Strathmore and the Good Hope Neighborhood Recreation Center are excited to host the inaugural Big Bloom Festival featuring:
- Live music
- Food trucks
- Moon bounce and activities
- County resources
RSVP is requested. RSVP allows us to notify you of event and weather changes.
Featured Artists
Debórah Bond
Soul and R&B vocalist Debórah Bond credits Luther Vandross as one of the musicians who inspired her to pursue a career as a recording artist. Performing with her dynamic band, Bond reimagines Vandross’s timeless repertoire in a tribute that combines his classic hits with soulful artistry. The DC-based singer—who blends the styles of Anita Baker, Sade, and Chaka Khan—is an active member of the worldwide indie-soul scene, headlining packed houses such as The Kennedy Center Millenium Stage, Atlanta’s Cobb Performing Arts Center, and Jazz Café in London. Her album, compass: I, was released in 2021.
Elijah Jamal Balbed & the JoGo Project
As a 2014 Strathmore Artist in Residence, DC-native Elijah Jamal Balbed launched The JoGo Project, a jazz-infused go-go band inspired by his time performing with the Godfather of Go-Go himself, the late Chuck Brown. A mainstay in the District's music scene, the Wammie Award-winning group has written and released several original songs, collaborated with the legendary Sugar Bear, and made history as the first go-go band to perform in Russia. In 2022, Balbed expanded The JoGo Project's lineup to include 3 saxophones, trumpets, and trombones, combining the sound of a traditional big band with the rhythm of jazz and the spirit of DC go-go music.
