MusicNOW 2011: The National, Owen Pallett, Shara Worden, Sharon van Etten, more

MusicNOW, curated by the National’s Bryce Dessner, returns May 13-15 (same weekend as Nelsonville) in Cincinnati. Tickets on sale March 15. Full release:

March 9, 2011, Cincinnati, OH – For the sixth consecutive year, MusicNOW is proud to present a program of exciting and challenging music from some of the most adventurous artists working in music today.

This year’s festival includes Shara Worden with ymusic performing a song cycle that was developed for Lincoln Center’s acclaimed American Songbook series, a world premiere composition from Richard Reed Parry of Arcade Fire, and a Cincinnati debut from the astonishing Little Scream performing songs from her new release, The Golden Record. In addition, The National return to their hometown for their first show since 2008 and Tim Hecker, whose release “Ravedeath, 1972,” was named to Pitchfork’s Best New Music, will also appear. Sharon van Etten has caused NPR’s Robin Hilton to say, “I can’t recall hearing anything more beautiful in all my life.” Owen Pallett brings his gorgeous, looped violin and vocals to play songs that teeter between classical and pop traditions. Rounding out this year’s festival is Sounds of the South, a collaboration between rustic avant-gardists Megafaun and nine-piece jazz collective Fight the Big Bull, which revives the shape-note songs Alan Lomax collected in the rural south from 1959-1961.

Tickets for all events will be on sale March 15th at 10 am. Tickets for May 13 and 14 are available at Brown Paper Tickets and tickets for May 15 are available from Cincinnati Arts.

MusicNOW was founded in 2006 by Bryce Dessner of The National. Through the years, the festival has invited contemporary musicians and artists that take risks and do not fit neatly into genre defined categories. Past performances have included festival-only collaborations, world premiere compositions, and sold out audiences. The festival has featured musicians Justin Vernon, Joanna Newsome, Toumani Diabate, Bang on a Can, Grizzly Bear, Sufjan Stevens, Glenn Kotche, and Kyaw Kyaw Naing among others. MusicNOW is presented by Chamber Music Cincinnati.

Please visit www.musicnowfestival.org or email musicnowfestival@gmail.com for further information.