In these pages you will hopefully find interesting tips on how to take advantage of Cairo's many cultural opportunities, with particular attention to live events. Cairo Live Events Guide does not pretend to be exhaustive but will try to cover main events open to the public.

This is a private, independent, nonprofit endeavour. This blog was started in August 2008 by Cairowanderer who has been running it solo up to May 2011. Since then Cairene Beat contributes as well to the blog. If you have any comment, tip, or information you think might be relevant for the blog, please write to cairowanderer@gmail.com or cairenebeat@gmail.com.

Read about Cairo Live Events Guide on The Daily News Egypt

Wednesday, March 27, 2013

Nubian Music and Dances at El Dammah Theater


El Mastaba Center for Egyptian Folk Music invites you to enjoy a night with the Black Pearls, NUBANOUR, Thursday March  28, 2013 at El Dammah Theater at 9:00 PM.

NubaNour joined El Mastaba in 2010. NubaNour presents traditional Nubian music, dances, and songs, many of which reflect the suffering of the Nubian people: in the 1960s, around 100,000 Nubians were forced to resettle in the desert without compensation when the rising waters from the construction of the High Dam flooded the villages of their homeland. Since then, they have suffered political marginalization and, as their way of life was tied to the Nile, a loss of identity and culture. However, their music continues to be inspired by this displacement and loss which figure prominently in their tunes. Music plays an important role in keeping alive the Nubian heritage and languages. The Nubian identity is an inclusive one, they sing old songs addressed to the Virgin Mary, in addition to songs dedicated to the Prophet Mohammed.
NubaNour has performed throughout Egypt, and has participated in international tours and festivals, such as the WOMAD festival in England in 2012. 

In collaboration with the British production company, IPS 30 and with the support of the Arab Fund for Arts and Culture (AFAC), El Mastaba is launching the first NubaNour album, "Damnation", in 2013.

Tickets at the counter 30 EGP, Tickets by reservation 20 EGP. Reservations will be cancelled at 9:00 PM.
For reservation: info@el-mastaba.org or call 011 50 99 5354/011 243 66 241/0223926768
For more information visit: www.el-mastaba.org


Sunday, March 24, 2013

ADEL THARWAT at AL KAHILA Gallery


The exhibition "From the Memories of a Folk District" by ADEL THARWAT will open tomorrow, Monday March 25, 2013 at 6:00 PM at Al Khaila Gallery in Mohandessin. The exhibition will be opened until Tuesday April 9 every day except Fridays from 11:00 AM to 9:00 PM.

The Egyptian artist Adel Tharwat was born in Cairo in 1966. Professor of  Painting and drawing at the Faculty of Art education, Helwan University in Cairo. From 1990 he started to participate in the movement of Egyptian Plastic Arts and in many exhibitions and competitions of art such as Egyptian Salon of Youth, the National Egyptian Exhibition, the International Biennale of Cairo and the International Biennale of Alexandria. 
The artist organized more than fifteen private exhibitions and he was awarded many prizes such as “The grand prize of international association of art critic” and “The first prize” at the seventh Salon of youth- Fine Art Sector in Cairo.

For more information: www.alkahila.com


Wednesday, March 20, 2013

BEDOUIN JERRY-CAN BAND in concert at El Dammah Theater for Free Arts


Tomorrow Thursday March 21, 2013 at 9:00 PM El Dammah Theater presents music drawn from an area very dear to the hearts of Egyptians, Sinai. The BEDOUIN JERRY-CAN BAND perform authentic desert "Magrona instrument" music, accompanied with "Nay" (reed pipes), Bedouin Simsimiyya, and their main percussion instrument, the "Jerry-can".

