Sandman Tour opens at East Green Saturday

Bassel & The Supernaturals take the stage 8-10 p.m. Saturday for the first stop on the band's Sandman Tour during the East Green summer concert series at Frost-Kalnow Amphitheater. According to information provided by The East Green Summer Concert Series, a local nonprofit organization, Bassel & The Supernaturals tells the story of Ohio native Bassel Almadani's experience as a first-generation Syrian-American using soulful melodies, funk inspired rhythms and captivating lyrics of love, loss and the war in Syria. Deeply inspired by Otis Redding, Bassel has used the stage as a vehicle to engage audiences in more than 100 cities across North America. The band was featured on the nationally-acclaimed SXSW 2017 showcase ContraBanned: #MusicUnites, which featured artists from the diaspora of countries targeted by the travel ban. Since then, the band has been featured by PRI, Al Jazeera, Reuters, Paste Magazine, Huffington Post, NowThis and others. The album draws inspiration from artists such as Snarky Puppy, Jamiroquai and Steely Dan. Bassel & The Supernaturals has performed in more than 300 concerts on stages including SXSW, John F. Kennedy Center, Summerfest and Millennium Park, and supports internationally touring artists such as Youssou, Brother Ali, Aesop Rock, Emancipator, The Dandy Warhols, Sinkane and others. The inclement weather location is the Marion Center on Tiffin University's campus next to the Pub. Stay tuned to social media platforms for updates. The East Green Summer Concert Series is an organization that "desires to build an enduring legacy of art and beautiful music in the Tiffin-Seneca County area by encouraging artists and musicians with grants, scholarships and performance and teaching opportunities," according to the news release. "The main purpose of this not-for-profit entity is to promote fine arts, the performing arts and music education while engaging the community." Saturday concerts at 155 E. Market St. continue 8-10 p.m. July 23 with The Together Band, Aug. 6 with The Rad Trads and Aug. 20 with Wally & the Beavs.