Athens will be the smallest town by far to host the event, but due presumably to its reputation as a musical Mecca and the tireless efforts of everyone’s favorite local h’arpeggionist, Killick, Ciné is gearing up for a real treat. The Improvisor Festival, a multi-city event stretching from Seattle to New York City, is bringing a cabal of boundary-demolishing improvisational artists to the Classic City Aug. 9 & 10. The festival—which will assemble the likes of classical genius Andrea Centazzo, avant-garde percussionist and mastermind of the improvisational opera I, Norton (more on this later) Gino Robair, vocal layering sorceress Karst, and tribal blues-wailers Them Natives, just to name a few—is all in celebration of The Improvisor magazine’s 30th anniversary. Flagpole spoke with Killick about the future of this seminal publication, his own Appalachian trance-metal trio Pocketful of Claptonite (also scheduled to perform) and what might be in store for those curious and brave enough to attend this one-of-a-kind showcase.