The BEDOUIN JERRY-CAN BAND Band was founded in 2003. The band comprises semi-nomadic musicians, poets, storytellers and coffee grinders from the Egyptian desert of North Sinai. Their songs and poetry recall the exploits of the ancient Arabian Bedouin tribes through stories and fables about trusty camels, warnings of the dastardly deeds of sheep rustlers and tales of unrequited love for the girl with beautiful eyes in the next settlement.
The Bedouin Jerry-Can musicians perform traditional melodies, blending the simsimiyya with two traditional blowing instruments, Magrouna (two reed pipes for melody and drone, tied together and supported by an goatskin air sac which enhances the player's breath production) and an end-blown, "Nay" reed flute .The band get its name from the jerry-can, a war remnants from the desert such as "ammunition box" and "jerry cans".
In addition to performing for audiences in Egyptian cities, the Bedouin Jerry-Can Band has participated in international festivals, including Glastonbury in England, WOMADelaide in Australia and WOMAD Festivals in New Zealand and Spain.
In collaboration with the British production company,30 IPS Ltd, El Mastaba launched the album "Coffee Time" in 2009 for the Bedouin Jerry-Can band. El Mastaba produced the same album in Egypt in 2011. The CD is available for sale at the venue.

Tickets at the counter 30 EGP, tickets by reservation 20 EGP. The reservation will be cancelled at 9:00 PM
For more information please visit www.el-mastaba.org
For reservation & queries: info@el-mastaba.org
011 50 99 5354, 0223926768, 011 243 66 241

Tuesday, March 19, 2013

Award-Winning film "WINTER NOMADS" at the Swiss Club in Cairo


In the frame of « la fête de la Francophonie” in Egypt which will take place during the entire month of March 2013 the Embassy of Switzerland in Egypt and the Swiss Club Cairo are organizing a Swiss night with the screening of the movie “Winter Nomads”, by Manuel von Stürler followed by a rustic seated dinner on Friday, March 22, 2013 at 6:00 PM, at the Swiss Club (Villa Pax, El Gihad Street, off Sudan Street, Kit Kat Square).
Winter Nomads” is in French, with English subtitles, and was designated best European documentary film 2012 by the European Film Academy in Malta. In this movie, the director follows two shepherds who embark on their winter transhumance with a flock of sheep in the Swiss-French region.

Do not miss this unique opportunity to "travel to Switzerland" for an evening and experience Swiss culture and a culinary treat in a truly suggestive environment.

Members : EGP 100.-, Non-members : EGP 120.-
For reservation, please contact the Swiss Club Cairo
Tel. and Fax: : 3314 28 11 / 3315 14 55 / 010-03009695
E-Mail: swissclb@link.net
www.swissclubcairo.com


Monday, March 18, 2013

Tunisian star GHALIA BENALI to open El Genaina Theater Summer program


Al Mawred Al Thaqafy has released some anticipations about the 2013 Summer program of El Genaina Theater. The season will be launched on Thursday April 11, with a concert from Tunisian artist Ghalia Benali. This concert is part of a tour that marks the release of her new album. Ghalia will be joined on stage by Egyptian artists such as cello player Khaled Dagher , percussionist Hany Bedair, and guest artist Dina Al Wadidi.

And on Thursday April 18, Algerian artist Karim Ziad will present a performance with his band that comprises five French musicians. The band presents fusion of oriental, Berber, and western music. In 1989, Karim left to Paris to seek fame, and soon started performing along with Cheb Mami, the National orchestra of Berbes, and the guitar player Nguyen Le. Now, Karim is one of the most popular percussionists in Paris. Karim Ziad performance will mark the release of his new album. In This event, Rami Attalah Quintet will perform the opening act for Karim Ziad Quintet. Rami Atalla is the youngest jazz pianist on the professional musical scene in Egypt.

The Summer program al El Genaina, still to be finalized, is going to feature concerts and performances with Autostrad band, Akher Zapheer band (Jordan), Charbel Rouhana & the Beirut Oriental Ensemble (Lebanon), Mariam Saleh (Egypt) with Zeid Hamdan (Lebanon), Wust El Balad band, Percussion Show, Youssra El Hawary and Abyusif (Egypt). Opening acts will feature young talented artists such as Maii Waleed, Ahmed Maher, Shawar3na band and the Darb Al Ahmar Arts School.

