As year-end coverage rolls in, one thing is clear: 2025 has produced some of the most compelling and adventurous music in recent memory. Many of the albums receiving national acclaim come from artists appearing at Stop/Time, and this spring, audiences will have the chance to experience the energy, imagination, and conversation these artists will bring to our community.

At the center of this year’s critical buzz are three standout releases. Guitarist Mary Halvorson, known for her distinctive tone and adventurous improvisation, appears on Treble, PopMatters, Quitus, The Wire, Slate, Jazzwise, and The Gig year-end features for her album About Ghosts, confirming her as one of modern music’s most original voices. Trumpeter Ambrose Akinmusire, whose piercing tone and intricate compositions exemplify the adventurous spirit of today’s jazz, appears on The Wire, AllMusic, Jazzwise, and The Gig best-of lists for his record honey from winter stone, a work both focused and deeply affecting. And Tortoise, masters of post-rock, jazz, and electronic synthesis, return with their album Touch, highlighted on Mojo, The Wire, Uncut, and AllMusic year-end roundups, reaffirming their quiet influence.

Other Stop/Time artists round out the spectrum of 2025’s most compelling music. Saxophonist Branford Marsalis, whose technical mastery continually reexamines jazz tradition, appears on Jazzwise, The Observer, and DownBeat best-of features for his quartet album Belonging. Pianist Jason Moran, whose music treats history not as a fixed archive but as a living, changeable resource, appears on Slate year-end coverage for his album Go To Your North. William Tyler, a guitarist expanding Americana into experimental textures, earned spots on Uncut and Mojo rankings for his album Time Indefinite. Mei Semones, blending intricate textures with understated pop, appears on Quitus and AllMusic best-of roundups for her album Animaru. And Frankie & The Witch Fingers, known for high-energy psych-rock, landed on Sound Opinions lists for their album Trash Classic.

We’re thrilled to welcome these acclaimed artists to our community this spring, alongside others on the inaugural Stop/Time lineup. Their albums have already sparked national conversation, and the festival offers an opportunity to engage with the ideas, energy, and dialogue these artists continue to inspire.