12:00 PM - 5:00 PM Want to support small, queer-owned businesses this holiday season? Come get your shopping done at Queer Space Philly's Third Annual Holiday Market. This year's market will host 25+ local makers, crafters, and organizations. Items for sale include candles, clothing, baked goods, and original art.  There is a suggested donation of $5-$10 for entry, but no one will be turned away for lack of funds. 15% of these donations will be donated to PCRF. The remaining donations will be used for QSP programming in 2025. Learn more about Queer Space Philly & the market.

Contact: marketing@albustanseed.org 

Palestinian Vocalist, Nibal Malshi Brings Her Signature Blend of Traditional and Contemporary Arabic Music to Philadelphia 

Featuring and Directed by Firas Zreik and an ensemble of talented local musicians 

Philadelphia, PA, November 6th, 2024 – Al-Bustan Seeds of Culture is thrilled to announce an extraordinary evening of live music featuring acclaimed Palestinian vocalist and multidisciplinary artist, Nibal Malshi, in concert on December 6th, 2024, at 7:00 PM at The Rotunda, located at 4014 Walnut St. 

Known for her rich, expressive voice and dynamic artistry, Nibal Malshi will bring her signature blend of traditional and contemporary Arab music to Philadelphia. Accompanied by an ensemble of talented local musicians, including Gideon Forbes (woodwinds), Bashar Farran (bass), and Gilbert Mansour (percussion), the evening will be directed by the celebrated kanun player Firas Zreik. 

“As an artist, I see my work as more than just a profession; it’s a platform for positive change and a message of peace and humanity. My creative journey is not only about expressing myself through art & preserving the Arab music, but also using my voice and influence to connect people and make a meaningful impact on society.” - Nibal Malshi 

About Nibal Malshi: Nibal Malshi is a distinguished Palestinian artist, hailing from the city of Haifa in Palestine. 

From the tender age of 5, she embarked on a musical journey, dedicating her life to the art form 

and drawing inspiration from renowned Arab artists. Her performances, spanning both her 

homeland, Europe & the USA, include notable venues such as the Institute de monte Arab in 

Paris. Nibal's artistic journey extends internationally, with significant collaborations such as a month-long dance workshop in Ramallah & Beir Zeit partnered with Al- Qattan Foundation and KVS from Brussels, participation in Voice for Peace projects in Germany, and involvement in musicians' programs in London. Nibal has graced numerous events including the Arab American National Museum Grand Gala, Arab Cultural Center Gala in Houston TX, Arab America Summit in Washington DC, Rene Moawad Foundation DC,Palestine Foundation in LA, APWA Virginia and many others.In recognition of her outstanding contributions, Nibal was honored as an "Arab America Foundation 40 Under 40" award recipient in 2023. 

Tickets are pay-what-you-wish/suggested $20. Purchase HERE

About Al-Bustan Seeds of Culture: Rooted in Arab arts and language, Al-Bustan Seeds of Culture offers artistic and educational programming that enriches understanding and celebrates diversity, while supporting the pursuit and affirmation of Arab American cultural identity and playing a constructive civic role within broader American society. 

This December, join songwriters Ali Dineen and Aly Halpert for a special evening of song and comfort in community. In the pocket of time between two avalanching political events, Ali and Aly will share songs for the heart, for resilience, and for all of us doing the work of birthing a different world. Aly will be accompanied by Multi-instrumentalist Rachel Chang.

Come on in, loosen, and hold on:

"Things are not as they seem/and you are not on your owncause nobody enters this world alone." - Ali Dineen

Doors @ 7pm, Concert @ 7:30pm$18-54 suggested donation, with NOTAFLOF (No one turned away for lack of funds)

Ali Dineen (she/they) is a songwriter, composer, visual artist and teacher. Born and raised and currently working in Queens, NY, she has performed at the Museum of Art and Design, the Caramoor American Roots Music Festival, the American Folk Art Museum, and the Brooklyn Folk Festival, among other wonderful venues. Ali worked as Musical Director for the Stop Shopping Choir for several years, including on their 2024 national Love Earth tour opening for Neil Young. Ali was awarded the Helene Wurlitzer Foundation Residency in 2020, and is a 2025 NYSCA arts grant recipient. Ali works as the music director for local puppet troupe extraordinaire The Boxcutter Collective. They are currently working on a new music and theater piece about Joan of Arc.

Aly Halpert (she/her) is a queer Jewish musician, educator, and activist living on Lenni Lenape land in Philadelphia, PA, USA. A singer, pianist, and guitar player, Aly writes songs for building community and visioning different worlds. Aly leads music and prayer for Jewish community, including Dayenu: A Jewish Call to Climate Action, Hadar's Rising Song Institute, Kol Tzedek Synagogue, and Let My People Sing. Her songs have been sung in national gatherings, song circles, and quiet moments of personal prayer, and have moved people all over the world. Her first full-band album Loosen was released in April 2022 with Rising Song Records. Aly believes deeply in the power of music to awaken us to the loss and hope we carry, expand our sense of possibility, and connect us to each other and our collective strength. 

Rachel Chang (she/her) is a Jewish musician, songleader, and educator, as well as a music therapist, living in Philadelphia, PA. Drawing from the many communities and identities that have shaped her, Rachel leads with expressive guitar, sensitive listening, and a deep intention to cultivate belonging. She is the director of A Queer Nigun Project, which uses nigunim as a collective healing practice for LGBTQIA+ people, for Jews of Color, and for incarcerated people in Jewish community, and she is the ritual director at LUNAR: The Asian Jewish Collective. As a queer and multiracial Chinese-American Jew, Rachel has spent years grappling with what it means to belong, to take up space, and to be heard in Jewish community, and she has found music to be an invaluable resource.

Doors @ 7pm, Concert @ 7:30pm$18-54 suggested donation, with NOTAFLOF (No one turned away for lack of funds)