Third Coast Percussion (TCP), a GRAMMY® Award-winning Chicago-based percussion quartet and GRAMMY®-nominated composer collective, announces a robust schedule chock-full of programming for Rhythm Fest, an epic one-day celebration in honor of the ensemble’s 20th anniversary season. With a total of 30+ hours of performances, Rhythm Fest takes place on Saturday, June 28, 2025 from noon to 10 p.m., activating the entire space of Epiphany Center for the Arts (201 S. Ashland Ave.). TCP will be joined by longtime friends, new collaborators, and percussion legends for performances, a sound and film installation by Glenn Kotche (of Wilco), and family fun, culminating in a finale concert featuring the Chicago Premiere of late tabla master Zakir Hussain’s piece for TCP entitled Murmurs in Time, performed by TCP and tabla virtuoso Salar Nader. Other guest artists include Clarice Assad, Tyondai Braxton, Michael Burritt, Jlin, Jessie Montgomery, and Conrad Tao, among others. Tickets are all-access and provide admission to every performance, event, and installation. General Admission Passes are $60, and a limited amount of VIP tickets are available for $120 and include priority access and unique Rhythm Fest gifts. Student tickets are available at $30. For updates and tickets for the all-ages event, visit www.thirdcoastpercussion.com.
David Skidmore, Third Coast Percussion’s Executive Director and ensemble member, talks about the meaning behind celebrating the journey of the past 20 years: “Rhythm Fest marks the 20th anniversary of our first-ever public performance at Northwestern University in 2005. For this milestone occasion, we are incredibly excited to celebrate with our longtime friends and collaborators, plus new collaborators and our mentors, as we continue the journey of inclusive collaboration, innovation, and community-building through music. We are particularly thrilled to share this meaningful moment with our hometown audiences. TCP was born right here in Chicago, and this city has nurtured us and allowed us to blossom into a global success—thank you, Chicago!”
The festival schedule is as follows:
Epiphany Hall
2:30 p.m.: Michael Burritt, Ivan Trevino, and Jacob Nissly (percussion)
5:00 p.m.: Conrad Tao (piano & electronics)
7:30 p.m. (festival finale): Third Coast Percussion and Salar Nader (tabla), with special guests Michael Burritt, Ivan Trevino, Clarice Assad, Jlin, and more
9:00 p.m. (after party): Jlin (electronics)
Chase House
1:45 p.m.: Hot Second (percussion and violin)
2:30 p.m.: Making Waves Jam Session (family music fun)
3:45 p.m.: Ensemble Dal Niente (experimental chamber music ensemble)
4:15 p.m.: ~Nois (saxophone quartet)
6:45 p.m.: Tim Munro (flute)
Catacombs
1:00 p.m.: George Hurd (electronics)
1:30 p.m.: Elori Saxl (electronics)
3:30 p.m.: Tyondai Braxton (electronics)
Sanctuary
1:00 p.m.: Nick Zoulek (saxophone)
1:30 p.m.: Machado Mijiga (multi-instrumentalist)
2:00 p.m.: Ayanna Woods (vocals, bass, guitar)
3:30 p.m.: Beyond This Point (percussion & theatre)
4:00 p.m.: Jessie Montgomery presents the Tahirah Whittington Sessions (string quartet, electric bass, poetry)
6:00 p.m.: Clarice Assad (multi-instrumentalist, voice & piano)
Courtyard
12:00 p.m.: Drum Circle with Third Coast Percussion
1:00 p.m.: Family Music Jam with Meaghan Heinrich
Guild Room
All day: Sound and film installation by Glenn Kotche
Adding to the lively celebration, dance artist Cameron Murphy will deliver live performances, with details to be announced soon.
This event is made possible by lead support from the DEW Foundation, with additional support from members of Third Coast Percussion’s Chicago Circle. Third Coast Percussion’s 2024/2025 Chicago Season is generously supported by members of TCP’s Chicago Circle, and the Paul M. Angell Family Foundation. Third Coast Percussion acknowledges support from the Illinois Arts Council Agency and a CityArts grant from the Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events.
About Third Coast Percussion and its 20 years
Third Coast Percussion (comprised of Sean Connors, Robert Dillon, Peter Martin, David Skidmore) is a GRAMMY® Award-winning Chicago-based percussion quartet and GRAMMY®-nominated composer collective. For two decades, the ensemble has created exciting and unexpected performances that constantly redefine the classical music experience. The ensemble has been praised around the country for “commandingly elegant” (New York Times) performances, the “rare power” (Washington Post) of its recordings, and “an inspirational sense of fun and curiosity” (Minnesota Star-Tribune). A commission for a new work from composer Augusta Read Thomas in 2012 led to the realization that commissioning new musical works can be—and should be—as collaborative as any other artistic partnership. Through extensive workshopping and close contact with composers, Third Coast Percussion has commissioned and premiered new works by Philip Glass, Missy Mazzoli, Clarice Assad, Gemma Peacocke, Flutronix, Jlin, Tyondai Braxton, Augusta Read Thomas, Devonté Hynes, Georg Friedrich Haas, Donnacha Dennehy, Glenn Kotche, Christopher Cerrone, and David T. Little, among others, in addition to many of today’s leading up-and-coming composers through its Currents Creative Partnership program. Third Coast Percussion currently serves as ensemble-in-residence at Denison University.
Since 2015, TCP has released 23 feature albums, and appeared on 14 additional collaborative releases, gaining over 5 million listeners and 10 million streams on Spotify. Through extensive workshopping and close contact with composers, TCP has commissioned and premiered 125 new works. Bringing their uniquely compelling programs worldwide, TCP maintains a busy tour schedule, with past performances in 41 of the 50 states and Washington, D.C., plus international tour dates across four continents and 13 countries, amassing more than 300,000 audience members globally over two decades.
In its hometown of Chicago, TCP has always maintained strong ties to the vibrant artistic community. It has collaborated with Chicago institutions including Hubbard Street Dance Chicago, the Uniting Voices Chicago choir, the Civic Orchestra of Chicago, Chicago Humanities Festival, and the Adler Planetarium. TCP has performed at the grand opening of Maggie Daley Children’s Park; conducted residencies at the University of Chicago and the Civic Orchestra of Chicago; created multi-year collaborative projects with Chicago-based composers Jessie Montgomery, Clarice and Sérgio Assad, Augusta Read Thomas, Glenn Kotche, and chamber ensemble Eighth Blackbird; and taught tens-of-thousands of students through partnerships with Uniting Voices Chicago, The People’s Music School, the Chicago Park District, Rush Hour Concerts, Urban Gateways, Changing Worlds and others.
More information on Third Coast Percussion HERE.