Artists Performed at Champaign PYGMALION Festival
Nirosta Steel, Julianna Barwick, and Mary Lattimore took the stage at the Tryon Festival Theatre.
Updated on Sept. 27, 2026 in Dance
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The PYGMALION festival hosted musical performances by Nirosta Steel, Julianna Barwick, and Mary Lattimore. The artists showcased their work at the Tryon Festival Theatre in Champaign.
Why it matters
The festival features a diverse lineup of established and contemporary musical acts, contributing to the cultural offerings in the Champaign area.
Nirosta Steel brings four decades of experience to the stage, having released his latest album, MY SKYSCRAPER, in June 2026. Julianna Barwick and Mary Lattimore recently released their collaborative album, Tragic Magic, in January 2026.
The players
Nirosta Steel
Steven Hall performs music under this moniker and has maintained a career in the industry for 40 years.
Julianna Barwick
She is a musician known for ethereal vocal layering and collaborative experimental works.
Mary Lattimore
She is a harpist and composer frequently noted for her ambient and minimalist contributions to modern music.
David Tierney
He is a drummer who provided percussion support for the Nirosta Steel performance.
Kian Kermani
He is a guitarist who performed alongside Nirosta Steel at the festival.
The details
Julianna Barwick and Mary Lattimore utilized a harp, chimes, and a synthesizer during their set, while Nirosta Steel performed with drummer David Tierney and guitarist Kian Kermani. The performances were held at the Krannert Center for the Performing Arts.
Timeline
January 2026: Barwick and Lattimore released Tragic Magic.
June 2026: Nirosta Steel released MY SKYSCRAPER.
7:30 p.m. September 25, 2026: Barwick and Lattimore began their set.
8:45 p.m. September 25, 2026: Nirosta Steel began his set.
Industry Dynamics
The PYGMALION festival continues the long-standing tradition of multi-genre curation hosted at the Krannert Center for the Performing Arts. This event reflects the broader industry trend of regional festivals prioritizing cross-generational artist pairings to broaden audience engagement.
Fans in the Champaign area can access these live performances at the Krannert Center for the Performing Arts during the multi-day festival schedule. The event provides a local platform for residents to hear new material from artists who released recent studio albums.
The takeaway
The festival highlights the ongoing cultural relevance of experimental music by showcasing established veterans alongside contemporary collaborators. Attendees can look for recent discography releases from these artists to better understand the setlists performed at this year's event.
Further reading
For more arts and performance coverage, visit the Dance section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by The Daily Illini.
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