Best-selling musician, singer, composer, and legendary live performer Harry Connick, Jr. returns to the Old Pueblo for a festive performance just in time for the holidays! Don’t miss all your favorite Christmas classics and fan favorites in this holiday celebration. Presented together with Broadway in Tucson. Harry Connick, Jr. invites you to celebrate the holidays with him and his band as 2022 draws to a close.  One of the most beloved artists performing holiday music, Harry has been thrilling audiences around the world for decades with his definitive take on Christmas classics, as well as his own originals and fan favorites like “(It Must’ve Been Ol’) Santa Claus” and “When My Heart Finds Christmas.” Harry Connick Jr has exemplified excellence in every aspect of the entertainment world.  He has received recognition with multiple Grammy and Emmy Awards as well as Tony nominations for his live and recorded musical performances, his achievements on screens large and small, and his appearances on Broadway as both an actor and a composer. He has sold millions of Holiday Albums which have become the soundtrack to Christmas for fans around the world.

Arizona Arts Live and the Tucson Jazz Festival invite you to an evening featuring some of jazz’s greatest works. Join us as we welcome Grammy-nominated saxophonist Joshua Redman to Centennial Hall. Born in Berkeley, California Joshua Redman is son of legendary saxophonist Dewey Redman and dancer Renee Shedroff. In 1991 Redman graduated from Harvard College summa cum laude and had already been accepted by Yale Law School, but deferred entrance for what he believed was only going to be one year. Instead, he moved to New York City and immediately found himself immersed in the city’s burgeoning jazz scene. Five months later Redman was named winner of the prestigious Thelonious Monk International Saxophone Competition.  Joshua Redman’s latest project is a celebration of the power of three – the music of three iconic jazz composers interpreted in the classic trio format of saxophone, bass, and drums. The 3×3 concept emerged in part from Redman’s COVID pandemic experience which left him in the unprecedented situation of not being able to make music with another human being “in a real space, in real-time” for over six months. Redman’s collaborations include some of music’s most notable icons including The Dave Matthews Band, Herbie Hancock, Quincy Jones, B.B. King, Yo Yo Ma, Brad Mehldau, The Rolling Stones, The Roots, and Stevie Wonder. Facebook Twitter Instagram YouTube

Two-time Oscar nominee and six-time Grammy-winner Terence Blanchard returns for a powerful performance at The Rialto Theatre. Don’t miss the artistic force from one of the world’s greatest trumpeters and composers. Presented together with the Tucson Jazz Festival.  From his expansive work composing scores for Spike Lee films ranging from the documentary When the Levees Broke to the epic Malcolm X, and the latest Lee film, Da 5 Bloods, Terence Blanchard has interwoven melodies that created strong backdrops to human stories. He received an Oscar nomination and Grammy award for Best Instrumental Composition for Spike Lee’s BlacKkKlansman (2018). He also received Oscar and British Academy Film Award nominations for his original music for Lee’s Da 5 Bloods (2020).  More recently, Blanchard has composed his second opera, Fire Shut Up in My Bones, based on the memoir of celebrated writer and The New York Times columnist Charles Blow. The Metropolitan Opera premiered a revived version of Fire Shut Up in My Bones in September 2021 to open their 2021-22 season in New York, making it the first opera composed by an African American composer to premiere at the Met. Breathless: Terence Blanchard featuring the E-Collective Link Facebook Instagram Twitter

Four music masters come together in a special bluegrass collaboration on stage at The Rialto Theatre. Join Bush/Marshall/Meyer/Meyer for a celebration of American roots music in the heart of the Sonoran Desert. Father of the American newgrass music scene Sam Bush (mandolin/violin) joins music icons Mike Marshall (mandolin) and Edgar Meyer (bass) together with George Meyer (violin) for a special collaboration usually only heard on a late summer night on the bluegrass festival circuit. Expect to hear works from the 1999 genre-bending album Short Trip Home as well as new music written specifically for this tour. Witness the next generation of artists expressing their unique voices and perspective as Edgar Meyer’s son George charts his own course in the musical world. Bluegrass, newgrass, and classical all meet in a stunning show of Americana that will leave you wishing for more. Don’t miss Bush/Marshall/Meyer/Meyer! Link Link Link Link

Joined by the bold and expressive singer Magos Herrera, Brooklyn Rider celebrates the power of beauty as a political act. Discover a new world of classical music as tradition meets invention on the Centennial Hall stage. Magos Herrera is a dazzling jazz singer-songwriter, producer, and educator declared as “One of the greatest contemporary interpreters of song” (The Latin Jazz Network). With a sultry voice and an unparalleled presence in the contemporary Latin American jazz scene, she is best known for her eloquent vocal improvisation and her singular bold style. Magos joins Brooklyn Rider together with Mathias Kunzli on percussion to take you on a musical journey exploring the artistry of Violeta Parra, Federico Garcia Lorca, Gilberto Gil, Joao Gilberto, Octavio Paz, and others who dared to dream under repressive regimes. Hailed as “the future of chamber music” (Strings), the veteran string quartet Brooklyn Rider presents an eclectic repertoire that continues to draw rave reviews from classical, world, and rock critics alike. NPR credits Brooklyn Rider with “recreating the 300-year-old form of string quartet as a vital and creative 21st-century ensemble.” Experience a gripping performance from Grammy-nominated artists who have transcended brutality through their work, work which represents love for humanity, democracy, and the inspiration to dream. Featuring evocative arrangements by Jaques Morelenbaum, Diego Schissi, Gonzalo Grau, Guillermo Klein, and Colin Jacobsen, we invite you to dream with us. Link Facebook Instagram Twitter

