Bloomington, ind. — june 7, 2025: mavis staples performs during the granfalloon at the buskirk chumley theater on saturday, june 7, 2025 in bloomington, ind. Hosted by the iu arts and humanities council and inspired by iconic hoosier author kurt vonnegut jr. , granfalloon is a vibrant gathering that unites musicians, artists, scholars, and community members in a celebration of creativity, conversation, and connection. (photo by jeremy hogan/the bloomingtonian)
Staff report
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. — On Saturday, June 7, 2025, gospel and soul legend Mavis Staples filled the Buskirk-Chumley Theater with a voice that has carried generations through struggle, hope, and transformation. The full house was part of the Granfalloon Festival—a celebration of art, ideas, and community inspired by the writings of Indiana-born author Kurt Vonnegut.
Staples, now in her ninth decade, showed no signs of slowing down as she led the audience through a powerful set that was part revival, part celebration, and wholly unforgettable.
The Granfalloon Festival, named after a term Vonnegut coined in his novel Cat’s Cradle, is rooted in the paradox of human connection—how we find meaning in arbitrary associations like being a Hoosier or a college alum. The festival honors Vonnegut’s deep skepticism of blind groupthink while also embracing the human need for community.
Bloomington, ind. — june 7, 2025: mavis staples performs during the granfalloon at the buskirk chumley theater on saturday, june 7, 2025 in bloomington, ind. Hosted by the iu arts and humanities council and inspired by iconic hoosier author kurt vonnegut jr. , granfalloon is a vibrant gathering that unites musicians, artists, scholars, and community members in a celebration of creativity, conversation, and connection. (photo by jeremy hogan/the bloomingtonian)Bloomington, ind. — june 7, 2025: mavis staples performs during the granfalloon at the buskirk chumley theater on saturday, june 7, 2025 in bloomington, ind. Hosted by the iu arts and humanities council and inspired by iconic hoosier author kurt vonnegut jr. , granfalloon is a vibrant gathering that unites musicians, artists, scholars, and community members in a celebration of creativity, conversation, and connection. (photo by jeremy hogan/the bloomingtonian)Bloomington, ind. — june 7, 2025: mavis staples performs during the granfalloon at the buskirk chumley theater on saturday, june 7, 2025 in bloomington, ind. Hosted by the iu arts and humanities council and inspired by iconic hoosier author kurt vonnegut jr. , granfalloon is a vibrant gathering that unites musicians, artists, scholars, and community members in a celebration of creativity, conversation, and connection. (photo by jeremy hogan/the bloomingtonian)Bloomington, ind. — june 7, 2025: mavis staples performs during the granfalloon at the buskirk chumley theater on saturday, june 7, 2025 in bloomington, ind. Hosted by the iu arts and humanities council and inspired by iconic hoosier author kurt vonnegut jr. , granfalloon is a vibrant gathering that unites musicians, artists, scholars, and community members in a celebration of creativity, conversation, and connection. (photo by jeremy hogan/the bloomingtonian)Bloomington, ind. — june 7, 2025: mavis staples performs during the granfalloon at the buskirk chumley theater on saturday, june 7, 2025 in bloomington, ind. Hosted by the iu arts and humanities council and inspired by iconic hoosier author kurt vonnegut jr. , granfalloon is a vibrant gathering that unites musicians, artists, scholars, and community members in a celebration of creativity, conversation, and connection. (photo by jeremy hogan/the bloomingtonian)Bloomington, ind. — june 7, 2025: mavis staples performs during the granfalloon at the buskirk chumley theater on saturday, june 7, 2025 in bloomington, ind. Hosted by the iu arts and humanities council and inspired by iconic hoosier author kurt vonnegut jr. , granfalloon is a vibrant gathering that unites musicians, artists, scholars, and community members in a celebration of creativity, conversation, and connection. (photo by jeremy hogan/the bloomingtonian)Bloomington, ind. — june 7, 2025: mavis staples performs during the granfalloon at the buskirk chumley theater on saturday, june 7, 2025 in bloomington, ind. Hosted by the iu arts and humanities council and inspired by iconic hoosier author kurt vonnegut jr. , granfalloon is a vibrant gathering that unites musicians, artists, scholars, and community members in a celebration of creativity, conversation, and connection. (photo by jeremy hogan/the bloomingtonian)Bloomington, ind. — june 7, 2025: mavis staples performs during the granfalloon at the buskirk chumley theater on saturday, june 7, 2025 in bloomington, ind. Hosted by the iu arts and humanities council and inspired by iconic hoosier author kurt vonnegut jr. , granfalloon is a vibrant gathering that unites musicians, artists, scholars, and community members in a celebration of creativity, conversation, and connection. (photo by jeremy hogan/the bloomingtonian)
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