10/02/2026
Diaspora In Bloom Presents: Rachel Sarah Thomas!
Don't miss a one-of-a-kind evening of Assyrian American folk-pop.
Step into the Palace Theater and be transported straight to the golden age of 1970s cabarets in Baghdad, Tehran, and Damascus, as you sip on cocktails in the candle light.
Chicago based Rachel Sarah Thomas trained classically from age five, but in her mid 20s fell in love with pop music and never looked back. She created the solo electro-pop project KSRA, touring nationally alongside K-Flay and Thievery Corporation, collaborating with rapper Talib Kweli, and partnering with Grammy-winning hip-hop duo Tha Bizness. Her debut album Petra landed on NPR and scored the hit film Henry Gamble's Birthday Party.
Then, after ISIS invaded Mosul in 2014, Rachel turned her focus toward creating music about the Assyrian diaspora.
Her latest project is Sheekar (meaning sugar): a fusion of Assyrian folkloric and pop music from Iraq, Iran, and Syria, with American musical traditions. It's a celebration of Rachel's blended identity. An East meets West sound created to introduce newcomers to Assyrian music while giving Assyrians a fresh, unexpected take on their own rich musical heritage.
Lovers of global music, the glamour of cabarets, or middle eastern culture are sure to delight in this genre-defying performance. Expect an evening of atmosphere and live music performed in Assyrian & English, that's as sweet as its name Sheekar suggests.
Friday, November 13th @ 8PM
Saturday, November 14th @ 3PM
Tickets on sale now: https://eventmanager.vbotickets.com/tickets.asp?Page=Event&eid=209011
