Once a year, Lincoln Center plays host to GlobalFest, a festival of music from around the world. Guests move from room to room as they immersed themselves in a new sound each time they walk through David Geffen Hall. It is nothing short of a smorgasbord for the ears as every continent and wide swath of genres are represented. On a night like this, there is something for every listener as we discover, or perhaps rediscover, sounds from around the world.

GlobalFest opens with an awards ceremony that celebrates artists and others in the industry that have made significant contributions to global music. It’s notable that the awards often highlight those that are otherwise under-recognized, thereby bringing these diverse artists to new audiences. Following the annual awards, David Geffen Hall is transformed into a fluid liminal space between cultures, genres and experiences.

First to take the stage following the awards ceremony was the Saami Brothers featuring Ustad Naseeruddin Saami. This Pakistani group performed Khayal, which is an improvisational musical form from South Asia. It comes from the heritage of Sufism. This performance was expectedly spiritual and otherworldly.

But downstairs, we were rocking through Maria Mazzotta’s performance. The Italian folk artist comes from the Canzioniere Grecanico Salentino collective, and had no problem drawing in a crowd. Her music was upbeat and modern, while still having those easy folk melodies.

Attendees could easily drift from Maria Mazzotta to David Rivera & La Bámbula on the promenade. This Puerto Rican band brought a sound that was nothing but joyful as onlookers danced in the balcony. They put on a hybrid sound that took inspiration from latin jazz, Afro-Caribbean tradition, bomba, and folk.

Back in the Wu Tsai Theater, Armenia’s Naghash Ensemble brought something truly different to the stage. The group performs songs inspired by medieval poems, but recomposed for a contemporary audience. What emerged as they performed was nothing short of haunting. Eerie and entrancing, the Naghash Ensemble makes you feel like you knees deep in a dark fairytale.

Back downstairs, Insun Park & Generals brought another genre-fusion performance. From South Korea, her music mixes rock with traditional shamanic folk songs. This is evident not only in the music, but in the performance as her costuming really highlights the culture.

The promenade would be overtaken by Dilemastronauto y La Tripulación Cósmica, a Columbian jazz group. They continued the up-beat, danceable music that attendees loved to listen to.

Other performers later in the night included Raiatea Helm, a Hawai’ian singer, Nour Harkati, a Tunsian performer, Dale Watson & His Lone Stars, a Texas honky tonk band, and Vopli Vidoplissova, a Ukrainian punk/folk quartet. The latter two bands have been performing for over 40 years.

GlobalFest is a very welcoming, accessible (with pay-what-you-want tickets) festival that brings together musicians and music lovers from around the world for a night in New York City. If you are looking to broaden your horizons and experience music wouldn’t otherwise know about, GlobalFest is the place to go.