The 4th Annual M³ Festival returns on Saturday, October 4, 2025, transforming Roulette Intermedium in Brooklyn into a powerful space for musical exploration, connection, and community. Presented by Mutual Mentorship for Musicians (M³) — the visionary initiative founded by Jen Shyu and Sara Serpa — the festival continues its mission to advance women and gender-expansive musicians through mentorship, artistic collaboration, and innovation.
This year’s lineup brings together an extraordinary roster of boundary-defying artists, including Grammy-nominated singer-songwriter Becca Stevens, NEA Jazz Master and pianist Kenny Barron, acclaimed saxophonist Immanuel Wilkins, and a host of M³ musicians presenting new and collaborative works: Siren Xypher (Melanie Dyer, Mara Rosenbloom, Kyoto Kitamura), Shoko Nagai and Satoshi Takeishi’s Vortex, Vertical Sounds (Kess Southpaw, Mnisibass, Melanie Dyer), Maia & Zamonda, Devon Gates’ Ghost Stories (with Victoria Awkward and Matt Greenwood), and Gili Lopes.
The marathon-style evening, beginning at 7 p.m., invites audiences into a sonic landscape that’s as unpredictable as it is unified — an experience that The Wire described as “one of the least stylistically predictable festivals I’ve ever attended.” At its core, the M³ Festival is a celebration of collaboration, mentorship, and the creative freedom that emerges when artists are encouraged to take risks together. As one attendee from a previous year put it, “It’s dynamic, creative, and vibrant — a beautiful collective of people really supporting each other through their creative process.”
This year also marks the launch of the inaugural issue of M³ Magazine, featuring writings from most of the festival’s performers, alongside an interview with 2025 M³ Luminary Awardee Maia, a longtime AACM member giving a rare New York performance. “We wanted to create an archive of writings that takes control of the narrative with regards to underrepresented musicians,” say co-founders Serpa and Shyu. “We envision it as a legacy for future generations.”
Founded during the pandemic in 2020, M³ has grown from a bold idea into a global movement — supporting 92 artists, commissioning 46 new co-compositions, and building an international community grounded in artistic exchange and mutual support. “Music and art keep our imagination and hope alive,” says Serpa. “It’s more important than ever to listen, support, and show up for musicians. Because through them, we feel less isolated.”
From jazz masters to next-generation innovators, from individual voices to collective energy, the M³ Festival remains a rare gathering where mentorship, artistry, and shared purpose merge into one transformative experience.
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