For 28 years, the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers, which operates on a not-for-profit basis to license the works of its 1.1 million songwriters, composers and music publishers, has served up the ASCAP Music Café at the Sundance Film Festival. The goal for the concert serie s has always been to introduce musicians and their music to filmmakers.  During the first years, the ASCAP Music Café set up shop at the Elk’s Lodge, 550 Main St., which currently houses the festival’s Cinema Café. It then moved to the Star Bar, at 277 Main St., just up the street from Premiere Park City, for a spell before setting up in a tent in the middle of Main Street and finally settling in at the Rich Haines Gallery at 751 Main St. In 2021 and through 2022, during the coronavirus pandemic, like everything Sundance Film Festival, the ASCAP Music Café pivoted to online virtual performances.  Coming out of COVID in 2023, the Café moved to The Park, 950 Iron Horse Drive, and then to the Acura House of Energy on Swede Alley in 2024, where it remains today. Foxy Shazam will rock ‘n’ roll Sunday at The ASCAP Music Café at the 2026 Sundance Film Festival. Credit: Photo courtesy of ASCAP This year’s live-music lineup includes Grammy and Emmy Award-winning composer and songwriter Emily Bear; pop, rock and country singer-songwriter Josh Kelley, who is a Summit County resident; American glam rock band Foxy Shazam; Grammy-winning artist-songwriter Nathalia, singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Ron Artis II; and composer, drummer, DJ, producer and musical polymath Photay. In addition, the ASCAP Film Television team’s ongoing interview series, ASCAP Screen Time, which is about the craft and business of music for screens, will present three conversations with the creators behind some of the 2026 Sundance Film Festival’s most anticipated films. Bikini Kill’s Kathleen Hanna will join director Tamra Davis to discuss her documentary, “The Best Summer,” which features the Beastie Boys, Sonic Youth, Foo Fighters, Pavement, Rancid, Beck, The Amps and Bikini Kill. Another conversation will feature composer Shelby Gaines and director Padraic McKinley, who will discuss the Depression-era crime drama, “The Weight.” ASCAP Screen Time will then wrap with composer Anna Meredith and directors Eleanor Wilson and Alex Huston Fischer who will reminisce about their work on “Wicker,” an unconventional love story set in a medieval fishing village. The performances and discussions will take place between 2-6 p.m. on Sunday and from 2-5 p.m. on Monday, (See below for full schedule.)  The Park Record caught up with Loretta Muñoz, ASCAP’s assistant vice president of membership, creative and special projects, during an email conversation about the Café’s history and the impact it has made through its Sundance partnership. Brothers Shelby, left, and Latham Gaines, composed the score to Padraic McKinley’s “The Weight,” which was selected for the 2026 Sundance Film Festival. McKinley and Shelby Gaines will discuss the film and the score on Monday at the ASCAP Music Café. Park Record: It’s the last Sundance in Park City. What did it mean to ASCAP to still be able to program the ASCAP Music Café during this transitional year? Loretta Munoz: Since the ASCAP Music Café’s humble beginnings at the Elks Lodge, we have set out on a mission to bring people together and inspire them as only the power of music can. The beautiful performances by our songwriters and composers that bring stories to life across the screens. As you can well imagine, this year it’s a little more sentimental and underscores the value of our long-running partnership with Sundance honoring the love affair between music and film.  P.R.: Are there plans to continue ASCAP’S partnership with Sundance at Boulder? Munoz: We have adored our time in Park City with the festival and are so proud of all the incredible songwriters and composers we’ve been able to bring to the Music Café stage. We fully support and are excited about the festival’s move to Boulder. It’s a wonderful, creative city with so much fresh, new promise for the festival. Partnering with Sundance is so valuable for ASCAP and our members, so we’re looking forward to exploring Boulder and seeing what the future holds.  P.R.: What have you enjoyed most — the thing that pops into your mind — when you think about the ASCAP Music Café’s time in Park City? Munoz: Well, the music is top of mind, but it’s also the sweet connections, new relationships and creative families that were born here. They are lifelong, enduring creative relationships. Then there’s that feeling — when the music is right, and you know that you are in that rare moment where you are witnessing a performance from an extraordinary talent. It’s magic. And I am so lucky, wow, I have been so privileged to see all of them! The unforgettable and magical performances of Patti Smith, Jon Batiste, Emmylou Harris, Seu Jorge and Jaques Morelenbaum, Angelique Kidjo, Nickel Creek, MILCK, Brett James, Damien Rice, Lisa Hannigan, The Swell Season, Rodriguez, Imogen Heap, Rufus Wainwright, John Forte, Yoshiki, The Civil Wars, Chris Stapleton, Guy Clark, St. Vincent, Saul Williams, Kings of Leon … I can go on and on … P.R.: What will you miss about Park City? Munoz: So many memories were made here, and what Robert Redford and the Sundance Institute created to support emerging voices in film, theater and music is unprecedented and truly extraordinary.  The 2026 ASCAP Music Café Schedule Sunday, Jan. 25 2 p.m. — ASCAP Screen Time: Bikini Kill’s Kathleen Hanna and “The Best Summer” director Tamra Davis  2:40 p.m. — ASCAP Screen Time: Composer Anna Meredith and “Wicker” directors Eleanor Wilson and Alex Huston Fischer  3:15 p.m. — Nathalia 4 p.m. — Emily Bear 4:45 p.m. — Ron Artis II 5:30 p.m. —  Foxy Shazam Monday, Jan. 26 2 p.m. — ASCAP Screen Time: Composer Shelby Gaines with “The Weight” director Padraic McKinley  2:35 p.m. — Ron Artis II 3:20 p.m. — Josh Kelley 4:05 p.m. — Photay 4:45 p.m. — Foxy Shazam For ASCAP Music Café artist information, visit ascap.com/sundance2026. For information about the ASCAP composers at this year’s Sundance Film Festival, visit, ascap.com/sundancecomposers2026. 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