Quietly Brilliant: Talk Low Tunes In
Cincinnati is once again taking its place on the map of cities where adventurous music is not only welcomed but celebrated. The Talk Low Music Festival, presented by Whited Sepulchre Records, returns September 26–28 with a fourth day extension on September 29. Now in its second year, the festival sprawls across the Contemporary Arts Center, Memorial Hall, Christ Church Cathedral, Homemakers Bar, and the Mercantile Library, creating a citywide canvas for experimental sound.
The festival is organized by Ryan Hall, founder of Whited Sepulchre Records, alongside Britni Bicknaver and Brianna Matzke, executive director of concert:nova. Their vision builds on the foundation of past local institutions like MusicNOW, launched by Bryce Dessner of The National, and No Response Festival, curating a tradition that makes Cincinnati a home for risk-taking art.
A Lineup That Defies Boundaries
This year’s roster is a study in contrasts and collaborations, bringing together pioneers and provocateurs.
Yoni Wolf
clipping., the Los Angeles experimental rap group led by Daveed Diggs of Hamilton and Blindspotting, headlines with noise-driven beats and cinematic wordplay.
Moor Mother, poet and activist, brings work that straddles Afrofuturism and social critique.
Kelly Moran, a pianist celebrated for prepared piano techniques and electronic textures, pairs virtuosity with innovation.
Nadah El Shazly from Cairo expands the global reach with a blend of Egyptian folk influences and electronic soundscapes.
Sarah Davachi, known for organ-based compositions, turns minimalist sound into immersive environments.
White Boy Scream, the operatic project of Micaela Tobin, explores the intersection of classical technique and experimental noise.
Cole Pulice, an Oakland saxophonist, crafts ambient improvisations rooted in texture and tone.
WHY? x concert:nova, featuring Cincinnati’s own Yoni Wolf, underscores the local collaborative spirit that runs throughout the festival.
Additions like Fritz Pape, Chris Corsano, JJJJJerome Ellis, Joy Guidry, and SHERMVN & Victoria Lekson bring layers of improvisation, radical storytelling, and communal listening to the schedule.
Beyond the Concert Stage
Talk Low is more than a concert series. It is a festival that seeks to transform Cincinnati into a laboratory for listening. Educational workshops, free community events, and site-specific performances in venues from cathedrals to cocktail bars highlight the commitment to placemaking.
On Sunday, September 29, the Mercantile Library will host Borrowed Landscape, a “narratorio” by Japanese-British composer Dai Fujikura. Performed by actors and musicians from concert:nova, the piece tells the stories of three instruments that survived the Second World War: a Hiroshima piano, a Polish double bass, and a Stradivarius violin from Budapest. Fujikura himself will be present for a post-performance conversation, making the event as much about history and memory as it is about music.
Accessibility and Inclusion
One of Talk Low’s defining features is its balance of free and ticketed events. Afternoon concerts such as JJJJJerome Ellis and Sarah Davachi at Christ Church Cathedral and the IRIS ALLOY Disability and the Arts panel with Molly Joyce are open to all at no cost. These offerings allow audiences unfamiliar with experimental music to encounter it in welcoming contexts while lowering barriers to entry.
At the same time, evening performances at the Contemporary Arts Center and Memorial Hall showcase major names in experimental music and place Cincinnati alongside festivals such as Big Ears in Knoxville and Time:Spans in New York.
Cultural and Economic Impact
Festivals like Talk Low are more than entertainment. They draw visitors, strengthen local businesses, and demonstrate that Cincinnati’s cultural fabric can compete nationally. By staging performances in nontraditional venues, the festival generates foot traffic across neighborhoods and supports creative placemaking strategies.
This impact is supported by funding from the Carol Ann and Ralph V. Haile, Jr. Foundation and sponsorships from partners including Rhinegeist, Downbound Books, Feel It Records, Fuse Studios, and Sessions Vinyl. Talk Low also operates under the fiscal sponsorship of the International Foundation for Contemporary Music, giving supporters a way to contribute tax-deductible donations.
Schedule Overview
Friday, Sept. 26, 7–11 p.m., Contemporary Arts Center: Fritz Pape, White Boy Scream, Cole Pulice
Saturday, Sept. 27, Afternoon & Evening: Chris Corsano at Homemakers Bar, JJJJJerome Ellis and Sarah Davachi at Christ Church Cathedral (free), SHERMVN & Victoria Lekson, Joy Guidry, Moor Mother at Contemporary Arts Center
Sunday, Sept. 28, Memorial Hall: IRIS ALLOY Disability and the Arts panel with Molly Joyce (free), Pre-Concert Reception with Jess Lamb & Friends featuring Siri Imani, evening concert with Kelly Moran, WHY? x concert:nova, and clipping.
Monday, Sept. 29, Mercantile Library: Borrowed Landscape by Dai Fujikura performed by concert:nova
How to Join
Early bird weekend passes and single-day tickets are available on Eventbrite and Memorial Hall’s ticketing site. Festival information, playlists, and updates can be found at talklowfest.com.
Talk Low makes Cincinnati a destination for world-class experimental sound, advancing both cultural and economic life. For a city that has long valued its arts institutions, it is a chance to hear what the future of music might sound like when it is allowed to whisper, shout, and echo across spaces built for community.