Salon HALA presents
Cabaret Palestina - The Singers Edition: A Fundraising Night of Music and Liberation
Friday, September 13, 2024
Brava Mainstage Theater
Join us for an extraordinary night of music and storytelling at “Cabaret Palestina - The Singers Edition,” the second installment of this unique series. Produced as a fundraiser for the Heritage Activists & Liberation Artists (HALA) collective, this event brings together a diverse lineup of artists who weave their personal and cultural narratives into captivating performances. This special evening at Brava Theater is headlined by the genre-defying ASTU, an Oakland-based sensation known for their soulful blend of R&B, retro soul, and New Wave-inspired synth-pop.
Lineup:
ASTU (Headliner): If Frank Ocean and Sade had a baby, ASTU would be it. Part retro soul, part nineties R&B pastiche, part New Wave-inspired synth-pop, ASTU’s music refuses to pledge allegiance to a single vibe. The Oakland-based vocalist, songwriter and producer has the ability to find an easy, irresistible groove and turn it into an unhurried banger. A Black, queer and gender expansive artist, ASTU left life as a minister and found themself in R&B, expressing their sexuality, identity and life experience in their music. They are currently writing and producing Sanctuary, an afro-fantasy musical reimagining church and the creation story through Black trans and queer ever-evolving myth and folklore. From silky, slow jams to 80's inspired R&B anthems, ASTU keeps us wanting more.
Camellia Boutrosv(She/Her): is a Palestinian-Lebanese American composer and multi-instrumentalist based in San Francisco. Having performed as a trumpet player with a diverse array of Bay Area world music projects, such as Mission Delirium, Alaturca Connection, Inspector Gadje, and Banda Sin Nombre, Camellia approaches the music she writes with a custom modified fretless 12-string electric guitar, enabling her to write and perform music using the quarter-tone Maqam system. Her music and lyrics defy genre definition, forming an experimental blend of rock, folk, Arab, jazz, and brass music, all of which can be found on her first solo album Refuge.
Bianca (BB) Brown (She/Her): A graduate of Oakland School for the Arts, Bianca (BB) Brown has grown up surrounded by music. While at OSA, she was vocally trained in various genres including R&B, musical theater, jazz, and classical music. She took what she learned and combined it with her natural ear to teach herself piano. Outside of singing and piano, BB gained an affinity to beat-boxing, composing, arranging, voice impressions, & production. Up until May 2022, she took her craft seriously and self-produced her 1st project, an EP titled "Is Anybody Home?" BB has performed at various venues around the Bay Area, including Oakland City Hall, The Fox Theater, and at the top of Salesforce Tower. She is currently doing shows with community based organizations around the Bay Area, private events, and Sofar Sounds. BB believes in the power of sound to heal & relate to her listeners. She uses music to communicate, advocate, and understand the world around her.
Sibyl Moon Dreamer (They/Them) is a non-binary trans artist and personal trainer based in San Francisco. Some of their hobbies/interests include: forbidden magical rituals, houseplants, mind-bending psychedelics, sleeping in on a weekday, erotic photography, Thai kickboxing, and cute little bunny rabbits!!
izzy delan (She/They): is a 24-year-old Bay Area queer artist who has been writing and singing original songs since the age of 11. Equal parts introspection and communication, her indie folk blend bridges the gap between self and other. She holds a strong belief that music shapes, colors, sustains, and connects us, citing Joni Mitchell, Elliott Smith, and The Beatles among her musical influences. Her songs evoke a nuanced emotional longing, reflecting on life’s traumas and mental health challenges. delan is signed is Pacific Records and recently released her debut single, recorded at Foo Fighter’s Studio 606 and featuring guitarist Robby Krieger of The Doors.
ZAK (He/Him): A powerhouse pop-punk emo singer, ZAK’s music spans genres, drawing influences from soul, folk, country, and rock. His songwriting delves into interpersonal tragedies, the complexities of navigating queer love, and the struggle to break free from oppressive systems. With high highs, sultry growls, and the heart of a Midwestern boy, ZAK brings an intense emotional depth to his performances.
Hosts:
Mama Ganuush (They/Them): The founding force behind HALA, Mama Ganuush is a renowned drag artist and community leader, known for her fierce commitment to social justice and creative expression. With roots in Palestinian culture and a passion for advocacy, Mama Ganuush brings a vibrant and empowering presence to the stage.
LOTUS BOY (Ze/Zir, He/Him or They/Them) is a transgender, unapologetically disabled, neurodivergent, and chronically illUSTRIOUS, Chinese-[anti]American drag king based in occupied Lisjan Ohlone Land (aka Oakland, CA). As an anti-disciplinary artist, ze uses any medium which speaks to zir spirit to explore gender fluidity, accessibility, sustainability, joy, and healing from trauma. LOTUS BOY is on the Board of Directors for Oaklash, the Bay Area's drag festival, and the SPM Disability Justice Fund which supports projects led by disabled BIPOC. When not onstage, ze brings drag and gender exploration workshops to high schools in San Francisco and Oakland. In 2023, LOTUS BOY became the first openly disabled & Asian winner of the 27th Annual San Francisco Drag King Contest.
Special coverage by:
Toshio Meronek hosts the podcast Sad Francisco, and their writing has appeared in Al Jazeera, The Nation, them, Truthout, and Vice News. Their collaboration with activist Miss Major Griffin-Gracy, Miss Major Speaks: Conversations with a Black Trans Revolutionary (Verso Books) was awarded the 2024 Lambda Literary Award in Transgender Nonfiction, and the American Library Association’s Stonewall Book Award.
Saman Qadir is a Pakistani-American photographer and visual artist based in the Bay Area. Her work focuses on themes of liberation and social justice, often documenting protests and movements. She blends her Pakistani heritage with American experiences to create powerful visual narratives. Qadir’s art serves as both a tool for healing and a means of advocating for marginalized communities
About HALA Collective:
Heritage Activists & Liberation Artists (HALA) is a vibrant collective of 46 artists dedicated to liberation, inclusivity, and social justice. Based in the Bay Area, with members across the globe, HALA focuses on community care, equitable pay, and supporting Palestinian, Indigenous, and Black liberation. By hosting events like Cabaret Palestina, HALA continues its mission to uplift marginalized voices and foster creative resistance.
Support the Cause:
All proceeds from “Cabaret Palestina - The Singers Edition” will go towards supporting the work of HALA Collective, ensuring that artists and local communities continue to thrive. Submit tax deductible donations to HALA by visiting https://fundraising.fracturedatlas.org/heritage-activists-liberation-artists
Tickets:
Tickets are available on a sliding scale to ensure accessibility for all. The event is free to Indigenous communities and anyone who cannot afford it. Secure your tickets now and be part of a movement that celebrates art, culture, and activism.