Asian Glow is excited to announce its 2019 Kick Off Show on August 20th at ONCE in Somerville, MA! Asian Glow is a performance series that seeks to uplift artists from the Asian diaspora in Boston–to be seen as an individual and perform as the majority without explanation or apology.

The first show of 2019 features comedians Anjan Biswas and Nora Panahi, musician LuDow, and taiko group Genki Spark! More artists and details will be announced later! Tickets are available at www.oncesomerville.com.

Last year, Asian Glow included three independent showcases in three different venues across Boston. The series featured 21 individual artists and artist groups of different genres, including poetry, comedy, burlesque, music, and magic, and attracted an audience around 80 people per show.

Two additional installments will follow in the fall, with exact dates and venues to be announced. For more information, interview/press inquiries, or to join the mailing list contact Jane Park at [email protected], go to asianglowboston.com, or follow @asianglowboston on instagram.

Asian Glow is made possible (in part) by a Live Arts Boston grant from the Boston Foundation.

MORE ABOUT THE ARTISTS
Rex Mac is an Asian American, Boston based hip hop musician, organizer, and journalist. Since 2012, Rex has built a discography of entirely self-produced projects.

His latest album, ABLOOM, is available now and his true magnum opus. It is a dense, thoughtful ode to mental health in flux, featuring the singles “How To Be Alone,” “The World Is Not Enough,” and “East Meets West.” It has received recent glowing review from Boston media platforms including Verge Campus, Allston Pudding, Millennial Noise, Mmmmaven, and Boston Hassle.

Rex is a contributing writer for Boston media platforms, Boston Hassle & Know Your Scene. He also served as host and organizer of the monthly hip hop showcase, Sonic Bloom, at Cambridge’s Out of the Blue Too Art Gallery from 2016-2017. He currently organizes the hip hop and visual arts pop up, The Boston Matrix.

Ultimately, Rex Mac is a monk – Boston’s quietest renaissance man. But he’s an act destined to blossom on a national front at any moment.

Jason Lin is a multidisciplinary artist whose work primarily deals with the themes of identity, documentation, and obverservation. They are known for their artbooks and zines such as 2a.m. Gumbo, now a monthly newsletter.

Underwater Ventriloquist is an art and poetry project by Celene Chen. Her work spans various mediums: zines, chapbooks, comics, ink drawings and paintings. You can find her @underwatervent on instagram and etsy.

Anjan Biswas is a comic, writer, and producer who has brought his stand-up act all over the world, including Comedy Central Asia and the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. Anjan has appeared on WBAI radio’s The Artsy Fartsy Show and hosted AB radio with Margaret Cho. He just recorded an album titled ClueMaster: Stories from behind the Escape Room Curtain in April.

Nora Panahi is an Iranian-American, Buddhist-Muslim, Boston-based stand-up comic with great bangs and a 2011 white Toyota Yaris with crank windows. Nora has performed all over New England and New York at venues like Laugh Boston, the Comedy Studio, Broadway Comedy Club, and Mohegan Sun. Nora is a raging feminist and loves being technically Asian-American almost as much as she loves her son, Toby, who is a cat.

LuDow is a Chinese American rapper, songwriter and performer from Cambridge, Massachusetts. Performing since 2012, his music is often described as lyrical and soulful, with topics that range from Asian America to relationships and life experiences. You can find his music online everywhere (Youtube, SoundCloud, Spotify, iTunes/Apple Music, etc.), including his latest single “Complicated.”

The Genki Spark is a multi-generational, pan-Asian, women’s arts and advocacy organization that uses Japanese taiko drumming, personal stories, and creativity to build community, develop leadership, and advocate respect for all.