2026 Haverhill

August 14-16, 2026 – private location

Organizers: Dei Xhrist and Paul Kafka-Gibbons

XFest is an annual weekend of deep listening and observation, with performers assigned to unfamiliar ensembles. Each performance is an opportunity for improvisation, experimentation, adaptation and shenanigans; players range from formally trained to self-taught, jazz to noise, rock to avant-garde.

Videos by RatBas/Steve Albert

Friday, August 14

Spark Purcell, Glenn Dickson, Ella Fletcher

Dan Gitlin, Paul Kafka-Gibbons, Dei Xhrist

Matt Samolis, Patrick Packard, Mike Fun

Jabe Ladoux, Scott Prato, Randy Winchester, Jonathan Fulk

Bonnie Kane, Tara Toms, John Glancy, Noah Stoeckel

Jonathan Fulk, Ella Fletcher, Noah Stoeckel, Jack MacDonald

Saturday, August 15

Joe Burgio, Dan Gitlin, Dei Xhrist

Jabe Ledoux, Paul Kafka-Gibbons, Spark Purcell, Paul Paradis

Tara Toms, Adric Giles, Steve

Randy Winchester, Ed Brandon Jr., Patrick Packard

Scott Prato, Jon Wobesky, Glenn Dickson, Caitlyn

Bonnie Kane, Jonathan Fulk

Workshops

Sound Bath by Jabe Ledoux

Intro to Western Music Scale by Paul Paradis

Improv Workshop by Dei Xhrist