May 13 Wednesday
Welcomed by KNKX. Frank Vignola is one of the most extraordinary guitarists performing before the public today. His stunning virtuosity has made him the guitarist of choice for many of the world’s top musicians, including Ringo Starr, Madonna, Donald Fagen, John Lewis, Tommy Emmanuel, Lionel Hampton, the Boston Pops, the New York Pops, and guitar legend Les Paul, who named Vignola to his “Five Most Admired Guitarists List:” for the Wall Street Journal.
His dynamic genre-spanning music has brought him to 21 countries on three continents – and still growing – performing in some of the world’s most illustrious venues, including the Sydney Opera House, Carnegie Hall, The Palace of Fine Arts in San Francisco, New York’s Lincoln Center, The Blue Note, and the world’s oldest indoor concert hall, Teatro Olimpico in Vicenza, Italy.
Pasquale Grasso - It was the kind of endorsement most rising guitarists can only dream of, and then some. In his interview for Vintage Guitar magazine’s February 2016 cover story, Pat Metheny was asked to name some younger musicians who’d impressed him. “The best guitar player I’ve heard in maybe my entire life is floating around now, Pasquale Grasso,” said the jazz-guitar icon and NEA Jazz Master. “This guy is doing something so amazingly musical and so difficult. “Mostly what I hear now are guitar players who sound a little bit like me mixed with a little bit of [John Scofield] and a little bit of [Bill Frisell],” he continued. “What’s interesting about Pasquale is that he doesn’t sound anything like that at all. In a way, it is a little bit of a throwback, because his model—which is an incredible model to have—is Bud Powell. He has somehow captured the essence of that language from piano onto guitar in a way that almost nobody has ever addressed. He’s the most significant new guy I’ve heard in many, many years.”
May 14 Thursday
Sponsored by KNKX. The 52nd annual Seattle International Film Festival will take place May 7–17, 2026 at SIFF Cinemas and venues throughout the city. The unique feeling of being truly immersed in the world of independent film, sharing the theater with a vibrant community unlike anywhere else.
Discover the SIFF Effect for yourself at the 52nd annual Seattle International Film Festival. You’ll be able to experiment with a lineup of films from over 80 countries, with the power to activate the full spectrum of emotions and sensations. The result is total engagement with film on every level. It’s all happening in person, May 7-17 in the heart of Seattle.
The Seattle International Film Festival will open for an electrifying 52nd year with Boots Riley’s I Love Boosters as the catalyst of the Festival's annual offering of cinema experiences from around the world. The film will be shown at the Paramount Theatre at 7 p.m., followed by the Opening Night afterparty at Cannonball Arts (1930 3rd Ave), a one-of-a-kind space for artistic experimentation. Guests are invited to explore the gallery exhibits, a signature photo activation, food, drinks, and a live set from DJ Eliogold, the artist behind the festival's official trailer music.
KNKX presents these films during the Festival:
Birds of War - May 8, 6:15 p.m. and May 9, 12:15 p.m. at SIFF Cinema UptownLebanese journalist Janay Boulos and Syrian activist and cameraman Abd Alkader Habak share their extraordinary love story, told through 13 years of personal archives spanning revolutions, war, and exile.
Powwow People - May 16, 2:30 p.m. at SIFF Cinema Downtown and May 17, 4:30 p.m. at SIFF Cinema UptownAs an immersive, observational story, Powwow People invites audiences to witness the unfolding of a powwow over the course of a single day. Emcee Reuben Little Head is the perfect guide, grounded, generous, and often hilarious. The film's final 30-minute long take is deeply inclusive, creating space for viewers to simply be present with community. It's a powerful reminder that to witness in this way is a privilege and a blessing.
Kavita Shah is an award-winning jazz vocalist, composer, researcher, polyglot, and educator. A native New Yorker hailed for possessing an “amazing dexterity for musical languages” (NPR), Shah traces the hidden songlines between cultures. Her projects include Visions (2014), co-produced by Lionel Loueke, Folk Songs of Naboréa (2017), commissioned by Jason Moran for the Park Avenue Armory, Interplay (2018), a duo album with bassist François Moutin nominated for France’s Victoires de la Musique for Jazz Album of the Year, and Cape Verdean Blues (2023), a “gorgeous” (The Guardian) tribute to legendary singer Cesária Évora. Shah was a featured vocalist on NEA Jazz Master Kenny Barron's "Songbook" (2025) and Miho Hazama's GRAMMY-nominated "Dancer in Nowhere" (2019). USA performance highlights include Chicago World Music Festival, San Jose Jazz Festival, Central Park SummerStage, Kennedy Center, MASS MoCA, and more.