For more information follow Al Mawred Al Thaqafy on facebook & twitter

Photo by Al Mawred Al Taqafi

Sunday, March 17, 2013

The week at the Cairo Jazz Club


Ahmed Nazmi, arguably one of the best bassists and jazz composers in Egypt will be launching his latest album 'Ethbat Hala' this Sunday 17th March, 2013 at the Cairo Jazz Club. The world music and jazz fusion album will also be featuring several guest stars.

On Tuesday 19th, 2013 CJC will host three of Egypt's ultimate electronic bands: Hossam Ghaleb, Neobyrd, and Negmo.

Last but not least, Cairo Jazz Club is proud to host the annual Cairo Jazz Festival Beyond Stage nights, starting from Thursday 21st up until Sunday 24th March, 2013, featuring artists from Austria, Morocco, USA as well as Egyptian electronic producer and musician, Negmo. The Beyond Stage nights will offer a great variety of Jazz fusion sounds throughout the festival ranging from folk, classic and vocal to oriental and electro jazz.

WEEKLY SCHEDULE:
Sunday 17th March: Ahmed Nazmi ‘Ethbat Hala’ album launch (Jazz/ World Music), starting from 9:00pm
Monday 18th March: Misty & Hafez/ DJ Migo (Deep, Vocal, Tech, House), starting from 10:00pm
Tuesday 19th March: High Voltage ft. Hossam Ghaleb (Dubtrip), Neobyrd (Electronic), Negmo (House), starting from 10:00pm
Wednesdays 20th March: Cairo 360 Anniversary (Guest List Only) DJ Amr Hosny (Vocal Tech House), starting from 10:00pm
Thursday 21st March: Cairo Jazz Festival–Beyond Stage: GMH ORKESTAR (Austria/Folk Jazz), starting from 11:00pm
Friday 22nd March: Cairo Jazz Festival–Beyond Stage: Negmo’s Electro Jazz Clash (Egypt/Electro Jazz Fusion), starting from 11:00pm
Saturday 23rd March: Cairo Jazz Festival–Beyond Stage: Ribab Fusion (Morocco/Oriental Jazz Fusion), starting from 11:00pm
Sunday 24th March: Cairo Jazz Festival–Beyond Stage: KJ Denhert (US/Vocal/ Folk Jazz), starting from 11:00pm

For Reservations: +20 1 0688 04764
Check www.cairojazzclub.com for all CJC info, schedule, menus, photo gallery and much more. 

Saturday, March 16, 2013

No weekly agenda, sorry!

Sorry, CLEG will not be able to provide the weekly agenda this week. Please refer to other excellent sites such as filbalad.com and cairo360.com. We'll be back soon!

- Cairenebeat

D-CAF is back in Cairo, April 4-28, 2012












Downtown Contemporary Arts Festival (D-CAF) is coming back to Downtown Cairo, opening its doors to the public from 4-28 April 2013.

Expect a month-long calendar of independent music, performing arts, film, visual arts, street performances and workshops.

For information on D-CAF 2013 program please visit: www.d-caf.org and d-caf blog: www.d-caf.org/blog

How the Middle East became a jazzy place (article)


Click here for a remarkable article from Goos Hofstee (How the Middle East became a jazzy place) published on "Your Middle East".

Thursday, March 14, 2013

ASHRAF KHALIL Lecture in Maadi


Tonight Thursday March 14, 2013 at 8:00 PM ASHRAF KHALIL will deliver a lecture entitled "Egypt’s Unfinished Revolution" at St. John’s Church in Maadi (corner of Port Said Rd and Rd 17).

ASHRAF KHALIL is one of Egypt’s most internationally respected journalists (Time magazine, Foreign Policy, the Wall Street Journal and the Economist), correspondent for France 24, and best-selling author of "Liberation Square: Inside the Egyptian Revolution and the Rebirth of a Nation" (the book will be available in the evening for purchase and signing).

