ERDEM & FRIENDS
Immersive Soundscapes
Wed. July 30 // 9-10pm // Music Box Lincoln (MBX)
“Like a movie, but just with sound.” Turkish composer and electronic artist Erdem Helvacioglu invites audiences into an immersive world of sound. Known for transforming guitar lines into hypnotic rhythmic structures, Erdem will collaborate live with festival artists for a one-of-a-kind improvisational set at the newly-opened Music Box in Lincoln (MBX)
Crossroads is proud to partner with the newly-minted MBX as it opens it’s State-of-the-Art sound facility available to all with the mission of developing young talent and elevating the voices of the future within our community.
RSVP HERE!
Co-presented by:
Featuring:
Aisslinn Nosky
Aisslinn Nosky returns to Nebraska Crossroads in 2026 as a featured soloist in the award-winning La Folia Global Project
Amado Espinoza
Bolivian multi-instrumentalist Amado Espinoza joins Crossroads for his debut appearance in a collaboration with Nebraska’s own Oscar Rios
Emmanuel Hovhannisyan
World renowned Duduk virtuoso Emmanuel Hovhannisyan returns to the Crossroads Music Festival for his third appearance.
Erdem Helvacıoğlu
Internationally recognized composer and sound artist Erdem Helvacıoğlu makes his Crossroads debut this season, bringing a rich background in electroacoustic music, film scoring, and genre-defying
Erik Higgins
Lincoln native and double bassist Erik Higgins is the founder and Artistic Director of the Nebraska Crossroads Music Festival, where his globally inspired musical vision
Gabe Shuford
Harpsichordist Gabe Shuford joins the La Folia Global Project in his Crossroads Debut during the 2026 Festival.
Gunner Jules
Rosebud Sioux Hip Hop artist Gunner Jules returns to Crossroads in 2026 as part of the Dream Warriors residency and performances.
Karen Becker
Karen Becker joins the Nebraska Crossroads Festival Orchestra for a second year, highlighting the fruitful collaboration between local and visiting artists.
Kinan Azmeh
Clarinetist, composer, and improviser Kinan Azmeh—this year’s Guest Curator for the 2025 Festival—brings a genre-bending voice shaped by global collaborations and deep musical storytelling. Born
Marie Sønderskov
Flutist and composer Marie Sønderskov returns to the Crossroads Festival with her signature blend of sound exploration, extended techniques, and cross-genre collaboration. A frequent festival
Mic Jordan
Mic Jordan returns to Crossroads as part of the multi-year Dream Warriors Project, a collaboration with the Indigenous Hip-Hop collective, Dream Warriors
Mixed Harmony
The original Cuban band Mixed Harmony returns to Crossroads for a third appearance.
Olga Smola
Olga Smola is a founding artist and Executive Director of the Nebraska Crossroads Music Festival. A globally touring violinist and UNO professor, she blends classical,
Rajib Karmakar
Sitar virtuoso Rajib Karmakar returns to Crossroads for a second appearance with Tabla master Sandeep Das during the 2026 festival.
Sandeep Das
Sandeep Das returns for his third Crossroads appearance with his virtuosic and multi-faceted music-making.
Tall Paul
Anishinaabe rapper Tall Paul returns to Crossroads for another recording residency & performance with the Festival’s Dream Warriors Project.
TONE
Minnesota MC TONE returns to Crossroads for another recording residency and performance with the Dream Warriors Project
Valeri Tolstov
Valeri Tolstov returns as a guest composer to for the 2026 Nebraska Crossroads Music Festival with works featured in multiple festival performances.