Dreamlike storytelling awaits you in this immersive theatrical experience based on the globally acclaimed production by the National Theatre of Scotland. Join Prudencia Hart on a haunting journey with supernatural encounters, Scottish folk songs, and razor-sharp turns you won’t see coming. Grab a seat and sip a pint as we’re taken on an adventure in the Shirt Shop Mercantile (formerly The Grill) in Downtown Tucson. Inspired by the Scottish Borderland Ballads, this tale finds uptight academic Prudencia Hart departing one wintry morning for a conference in the borderlands. What awaits her is an enchanting and suspenseful journey of devilish encounters, wittily wild karaoke, and dreamlike self-discovery. Renowned Scottish playwright David Greig connects the dots between contemporary themes, Scottish culture and identity, and the grand tradition of writing for the stage, by weaving a tale set in current time but using largely rhymed verse. Prudencia is manically funny and soul-searching, often within the same stanza. The Strange Undoing of Prudencia Hart is an immersive musical theatrical experience. Expect performers to madly traverse the Shirt Shop Mercantile (100 E. Congress Street, Tucson, AZ 85701), which will be magically transformed each night into a Scottish pub. Prudencia contains mild profanity and adult references delivered in rhymed verse; recommended for ages 14 and up. Due to the nature of the performance, latecomers cannot be seated. Come early, grab a seat, and enjoy a pint as we’re taken on an adventure through the Scottish borderlands in this award-winning, critically acclaimed musical play. Cash bar available. A revival of the original National Theatre of Scotland commissioned production, by David Grieg co-created with Wils Wilson, produced by Double M Arts & Events, and the Royal Lyceum Theatre Edinburgh.

Join Arizona Arts Live and the Century Room for a one-of-a-kind experience as projections of animated films dazzle while the Queen’s Cartoonists recreate original soundtracks note-for-note. Watch as new life is breathed into two uniquely American forms of art: jazz and animation. Pulling from over 100 years of animation, the Queen’s Cartoonists perfectly synchronize music to films projected on stage. The band matches the energy of the cartoons, leading audiences through a world of virtuosic musicianship, multi-instrumental mayhem, and comedy. Tying everything together is the TQC brand of comedy – anecdotes about the cartoons and their composers, stream-of-consciousness humor, and elements of a musical circus. Watch your favorite classic cartoon characters interact with the musicians on stage, and expect the unexpected from the Golden Age of Animation, cult cartoon classics, and modern animated films. Inspired by the crossroads of jazz, classical music, and cartoons, TQC features Jazz Age composers like Carl Stalling, Raymond Scott, and Duke Ellington, alongside classical giants Mozart, Rossini, and R. Strauss (to name just a few).

The Black Violin Experience showcases two-time Grammy-nominated duo Black Violin in a mystifying musical fusion of exquisite classical sounds and exhilarating hip-hop beats. Join Arizona Arts Live and the Rialto Theatre for a performance that boldly merges centuries of music with a message of hope and possibility. Black Violin is composed of classically trained violist and violinist Wil Baptiste and Kev Marcus who combine their classical training and hip-hop influences to create a distinctive multi-genre sound often described as a “classical boom”. The band released their major label debut Stereotypes (featuring Black Thought of The Roots and MC Pharoahe Monch) on Universal Music which debuted at #1 on the Billboard Classical Crossover Chart and #4 on the Billboard R&B Chart. NPR took note and declared “their music will keep classical music alive for the next generation”. On stage, Kev Marcus gives an electrifying violin performance along with Wil Baptiste’s magnetizing viola and vocal performance. Joining them are Nat Stokes on drums, DJ SPS on the turntable, and Liston Gregory on keys. Together they are reconceptualizing what a violin concert looks and sounds like, building bridges to a place where Mozart, Marvin Gaye, and Kendrick Lamar harmoniously coexist. Black Violin invites you to think outside of the box. Spotify Facebook Instagram Twitter Artist's Site

Join Arizona Arts Live and Arizona Public Media for Wait Wait… Don’t Tell Me! NPR’s weekly radio quiz program hosted by Peter Sagal and Bill Kurtis. Enjoy this live, family-friendly show as radio listeners test their knowledge against some of the best and brightest in the news and entertainment world while figuring out what’s real news and what’s made up. Host Peter Sagal leads a rotating panel of comedians, writers, listener contestants, and celebrity guests through a rollicking review of the week’s news. Contestants vie for the most coveted prize in all of public radio: a custom-recorded greeting by any of our cast members for their voicemail.

Unorthodox and intellectual with a wry sense of humor, voracious reader Fran Lebowitz brings New York to The Rialto Theatre. Don’t miss an evening of humor and unapologetic cultural satire by this style icon. In a cultural landscape filled with endless pundits and talking heads, Fran Lebowitz stands out as one of our most insightful social commentators. Her essays and interviews offer her sharp views on current events and the media – as well as pet peeves including tourists, baggage-claim areas, after-shave lotion, adults who roller skate, children who speak French, or anyone who is unduly tan. A close friend to Martin Scorcese, Fran Lebowitz is featured in multiple documentaries, television dramas, and films, including Law & Order, The Wolf of Wall Street, Public Speaking, and the Emmy-nominated Netflix series Pretend It’s a City. She has long been a regular on various talk shows including those hosted by Jimmy Fallon, Conan O’Brien, and Bill Maher. Lebowitz is the 2021 Foreign Press Honorary Awardee – an award given by the Foreign Press Correspondents Association & Club USA. Martin Scorsese Presents | Pretend It’s A City | Official Trailer | Netflix Artist's Site Facebook

