Announcing Performers, and Dancers and for The Big Night Showcases
From an NBC’s The Voice Contestant to Chicago’s emerging dancers, checkout the some amazing participants for the Big Night Showcases. There will be multiple activities occurring spanning multiple rooms ranging from storytelling, performances, panels, and dj sets.
The Big Night Showcase #1 July 13th, 2016
Bassel & The Supernaturals: Band – performer
Bassel & The Supernaturals is an eclectic ensemble based in Chicago, IL led by the soulful vocals of Syrian-American songwriter Bassel Almadani. Their music combines soul, jazz, and funk with captivating lyrics about love, loss, corporate life, and a war in Syria that has directly affected Bassel’s family along with over 10,000,000 others. In addition to their invigorating live performances across the country, Bassel offers humanitarian seminars in regards to Syria and current issues facing Arabs & Muslims in the US.
Rahkii: Musical Artist
At the age of twenty-three, Rahkii has already begun to make an impact on Chicago as a music artist. Her broad roots in music stretch further than any genre can define. Her talent was discovered at an early age, when she began to sing solos in the Youth Choir at her home church. Rahkii emerged onto the urban music scene by way of her education at Columbia College, where she received her Bachelor of Arts in Music Theater. Discovering her voice through gospel music, sparked a curiosity of various styles of music. Taking inspiration from the diversity of the local music culture, she supports the “no genre” movement. Rahkii has performed at popular venues such as the House of Blues, Reggie’s Rock Club, The Metro, and Columbia’s Manifest. She has worked alongside artist such as OBY, Walking on Water and Pocket Radio. Rahkii has worked as a background vocalist for artist such as R.Kelly, Eryn Allen Kane, Patti Labelle, Jenifer Hudson and more. Rahkii is an emerging artist who wholeheartedly believes that she can affect lives in a positive way with her music.
Joshua Griffin: Bass Guitarist
Growing up in a household saturated with Gospel music and Smooth Jazz, from the time he was born Joshua Griffin was fascinated with music. By the time Joshua was six years old, his parents fearfully bought him his first bass guitar. At age thirteen, he began to practice music professionally taking local gigs, studio sessions, and live recordings for various other recording artists. After graduating at Warren Township High school, he went on to pursue his Bachelors of Music degree at Columbia College Chicago. At age twenty-one, Joshua has written & produced music for various artists a film makers. He has also shared the stage with blues legend Buddy Guy as well as performed, toured and traveled internationally with artists & bands such as Sam Trump, Keelan Jones, Sidewalk Chalk, & Guy King.
Angéle Anise: Artist & Musician
Enter Angéle Anise: Yankee-Fried Southern Belle, life journeyer born a Sangin, piano-&-ink pen addicted, guitar flirt here now with you in time to rock you, to free you, to move you, to heal you, all wrapped in her own ElectroSoulArenaRock metallic bow. Fueled by Muses Aretha, Alanis, Lauryn, Brandy & Bjork, Angéle Anise’s soul goal is to evoke Empathy around the world with words that stir heart strings straight and sonics that awaken minds. Indulge if you will -say (ohn-JHELLE)…. (Ah-nise).
Charles Coffeen: Artist & Educator
If you’re in the Chicago music scene you know Charles Coffeen. Charlie is a musician, artist, adjunct faculty member at Columbia College, and Ford Model based in. He currently tours full-time with the 8-piece hip-hop/soul/jazz band Sidewalk Chalk as the band’s leader and keyboardist, and leads a weekly improvisational jam session in Chicago’s Wicker Park. This in-demand sideman, arranger, and studio musician in Chicago has acted as music director on international shows and having composed music for TV and film.
The Big Night Showcase #2 July 14th, 2016
Ethan Butler: Musician & NBC’s The Voice Contestant – performer
Just the freedom to tell his story with these three essentials: A pen, a guitar, and a voice. The Chicago-native invites you into the privacy of his room with a blend of acoustic driven, singer/songwriter pop with undertones of funk, jazz, and alternative R&B. From open mics like Uncommon Ground, to headlining nationally known stages like The Metro and The House of Blues in Chicago, to scoring a spot on NBC’s The Voice, Ethan is on a sure path of Success. But like square pegs in round holes, Ethan is unconcerned with fitting industry standards, but with the innovation through the creativity of his music. For a life framed with risks projects a story with telling. Authenticity is the mandate, Love is the reason, and Music is the vessel.
Sarah Marie Young: Musical Artist – performer
Sarah Marie Young is an award winning singer, songwriter and musician. She was a semi-finalist in the 2010 Thelonious Monk Competition and the winner of the 2011 Montreux Voice Competition judged by Quincy Jones, from which she recorded her first full length album “Too Many Februaries” at Balik Farm Studios in Switzerland and performed it at The Montreux Jazz Festival in 2012. After being signed by the dutch label Snip Records in 2014, Snip Records, Sarah Marie Young released and toured Europe with her second album, “Little Candy Heart”. Sarah’s latest album, “Recess” was self-produced and released in April 2016. Based in Chicago, Sarah continues to perform locally as well as internationally.
Asia Monique: Musician – performer
Her musical style is an eclectic fusion of R&B, hip hop, electronic and soul music from yesterday and today, heavily influenced by her Atlanta upbringing. She leverages her sets as a platform to bridge the generation gap by finding lyrical and melodic commonalities between songs and creating seamless transitions that come to life in every performance.
Vicious: Dance Group
WHAT HAPPENS AT THE GLAPPITNOVA FESTIVAL?
The beauty of being at the Glappitnova global celebration July 7th – 14th is you never know exactly what you’re going to get outside of the pure intellectual and experiential bliss ranging from storytelling, performances, art installations, parties, and panels in an underground environment. We smash it all together uniting extremely talented people spanning all industries at our Big Night Chicago Showcases July 13th, and July 14th 2016.
