Step into the enchanting world of Clarisse Karasira — the Rwandan cultural music superstar — as she unveils her highly anticipated album at Waynflete’s Franklin Theater.

Bakundwa (Beloved) is an uplifting symphony that weaves together the threads of love, diversity, hope, and resilience. Drawing from her rich Rwandan and African heritage at large and blending it with a global sound, Clarisse Karasira showcases her extraordinary talent as a singer, songwriter, and traditional dancer by captivating audiences with her powerful vocals and heartfelt melodies. 

Bakundwa by Clarisse Karasira is not just an album; it is a celebration of the human spirit. It serves as a reminder that, regardless of our backgrounds or differences, we are all interconnected through our shared experiences and the universal language of music. This album is a testament to the power of music to heal, inspire and bring people together.

As attendees arrive at the event they will be immersed in glamour and treated as VIPs on a red carpet, receiving the special attention and recognition they deserve. A photo booth will provide an opportunity for attendees to capture beautiful and fun memories with their loved ones. 

The artist will be joined by Mesa Schubeck & Sparxsea, and accompanied full backing back. 

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Sunday, August 20 at 6:00 PM (doors and red carpet 5:00 PM), approximately 120 minutes, with an intermission.

The performance will take place at Waynflete's Franklin Theater at 360 Spring St, Portland, ME 04102. View a campus map here.

Tickets are available for $30 in advance, $33 at the door, and $50 for VIP seating.

This event is in partnership with Waynflete

ABOUT THE ARTISTS

Clarisse Karasira rose to fame in 2018, when she released her first song "Gira Neza" which translates to be kind. Within a year she was awarded the title of the best female artist in Rwanda in 2019 and 2021.

Moving to Maine, Clarisse has performed in a concert to raise funds for refugees from Ukraine and she continues to change the world for the better through her talent as a songwriter and a singer. Clarisse believes in humanity, she dreams of a world where human dignity is protected, compassion is reigning and peace is accessible to all. You can learn more about Clarisse's journey in Amjambo Africa and the Portland Phoenix. 

Mesa Schubeck grew up in the small town of Blue Hill, Maine nestled in the forest on the edge of the ocean. Her parents are both self-taught folk musicians and from a young age she heard them playing traditional tunes on the fiddle and banjo for contra dances, weddings, and other events.

Growing up with two younger sisters she listened to lots of different kinds of music. Her mom had Joni Mitchell, Bob Dylan, and Carole King records and my dad was into Thelonius Monk, Miles Davis, and the artists from the Motown era. These sounds absorbed into my being and gave me a glimpse into the vast, rich world of music. They had an old upright piano in our house and she remembers climbing up onto the bench and feeling the silkiness of the keys and reveling at the sounds that were produced when she pressed them. She was drawn to the piano and loved creating her own melodies. Though she has to credit her dad as her first piano teacher, she began official piano lessons with Win Pusey at age eight. Once she advanced to 6th grade my parents made the commitment to drive me an hour every week after school up to Bangor so that she could take piano lessons with Ginger Hwalek who helped guide her classical playing to the next level. She's worked as a professional musician in Portland, ME, New Haven, CT, Santa Fe, NM, and Nashville, TN. It has been an honor to collaborate with so many creative, kind, and intelligent people along this path. Now, as she returns to her roots and establishes herself in Maine, she looks forward to continuing the musical journey!

Sparxsea is a Portland, Maine-based indie artist with a soulful voice and dark story of hope. Her music is critically acclaimed and defines her as a genre-bending, dynamic, and accomplished songsmith; lyrically she is thought-provoking, forward-thinking, and alchemic.

Recently featured in the L.L. Bean x Bull Moose Music summer concert series, Sparxsea has toured from east coast to west coast and performed in cities such as Los Angeles, NYC, Knoxville, Phoenix, San Francisco, and Austin. She has shared the stage with members of Morphine, Tim Reynolds of The Dave Matthews Band, SeepeopleS, and in 2023 did a run of shows with Grammy-winner Dave Gutter of The Rustic Overtones. Most recently she performed at the ARME Boot Camp 2 Festival in Searsmont, Maine.

Sparxsea and her siblings were raised in northern Maine by parents who were bandmates and alcoholics, so they spent days exploring nature while nights were often unpredictable, sleepless, and violent at times. Mornings forced into fresh starts went on into their college years.

In 2011, the death of their mother from an opiate overdose fractured Sparxsea’s family and sent her into a depression that birthed EP 'SHINE' (2018). The record would serve as a catalyst to her career and spiritual salvation. An earlier release, “Alive” (2016), was recently featured in the 2022 indie film 'Dole Mates' (DBC Productions), and “Don’t Let The Fire Die” (2019), was composed for the 'Damnationland' soundtrack and was the title track at the film festival. Sparxsea then released "Little Wooden Boat" (2020), the first single from her upcoming debut full-length album, 'On the Sea' (2024). It confronts fears of the unknown and its music video stars Maine native solo sailor Holly Martin on her expedition around the world. "Chariot" (2020), followed as a serenade to adventure sung from lupine fields in midcoast Maine. Her most recent release, "Forever Love" (2022), is a beautiful ode to the changing seasons of life.

'On the Sea' (2024) features renowned artists Tim Reynolds (Dave Matthews Band), Dana Colley (Vapors of Morphine, Morphine), Nikki Glaspie (Nth Power, Beyoncé), Jerome Deupree (Morphine), Nate Edgar (Nth Power, John Brown's Body), Devon Colella (QUAD), and David Yearwood (Forét Endôrmie). It is currently being produced by Will Bradford (SeepeopleS, theWorst) and Will Holland (The Pixies) at Chillhouse Studios in Boston, MA.

PAY-WHAT-YOU-CAN POLICY

No one will be turned away for lack of funds; contact MSA at 207-879-4629 or info@mayostreetarts.org for information on our pay-what-you-can admission policy. Please note that there is limited pay-what-you-can tickets available for this concert, so please reach out sooner rather than later.

COVID-19 POLICY

Masking is optional for this event.

CANCELLATION POLICY

Mayo Street Arts has a no-refund policy for all reservations. In the event that MSA is forced to cancel an event due to weather, illness, etc., refunds will be offered via the Ticket Tailor platform.