Critically-acclaimed saxophonist Kamasi Washington, perennial Musikfest favorites Igor & the Red Elvises, rocker Pat McGee, the One Night Only Comedy Variety Show, and Puddles – the sad clown with the golden voice – are among the new performances announced for the ArtsQuest Center at SteelStacks this spring. Tickets for all newly announced shows are on sale now to ArtsQuest Members and March 11, 10 a.m., to the public at steelstacks.org and 610-332-3378.

Los Angeles-born Kamasi Washington, who headlines RiverJazz presented by Concannon Miller May 7, began playing saxophone at the age of 13, later attending the prestigious Hamilton High School of Music and UCLA. In his second year at UCLA, Washington went on his first national tour with hip-hop legend Snoop Dogg. Later that year, he joined the orchestra of one of his biggest heroes, Gerald Wilson, and went on his first international tour with R&B legend Raphael Saadiq.

Over the years, Washington has performed and recorded with artists from various genres, including McCoy Tyner, Freddie Hubbard, Kenny Burrell, George Duke, Lauryn Hill, Harvey Mason and Chaka Khan. Most recently he worked on Kendrick Lamar’s 2016 Grammy Award-winning rap album “To Pimp a Butterfly,” which Rolling Stone called the “Best Album of 2015.” In May 2015, Washington released his groundbreaking solo album The Epic, a 172-minute, triple-disc masterpiece that debuted No. 1 on several iTunes Jazz charts and received praise from NPR, BBC, Mashable, The Guardian, NME Magazine, Forbes, The New York Times and more.

On April 24, the one and only Puddles Pity Party returns to the Musikfest Café presented by Yuengling. This 7-foot clown, best known for his cover of Lorde’s hit song “Royals,” which has received more than 14 million views on YouTube, has captivated audiences across the globe with his takes on songs ranging from Metallica’s “One” to Leonard Cohen’s “Hallelujah.”

The One Night Only Comedy and Variety Show, set for April 20 in the Fowler Blast Furnace Room, is a traveling comedy show featuring nationally touring comics, magicians, jugglers, contortionists and more. This lively group wows the audience with their unbelievable talents while making people cackle with delight. The show’s participants have been seen on America’s Got Talent, The Late Show with David Letterman, The Tonight Show, MTV, HBO, Comedy Central and more. Performers include standup comedian Aaron Kleiber, the Secret Circus, sideshow performer Swami Yomahmi, comedian/contortionist Jonathan Burns and World Yo-yo Champion Mark Hayward.

Dates, times and ticket prices for the newly announced shows are:

Pat McGee – Fowler Blast Furnace Room
April 15, 8 p.m.:                        
Tickets: $18 in advance; $20 at the door

One Night Only Comedy and Variety Show – Fowler Blast Furnace Room
April 20, 8 p.m.
$12-$15
 
Puddles Pity Party – Musikfest Café presented by Yuengling
April 24, 7:30 p.m.
$20-$25
 
Kamasi Washington – Musikfest Café presented by Yuengling
Part of RiverJazz presented by Concannon Miller
May 7, 7:30 p.m.
$35

Brooks Wheelan – Fowler Blast Furnace Room
May 12, 8 p.m.
$15

Igor & The Red Elvises – Musikfest Café presented by Yuengling
May 27, 8 p.m.                              
$10-$15 in advance; $15-$20 at the door