THAO, known for her distinctly evocative songwriting and dynamic, arresting performance, has continued to evolve artistically and personally since dropping the moniker “Thao & The Get Down Stay Down” in 2021. Her latest album, Temple, reflects a profound exploration of freedom and belonging, shaped by her experiences reconnecting with her cultural roots on her first trip to Vietnam. This journey is also the subject of her intimate documentary, Nobody Dies, which premiered on PBS to critical acclaim. Throughout her career, Thao has expanded her reach beyond recording and touring and glided into the realms of writing, filmmaking, television, podcasting, and theater. She has guest hosted the celebrated podcast Song Exploder, hosted PBS's Southern Storytellers series, and scored numerous film and dance projects, all the while continuing to tour nationally and internationally. Thao can currently be seen in the music film Amongst The Disquiet (which she co-created, starred in, and wrote original music for) as it shows in contemporary art institutions and events all over the world (e.g. New Orleans Museum of Art, MCA Denver, São Paulo Biennial). Her sixth studio album will be released in 2026. She is currently at work writing her debut book for Graywolf Press (2027) and developing a musical. Balancing personal vulnerability with broader cultural commentary, Thao remains a prominent voice in the contemporary music scene and beyond.

Agouti is the Oakland CA psychedelic rock band helmed by singer, multi-instrumentalist, and producer Carmen Caruso. Caruso started Agouti in 2015 with a DIY ethos inspired by the success of home-recording projects by genre heavyweights like Tame Impala and Unknown Mortal Orchestra. After building a soundproof studio in her basement, restoring a vintage 4 track reel to reel recorder, and learning the bass guitar, she began writing her first set of songs. Fusing the old-school-cool vibes of golden-age West Coast psychedelia with the progressive tilt of Krautrock, the ethereal reverberations of shoegaze, and the lo-fi textures of bedroom pop, Agouti immerses listeners in a kaleidoscope of sonic exploration. Most importantly, beneath the vibrant production lie neatly-crafted pop songs that captivate with memorable melodies and lyrical depth. Agouti’s 2019 debut LP ‘Nodes’ earned acclaim from Happy Mag, Brightest Young Things, and KQED’s mixtape of up and coming psych bands. Their latest single ‘Golden Hour’ showcases a more laid-back side of the band, layering breezy syncopated drum grooves, hypnotic arpeggios, and lush dreampop atmospheres. Agouti’s reputation as a compelling live act has secured them opening slots for neo-psychedelic luminaries Kikagaku Moyo, Sugar Candy Mountain, and Elephant Stone, as well as festival bookings at Noise Pop, SF Sketchfest, Woollystar, and Real Neato.