 For more information: www.stjohnschurchmaadi.org / tel. 2358-3085

Wednesday, March 13, 2013

RANGO BAND at El Dammah Theater


El Mastaba Center presents a special musical night with the celebrated RANGO BAND on Thursday March 14, 2013 at 9:00 PM at El Dammah Theater (formerly El Tanbura Hall).
On this night you will meet top Egyptian-Sudanese Zar artists led by Hassan Bergamon, the last musician to perform on the famous instrument, the Rango, You will also meet Sheikha Zinab, a traditional singer of Mawwal (ballads) and praise songs.

"After Muhammad Ali Pasha's occupation of Sudan in 1820, he brought slaves to work with the Egyptian Army. A large number of dark-skinned people then settled in Egypt in shared residential neighborhoods. To this day, they practice their diverse, traditional arts in areas, such as Araishet El Abeed in Ismailia and El Emam El Shaafy in Cairo. From southern Sudan, they brought the Rango instrument with its special rhythms used in Zar rituals. However, after the death of the top Rango players, the instrument and its music faced extinction. Zakaria Ibrahim kept searching for Rango players until he found Hassan Bergamon. Hassan was the last living player, but he had stopped playing and turned to another Zar tradition. Zakaria encouraged him to revive the lost music of the Rango.
El Mastaba Center formed El Rango Band, a mix between Sudanese folk traditions related to Zar and the music of people of color in Egypt. The people gather around Rango, celebrating their wedding nights with the dancing and singing of their own traditions. Rango band has performed in theaters and cultural centers in many Egyptian cities, as well as in international tours and international festivals, such as Roskilde festival in Denmark, WOMAD in England and WOMADadlida in Australia and New Zealand.

In 2010, in collaboration with the British production company, 30 IPS, El Mastaba produced an album of Rango 's music called "Bride of the Zar"."
Text by El Mastaba Center

Tickets at the counter 30 EGP, tickets by reservation 20 EGP. For reservations write to info@el-mastaba.org or call 011 50 99 5354/0223926768/011 243 66 241. Note: The reservation will be cancelled at 9:00 PM. Door opens at 8:30 PM
For more information please visit www.el-mastaba.org

For more info about RANGO check:
El Mastaba Center - Rango group
30IPS - Rango group

 

Sunday, March 10, 2013

HALA ABU SHADY Exhibition at the Mashrabia Gallery of Contemporary Art


Mashrabia Gallery of Contemporary Art presents "On my Forest Land", an  exhibition of works from Egyptian interdisciplinary artist HALA ABU SHADY. The opening will take place on Sunday March 17, 2013, at 7:00 PM. Exhibition will run until Thursday April 11.

"On my Forest Land" is a complex project in which I am dealing with heritage and social issues deep-rooted in the different societies of the Mediterranean basin as the understanding of religion, homeland, shame and forbidden things, gender, reality and what is behind it.
Further the immense changes and on goings we pass through and the mixed cultural items resulting from it in a fast moving world.
Symbols, pictures and accents of the Egyptian society inspired me, in addition to what I myself heard and saw during the last two years. I used photographs of myself, photos of friends and friends of friends, as well as pictures from Facebook, Twitter and some more specific Middle Eastern media.
Mixing photomontage and sound art in a potentially subversive way, this exhibition aims to show many levels of the so-called "alternative reality".

