The opening concert of the 2025 New Directions Cello Festival features the beautiful stripped down indie-folk songwriting and clever lyrics of Yeemz (who recently opened for indie rock heavyweights American Football), followed by the contemporary loop-based music of Christoher Hoffman, who has collaborated with an incredible range of artists from Martin Scorsese to Yoko Ono to Iron and Wine.  The night will be capped off with cellist Mike Block's Biriba Union (featuring rapper/beatboxer Christylez Bacon and bassist Patricia Ligia), who draw on the freestyle theatrics of hip hop and go-go music, the effortless beauty of Brazilian forró and choro; the earthiness of American roots music and the improvisational spontaneity of jazz.  Check out the videos below to hear the music from these three amazing artists/projects.

Since its inception at New York City’s Knitting Factory in 1995, the New Directions Cello Festival has provided an international forum for the exchange of music and ideas for creative and alternative cellists of all ages, levels and backgrounds. With a “big tent” ethos, New Directions embraces all styles of music, particularly those not commonly taught at conservatories and music schools and especially those that incorporate improvisation. Cellist participants come from all over the US and abroad for a weekend of workshops, concerts, panels and jam sessions with some of the most innovative cellists working today.

Friday 6/27

7pm: yeemz
8pm: Christopher Hoffman
9pm: Mike Block and Biribá Union