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Located in a corner of Appalachia bridging Maryland and West Virginia, the underused yet scenic Festival Grounds at Canal Place is given new life as the Allegany Arts Council presents the Levitt AMP Cumberland Music Series.
The music series brings together the 19,000 residents from various neighborhoods through the power of free, live music while generating foot traffic for local attractions and the historic city center. The Levitt AMP Cumberland Music Series showcases the scenic Festival Grounds at Canal Place with its water views and mountain scenery, and brings energy to a public space that has become a central gathering place for the arts and community.
Presented by Allegany Arts Council, a nonprofit that cultivates the arts to enrich the quality of life in Allegany County, in partnerhip with Allegany County, Maryland – The Mountain Side of Maryland (County Tourism) and Frostburg State University Cultural Events Series (CES).
Bassel & The Supernaturals tells the story of Bassel Almadani's experience as a first generation Syrian-American using soulful melodies, funk inspired rhythms, and captivating lyrics regarding love, loss, otherness, and the war in Syria. They made their national television debut in May 2024 as part of a new PBS docuseries starring Dule Hill entitled The Express Way, regarding the transformative power of the arts.
Echoing Stevie Wonder’s rhythm and blues, Jamiroquai’s social justice centered lyricism over jazz-infused funk, and Steely Dan’s seamless amalgam of American music, Bassel & The Supernaturals evoke joy and thoughtfulness in diverse audiences throughout hundreds of cities across North America. In addition to performing in major festivals, performance halls, concert series, and clubs, the group works closely with organizations on events and residencies that build awareness and empathy for Syrian refugees and immigrants. Deeply inspired by Otis Redding, Bassel uses the stage as a vehicle to unite his listeners and share the story of his cultural duality. A substantial portion of their proceeds benefit the Karam Foundation, a non-profit organization focused on building a better future for Syria.
In the band's national television debut, PBS selected Bassel & The Supernaturals to represent Chicago in the season finale of The Express Way with Dulé Hill (May 2024). The episode highlights Bassel's story as a product of Syrian immigrants, challenges growing up as a Muslim in America after 9/11, and his profound connection to the arts as a channel to process his own experience while amplifying the voices of refugees.
Bassel & The Supernaturals has performed in over 400 concerts and advocacy events between 2016-2024 on stages including SXSW, John F. Kennedy Center, The Cleveland Museum of Art, Summerfest, and Millennium Park, and supported internationally touring artists such as Youssou N'Dour, Aesop Rock, Emancipator, Brother Ali, The Dandy Warhols, Sinkane, and many others.
They continue to tour the country, spreading a message of hope through their music wherever they travel. Bassel & The Supernaturals also plans to record a new EP in 2025.
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What fans are saying
Shannon
June 25th 2023
It was really cool. Had an Amazing time. Went to see Bassel & the Supernaturals for my boyfriend Jimmy and I’s 3 Yr Anniversary. He studied Jazz in College and is a musician himself . Funny enough he’s played at Blu Jazz a few times and even knew a lot of the band members. ( Not that Shocking lol) he loves Jazz so that ‘s why I bought tickets. It was a success. He loved it.
Akron, OH@Blu Jazz+
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Bassel & the Supernaturals Biography
Syrian Heart. Midwest Soul.
Bassel & The Supernaturals tells the story of Bassel Almadani's experience as a first generation Syrian-American using soulful melodies, funk inspired rhythms, and captivating lyrics regarding love, loss, otherness, and the war in Syria. They are making their national television debut in May 2024 as part of a new PBS docuseries starring Dule Hill entitled The Express Way, regarding the transformative power of the arts.
Echoing Stevie Wonder’s rhythm and blues, Jamiroquai’s social justice centered lyricism over jazz-infused funk, and Steely Dan’s seamless amalgam of American music, Bassel & The Supernaturals evoke joy and thoughtfulness in diverse audiences throughout hundreds of cities across North America. In addition to performing in major festivals, performance halls, concert series, and clubs, the group works closely with organizations on events and residencies that build awareness and empathy for Syrian refugees and immigrants. Deeply inspired by Otis Redding, Bassel uses the stage as a vehicle to unite his listeners and share the story of his cultural duality. A substantial portion of their proceeds benefit the Karam Foundation, a non-profit organization focused on building a better future for Syria.
