As part of its 30th anniversary season, UGA Presents will host acclaimed musician Rhiannon Giddens on April 28 at 7:30 p.m. at Hodgson Concert Hall.
A two-time Grammy Award winner and Pulitzer Prize recipient, Giddens has built a singular and influential career by expanding the possibilities of folk music. She last appeared in Athens in 2024 as artistic director of the Silkroad Ensemble.
Drawing on centuries of musical tradition while engaging with contemporary forms, Giddens’ work explores the deep and often underrecognized roots of American music. Central to her artistry is a commitment to uplifting voices and histories that have been overlooked or erased, reframing how audiences understand the origins of folk and roots music.
Giddens will be joined by Dirk Powell (guitar, vocals), Niwel Tsumbu (guitar) and Jason Sypher (bass). The performance is supported by Deana and Steven Jones, Sandy Strother Hudson and Cecil C. Hudson, and Brad and Vera Tucker.
Giddens’s latest album, “You’re the One,” marks her first collection of entirely original songs. Produced in collaboration with Jack Splash, the album blends elements of folk, blues, country, gospel and jazz, reflecting both her expansive musical interests and her deep grounding in traditional material. The project has been praised for its emotional range and stylistic breadth, further cementing her reputation as an artist who bridges past and present with clarity and purpose.
Beyond her work as a performer, Giddens is an accomplished composer for opera, ballet and film and a recipient of the MacArthur Foundation “Genius” Grant. She has been named one of NPR’s 25 Most Influential Women Musicians of the 21st Century, and her work continues to receive widespread critical acclaim.
Through her performances, recordings and scholarship, Giddens continues to challenge conventional narratives and expand the understanding of American musical heritage. Her appearance at UGA Presents offers audiences an opportunity to experience a powerful and deeply informed artist whose work resonates across genres and generations.
Three ways to get tickets
- Purchase tickets online at pac.uga.edu.
- Call the Performing Arts Center box office at 706-542-4400, Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
- Visit the UGA Performing Arts Center box office, Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. (Five-minute parking is available in the drop off circle at the Performing Arts Center for purchasing or picking up tickets.)
Audience members can create their own series of three or more performances for 10% off. UGA Presents single tickets start at just $30 with promo code PAC30, and UGA student tickets are $15.
Information about accessibility and venue amenities is available on the PAC website. Parking is free.
To learn more about all UGA Performing Arts Center events, visit pac.uga.edu.