The Kerrytown Concert House’s annual Edgefest has long prided itself on scouring the globe to bring some of the foremost artists making avant-garde music to Ann Arbor.

But the 29th edition of the four-day festival will have a decidedly more localized bent, with several artists hailing from Detroit and Chicago gracing the lineup.

This year’s festival, entitled Edgefest 29: Speaking OUT, takes place October 8-11 at Ann Arbor's Kerrytown Concert House, featuring several artists from the two Midwest cities, including Kenny Green and his Cosmic Music Collective, which is composed of members from both Detroit and Chicago.

In addition to the Cosmic Music Collective, which will play at 2 pm on Saturday, the festival also features a quartet of Detroit and Chicago artists assembled by Detroit pianist Michael Malis and Chicago percussionist Adam Shead. Their performance is scheduled for 8 pm on Friday and also features Chicago violinist Caroline Jesalva and Detroit saxophonist Salim Washington.

Kerrytown Concert House founder and Edgefest Artistic Director Deanna Relyea said she is excited to showcase Detroit and Chicago artists at the festival, which has championed the exploration of new music, both improvised and composed, since its 1997 launch.

“Each year seems to have its own life, its own kind of theme, but it's very organic,” Relyea said of Edgefest. “The people who play this music, the improvisational stuff, come from very varied backgrounds. Some come from the rock angle, some from classical, some from world music—everyone is different.

“It looks like a big Detroit, Chicago kind of connection [this year]. Detroit has a very deep history in the avant movements.”

While several of the artists hailing from Chicago and Detroit are new to the festival, Edgefest will also bring back several familiar faces, including pianist Marilyn Crispell, the recipient of the 2025 National Endowment for the Arts Jazz Masters Fellowship.

Crispell, who performs solo at 3 pm on Saturday, is one of the leading artists in avant-garde music, Relyea said. New York Times jazz critic Jon Pareles compared Crispell's solo piano playing to “monitoring an active volcano.”

“She's top of the line,” Relyea said. “She sometimes uses the piano in a melodic way, but she’s always using rhythm and even sometimes the insides of the piano.”

Other highlights of the lineup include Guggenheim-winning avant-garde jazz pianist Myra Melford, who performs at 9 pm on Thursday with her SPLASH trio featuring Michael Formanek on bass and Ches Smith on drums. Renowned saxophonist Darius Jones takes the stage at 4 pm on Saturday, joined by bassist Chris Lightcap and drummer Jason Nazary.

In addition to the performances and collaborations on tap, Edgefest also has an educational element in partnering with nearby Scarlett Middle School to have some of its artists take part in a two-day residency.

University of Michigan professor and Chair of Jazz & Contemporary Improvisation Andrew Bishop helped organize the special residency, partnering with the school’s Director of Bands Caroline Fitzgerald to offer creative activities that are outside the normal curriculum.

Students also participate in an annual parade led by composer Taylor Ho Bynum, with around 80 students, some artists from the festival, and anyone else who wants to join, performing in Kerrytown. During the parade, which takes place at noon on Saturday, everyone will march around the block of the Concert House loosely playing Sun Ra’s “Fate in a Pleasant Mood.”

“It’s quite shocking,” Relyea said. “It’s a heartwarming thing, actually. People don't expect it. They gather in the front yard of the concert house, and they play outrageously. This is not your traditional marching band material.”

Martin Slagter is a writer and reporter with 18 years of experience in print and digital media. He also writes about Michigan-based music in his weekly newsletter Radio Amor. 

Edgefest takes place October 8-11 at the Kerrytown Concert House, 415 North 4th Avenue, Ann Arbor. Day passes for the festival are $60 each for Wednesday through Friday and $80 for Saturday. Festival passes start at $200 each for general admission and run up to $350 each for premium reserved seating. For more info, visit kerrytownconcerthouse.com.