Performances
EyeQ
Friday, October 11th 7:30-8:30PM
EyeQ is an inspirational force of nature who consistently enraptures audiences around the US and internationally with his passionate live performances and powerful lyrics. Merging his wide assortment of musical influences and loves of VGM, Anime, Jazz, Lo fi, love and life into one powerhouse performance EyeQ has developed his own national reputation as an esteemed hip-hop artist, winning awards and dominating main stages and after parties for some of the most important pop culture conventions in the United States.
Alongside performances EyeQ also co-curates the official soundtrack for CEO Gaming one of the more prolific fighting game conventions in the US, and has actively worked to coordinate events for numerous conventions and organizations around the US most notably the Library of Congress. He is the founder of Bytes an Beats and a co-founding member of the Nerdy People of Color Collective, where he works to advocate and create spaces for marginalized groups in nerd and geek spaces around the country.
Jamal Mohamed & Omar Abbad
Saturday, October 12th 7:00-8:00pm
Jamal Mohamed has been a featured artist in many international music events, having performed with Sting, Mark O'Connor, Toumani Diabaté, Giovanni Hidalgo and many other renowned artists. He has presented in Boston; Stockholm, Tokyo; Cairo and throughout the US.
A native of Lebanon, Jamal grew up in the Chicago area, where he was exposed to rich blues and jazz traditions as well as the Middle Eastern music he heard at home. He has incorporated many innovative styles using ancient and modern instruments, some he designs and builds himself. He has also designed Jamal signature drums for Toca Percussion which are sold worldwide.
Omar Abbad is a Jordanian music director, composer, educator & oud player. With over 25 years of experience performing and teaching oud, Omar seeks professional opportunities to promote Arab/Middle Eastern music and culture through education and performance. His passion as a music educator resulted in the founding of Jordan’s premier music & arts education institution, “Crescendo Music & Art Academy”, as well as a novel and effective program for Oud learning with a 6-volume Oud Method book series. He as proficient in Arabic and English, and am inspired by the belief that music and the arts belong to all.