At the Shrine, Bella Hadid, Pedro Pascal and Chappell Roan push for humanitarian aid in Gaza and Sudan

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If you’re ever invited into a Palestinian home, you’ll never leave without dessert.

Bella Hadid, the model and activist, described being welcomed with cookies, tea, and, most importantly, kindness and compassion when visiting Palestine. She emphasized the beauty of the country and shared that her father instilled in her a message of love and acceptance, teaching her to understand and respect everyone’s background and history.

After Nicolás Maduro, the leader of Venezuela, was taken into custody by U.S. authorities, Venezuelan artists expressed a range of feelings about what the future holds for their nation.

Hadid and a large group of artists and musicians, led by Sudanese artist Mustafa, hosted their third annual benefit show. With Pedro Pascal as co-host and performances by Chappell Roan, Shawn Mendes, Omar Apollo, Raphael Saadiq, Clairo, and others, the event aimed to shift focus from the overwhelming sadness and anger about global issues to providing immediate support for children and medical care in Palestine and Sudan.

Mustafa began the evening by explaining his belief that an artist’s true strength isn’t technical skill, but rather their ability to understand and share the feelings of others. The performers that night aimed to use this connection with the audience to make a positive impact.

Mustafa, a Toronto singer-songwriter known for his deep voice and critically acclaimed 2024 album “Dunya,” is gaining recognition for blending folk music with meaningful activism. His songs, like “Name of God,” beautifully express the feelings of those who grew up between cultures, all supported by gentle acoustic guitar playing.

During Saturday’s performance, he admitted he feels more at home organizing events than being the center of attention. His charity work, through Artists For Aid, is similarly well-planned and reaches a wide audience – the show raised $5.4 million for organizations helping children in Palestine and Sudanese American doctors. Especially given the current political climate where even humanitarian efforts can become controversial, Mustafa carefully presented the show’s purpose. Notably, neither “Israel” nor “Trump” was mentioned at any point during the event.

Music

Kevin Lyman, the organizer of A Concert for Altadena, explained that even though people may move on with their lives, the need for support doesn’t disappear. He emphasized the importance of reminding the community that help is still available and that those affected are still present.

Mustafa showcased a diverse musical lineup for over four hours, featuring artists from genres like pop, folk, rock, and R&B. It was unusual to see bands like Geese, known for their loud, energetic sound, share a stage with pop star Mendes performing his song “Stitches,” but Mustafa’s talent and dedication to activism allowed him to bring such different acts together.

Instead of directly addressing anger over worldwide crises – like the recent death of a young mother at the hands of ICE, or the U.S. involvement in Venezuela – the music throughout the long Saturday night was gentle and heartfelt. From the start, with Cameron Winter’s melancholic piano song “If You Turn Back Now,” which included the line “The devil will love you to death if you let him,” the show focused on creating a shared emotional experience rather than making bold, provocative statements.

Let me tell you, sometimes you just need an escape, and this show delivered. It wasn’t about grand statements, but moments of genuine connection. Omar Apollo charmingly flubbed the lyrics to “Evergreen,” grabbing his phone to help – so relatable! Ravyn Lenae’s “Love Me Not” was pure, shimmering bliss. Shawn Mendes and Maggie Rogers had a really beautiful, heartfelt duet of “Youth.” And it was cool seeing Blood Orange and Daniel Caesar strip down their usual big sounds to something more intimate and folky. Raphael Saadiq’s performance felt steeped in the history of soul and R&B, while Jazmine Sullivan absolutely nailed a cover of Nina Simone’s “I Wish I Knew How It Would Feel To Be Free” – it felt like she was carrying on Simone’s legacy of honest, powerful expression. The most direct commentary on what’s happening in the world came from the poets Noor Hindi and Safia Elhillo, who really brought it home.

Despite everything happening in the world, people are surprisingly hopeful. Just last week, immigration authorities took a neighbor of mine – I came home to find our street covered in signs about it. Many people in Los Angeles and across the country have experienced similar, or even worse, losses over the past year. And those in Gaza and Sudan have been dealing with this kind of pain for years, on a much larger and more devastating scale.

Review

Chappell Roan was born to do this

Pop star Sabrina Carpenter, 27, kicked off two nights of performances in Pasadena on Friday with her Visions of Damsels & Other Dangerous Things tour.

Despite the overall atmosphere, moments of genuine connection shone through at Mustafa’s Shrine performance. A prime example was when Lucy Dacus, known for her cleverness and a leading figure in rock, surprised the excited audience by bringing out her friend, Chappell Roan.

Roan has faced criticism for her opinions on the upcoming 2024 presidential election, but instead of discussing that sensitive topic, she and her guest talked about “The Book of Love” by The Magnetic Fields – a song that celebrates the little things and imperfect moments that build a strong relationship.

Their voices blended perfectly in a gentle, intimate song about shared kindness – a performance that felt as small and precious as a comforting moment for someone who has lost everything.

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2026-01-12 01:31