The Facts
On September 23, 2026, the Walker Art Center announced it will present HUG, a collaborative project featuring indie-folk musician Devendra Banhart, guitarist-composer Gyan Riley, and producer Noah Georgeson, on Wednesday, October 14, 2026, at 7:30 pm in the McGuire Theater. The performance will bring to life the trio's self-titled debut album, released September 11 on David Byrne's Luaka Bop label, paired with screenings of Harry Smith's films "Early Abstractions" and "Heaven and Earth Magic." Pitchfork described the album as an intimate display of ambient folk and intricate guitar, incorporating field recordings such as water gurgles and frog croaks. Banhart, known for his eclectic folk style and breakthrough album "Cripple Crow" (2005), has collaborated with Beck and Norah Jones; Riley has performed with Paul Simon and the Kronos Quartet; Georgeson has worked with Joanna Newsom and received a JUNO Award.
The Signal
The collaboration marks a rare convergence of three accomplished musicians from California's indie-folk scene, performing together as equals in an intimate theater setting. For collectors and curators tracking cross-disciplinary projects, the inclusion of Harry Smith's avant-garde films signals a deliberate alignment of folk tradition with experimental visual art, a curatorial strategy the Walker frequently employs. The event underscores the institution's commitment to presenting music that blurs genre boundaries, potentially appealing to audiences who value artist-driven, non-commercial productions in a live context.
- Artists: Devendra Banhart, Gyan Riley, Noah Georgeson
- Museums: Walker Art Center
- Locations: Minneapolis
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