Oum Kamar is an internationally acclaimed singer-songwriter rooted in classical Western, Arabic, and North African styles. She plays a middle eastern lute (called an 'ud) while singing about love, nature, and spirituality. Formerly known as Jennifer Grout, Oum Kamar was first recognized in 2013 throughout the Arab world for her participation on “Arab’s Got Talent,” where she sang famous songs in Arabic while accompanying herself on the 'ud. She also gained recognition in Morocco for performing various Moroccan colloquial styles, such as "gnawa," a type of spiritual trance genre, by which her original music is greatly influenced. 

Oum Kamar changed her name to reflect the changing nature of her musical style, and has ventured into another realm of her own original compositions singing in a fusion multi-technique style and utilizing multiple percussion instruments and a wide variety of rhythms.  

For the Summer Concert Series, she is performing as a duo with renowned local percussionist Colin Henkel (member of popular local Latin band Mal Maiz). Colin has mastered a wide variety of styles and percussive instruments within the realm of jazz, Latin, and world music. His musicality and unique world experience as a percussionist lends to Oum Kamar’s vocals and unique ‘ud playing, resulting in a seamless blending of styles to create an original, yet nostalgic and magical sound. 

 2024 City Hall Park programming is underwritten by the Pomerleau Family Foundation and the WaterWheel Foundation. Media sponsor, Seven Days. The Summer Concert Series has support from American Flatbread Burlington Hearth and City Market, Onion River Co-op.