Community Calendar

The Jackson Theatre will present From China to Appalachia on Saturday, June 6, at 7:00 pm, in partnership with the International Storytelling Center. This unexpected trio unites two-time GRAMMY® Award winners Cathy Fink & Marcy Marxer with acclaimed Chinese hammered dulcimer artist Chao Tian for a dynamic performance where the Silk Road meets Appalachia and beyond.

Blending global traditions with inventive musicianship, the trio performs on instruments including yangqin (Chinese hammered dulcimer), gourd banjo, five-string banjo, ukulele, guitar, dumbek, cello-banjo, and mandolin. Their repertoire weaves together traditional Chinese and Appalachian music with contemporary and international works, alongside original compositions by all three artists.

Born out of friendship and a shared spirit of musical exploration, the collaboration grew from jam sessions into a touring production celebrating music as a bridge across cultures. Since 2023, the trio has toured extensively across the U.S., and their debut self-titled album has topped both folk radio and Billboard Bluegrass charts.

Cathy Fink & Marcy Marxer are an American Roots duo recognized for their masterful musicianship, rich harmonies, and a career spanning 45 years. Known as “social music conductors,” they have inspired artists including Kaki King and Rhiannon Giddens.
Chao Tian, a classically trained musician and former director at Beijing Language and Culture University, is a founding member of the university’s music department and was appointed as an officer of the International Cultural Exchange Program in 2019.
Together, the trio creates a vibrant musical experience rooted in connection, tradition, and discovery.

This event is part of the Jackson Theatre’s ongoing collaboration with the International Storytelling Center.

Punch Brothers, formed in 2006, are a virtuosic quintet featuring mandolinist Chris Thile, guitarist Chris Eldridge, bassist Paul Kowert, banjoist Noam Pikelny, and violinist Brittany Haas. Known for pushing the boundaries of acoustic music, the band has garnered critical acclaim, including a Grammy for Best Folk Album for All Ashore (2018). The Washington Post applauded them for taking “bluegrass to its next evolutionary stage, drawing equal inspiration from the brain and the heart.” Over the years, they’ve become pioneers in modern string music, with albums like Antifogmatic (2010), Who’s Feeling Young Now (2012) and The Phosphorescent Blues (2015) showcasing their genre-defying sound. Rolling Stone praised their work as “wild virtuosity used for more than just virtuosity,” cementing their reputation as trailblazers in contemporary acoustic music. Most Recently, Punch Brothers have been focused on their new musical variety show, The Energy Curfew Music Hour, with seasons one and two available on Audible and all podcasting platforms.