Take a trip to Agadez, the capital city of Saharan rock, with Arizona Arts Live and Best Life Presents as they welcome Etran de L’Aïr or “stars of the Aïr region.” Playing for over 25 years, Etran has emerged as stars of the local wedding circuit. Their sound invokes the desert metropolis and celebrates the sounds of all the dynamism of a hometown wedding. Beloved for their dynamic repertoire of hypnotic solos and sun schlazed melodies, Etran stakes out a place for Agadez guitar music. Etran is a family band composed of brothers and cousins, all born and raised in the small neighborhood of Abalane, just in the shadow of the grand mosque. Sons of nomadic families that settled here in the 1970s fleeing the droughts, they all grew up in Agadez. The band was formed in 1995 when current band leader Moussa “Abindi” Ibra was only 9 years old. “We only had one acoustic guitar,” he explains, “and for percussion, we hit a calabash with a sandal.” Over the decades, the band painstakingly pieced together gear to form their band and built an audience by playing everywhere, for everyone. “It was difficult. We would walk to gigs by foot, lugging all our equipment, carrying a small PA and guitars on our backs, 25 kilometers into the bush, to play for free…there’s nowhere in Agadez we haven’t played.” This is a 21+ event. Facebook Instagram Twitter Bandcamp

Umbrellas fly, fabrics soar over the audience, balloons swallow people, and snow swirls on the Centennial Hall stage this spring. With stunning images and gales of laughter, Air Play bounces on the edge of definition: part comedy, part sculpture, part circus, part theater. A circus-style adventure of two siblings journeying through a surreal land of air, Air Play transforms ordinary objects into uncommon beauty.  Created by circus performers Seth Bloom and Christina Gelsone in collaboration with kinetic sculptor Daniel Wurtzel, this performance was devised through years of experimentation with simple materials, movement, and technology.  Join us for a visual poem great for all ages that uses no words to bring to life the very air we breathe. No translation necessary, this experience has played from the southernmost opera house in the world in Chile to London’s Royal Festival Hall, Melbourne’s State Theatre, and Shanghai’s Grand Theatre, and continues to tour. Artist's Site Facebook Instagram Twitter

Join us for a comedic, family-friendly piece of innovative theatre using lo-fi FX, miniature vehicles, puppetry, video, deadpan mime and ingeniously simple physical recreations of film language. Don’t miss this tender portrait of humanity coming to Tornabene Theatre! Dimanche, a humorous and magical play, features two stories to paint a portrait of mankind totally out of step with climate catastrophes swirling around them. Adventure with a team of wildlife reporters as they travel the world to document the last living species. And spend a quiet Sunday afternoon with a family paying no attention to trembling walls and lashing rain as they absurdly try to preserve their daily life. Between dreamlike fiction and factual reality, Dimanche observes the ingenuity and stubbornness of humans as they try to preserve their day-to-day habits, going to absurd extremes to keep up a sense of normalcy despite the chaos of an ecological collapse. Great for all ages, this production weaves together lo-fi effects, video, puppetry, and clowning in a wondrous work of physical theater! Artist's Site Facebook Instagram Twitter

This Spring, take a trip to Mali with Arizona Arts Live and KXCI Community Radio as they welcome Tamikrest for an unforgettable evening of cutting-edge desert-blues, rock, and pop. Tamikrest (a Tamasheq word for “junction, connection, knot, coalition” in reference to its members hailing from different regions) is a 5 member band from the Republic of Mali known for fusing African music with modern rock influences to share the richness of their Tuareg identity. Through the message of their songs, Tamikrest is making Tamasheq poetry and culture accessible to inhabitants of a world larger than the immensity of the Saharan desert. Starting with just two homemade guitars in 2006, the group has built a global following and grown its repertoire to include over twenty-five compositions. Tamotaït, their most powerful album since 2013’s wildly acclaimed Chatma, turns up the volume to express their thoughts on the state of the Sahara and the world. Don’t miss your chance to experience adventurous music with a twist of familiarity in a feast for the eyes and ears only at Hotel Congress!

