Sunday Vibe

The Kennedy Administration

A group of New York musical all-stars, Kennedy Administration holds down a regular engagement at a popular Greenwich Village nightclub, Groove, while racking up milestones internationally. Since 2015, they’ve sold out performances in Europe, Russia and Asia, and at their iconic hometown jazz club, Blue Note. In March 2018, they played the annual Java Jazz festival in Jakarta — a three-day affair with attendance totaling 115,000. In summer 2018, Kennedy Administration opened for Elton John at the Black Sea Arena.

AnUrbanNerd (Josh Brown)

AnUrbanNerd has been writing and performing for more than 15 years. He is a Poet, Spoken Word artist and Rap artist with a background in education and engineering. He brings a number of experiences to his craft being able to connect with a wide audience. He spent years suppressing his gift trying to avoid being a stereotypical black man who raps, however he learned that “our gifts are not your own” and now he makes sure to give his gift back whenever he can. He has published several poems and has written and distributed two Music EP’s. He currently Teaches in the New London District where his goal is to provide more opportunities for students to express themselves.

Darlene Kascak

Darlene Kascak (Schaghticoke Tribal Nation) is the Education Coordinator at The Institute for American Indian Studies in Washington, Connecticut. Her experience as an educator, tour guide, museum assistant and Traditional Native American Storyteller has taught her the importance of educating both young and old about the many misconceptions and stereotypes about her ancestors. Her style of teaching from a Native American’s point of view allows children and adults the opportunity to have a new understanding of Connecticut’s Indigenous Peoples lives both in the past and in the present.

Paco Godoy y su Gran Orquestra Internacional

Born in Ecuador, Paco gave his first piano recital at age 5. A musical prodigy, he has recorded numerous CD’s and collaborated with international legendary Latin American artists like Franco de Vita and Bacilos. Having performed in renowned theaters across Latin America, Godoy has also performed organ recitals at the Notre Dame Basilica in Paris, Our lady of Guadalupe Basilica, and performed for Pope Francis on his first visit to Latin America. His compositions have been taught and performed at the Rich Forum and Palace Theater of Stamford, Connecticut and most recently, at the Vienna Conservatory during the 2018- 2019 season. His recent solo tours include Europe and Asia, presented by the Ecuadorian Embassy in France, Singapore, Hungary, Mexico and others.

He is featured in numerous anthologies in Ecuador, Peru and Argentina denoting his contributions to popular and academic music. Paco received an Honorary Doctorate degree from Universidad Autónoma de Quito, in Ecuador and has been INTEMPO’s orchestrator and artist ambassador since 2011.

Paco's website

Team Leggoo

Established in 2011, Team Leggoo is a professional dance company of young, aspiring dancers who train in various styles of dance while pursuing growth and development as teachers, students, choreographers, commercial dancers, and artistic directors. Under the guidance of Directors of Double Up Dance Company, Paul and Brian Herman, company members are provided with knowledge, opportunities, and experience to help them further their career while acting as effective community leaders.

Mulan Art Dance Ensemble

Mulan Fitness Art School is a novel and unique oriental fitness art school. It integrates fitness, body, dance and music. The school is located in Hamden, Connecticut, USA.

Alisa Bowens-Mercado

Alisa Bowens-Mercado is the first Black woman in the state to become a craft beer brewer. Her Rhythm Lager is inspired by her grandmothers, who both enjoyed drinking Miller Lite beers. The beer is currently only sold in and around the New Haven region, but it appears that among other brew masters, the beer is a tasty hit. The recipe is Bowens-Mercado’s own, and uses hops imported from South Africa, which connects to some other parts of her life.

Durand Bernarr

Singer. Songwriter. Producer. Skater. Actor. Host.

With a sound that has been coined as "Gangster Musical Theatre" by Qveen Herby, Durand Bernarr is one-part Little Richard, one-part Rick James, plus a heavy dash of powerhouse vocals & witty lyrical storytelling. The result is uniquely Durand - your favorite singer’s favorite singer!  Durand  has  had  the  opportunity  to  sit  under,  collaborate,  &  learn  from  some  of  music’s  leading legends  and  contributors  such  as  Earth,  Wind  &  Fire,  Producer  Yonni  (1st  cousin  on  his  father’s side)  The  Internet,  Anderson.  Paak,  Sam  Sparro,  J*DaVeY,  Teedra  Moses,  Adam  Blackstone, Tweet,  comedian  Rickey  Smiley  &  Erykah  Badu. In  2016,  Durand  released  his  first  EP,    Sound  Check,  prompting  Billboard  to  name  him  an  "artist to  know"  and  Lena  Waithe  to  call  Durand  one  of  her  favorite  singers.  Now  in  2020,  Durand  has made  huge  waves  with  his  self-titled  album ​ DUR& , which  debuted  at  the  #1  spot  on  the  Apple Music  R&B  charts.  Featuring  collaborations  with  the  likes  of  Ari  Lennox,  KAYTRANADA,  Anna Wise,  &  bassist,  “Buddah”  Foster  Jr., DUR& is  as  playful,  witty  &  sonically  imaginative  as  it  is packed  with  infectious  hooks  and  just  plain  GOOD  singing.

WithLove, Felicia

Felicia Webster, artistically known as WithloveFelicia, is an award winning spoken word performance poet, TedX Speaker, arts-educator, self-love activist and the CEO of WithloveFelicia Enterprises, LLC. As a multi- disciplinary creative, Felicia manifests connection through the power of the spoken word and artistic expression.

DJ LuxPro (Khori Johnson)

 Khori has performed under the moniker LuxPro as an open-format DJ and producer since 2011. He has released two EPs and a number of original singles and remixes independently. Khori is known to use animation, video, and motion graphics along with his music as a visual compliment.

Throughout the years, Khori has enjoyed both performing and producing a variety of functions and events nation-wide. While not necessarily having mainstream aspirations as LuxPro, Khori has found his place in music in creating and collaborating with other artists in the continuing effort to contribute to the creative community.

Khori’s ongoing goal has been to build a community-based network of artists and creatives that strive in not only uplifting the music scene but working toward creating thriving living conditions for those that contribute to the scene.