(Hala Abu Shady, February 2013)


Mashrabia Gallery of Contemporary Art
8, Champollion St., Downtown - Cairo
Egypt
Phone 02 25784494
Mobile 0100 1704554
Opening hours: Daily except Friday 11 a.m. - 8 p.m.
www.mashrabiagallery.org

Saturday, March 9, 2013

WEEKLY AGENDA MUSIC March 9-15, 2013

CLEG Weekly Agenda is back this week, and many exciting musical events are in store including special appearances and festivals at Bikya, Norient appearance in 100Copies, Discord PanStarrs Nights, and Children's Festivals at Hanager and MUST. As one song goes, with any luck, the music never ends.
Cairenebeat

Saturday, March 9, 2013
 

- Bikya Takes Over C-Town at Bikya Cafe Maadi, 7:00 PM 
- Cairo Symphony Orchestra presents "Happy Birthday Mr. Britten" in the Main Hall of Cairo Opera House, 8:00 PM
- Sons of Aswan program at the Gomhouria Theatre, 8:00 PM
- Bashir (Nubian Fusion) at the Cairo Jazz Club, 9:00 PM
- Darwasha (Arabic Progressive Rock/Metal/Electronic) at Makan, 8:00 PM
- Al-Ghouri Tannoura Dance Group at the Ghouri Caravansaray, 7:30 PM
- Norient at the 100Copies Music space, 8:00 PM

Sunday, March 10, 2013

- Egyptian Sinfonietta - Soloist (Piano): Abdel Rahman El Bacha - Conductor: Ahmed El Saedi in the Main Hall of Cairo Opera House, 8:00 PM
- Heritage Ensemble for Arab Music at the Arab Music Institute, 8:00 PM
- Los Compadres (Latin Jazz) at the Cairo Jazz Club, 9:00 PM
- Like Jelly (Comedy & Music) at Makan, 8:00 PM
- Samaa’ Band led by Intesar Abdel-Fattah at the Ghouri Palace, 8:00 PM
- El-Nil Troupe for folk instruments (Folk music and songs) at Beit Al-Suheimi, 7:30 PM

Monday, March 11, 2013

- DISCORD Nights - Ver. 1 (PanSTARRS + Void) at Nile Maxime in Zamalek, 8:00 PM
- Doaa Ragab in the Wisdom Hall of El Sawi Cultural Centre in Zamalek, 8:00 PM
- Mounib Band (Ahmed Mounib / Nubian music) in the River Hall of El Sawi Cultural Centre in Zamalek, 8:00 PM
- Awadi Brothers and Baher Eid (Tech House) at the Cairo Jazz Club, 9:00 PM
- Al-Ghouri Tannoura Dance Group at the Ghouri Caravansaray, 7:30 PM

Tuesday, March 12, 2013

- Elena Dzamashvili (Piano Recital) in the Small Hall of Cairo Opera House, 8:00 PM
- Hassan Ramzy (Indie Pop), Revival (Rock/ Pop), Bad Mojo (Blues) at the Cairo Jazz Club, 9:00 PM
- Salma El Assal (Traditional Sudanese) at Makan, 8:00 PM
- DJ Dina El Ghareeb at the After Eight Club, 9:00 PM

Wednesday, March 13, 2013

- Hakawy International Art Fest for Children in Hanager, 5:00 PM
- Boghdady Jazz Band in the Small Hall of Cairo Opera House, 8:00 PMat the Gomhouria Theatre, 8:00 PM
- DJ Nitrane/ The White Nubian (Boogie Night) at the Cairo Jazz Club, 9:00 PM
- Al-Ghouri Tannoura Dance Group at the Ghouri Caravansaray, 8:30
- Mazaher Ensemble at the Makan, 9:00

Thursday, March 14, 2013

- Hakawy International Art Fest for Children in Hanager, 5:00 PM
- Kids Festival at MUST Opera House, 6:00 PM
- Abdel Halim Nowera Ensemble for Arab Music commemorates Mohamed Abdel Wahab in the Main Hall of Cairo Opera House, 8:00 PM
- Talents Development Center Concert in the Small Hall of Cairo Opera House, 8:00 PM
- Sakia Puppet Theater presents Abd el-Halim on stage at River Hall at Sawy Center in Zamalek, 8:00 PM
- Daniel Malak (Debut/Acoustic Pop/Rock) and Glass Onion (Beatles tribute) at the Cairo Jazz Club, 8:00 PM
- Salalem (Blues/Funk/Rock) at After Eight, 9:00 PM 
- Meshwar Band (Arabic Reggae) celebrate 2nd anniversary at Darb 17 18, 8:00 PM