This summer, join Arizona Arts Live and Live Nation for Grammy-winning Robert Plant and Alison Krauss. Don’t miss these two icons reuniting for their latest release, Raise the Roof, nominated for Best Americana Album, Best American Roots Song, and Best Country Duo/Group Performance! “These are songs that have gone into our hearts way back in time, but got lost in the twists and curves of the passing years,” says Robert Plant. “You hear them and you go ‘Man, listen to that song, we got to sing that song!’ It’s a vacation, really—the perfect place to go that you least expected to find.” In 2007, Plant and Alison Krauss released Raising Sand, one of the most acclaimed albums of the 21st Century. It was an unlikely, mesmerizing pairing of one of rock’s greatest frontmen with one of country music’s finest and most honored artists, produced by the legendary T Bone Burnett. It entered the Billboard 200 at Number Two and was certified platinum, and it won six Grammy awards, including both Album and Record of the Year. Now, after fourteen years, the two icons return with Raise the Roof. Nominated for Best Americana Album, Best American Roots Song (“High and Lonesome”) and Best Country Duo/Group Performance (“Going Where The Lonely Go”) at the 2023 GRAMMY Awards, these dozen songs span a range of traditions and styles, extending this remarkable collaboration in new and thrilling directions. Plant and Krauss, though, were determined not to simply replicate a formula. “We wanted it to move,” says Krauss. “We brought other people in, other personalities within the band and coming back together again in the studio brought a new intimacy to the harmonies.” The duo’s intention had always been to continue the momentum of Raising Sand. “There was so much enthusiasm, excitement and adrenaline that it would have been folly if we didn’t keep going,” says Plant. “We did join up and consider songs, try to work out some ideas, but then somebody would ask if I’d want to take my band to the Arctic Circle—‘OK, I’ll do that, call you back, Alison!’ And then she goes off and gets another Grammy. We’ve both constantly made new recordings. “I knew what we could share. In the length of time that I’ve been making records, this is very rewarding, but a very unusual place to find myself.” In fact, the two singers were stockpiling ideas for songs they might do together, and passing selections back and forth, during the intervening years. “I’ve heard Lucinda Williams sing ‘Can’t Let Go’ forever, and I sent that to Robert at least ten years ago,” says Krauss. “I remember riding around listening to it and thinking it would be so much fun to do together.” Plant had his eyes on a couple of R&B deep cuts. “The Betty Harris song ‘Trouble With My Lover’ was always in the air,” he says. “To hear Alison sing that is such a great way of her turning her gift around. And Bobby Moore’s ‘Searching for My Love’ is something I used to sing at school, another nugget of beautiful lost soul music which has been ricocheting between us for a long time.” When they were finally able to reconvene in Nashville in late 2019, Plant admits that it was “kind of daunting.” After all, when they first met up, there were no expectations; “When we started, Robert had said that if it didn’t work, we’ll try it for three days and say goodbye,” says Krauss. But this time, they not only had to clear the bar of their own magnificent careers, they also had the success of Raising Sand to contend with. Once they got rolling, though, Krauss says the recordings felt “very natural, very easy—and really fun.” For his part, Plant wanted to introduce a musical tradition that was part of his own culture. “I’ve been a big follower of Bert Jansch’s work since I was a teenager,” he says, “and of that whole Irish, Scottish, English folk style that has a different lilt and different lyrical perspective. I was very keen to bring some of that into the picture.” “One of my favorite parts of this is the songs and songwriters that I had never heard of ” says Krauss, noting that in addition to the inclusion of Jansch’s “It Don’t Bother Me,” she feels the “peak of the record” comes with “Go Your Way” by English folk singer Anne Briggs. “Working with Robert, and with T Bone, is always a great education in musical history.” The material on the album encompasses compositions by writers as diverse as Merle Haggard (“Going Where the Lonely Go”) and the mysterious blueswoman Geeshie Wiley (“Last Kind Words Blues”)—and even a Plant-Burnett original, “High and Lonesome”—in arrangements even more evocative, spare, and hypnotic than those on Raising Sand. In addition to the core band of ace musicians assembled by Burnett, including drummer Jay Bellerose and guitarist Marc Ribot on all tracks, there are appearances from such guests as David Hidalgo from Los Lobos, jazz wizard Bill Frisell, and the eternal Buddy Miller. Both Plant and Krauss point to the recording of “Quattro (World Drifts In),” a song by the beloved Americana band Calexico, as a turning point in the Raise the Roof sessions. “When I heard the song for the first time, it came in the group of songs Robert sent me as possibilities he liked as ideas for us to record,” says Krauss. “I thought, ‘Oh gosh, here we go’—hearing that song was the moment I knew we’d make another album.” The recording of Raise the Roof was completed just weeks before the world went into lockdown, after which the two singers were separated by an ocean for eighteen months (“I’ve never been in one place this long since I was at school,” says Plant). Now that they finally feel ready to put this music out into the world, they’re making plans for a tour that fans have been waiting to return for more than a dozen years. “It’s time to think about walking on the stage again and having that feeling of being just a little bit nervous,” says Plant. “And that’s really the thing that we both live for—that walk from the side of the stage to the microphone. That’s the longest journey, because it lasts a lifetime.” The accomplishments of Robert Plant and Alison Krauss, of course, are immeasurable. But with Raise the Roof, they take the next step in a project that offers them creative rewards unlike anything else. “There’s so much romance in contrast,” says Krauss. “It’s such a far cry from everything I’ve done before,” says Plant. “I love the whole kaleidoscope of music that I’ve explored, but this is a place where you can think within the song, you can decide how to bring home an emotion. It’s another blend that we’ve got, and long may we have more of them.” Facebook Twitter Instagram Spotify YouTube Link

Join the Tucson community and the Beyond Juneteenth Committee in an extraordinary legacy event celebrating Juneteenth, one of the most significant commemorations marking the end of slavery in the United States. Beyond Legacy: A Juneteenth Celebration recognizes the history of African Americans and their formative impact on our nation. Don’t miss a moving and empowering evening featuring remarks by Reverend Dr. Bernice King, strategist, peace advocate, and daughter of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., and Professor Ilyasah Shabazz, award-winning author, educator, and daughter of Malcolm X. Reserve your seat now for an inspiring experience you’ll never forget! Beyond Legacy: A Juneteenth Celebration is free and open to the public. Tickets are required for entry. A college student ID is required for special student seating. Due to the nature of this event, a clear bag policy is in effect. Anyone entering Centennial Hall is subject to a search of personal belongings. Bags larger than 12” x 6” x 12” are not permitted. Exceptions will be made for medically necessary items after proper inspection. For more information, please visit Security Policy.

Arizona Arts Live joins the historic Hotel Congress for the final installment of HOCO Fest Labor Day weekend in Downtown Tucson. This four-day music festival features over 60 of Arizona’s best artists, a film festival, a record fair, art installations, and daytime parties across six venues in celebration of Tucson as a UNESCO City of Gastronomy. For over 15 years, HOCO has led the charge in reframing what the modern music festival can achieve. This year is no different. Featuring some of the world’s freshest acts, HOCO Fest 2023 takes place September 1-4, 2023, with the likes of Dusty Chaps, Gatecreeper, Orkesta Mendoza, Giant Sand, Kid Congo Powers, Liz Cerepanya and Pete Ronstadt, Holy Faint, Mastodonna, River Roses, and nightly Linda Ronstadt celebrations. This four-day festival will also feature daytime pool parties, art installations, demonstrations, and food and drink offerings. Visit hocofest.com for the full lineup. Tickets are available online or at Hotel Congress.