Experience the beauty of North Central Washington at the 24th annual Leavenworth Spring Bird Fest from May 14–17, 2026. This year’s festival features over 30 expert-led field trips tailored for all skill levels—from canyon hikes to riparian walks—alongside a fascinating keynote presentation by raptor ecologist Dr. Neil Paprocki on the GPS-tracked movements of Red-tailed and Rough-legged Hawks. Attendees can explore the nature-inspired work of Spotlight Artist Carleen Ormbrek Zimmerman at the River Haus gallery, join the vibrant Community Fair on Saturday for live music and hands-on activities, and wrap up the day with the festive Birders’ BBQ on the Wenatchee River Institute lawn. Whether you're a seasoned birder or a curious newcomer, Bird Fest offers a unique opportunity to celebrate wildlife, conservation, and the peak of wildflower season in the heart of the Cascades.
Leavenworth National Fish hatchery has over five miles of flat, easy trails that pass through a variety of pine forest, open meadow, and stream side habitats and are home to a variety of birds! Stop by the visitor center to pick up your trail map and bird list to start you self-guided bird walk. visitor center is open 8-4:30 daily. Outside of those hours the brochure with information will be available to pick up just outside the visitor center on the wooden board. Benches along the trail offer excellent bird viewing (especially in the morning hours) and make this a great activity for families or birders who appreciate resting spots along the way. Registration is not required for this self-led walk.
It’s never too early to discover the wonderful world of birds! Join staff at Leavenworth National Fish Hatchery for a birding adventure as we spot different birds around the hatchery grounds. Lifelike bird models make good practice subjects and we will certainly spot some live birds too. Kids binoculars and monoculars provided.
In celebration of its 30th anniversary, the Washington State Historical Society invites you to explore the history of building the State History Museum. 30 Years and Counting: The Making of the Washington State History Museum is a special exhibition that uncovers the vision, effort, and community spirit that brought this iconic Tacoma landmark to life.
Discover the bold ideas and architectural ingenuity that shaped the museum’s distinctive look. From early sketches to final blueprints, see how the building’s design reflects both innovation and reverence for Washington’s past. Go behind the scenes of the museum’s construction. Through photographs and artifacts from the building process, witness how a dream took shape—brick by brick, beam by beam.
Staff Picks: 30 Objects for 30 Years
In a special feature area, museum staff share their favorite objects from the collection—each one a personal reflection on the power of history to inspire, surprise, and connect us.
Never Turn Back: Echoes of African American Music unveils the profound legacy of Gospel, Blues, Jazz, and Soul artists who shaped the soundscape of American culture and used their music as instruments of resistance, identity, and representation.
Gospel, Blues, Jazz, and Soul embody the profound influence of African American music on culture and history. From the spiritual foundations and transformative movements of Gospel hymns to the revolutionary improvisations of Jazz, the Blues’ Southern roots rising from the Mississippi Delta, and Soul’s powerful amplification of the Civil Rights and Black Power Movements, these genres have defined the unique sound and undying spirit of a nation that continues to echo through contemporary Black music today.
This is a permanent exhibition. Since time immemorial, Tribal nations have existed in this place we call Washington. This Is Native Land invites visitors to understand Washington State through the lived experiences and voices of its Native people.
Tribal nations are sovereign nations. Today, Native history, culture, and community thrive in our state. Through everyday acts of sovereignty – big and small – Indigenous peoples demonstrate they are still here, they have persevered, and they will always be here.
This Is Native Land is guided by three teachings:We are of the land and watersWith knowledge comes responsibilitySovereignty protects people, lands, and waters
These teachings are shared through multimedia, artwork, and interactive objects designed for guest engagement. They represent a contemporary continuation of Tribal stories and traditions.
Over 100 Native contributors from more than 60 Tribes shaped the exhibition’s stories and content. We thank the Native Advisory Committee and all community participants for their contributions.
