Mai Khôi & The Dissidents:
“Bad Activist” and “Five Years in Exile” Album Release
Concert
Saturday 21 March 2026
4PM & 7:30PM
National Sawdust
80 North 6th St
Brooklyn, NY 11249
Seven years ago, Vietnamese artist and activist Mai Khôi performed at National Sawdust with ARC after being forced to leave Vietnam because of her music and activism.
Now she’s returning to that same stage.
When she first came into contact with ARC in 2017, at a moment of acute risk due to her artistic expression, Mai Khôi received support through our global network, including emergency assistance, fellowship opportunities, international advocacy, and connections to partners that have helped sustain her artistic practice in exile. She has continued to push boundaries with fearless performances and bold artistic expression. Her upcoming concert marks a powerful full-circle moment, underscoring the enduring capacity of artists to create, even in the face of censorship.
Join Khôi for a powerful 2-in-1 concert experience, presented in partnership with ARC-Artists at Risk Connection and Artistic Freedom Initiative (AFI).
First, Khôi performs Bad Activist, a multimedia performance tracing her journey from celebrated Vietnamese pop star to artist in exile. Following a dinner break, the band returns to debut their new album, Five Years in Exile, available for the first time following the show.
The evening moves from intimate testimony to electrifying live music, with new songs that confront climate collapse, political imprisonment, corporate power, and the emotional landscape of life in exile.
Mai Khôi & the Dissidents is:
- Mai Khôi – voice
- Mark Micchelli – keyboards
- Jeff Siegfried – saxophones
- Eli Namay – bass
- PJ Roduta – drums
Schedule:
- 3:00PM: Doors for “Bad Activist”
- 4:00PM: “Bad Activist” Performance
- 6:30PM: Doors for “Five Years in Exile” Album Release
- 7:30PM: “Five Years in Exile” Album Release Performance
This is a seated performance. If you require accessibility accommodations, please email boxoffice@nationalsawdust.org.
Attend both and receive $15 off with a bundle ticket, learn more here.