Arizona Arts Live and Arizona Athletics welcome Tucson’s own globally beloved Calexico in an electric tailgate performance celebrating Arizona Football’s season opener versus NAU. Don’t miss the infectious riffs of this desert noir sensation led by Joey Burns and John Convertino, together with Sergio Mendoza, Jacob Valenzuela, Rick Peron, and Brian Lopez. Praised by NPR for their “sprawling, cross-cultural indie rock,” Calexico has spent the better part of the past three decades exploring the dusty musical borderlands of the American Southwest, crafting singular, cinematic songs as mysterious and magnificent as the arid desert landscapes that inspired them. Calexico will play hits from across their expansive repertoire. After decades on the road, Calexico’s music remains boundless and romantic, still gazing upon the horizon in search of their next adventure. Experience the untamed spirit of the Southwest by Calexico in this free, public performance presented on the east end of the Mall at the University of Arizona main campus in Tucson, AZ. Can’t Get Enough of Calexico? Don’t miss their return on January 13 at 7:30PM in the Linda Ronstadt Music Hall for a one-night only symphonic experience with the Tucson Symphony Orchestra. Presented in partnership with the Tucson Jazz Festival. This concert is available as part of a Create Your Own Subscription. For more information and tickets, please visit the Tucson Symphony Orchestra. Artist's Site Facebook Instagram Twitter YouTube

See a thrilling adventure unfold on the University Mall featuring tightrope walking and extreme acrobatics with Cirque Inextremiste: EXIT. Set on the University Mall, this is the story of a group of asylum patients on their quest to free themselves at all costs. What ensues is a hilarious spectacle featuring a high-flying hot air balloon and never-before-seen balancing acts on a vertical stage you must see to believe. Extreme acrobatic collective Cirque Inextremiste plays with our fears and wreaks havoc with our perspective in their latest production, EXIT. Watch as a hot-air balloon tamer, musicians, and other surprise characters slowly disrupt the performance and derail this feat of engineering. As the story unfolds, performers take over a hot-air balloon to create daring balancing acts and extreme acrobatics, all while several stories in the air. Cirque Inextremiste retains its signature quirkiness, remaining clownish and extravagant while continuing to defy the laws of gravity and push back the boundaries of the circus arts, theatre, and stunt work. Step into a world of madness and escape with this powerful performance as we follow the dreams of a group of unlikely heroes. EXIT is free to attend and will be presented on the east end of the Mall at the University of Arizona main campus in Tucson, Arizona. Link Facebook Instagram Twitter YouTube

Come together and recenter through the collective healing, love, and nutritional uplift embedded in Black roots music. Join Arizona Arts Live as we welcome jazz musician, creative producer, and racial justice advocate Michael Mwenso for a weeklong artistic residence this fall. Known for his work as bandleader of Mwenso & The Shakes and co-founder of Electric Root creative agency, Michael Mwenso’s focus on building solidarity and community through music will take him on a journey through the neighborhoods of Southern Arizona. At the core of his work are artist-led ancestral listening sessions. In this joyful and immersive gathering, Michael will create a sense of community and connection by playing recordings of musical forebears that propelled the advancement of human connection and promoting participants to share what they feel and hear in the messages voluntarily. The ancestral listening sessions reinforce Electric Root’s belief that joy and artistry are essential to dismantling systemic oppression. Electric Root is the only nationwide curator, producer, and facilitator focused exclusively on Black Roots music in the Performing Arts. Co-founded in 2020 by Michael Mwenso and Jono Gasparro, who both bonded over a personal connection with esteemed jazz artist Wynton Marsalis, Electric Root is a product of passion and urgency with a mission to revolutionize how Black music is presented, expose lesser-known artists, decolonize music curriculum, provide artist-led anti-racism training, and heal people. Michael Mwenso with The College of Social & Behavioral Sciences Monday, September 25 | 5:00-7:00 PM Arizona Arts Live and The College of Social & Behavioral Sciences welcome jazz musician, creative producer, and racial justice, advocate Michael Mwenso for an evening of performance art and community connection at The Dunbar Pavilion. Open to the SBS community; students, faculty, staff, and supporters. Free to attend, registration is required. LEARN MORE Michael Mwenso Ancestral Listening Session Thursday, September 28 | 5:00-7:00 PM | Centennial Hall You’re invited to experience music in a new way in this Community Listening Session led by Michael Mwenso of Electric Root and Mwenso & The Shakes. Part listening party, part discussion, part collective celebration, an Ancestral Listening Session is a safe space to experience familiar songs in a new way. We welcome any and all to join us for this radical new event. Space is limited, registration is required. REGISTER HERE Artist's Site Facebook Instagram Twitter YouTube

Get ready for a mesmerizing and interactive art installation that will transport you to a world where color collides with motion. Los Trompos features larger-than-life, three-dimensional spinning tops in a kaleidoscope of vibrant colors and intricate designs as traditionally woven by Mexican artisans. Los Trompos (Spinning Tops) draws inspiration from a toy popular with children around the world since the dawn of time. These colorful, large-scale, and interactive installations engage visitors in meaningful ways to give new significance to the art of play. As you interact with each spinning top, you’ll become part of the art itself, creating a symphony of motion unique to each person who experiences it. Great for all ages, this installation is sure to awaken your sense of wonder and leave you with a newfound appreciation for the beauty of the world around us. Los Trompos will be available to students, faculty, staff, and the public in the Student Success District on the Campus Mall at the University of Arizona main campus in Tucson, AZ. Los Trompos Farewell Spin PartyThursday, November 2 | 5-7 PM | UA Mall Arizona Arts Live and the Wildcat Events Board bring you Spin Party! Say farewell to Los Trompos as we celebrate homecoming on campus this Thursday, November 2, from 5-7 PM. Live music, picnic games, activations, and of course the magic of the giant spinning tops combine for an evening of fun! Registration is not required. This family-friendly event is free and open to the public! Héctor Esrawe Ignacio Cadena Facebook Esrawe Studio Cadena Concepts

