Death & Music

STG Presents and KEXP welcomes Death & Music at the Moore Theater on Sunday, November 12th. DJ John Richards and Dr. Amy Lindsey invite you for an evening that navigates the delicate intersection of life, loss, and the emotive power of music.

With special guest speakers:

Adam Peters

In tribute to Rachel Marshall

Lisa Esztergalyos

In tribute to Ken Schiele

Performances by:

Jimmy James

Jimmy James is a Seattle-based musician who has earned praise for being one of the best guitar players in contemporary music. Whether taking his work in the Emerald City funk band the True Loves or with the twice-Billboard chart-topping band DLO3, James has earned praise from Guitar World Magazine, KEXP, American Songwriter Magazine and many more. James, who has toured the globe many times over, has worked with Colemine Records, opened for Mavis Staples, performed with Sharon Jones and, as he looks ahead, knows the world is his oyster thanks to his six-string superpowers.

Maya Marie

Bringing an unforgettable presence to any stage, Maya Marie will captivate an audience as her soulful voice and kicks a beat into your heart. Backed by the grit of rock, soul, and blues, she inspires the audience to let go and liberate themselves while digging up her truths from the depths of her soul.

Passenger String Quartet

The Passenger String Quartet is an experimental neo-classical group, the brainchild of Northwest composer/violinist Andrew Joslyn. The group is in high demand as studio session musicians, touring & performing original compositions, as well as backing a wide variety of regional, and national touring groups. Andrew Joslyn, composer, orchestrator, and first violinist for the Passenger String Quartet is an award-winning musical polymath whose passion for collaboration has led him to work with a remarkably diverse group of world-class artists, touring the world, performing, co-writing, and arranging music on over 400 songs throughout his career.

Riz Rollins

After growing up on the South Side of Chicago for 25 years, Riz Rollins moved to the vibrant tapestry of 1990s Seattle. Here, with his distinctive style and a spiritual essence drawn from the black church and black hippie open-mindedness, he became a cultural icon. Positioned as one of the city's representatives of a progressive and transformative era, Riz's influence extended beyond the dance beats and neon lights of Re-bar, where his DJ sets, rooted in gospel-infused spirituality and theological education, became sonic sermons in a cultural church, highlighting the infinite flexibility of human culture. His impact resonated further on KEXP, where his shows, Drive Time on Mondays and long running Expansions, showcased a fearless and multicultural approach. Through beats and rhythms, Riz continues to impress a lasting mark on Seattle's identity, emphasizing the transformative power of spirituality within the realm of music and movement.

Shaina Shepherd

Known for her pervasive style, a soul-grunge frontwoman turned piano songstress, Shaina Shepherd's raw vocal center in rock and gospel. Her heart songs, steeped in American folk and Outlaw grit, have earned her the nickname "Tina Simone" as the soul-sonic world she conjures rebellion and salvation. Living in the city where both Pearl Jam and Quincy Jones cut their teeth, Shepherd started her music career as the lead singer of BEARAXE. She has since gone on to collaborate with Duff McKagen, members of Soundgarden, tour with The Head in the Heart and Lee Fields, been featured in a Nordstrom campaign and partnered in a host of creative collaborations that have primed her for first solo project. Shaina is a music teacher who serves on board at SMASH and as Vito f member of the PNW Grammy Chapter.

Tomo Nakayama

Born in Japan and raised in Seattle, Washington, Tomo Nakayama is an artist whose melodic, complex, and emotionally compelling music has been praised by NPR, New York Times, and The Stranger. His latest album “Melonday” was named one of the Top Albums of the year by Seattle Times, KEXP, and Seattle Met Magazine, and debuted at #1 on KEXP’s NW Charts.

Connect with the KEXP community in a shared space on an occasion for collective pause, acknowledgment, remembrance, and quiet contemplation of the deep impact music has in our lives. Explore with us the intricate emotions tied to loss and finding solace in the language of music in an evening of calm introspection and shared insight.