Jake Blount announced for Tønder Festival in August 2026

Jake Blount, the award-winning interpreter of Black folk music from Providence, RI, continues to expand the possibilities of tradition with his boundary-breaking, Afrofuturist approach. Known for transforming the banjo, fiddle, electric guitar and synthesizer into ceremonial tools of ancestral storytelling, Blount merges centuries-old song traditions with modern Black genres in performances that range from intimate solo sets to ecstatic, full-band festival moments. His acclaimed Smithsonian Folkways releases symbiont (2024) and The New Faith (2022) have cemented his reputation as a “genrequeer” visionary whose music occupies the very archives that inspire it.

Fresh off appearances at venues such as Carnegie Hall, Newport Folk Festival and NPR’s Tiny Desk, Blount’s star continues to rise with each ambitious project. His work—featured on “best of year” lists from Rolling Stone, NPR, The Guardian and more—has led to collaborations with artists including Adia Victoria, Mali Obomsawin and the Kronos Quartet, as well as a consulting role on Ryan Coogler’s 2025 film Sinners. Now, Blount adds another milestone to his global journey: he is officially confirmed to perform at Denmark’s renowned Tønder Festival in August 2026. The announcement places him among a select group of international artists celebrated for pushing the boundaries of folk tradition, further underscoring his growing impact on stages around the world.