Pitchfork

As if he isn't busy enough playing in both the National and Clogs, Bryce Dessner has somehow found the time to curate the second annual Music Now festival in Cincinnati.

The event, which is scheduled to run from April 5-7 at Memorial Hall, features Sufjan Stevens, Clogs, My Brightest Diamond, Sigur Rós pals Amiina, Czech cellists/multi-instrumentalists Irena and Vojtech Havel, and the U.S. debut of Spanish flamenco guitarist Pedro Soler.

Now here's where things get interesting (and, at times, incestuous): Both Sufjan and Amiina's Maria Sigfúsdóttir are lined up to perform with separate string quartets. Sufjan will also play with some as-of-yet unannounced special guests. My Brightest Diamond's Shara Worden will lend vocals to both Suf and Clogs. And finally, Clogs will, with the help of special guests Worden, Aaron Dessner (of the National), and percussionist David Cossin, premiere new material by their violinist/composer, Padma Newsome (also of the National). Whew!