bio

Offering "a tone so pure it is almost a sine-wave” (The Wire), Adam Lion is a percussionist dedicated to performing experimental music rooted in both classical and improvisational traditions. Based in Asheville NC, his performances have been described as “rife with psychological effects” by the New York Times and “closely attuned… playful, and mimetic” by Pitchfork Media. Notable projects include his 2020 release with Sarah Hennies and Ashlee Booth The Reinvention of Romance (Astral Spirits), a 2021 residency with New York University composer collective “nevermind the noise”, and his 2023 solo vibraphone album Gilgul (cmntx). He has collaborated closely with a diverse spectrum of contemporary artists including Harold Budd, Laura Steenberge, Matt Nelson, Mustafa Walker, Thom Nguyen, Brett Naucke, Mark Applebaum, Nief-Norf, bang on a can, and Sarah Hennies. Lion has received grant funding from New Music USA, the Foundation for Contemporary Arts, and The North Carolina Arts Commission. He has been a featured performer at many notable venues and festivals including Big Ears, {RE]Happening, the University of Chicago, Vanderbilt University, the Boston Conservatory at Berklee, Duke University, the Red Room, MASS MoCA, and the Black Mountain College Museum + Arts Center. Lion holds an M.A. in Music from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, and a B.A. in Music from Southern Oregon University. He can be heard on the New Village Tapes, cmntx, Astral Spirits, and innova labels.