LIVE MUSIC Passport Sessions Return to Thursdays Downtown | Discovery Walk Stage
June 26 @ 7:00 pm - 8:30 pm
Get ready to travel the globe, no passport required! Passport Sessions, a free outdoor concert series, is back this summer to bring the vibrant sounds of world music to downtown Rochester. Held in partnership with the Rochester Downtown Alliance’s Thursdays Downtown event, this unique series celebrates cultural connection, storytelling and community through live performances by artists whose music is shaped by culture, place, and tradition. All performances take place at the Discovery Walk Stage (3rd Street SW and 2nd Avenue SW).
2025 Passport Sessions Lineup:
June 26
Thomas X – Indigenous hip hop from Red Lake Nation
- An Ojibwe hip hop artist from Red Lake Nation, Thomas X brings bold beats, sharp lyrics and a powerful sense of purpose. His music celebrates culture, challenges stereotypes and speaks directly to the next generation.
July 17
LADAMA – Rhythmic fusion from the women of the Americas
- With roots across South and North America, LADAMA blends rich vocals, layered rhythms and traditional influences into a bold, modern sound that is unmistakably their own.
July 31
Guvenc & Burk Orchestra – A journey through Turkish musical traditions
- Blending Turkish melodies, jazz and improvisation, Guvenc & Burk Orchestra creates expansive, expressive music rooted in collaboration. Their sound moves between cultures and styles, inviting audiences into something both grounded and surprising.
In addition to live performances, Passport Sessions extends its mission through educational outreach with Rochester’s School Aged Child Care (SACC) programs. Hundreds of students will enjoy interactive musical experiences that foster cultural curiosity and global awareness.
“Passport Sessions brings something really special to downtown. It’s music that invites us to listen differently, connect more deeply, and experience the richness of culture through sound,” said Avital Rabinowitz, Director of Rochester Public Music. “It’s not just entertainment. It’s music that moves you, lifts you up, and brings people together.”
Music with Purpose
Passport Sessions is part of Rochester Public Music’s lineup of free music programming, which also includes the Forward Series, Riverside Music Series and Sound School. We bring music to neighborhoods, parks and schools. No cost. No barriers. Our work is rooted in shared experience and the belief that music belongs to everyone.