6 pm | STEPHAN CRUMP
Memphis-bred, Grammy-nominated, Echo Award-winning New York bassist / composer Stephan Crump (photo by Peter Gannushkin) is an active bandleader with fifteen critically-acclaimed album releases in addition to numerous film scoring contributions. Known for transforming his instrument into a speaking entity of magnetic pull, his focus on creative instrumental music has led to collaborations with many of the leading lights of his generation, most notably Vijay Iyer, in whose trio and sextet Crump played a dynamic, founding role.
He can also be heard as long-standing member of Jen Chapin Trio, Ches Smith Trio, Rez Abbasi Acoustic Quartet, Liberty Ellman Sextet, Secret Keeper (duo with Mary Halvorson), his own Rosetta Trio (with Jamie Fox, Liberty Ellman), his Rhombal quartet (with Ellery Eskelin, Adam O’Farrill, Tyshawn Sorey), as well as co-led ensembles with Kris Davis, Ingrid Laubrock, Cory Smythe, Eric McPherson, Mat Maneri, and Okkyung Lee.
6:30 pm | HAMID DRAKE & BRODIE WEST w/ PEGGY LEE
Following two turbulent and beautiful West Coast encounters a decade ago and a burning outdoor performance at Whitehern Garden in Hamilton at the 2019 Something Else! Festival, the duo of lauded Canadian saxophonist Brodie West (Eucalyptus, the Ex, Han Bennink) and beloved Chicagoan, Milano resident, master percussionist Hamid Drake (Don Cherry, Fred Anderson, William Parker, Peter Brötzmann, David Murray) continue their inspired, multifaceted dialogue in a special trio with revered Vancouver/Melbourne cellist Peggy Lee (Dave Douglas, Wayne Horvitz, Robin Holcomb, EDAM Dance, NOW Orchestra, Standing Wave) joining in! Though there are various historic plays and ties among this trio’s members, the trio is brand new, and the possibilities, the jelling of personalities, the unusual chemistry are all very exciting!
7:30 PM | GORD GRDINA & CHRISTIAN LILLINGER
The phenomenal, genre-mashing juggernaut duo Grdina/Lillinger mixes electronica, drum and bass, metal, punk, and free jazz into their explosively self-expressive sound. A force of nature on guitar and oud, Gordon Grdina and virtuosic powerhouse drummer Christian Lillinger intersperse intense, complex, spacious, heavily grooving free improv with modular composition ideas. Equal parts rock, punk, and exploratory atonality, these next-level innovators take unexpected turns at every corner, while taking their wildfire chemistry to the next level in this duo setting.
Gordon Grdina is a Vancouver-based JUNO Award-winner who has collaborated with an array of field-leading artists, including Gary Peacock, Paul Motion, Marc Ribot, Mats Gustafsson, Matt Shipp, Colin Stetson, Joëlle Léandre, and Jim Black.
Deutscher Jazzpreis Artist of the Year winner Christian Lillinger is a Berlin-based German drummer, composer and percussionist who has played with Wadada Leo Smith, William Parker, Evan Parker, Louis Sclavis, Joe Lovano, Peter Brötzmann and Tony Malaby.
Friday Evening (Early Show):
$29 advance/ $35 door (1 event, 3 sets)
Friday Evening (Late Show):
$33 advance/ 40 door (1 event, 3 sets)
Friday Evening Pass:
$50 advance/ $60 door (2 events, 6 sets)
Festival Pass:
$135 (6 ticketed events, 21 sets, up to $225 value)
Discounted Advance Tickets & Passes:
E-transfer (no fee) tix@zulapresents.org or EVENTBRITE (+fee)
No one will be refused admission for lack of funds
2026 Something Else! Festival at-a-glance
In our 13th year of operation, as Zula Presents Something Else!, we are most grateful to Department of Canadian Heritage, and The City of Hamilton for their financial support to make these festival events possible. We would also like to acknowledge and thank our partners Hamilton Public Library for their kind support and enthusiasm. As well, much gratitude goes to our diligent media partners Musicworks, Music Buddy, CFRU 93.3 FM and CFMU.