World trance vocalist Mamak Khadem lights up the night on Saturday with an eight-piece band. On Sunday, she performs more intimate sets, blending her roots in the ancient poetry and music of the Persian masters with a bold and revolutionary new sound.
Born in Iran, where she was part of the Children’s Choir for National Radio and Television of Iran, Khadem was trained in classical Persian music from an early age. After immigrating to the United States, she continued this training, but also sought out common musical threads and connections across cultures. Khadem was previously a member of the cross-cultural fusion ensemble Axiom of Choice. Her most recent album, The Road, features a twenty-seven-piece ensemble and explores the traditional melodies of Iran, Bulgaria, Serbia, Greece, and Arab-Andalusia.