Explore the history of Chilean music under social regimes in a powerful performance by powerhouse artist Nano Stern who weaves together indigenous, African, and European elements into a groundbreaking sound entirely his own. Don’t miss an unforgettable evening of musical virtuosity and poetic advocacy for social justice coming to Hotel Congress. Hailed by folk legend Joan Baez as “the best young Chilean songwriter of his generation,” Nano Stern’s artistry knows no bounds. With a masterful command of multiple instruments and languages, he brings a fresh and relevant perspective to his music. His closest companions on stage remain, simply, his guitar and staggering vocals. In 2023, as the world commemorates 50 years since the coup d’état in Chile, Nano Stern revisits the songs of legendary folk singer Víctor Jara, who personifies the spirit of the day through his timeless music and poetry. With austere virtuosity, Stern gives new breath to this immortal repertoire. As a political and outspoken activist, Nano Stern has crafted a unique musical language that blends the youthful exuberance of folk music with the depth of classical and jazz training, all infused with the powerful spirit of traditional Chilean revolutionary songs. There is a rare power and beauty to a Nano Stern performance. Don’t miss this chance to experience the magic of Nano Stern live on stage in an evening that transcends borders, languages, and cultures. Documentary Screening: En Septiembre Canta El Gallo OCT 11 | UPDATED: 6:00 PM | CCP Auditorium, FREE to attend We’ll Be Singing by September is a feature documentary exploring the history, development, and transcendence of Chilean music during the socialist government of Salvador Allende. Throughout a series of interviews with the most prominent figures of the Nueva Canción Chilena, stop-motion animation and never-before-seen archival material, the film travels back to a time when music, creativity, social movements and political force aligned to give birth to an artistic revolution whose songs still resonate throughout the world. September 11 marks the 50th anniversary of the overthrow of Salvador Allende’s democratically-elected government by the military with the backing of the U.S. government. Be sure to stay for the Q&A with Chilean musician and film producer, Nano Stern. Artist's Site Facebook Instagram Twitter YouTube

Death is not the end. Music, dance, theatre, and folklore combine in this enthralling new production celebrating life and death in the spirit of the Indigenous/Mexican practice known as Day of the Dead. Step into the colorful, spellbinding realm of Hasta La Muerte by the sonic explosion of Las Cafeteras. From the imagination of Las Cafeteras, Hasta La Muerte is a vibrant musical adventure exploring the stages of grief and loss through the celebration of life and death. Follow along as La Catrina (Patron Saint of the Dead) returns every Dia de los Muertos to console the living and guide the dead to the afterlife. Watch as she encounters the spirits of La Llorona, La Bruja, and young migrants crossing the borders in a powerfully moving testament to the universal power of storytelling as a form of processing grief and sharing love with those in the beyond. Join us at 6 PM on the Centennial Hall Patio for our first ever Día de los Muertos fiesta, featuring an unmissable collaborative performance with Las Azaleas mariachi and larger-than-life Red Herring Puppets, a taco bar by Taco Stop, festive snacks and drinks, arts and crafts, and an altar in memory of our passed loved ones. Guests are also invited to bring ofrendas of food, drink, incense, flowers, or photos for our altar outside of Centennial Hall. Join us for a full evening of vibrant fun—we hope to see you there! Born and raised in East Los Angeles, Las Cafeteras are remixing roots music as modern-day troubadours with their medley of Afro-Mexican rhythms, electronic beats, and powerful rhymes. Their electrifying traditional instrumentation, like the 8-string Jarana, 4-string Requinto, Quijada (donkey jawbone), and Tarima (a wooden platform) echo their deep roots in Chicano pride. Artist's Site Facebook Instagram Twitter YouTube

Love, loss, and creation merge in unexpected ways in this visually stunning retelling of Mary Shelley’s classic Gothic tale, Frankenstein. Chicago-based Manual Cinema imaginatively combines shadow puppetry, cinematic techniques, sound effects, and hauntingly beautiful live music to take you on a twisted journey like you’ve never experienced! Manual Cinema stitches together the classic tale of Frankenstein with the biography of the original novel’s author, Mary Shelley, to create an unexpected story about the beauty and horror of creation. The real-life and fictional narratives of Shelley, Victor Frankenstein, and Frankenstein’s monster expose how family, community, and education shape personhood – or destroy it by their absence. Watch this stunning production come to life using over 400 puppets, overhead projection, live video, and a hauntingly beautiful score performed live. Commissioned and premiered by The Court Theatre in Chicago in November 2018, with additional commissioning support provided by the University of California, Berkeley, Frankenstein was initially developed with The Public Theater’s Devised Theater Initiative in a research residency partnership with the University of Colorado, Colorado Springs, with assistance from the Orchard Project Ari Edelson, Artistic Director. The show was the recipient of the 2018 Jim Henson Workshop Grant. Recommended for ages 8 and up; there are loud sounds, flashing lights, and haze. Arizona Arts Live’s Pre-show Costume contest6:30 PM -7:15 PM | Show at 7:30 | Ages 8+ Even if you don’t want to compete, we encourage you to arrive in festive dress! Folks who want to compete will be judged on effort, presentation, and creativity by members of the Arizona Arts Live community. The costume contest will run on a first come first serve basis from 6:30 PM – 7:15 PM. We’ll be there to guide you through registration, judging, and photos. Winners will be announced before the performance.  Costume or not, everyone gets a chance to celebrate their style at the photo booth! Please note: All costumes must be family-friendly and appropriate for all ages. Makeup, body paint or face paint must not come off through casual contact. No open carry of firearms. Costume weapons must meet weapons policy guidelines. For safety reasons, the following props are not allowed:Live animals (with the exception of service animals).Substances that might damage or stain facilities or other costumes and participants, i.e. fake blood, glitter, confetti, silly string, water, messy body or face paint etc.Aerosol sprays. (Please apply hairspray or hair color before you leave home.)Projectiles of any kind. Don’t throw anything. Flames, pyrotechnics or explosives of any kind.Metal bats, large wrenches, shovels, or anything that resembles anything like this.Any object or substance designed to (or which could be reasonably expected to) inflict a wound, cause injury, incapacitate, or cause death Artist's Site Facebook Instagram Twitter YouTube

