The band Little Moon, of which harpist Bridget Jackson is a member, is the winner of National Public Radio (NPR) Music’s 2023 Tiny Desk Contest, an annual competition for independent unsigned artists across the U.S. Out of nearly 6,000 applicants this year, the judges chose Little Moon to play a concert at the original Tiny Desk at NPR’s Washington, D.C., headquarters. In June, the group will headline the annual Tiny Desk Contest On The Road tour, playing alongside local contest entrants across the country.
As a band member awarded the opportunity to tour across the U.S., harpist Bridget Jackson accomplished something she never thought she could. “Growing up as a young harpist, I always thought it would be so cool to play in a band, and even be able to tour, but never imagined it would be possible,” Jackson says. “I hope that seeing the harp featured in a setting like this can inspire other harpists to pursue their goals and dreams, even if those goals and dreams don’t look like the ‘traditional’ setting of a harp.”
Led by singer-songwriter Emma Hardyman, Little Moon is a Springville, Utah, band that mixes folk, pop, and indie rock. According to Hardyman, the group’s Tiny Desk Contest winning entry, “Wonder Eye,” explores how “accepting the mysterious, shadowy nature of death can deepen one’s sense of humanity and soften the ways we see ourselves and each other.” The band also features the singer’s husband, guitarist Nathan Hardyman, along with bassist Bly Wallentine, harpist Bridget Jackson, drummer Chris Shemwell, and keyboard player Grace Johnson.
For more information, watch the group’s winning submission video and check out its Tiny Desk performance at NPR below. Read more or reserve tickets for the band’s upcoming tour on NPR’s website.
