Bassel and the Supernaturals

Join us in downtown Claremont to bring a little funk to the City! Bassel and the Supernaturals return to Claremont for a performance outside at Broad Street Park, brought to you as part of WCCMA’s Summer Concert Series in conjuction with Claremont Parks and Recreation. The popular Chicago funk band has been on tour across the US and Canada this year as they prepare for the launch of their new album. Bassel & The Supernaturals combines funk and soul with captivating lyrics about love, loss, and a war in Syria that has affected Bassel Almadani’s family along with 10,000,000 others.

There is no charge for this event, but a freewill offering is suggested of $10-15 for adults, and $30 for a family.

About Bassel and the Supernaturals:

Bassel & The Supernaturals combines funk and soul with captivating lyrics about love, loss, and a war in Syria that has affected Bassel Almadani’s family along with 10,000,000 others.

The soulful Syrian-American vocalist and his ensemble donate over 20% of their merchandise proceeds to humanitarian relief through the Karam Foundation, including $3,000 from the preorder campaign for their full-length album, Elements (2017). Their latest album – drawing inspiration from artists such as Snarky Puppy, Jamiroquai, and Steely Dan’s “Aja” – was premiered by Noisey (Vice), and led to their involvement in the nationally-acclaimed SXSW 2017 showcase ‘ContraBanned: #MusicUnites’ featuring artists from the diaspora of countries targeted by the travel ban. They’ve since been featured on PRI, Al Jazeera, Reuters, Paste Magazine, Huffington Post, NowThis, and many others.

Bassel co-produced the multi-genre humanitarian tour ‘Amplify Peace’ in collaboration with several other Arab-American artists from predominantly Muslim countries impacted by war (Omar Offendum, Kayem, Ronnie Malley, and Asad Jafri). Highlights from their debut tour in October 2017 included performances at the John F. Kennedy Center, the Arab American National Museum, and a feature by the Associated Press. The program features a dynamic, multi-genre performance by socially conscious artists along with a variety of educational packages featuring lectures, interactive workshops, and a Q&A.

Performing over 55 tour dates on average per year across the US and Canada with internationally touring artists such as Youssou N’Dour, Brother Ali, Aesop Rock, Emancipator, The Dandy Warhols, Sinkane, and many others – Bassel & The Supernaturals is preparing to release another full-length album, Smoke & Mirrors (2019).

Of Her and By Her: Music for Piano, Soprano, and Flute

Artists Kirsten Becker (piano), Angela Biggs (soprano), and Melissa Richmond (flute) perform a program of women as composer and musical subjects. The program includes music from the Classical Era to present day by Chaminade, Boulanger, Schumann, Chaminade, and more. Join us after the concert to hear about the WCCMA’s Summer Concert Series performances in July and August.

WCCMA is committed to access to the arts, and as such admission is by freewill donation. For this concert we suggest a contribution of $15.

Claremont HopStop: Tanglewood Marionettes

The Fairy Circus

Featuring over 20 beautifully hand-crafted marionettes, The Fairy Circus showcases turn-of-the-century trick puppetry. “Ooooos” and “ahhhhhhs” will fill the room as puppets dance, play instruments, juggle, contort, transform and fly through the air with the greatest of ease. The puppets’ astounding moves are accompanied by the music of favorite composers. After the show, the audience are welcome backstage to meet the puppets and puppeteer.

Free, no ticket required!