Kathleen Baird: vocals, spike fiddle, acoustic guitar, mbira, slide guitar, harmonium, electric guitar, organ, xylophone, percussion, drums, banjo

Taralie Peterson: vocals, slide guitar, lap harp, bowed banjo, spike fiddle, cello, banjo, mbira, zither, electric guitar

Michael Zerang: multiple percussion, zither

Multi-instrumentalists and vocalists Kathleen Baird and Taralie Peterson are collectively know as Spires That In The Sunset Rise, an otherworldly free-folk band from Madison, WI by way of Chicago, IL. Spires' musical palette includes the spike fiddle, cello, bul bul tarang, various drums and bells, ecstatic yelps and cackles, and all manner of plectra. With their unconventional instrumentation and unique vocal technique, they will join forces with Chicago based composer / percussionist Michael Zerang for an evening of extended improvisations.

Michael Zerang has been a professional musician, composer, and producer since 1976, focusing extensively on improvised music, free jazz, contemporary composition, puppet theater, experimental theater and international musical forms. He has collaborated extensively with contemporary theater, dance, and other multidisciplinary forms and has received three Joseph Jefferson Awards for Original Music Composition in Theater, in 1996, 1998, and 2000. He is also the founder and artistic director of the Links Hall Performance Series.