started in 1971 and ended as a group in 1982. Their music continues to be passed on from generation to generation and are loved by the whole world. Direct from Sweden The Music of ABBA will deliver the closest ABBA experience you'll ever get with some of Sweden's most experienced and talented singers and musicians playing 100% live. The audience will be on their feet the entire show!!
Tuesday, July 7, 2026 @8pm
Michael Feinstein in Because of You: My Tribute to Tony Bennett ft. Carnegie Hall Ensemble
Michael Feinstein brings to life Big Band Celebrations and the Tony Bennett legacy. Supported by the Carnegie Hall Ensemble, Feinstein pays a heartfelt tribute to the legendary Tony Bennett, bringing his iconic songs to life in a symphony of sound. The performance will feature hits such as Because of You, Rags to Riches, I Left My Heart in San Francisco, The Best is Yet To Come, I Get a Kick Out of You, Stranger in Paradise and many more. Feinstein's dynamic interpretations, coupled with the grandeur of the big band, will create an unforgettable night that honors the legacy of Tony Bennett in all its glory. Michael Feinstein's close friendship with Tony Bennett adds a profound layer to this tribute, as their camaraderie brings authenticity and depth to each note performed. Not only does Feinstein's masterful interpretation of Bennett's timeless repertoire pay homage to an era of classic songwriting, but it also preserves the rich cultural heritage that these songs represent. The show also brings to bear the history of Carnegie Hall, which has been connected to the big band for decades. Icons from across the 20th and 21st Century have graced the stage of Carnegie Hall, from Benny Goodman to Duke Ellington, Louis Armstrong to Ella Fitzgerald and from Frank Sinatra to, of course, Tony Bennett. The music-making of Feinstein and the Carnegie Hall Big Band continue this tradition, as this program brings the Hall's history to life onstage. Tony Bennett is one of the most enduring icons of the 20th century. He has created a body of work surpassed by none.” - Michael Feinstein
Thursday, July 9, 2026 @8pm
Kronos Quartet
For over five decades, Kronos has redefined the possibilities of the string quartet, transforming it into a dynamic vehicle for innovation, cultural storytelling, and social reflection. Their trailblazing spirit continues to shape the future of the artform with new voices, bold ideas, and boundary-breaking performances. Since 1973, San Francisco's Kronos Quartet — David Harrington (violin), Gabriela Díaz (violin), Ayane Kozasa (viola), and Paul Wiancko (cello) — has challenged and reimagined what a string quartet can be. Founded at a time when the form was largely centered on long-established, Western European traditions, Kronos has been at the forefront of revolutionizing the string quartet into a living art form. Today, with new voices and renewed vision, Kronos continues to forge the sound of the people and issues of our time.
Friday, July 10, 2026 @8pm
Wynton Marsalis
WYNTON MARSALIS has been described as the most outstanding jazz musician and trumpeter of his generation, as one of the world's top classical trumpeters, as a big band leader in the tradition of Duke Ellington, a brilliant composer, a devoted advocate for the Arts and a tireless and inspiring educator. He carries these distinctions well. His life is a portrait of discipline, dedication, sacrifice, and creative accomplishment. The sound of Wynton Marsalis' band is inspired by the basic principals of democracy. According to Marsalis, what you hear in a great jazz band is the sound of democracy. “The jazz band works best when participation is shaped by intelligent communication.” This intelligent, hard swinging interplay has made Marsalis' bands the favorite among jazz musicians and audiences worldwide. In the smallest of towns Wynton is received warmly and enthusiastically. The connection is the music, which mimics our valued way of life. Through jazz music Wynton Marsalis represents America all over the world. In such disparate locations from Prague to Warsaw, Seoul to Wellington, Paris to Istanbul, Santiago to Mexico City, Toronto to Calgary, Amarillo to Portland – you will find Wynton Marsalis sharing his vision of the union of jazz and democracy.
