Bassel & the Supernaturals/Nick Wilkinson & the Featured Players/The Brothers' Band

Led by Ohio native Bassel Almadani, Bassel and the Supernaturals offer up a self-described “mixture of brash funk, classic Stax-era R&B and subdued jazz.” On “Illusion,” the band “keeps it funky” with spirited horn riffs that are designed for the dancefloor. In a video for the song that the band recorded during a live performance, you can see patrons dancing to the tune. Almadani, who is Syrian, regularly gives workshops and seminars at regional universities to raise awareness about both the ongoing Syrian crisis and issues relating to Arab & Muslim-American hostility within the United States. He takes on the issues in the song "Hideout" but never lets the consciousness raising get in the way of a good time. (Niesel)