Their sophomore release, Elements (2017), was premiered by Noisey/Vice, generating impressive buzz with their music video “Lost,” a moving, tragic song about his young cousin who was fatally caught in crossfire, a casualty of the ongoing conflict in Syria. This 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 & The Supernaturals has performed in over 400 concerts and advocacy events between 2016-2023 on stages including SXSW, John F. Kennedy Center, The Cleveland Museum of Art, Summerfest, and Millennium Park, and supported internationally touring artists such as Youssou N'Dour, Aesop Rock, Emancipator, Brother Ali, The Dandy Warhols, Sinkane, and many others.
Upon returning from a service trip to Istanbul in September 2019 working with displaced Syrians, Bassel & The Supernaturals released their full-length album, Smoke & Mirrors, in April 2020. "Stepping Back in Time" was featured on Spotify's official "All Funked Up" playlist and recently surpassed 550,000 streams. The band collaborated with TedX Talks on their music video for “Calculated Love” featuring Chicago’s resilient youth in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. Since then, the group has released three new singles, including a music video for “Sandman” which captures the group’s recording sessions with Grammy Award Winning producer and engineer Jeff Breakey of Good Wolf Music. They continue to tour the country, spreading a message of hope through their music wherever they travel.
The band's national television debut on PBS (May 2024) highlights Bassel's story as a product of Syrian immigrants, challenges growing up as a Muslim in America after 9/11, and his profound connection to the arts as a channel to process his own experience while amplifying the voices of refugees. Bassel & The Supernaturals also plans to release a new EP in 2024.
Read MoreBassel & The Supernaturals tells the story of Bassel Almadani's experience as a first generation Syrian-American using soulful melodies, funk inspired rhythms, and captivating lyrics regarding love, loss, otherness, and the war in Syria. They are making their national television debut in May 2024 as part of a new PBS docuseries starring Dule Hill entitled The Express Way, regarding the transformative power of the arts.
Echoing Stevie Wonder’s rhythm and blues, Jamiroquai’s social justice centered lyricism over jazz-infused funk, and Steely Dan’s seamless amalgam of American music, Bassel & The Supernaturals evoke joy and thoughtfulness in diverse audiences throughout hundreds of cities across North America. In addition to performing in major festivals, performance halls, concert series, and clubs, the group works closely with organizations on events and residencies that build awareness and empathy for Syrian refugees and immigrants. Deeply inspired by Otis Redding, Bassel uses the stage as a vehicle to unite his listeners and share the story of his cultural duality. A substantial portion of their proceeds benefit the Karam Foundation, a non-profit organization focused on building a better future for Syria.
Their sophomore release, Elements (2017), was premiered by Noisey/Vice, generating impressive buzz with their music video “Lost,” a moving, tragic song about his young cousin who was fatally caught in crossfire, a casualty of the ongoing conflict in Syria. This 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 & The Supernaturals has performed in over 400 concerts and advocacy events between 2016-2023 on stages including SXSW, John F. Kennedy Center, The Cleveland Museum of Art, Summerfest, and Millennium Park, and supported internationally touring artists such as Youssou N'Dour, Aesop Rock, Emancipator, Brother Ali, The Dandy Warhols, Sinkane, and many others.
Upon returning from a service trip to Istanbul in September 2019 working with displaced Syrians, Bassel & The Supernaturals released their full-length album, Smoke & Mirrors, in April 2020. "Stepping Back in Time" was featured on Spotify's official "All Funked Up" playlist and recently surpassed 550,000 streams. The band collaborated with TedX Talks on their music video for “Calculated Love” featuring Chicago’s resilient youth in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. Since then, the group has released three new singles, including a music video for “Sandman” which captures the group’s recording sessions with Grammy Award Winning producer and engineer Jeff Breakey of Good Wolf Music. They continue to tour the country, spreading a message of hope through their music wherever they travel.
The band's national television debut on PBS (May 2024) highlights Bassel's story as a product of Syrian immigrants, challenges growing up as a Muslim in America after 9/11, and his profound connection to the arts as a channel to process his own experience while amplifying the voices of refugees. Bassel & The Supernaturals also plans to release a new EP in 2024.
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Funk
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