Events Calendar

4:00 p.m. | Doors and café open to public
5:45–6:45 | Reading and Q&A with Michelle Zauner
7:15–7:50 | Performance by Black Belt Eagle Scout
8:30–9:45 | Performance by Cat Power (duo)

Hancher Auditorium is thrilled to host the opening ceremonies of Mission Creek Festival 2023 on Thursday, April 6. This event marks a renewal of our collaboration with the festival after co-presenting comedian Bassem Yousef in 2018 and Andrew Bird, My Brightest Diamond, and Kelly Link in 2017.

For Mission Creek’s opening day, Hancher will transform into a single-site festival venue and present a multidisciplinary program featuring a reading and Q&A by Michelle Zauner (author of Crying in H Mart and Japanese Breakfast songwriter), a performance by Black Belt Eagle Scout, and a headline performance by legendary artist Cat Power in a striking piano and guitar duo format.

Mission Creek has always been a champion of independent voices in literature and music, and Hancher is honored to welcome these revered, rising, and remarkable artists to our community and the University of Iowa.

Cat Power: Through a 30-year career spanning a variety of stylistic poses, Cat Power’s Chan Marshall has become an indie rock legend. Her songwriting and singing offer a remarkable range, moving from the intimate to the grandiose, but always honest and astounding. Cat Power will perform at Mission Creek Festival in a striking guitar/piano duo format.

Michelle Zauner: Known to many by her indie rock moniker Japanese Breakfast, Zauner will read from Crying in H Mart, her heartfelt and humorous debut memoir about family, food, grief, love, and growing up Korean American in Eugene, Oregon. Bryn Lovitt will moderate a conversation and Q&A with Zauner.

Black Belt Eagle Scout: The musician also known as Katherine “KP” Paul is renowned and beloved for “bringing queer Indigenous stories to indie rock” (Pitchfork).

TICKETS - Available only through The Englert Box Office
$85 + fees | Early Bird full festival pass (sale ends January 13)
$80 + fees | Member's full festival pass
$55 + fees | Student full festival pass

$110 + fees | Full festival pass (sale begins January 13)
$50 + fees | Pass for April 6 (sale begins January 13)