Sunday, July 12, 2026 @8pm
Glenn Miller Orchestra
Glenn Miller's first orchestra was a failure, but he knew what he wanted and worked relentlessly to succeed. In March 1938, he launched his second band—the one that would become legendary—and it has been a hit ever since. Miller rose to fame as one of the most successful dance bandleaders of the Swing Era, with hit records, radio broadcasts, and sold-out performances at theaters, hotels, and dance halls. In 1942, at the height of his popularity, he disbanded the orchestra to volunteer for the Army, forming the Glenn Miller Army Air Force Band to entertain troops in Europe. On December 15, 1944, Major Miller disappeared over the English Channel in a single-engine plane and was officially declared dead a year later. The 1954 release of The Glenn Miller Story starring Jimmy Stewart renewed public demand, leading the Miller Estate to form the present Glenn Miller Orchestra. On June 6, 1956, under drummer Ray McKinley, the reformed orchestra performed its first concert and has toured continuously ever since. Successive leaders have included Buddy DeFranco, Peanuts Hucko, Buddy Morrow, Jimmy Henderson, Larry O'Brien, Gary Tole, Dick Gerhart, and, since 2012, vocalist Nick Hilscher. Today, the 18-member ensemble performs original Miller arrangements from both the civilian and Army Air Force Band libraries, as well as modern selections in the classic Miller style. Just as in Glenn's day, the orchestra remains one of the world's most sought-after big bands.
Tuesday, July 21, 2026 @8pm
Blind Boys of Alabama
The Blind Boys of Alabama are recognized worldwide as gospel legends. Honored by the NEA and The Recording Academy/GRAMMYs with Lifetime Achievement Awards, inducted into the Gospel Music Hall of Fame, and winners of six GRAMMY® Awards, their career spans over 70 years. Known for crossing musical boundaries, they perform traditional gospel and contemporary songs by artists like Eric Clapton, Prince, and Tom Waits, and have collaborated with Lou Reed, Peter Gabriel, Bonnie Raitt, Willie Nelson, Aaron Neville, Susan Tedeschi, Ben Harper, Patty Griffin, and Taj Mahal. Their latest album, Echoes of the South (2023), recorded in Muscle Shoals, Alabama, reflects their perseverance—from singing for pocket change in the Jim Crow South to performing for three U.S. presidents and influencing the Civil Rights movement. The album won the GRAMMY® for Best Roots Gospel Album and earned three nominations. Previous works also garnered GRAMMY® nods, including collaborations with Béla Fleck (2021) and Black Violin (2022). In March 2024, the book Spirit of the Century was released, chronicling the untold story of America's longest-running gospel group with insights from band members and colleagues. Appearances on The View and other major media outlets followed. After all these years, the Blind Boys continue to inspire audiences worldwide with their enduring music and remarkable story.
Thursday, July 23, 2026 @8pm
Steep Canyon Rangers
Steep Canyon Rangers arrive at a moment of renewal and reaffirmation with Next Act, their 15th studio album set to be released May 22, 2026. The record represents a conscious tightening of focus: a return to the bluegrass foundations that first bound the band together, approached with the confidence and emotional range earned through years of collective evolution. It is an affirmation that bluegrass still contains endless expressive possibility. Next Act finds the Rangers sounding deeply at home in their own musical language, drawing strength from tradition while continuing to write new chapters within it. Formed in North Carolina and shaped equally by the Appalachian Mountains and the Piedmont, Steep Canyon Rangers have long occupied a singular space in American roots music. From their earliest recordings, the band demonstrated an unusual ability to honor traditional bluegrass forms while allowing contemporary songwriting, literary influence, and regional storytelling to seep naturally into the music. Over time, this balance earned them both bluegrass credibility and broader Americana acclaim, culminating in a Best Bluegrass Album GRAMMY Award for 2013's Nobody Knows You, additional nominations for Rare Bird Alert (2012) and North Carolina Songbook (2020), and an induction into the North Carolina Music Hall of Fame. In recent years, as their audience expanded and their songwriting reach grew wider, the Rangers began to feel a pull back toward the elemental forces that shaped them: acoustic instruments speaking clearly, songs built for ensemble interplay, and stories grounded in lived experience and regional memory. Next Act emerges from that impulse. Steep Canyon Rangers is made up of Graham Sharp on banjo and vocals, Mike Guggino on mandolin/mandola and vocals, Aaron Burdett on guitar and vocals, Nicky Sanders on fiddle and vocals, Mike Ashworth on drums, dobro, percussion and vocals, and Barrett Smith on bass, guitar, and vocals.