Discover the power of art and compassion in a free, community-wide event with Amal Walks Across America. Join us in welcoming Little Amal, a 12-foot puppet of a 10-year-old Syrian refugee girl, to the Old Pueblo as part of her 6,000-mile journey in search of family and friends. An “international symbol of human rights” (The Guardian, 2022), Amal will travel across the United States to learn firsthand about a country that has long been a refuge for those seeking safety and opportunity. Her walk is a celebration of art, hope, and shared humanity that aims to unite communities while refocusing attention on the urgent needs of refugees and highlighting the rich cultures immigrants bring. Amal will join over 1,500 artists in 100+ local events across 35 towns and cities to learn more about the stories of the American people who established roots in these communities over the last hundred-plus years. She will begin in Boston, MA on September 7 and reach San Diego, CA on November 5. The cross-country journey will take Amal through the nation’s capital, the Midwest, the South, and across the Southern border, before heading north to Los Angeles. Walk with Amal Across America. One Little Girl. One Big Hope. Schedule of Events 6 AM: Sunrise on Cemamagi Du’ag Desert Laboratory at Tumamoc Hill1675 W. Anklam Road, Tucson, AZ Little Amal joins hundreds of Tucsonans to climb the oldest continuously inhabited hill in the US and to catch a magical sunrise over the saguaros. She witnesses a land blessing and is reminded that she walks on ancestral lands. 9 AM: İBienvenida a Nuestro Barrio! Galeria Mitotera802 S. 4th Ave, Tucson, AZ On her way from Tumamoc, Amal will notice the rich history of our Chicanx, Mexican, and Indigenous communities. The smell of home-cooked foods and the sounds of music will fill the air upon her arrival at Galeria Mitotera’s community art space. Amal will be welcomed to our Barrio of South Tucson with a seat at our community breakfast table, performances by local mariachi and folklórico groups, and a fun-filled pinata breaking with her new friends in South Tucson! 10 AM: Dos Vidas Car Ride Cruise through South Tucson After a warm welcome in South Tucson, Amal catches a ride with Dos Vidas Car Club and friends, and heads to a block party downtown. Along the ride, she sees vibrant neighborhood murals, crosses the threshold of iconic Five Points, and passes by beautiful Santa Cruz Church. 11 AM: İHola! A Tucson Block Party Children’s Museum Tucson200 S. 6th Ave, Tucson, AZ After hitching a ride with Dos Vidas Car Club, Amal comes upon the Children’s Museum Tucson, where a celebration of the city’s many cultures fills the area with music, art, and food. Amal is greeted by young folklórico dancers, who lead her through the festivities, where she eventually hears the notes of home. 4:30 PM: Wildcat Welcome University of Arizona Mall1737 E. University Blvd, Tucson, AZ At the University of Arizona Tailgate, Little Amal is greeted by the University’s international community, a group of scientists and science students with their eyes on the stars. She’s swept along in the festivities around the UArizona Football game against Oregon State by the band, cheer, and football players. Artist's Site Facebook Instagram Twitter YouTube

Join Arizona Arts Live and the Rialto Theatre for Emmy Award winner and two-time Grammy Award nominee, David Cross. An inventive performer, writer, and producer, Cross has appeared in numerous critically acclaimed productions on stage and screen. On February 12, 2022, Cross premiered his comedy special, David Cross: I’m From The Future, as a live-stream event available internationally on his website. Recorded on November 8, 2021, in Brooklyn, NY, the special finds Cross reflecting on life during the pandemic, euthanizing a pet, The Gettysburg Address, the true power of wishes, and so much more. Cross’ 2019 comedy special, David Cross: Oh Come On, is available on Amazon Prime and Peacock. He was nominated for two Grammy Awards for the albums, …America…Great, and Shut Up You F***ing Baby, and his comedy special, David Cross: The Pride is Back, was named one of the 25 best stand-up comedy specials and concert films of all time by Rolling Stone in July 2015. In 2021, Cross starred in the National Geographic series, Genius: Aretha, portraying famed music producer, Jerry Wexler, opposite Cynthia Erivo as Aretha Franklin; he made guest appearances in the critically-acclaimed HBO Max miniseries, Station Eleven; and starred in the HBO Max film, 8-Bit Christmas. Other groundbreaking TV credits include Arrested Development, Goliath, The Increasingly Poor Decisions of Todd Margaret, Mr. Show with Bob and David, Freak Show, and The Ben Stiller Show. In 2020, Cross received rave reviews for his starring role in the dramatic film, The Dark Divide, and in 2018, he was part of the ensemble cast with Tom Hanks and Meryl Streep in Steven Spielberg’s The Post. Cross released the indie film Hits, which he wrote and directed, and has appeared in numerous films including Kill Your Darlings, It’s a Disaster, Abel, Year One, Waiting for Guffman, Men in Black and Men in Black II, Ghost World, Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, Pitch Perfect 2, I’m Not There, and he provided his vocal talents for several animated films, including Megamind, the Kung Fu Panda franchise and Curious George. Tickets are available online or at The Rialto Theatre Box Office. Please note, this is an 18+ show.Charity Fee: $2 from every ticket will go to support The Innocence Project which works to free the innocent, prevent wrongful convictions, and create fair, compassionate, and equitable systems of justice for everyone. Founded in 1992 by Barry C. Scheck and Peter J. Neufeld at the Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law at Yeshiva University, the organization is now an independent nonprofit. Our work is guided by science and grounded in antiracism. https://innocenceproject.org/Phone-Free Event: This event will be a phone-free experience. Use of cellphones, smart watches, smart accessories, cameras or recording devices will not be permitted in the performance space. Anyone seen using a cell phone or recording device during the performance will be immediately escorted out of the venue. We appreciate your cooperation in creating a phone-free viewing experience. Please note:  this is NOT a Yondr event.Copyright Notice: David Cross owns all rights in the content and materials, including any jokes and sketches (the “Materials”), delivered during his performance. The Materials may not be copied, translated, transmitted, displayed, distributed, or reproduced verbatim (the “Use”), in whole or in part, in any form, media, or technology now known or later developed, without the express prior written consent of David Cross. Any Use of the Materials without the express prior written consent of David Cross is strictly prohibited and shall be subject to all available legal remedies, whether in equity or at law at the cost of anyone who violates this prohibition.Clear Bag Policy: to provide a safer environment for the public and significantly expedite fan entry into our venues, Rialto Theatre & 191 Toole have instituted a clear bag policy as of March 1st, 2022. The policy limits the size and type of bags that may be brought into our venues. The following is a list of bags that will be accepted for entry: Bags that are clear plastic or vinyl and do not exceed 12in x 6in x 12in One-gallon clear plastic freezer bags (Ziplok bag or similar) Small clutch bags, approximately 5in x 7in All bags subject to search. Clear bags are available for sale at the box office. Artist's Site Facebook Instagram Twitter YouTube

Join Arizona Arts Live on Homecoming weekend to welcome home two University of Arizona dancers, Megan Garcia and Christian Blue, as they take the stage with Parson’s Dance. Known for nearly 40 years for their remarkable athleticism and stunning ensemble work, Parsons Dance brings exuberance, joy, and passion to every performance. Here’s your chance to witness the flawless grace of this internationally renowned dance company in an electric performance taking center stage at Centennial Hall. Internationally renowned Parsons Dance has captivated audiences for nearly 40 years with its energized, athletic ensemble work. Founded in 1985 by Artistic Director David Parsons and Tony Award-winning lighting designer Howell Binkley, the company has toured more than 445 cities, 30 countries, and 5 continents and has performed in notable venues worldwide. The company performs works selected from the vast and varied repertory of more than 75 works created by “one of the great movers of modern dance” (The New York Times) David Parsons. In addition, established choreographers like Trey McIntyre and Monica Bill Barnes re-stage works from the American canon on its dancers. Through its newly launched GenerationNOW Fellowship, the company offers commissions to young American choreographers whom Parsons mentors through the creative process. Artist's Site Facebook Instagram YouTube

Grammy-nominated American singer-songwriter Noah Gundersen has experimented with indie folk and acoustic rock for nearly two decades. His distinctive bold, genre-busting music has been featured in widely recognized shows including Sons of Anarchy and The Vampire Diaries. Don’t miss an electric and intimate evening taking center stage at 191 Toole! Born to a devoutly religious family, Noah Gundersen has been writing and recording music since he was 13, working his way from teenage hardcore and indie rock to creating his own distinctive strain of bold, genre-busting songcraft. A series of solo Eps –including 2011’s breakthrough FAMILY – eventually led to 2014’s self-produced full-length debut, LEDGES. CARRY THE GHOST arrived the following year, earning acclaim from the likes of NPR. Noah continued to gain popularity after his music was featured on television shows like Sons of Anarchy, The Vampire Diaries, One Tree Hill, and Nashville. Ever searching, he propelled his music toward new terrain on 2017’s WHITE NOISE, melding his increasingly potent lyrical motifs with complex electronics and startling levels of sonic intensity. The album reaped a whirlwind of critical acclaim upon its 2017 release. Consequence of Sound wrote, “…the Seattle native has evolved to become an even more striking musician, his lyrics not only burning brighter, but his arrangements fuller and more intense to match their maker.” Along with his recorded canon, Gundersen – who also maintains membership in Seattle indie rock heroes Young In The City and the all-star Americana collective known as Glorietta – has spent much of his adult life on the road, performing as headline act and support to like-minded artists spanning Emmylou Harris, Beck, City & Colour, and Josh Ritter. Artist's Site Instagram Facebook Twitter YouTube

Join Arizona Arts Live and TENWEST on a musical journey that shows that there are no borders when it comes to music. Don’t miss an evening of rockin’ folk, reggae, flamenco, and jazz fusion with Jenny and the Mexicats on the Hotel Congress stage. Jenny and the Mexicats, previously known as Pachucos y la Princesa, is composed of English trumpeter and singer Jenny Ball, Spanish percussionist David González Bernardos, and Mexican brothers Pantera Mexicat on guitar and Icho Mexicat on double bass. Formed in 2008, the band released their first Gold record in the summer of 2011. In 2014, they released their second album ‘OME’ and the first single Labios was part of the soundtrack for the movie “Amor de mis Amores” directed by Manolo Caro. The album has new songs with all the Mexicat spirit and mixes great rhythms, a lot of energy, and moments of sensitivity. Don’t miss your chance to experience a rare musical combination mixing jazz, rockabilly, folk, flamenco, reggae, and cumbia from award-winning sensation Jenny and the Mexicats. Artist's Site Instagram Facebook Twitter YouTube

Silvana Estrada sings from down deep, telling her soulful coming-of-age stories in a voice that embraces the legacy of Latin American song and carries it into the 21st Century. Don’t miss an evening with this Latin GRAMMY-winning artist presented by Arizona Arts Live and TENWEST Festival on the Hotel Congress stage. Called “one of Mexico’s greatest young talents and vocalists” by KCRW’s José Galvan, Silvana Estrada, who is 23 years old, is the new voice of a movement of independent female artists who have characterized Latin Alternative music over the past decade. She has also been recognized internationally, performing and recording with artists including Uruguayan singer/songwriter Jorge Drexler, Chile’s Mon Laferte, Catalan singer Silvia Pérez Cruz and Spanish group Love of Lesbian, as well as Natalia LaFourcade and other well-known Mexican artists. Silvana was also the first Spotify Mexico “EQUAL” artist and spotlighted in Apple Mexico’s “Up Next” program. A multi-instrumentalist, Silvana Estrada most often plays the Venezuelan cuatro guitar, whose small body and warm sound suits her hands and syncs with the rolling variations of her vocals. Raised singing Mexican son jarocho and baroque choir music, and schooled in jazz, she is an iconoclast who dismisses musical trends for a personal, poetic style that goes straight to the heart of listeners. Instagram Facebook Twitter YouTube