Friday, March 15, 2013

- Hakawy International Art Fest for Children in Hanager, 5:00 PM
- Osman El Mahdy and David Hales (Violin and Piano Recital) in the Small Hall of Cairo Opera House, 8:00 PM
- Awtar Ensemble led by Amr Abdel Moneim at the Gomhouria Theatre, 8:00 PM
- Yorka Band (Andalusian music) in the Wisdom Hall of El Sawi Cultural Centre in Zamalek, 8:00 PM
-  DJ Mohasseb (House) at the Cairo Jazz Club, 9:00 PM

The week at the Cairo Jazz Club


CJC kicks off the week in a festive mood on Sunday 10th March, 2013 with Los Compadres, led by Ashraf Habashy on vocals, delivering their lively Cuban music from 9:00 PM.
Tuesday will feature another compilation of indie, pop, rock and blues sounds with Hassan Ramzy, Revival & Bad Mojo 'Giggin' It' from 10:00 PM.
New acoustic pop/rock singer and guitarist, Daniel Malak, will be making his debut this Thursday 14th March from 8:00 PM, followed by Glass Onion with their raging Beatlemania!
And finally, DJ Mohasseb celebrates his one year anniversary of delivering only the best uplifting progressive house tunes on Friday 15th March from 10:00 PM.

Weekly Schedule:
Saturday 9th March: Basheer (Modern Folklore), starting from 9:00pm
Sunday 10th March: Los Compadres (Latin Jazz), starting from 9:00pm
Monday 11th March: Awadi Brothers (Deep, Tech House, Nu-Disco), Baher Eid (Vocal Tech House), starting from 10:00pm
Tuesday 12th March: Giggin’ It Hassan Ramzy (Indie Pop), Revival (Rock/ Pop), Bad Mojo (Upbeat Blues), starting from 10:00pm
Wednesday 13th March: DJ Nitrane/ The White Nubian (Boogie Night), starting from 10:00pm
Thursday 14th March: Daniel Malak (Acoustic Pop/Rock), starting from 8:00pm,  Glass Onion (Beatles Tribute)
starting from 10:00pm
Friday 15th March: DJ Mohasseb (Uplifting Proggy House), starting from 10:00pm
Saturday 16th March: Uss We Laz2 (World Music), Ashara Gharby (World Music), starting from 9:00pm

For Reservations: 01 0688 04764
Check www.cairojazzclub.com for all CJC info.

Wednesday, March 6, 2013

EL TANBURA BAND in Concert


El Mastaba Center for Egyptian Folk Music invites you to attend El Tanbura Band concert on Thursday March 7, 2013 at 9:00 PM at El Dammah Theater (formerly El Tanbura Hall).

About El Tanbura: A quarter of a century ago, a group of Damma and Simismia artists in the city of Port Said undertook the responsibility to collect, revive and preserve this musical legacy which was threatened with extinction. El Tanbura band was born out of their response to Zakaria Ibrahim's call for establishing a band to achieve those goal.
In its first five years, the band successfully managed to collect 20 hours of that precious legacy which was orally transmitted through successive generations but which had never before been documented. This material is now preserved in writing, recording, video, and photographic form. However, it is the live performances which have continued over 24 years and through which the band presents regular, weekly shows on the beach of Port Said that ensures the continuing vitality of this heritage and its relevance to audiences. These shows are presented free to the people of the city as it was their forefathers who contributed to the creation of this special heritage.
The band also presents two annual festivals held in the city streets: one is held in the Spring and the other on Victory Day, the 23rd of December. This latter event commemorates the peoples' victory over the tri-partite attack of France, Britain and Israel in 1956. The resistance songs which the people composed during the attack and after have become an important part of the band's repertoire. The band has continued to compose new patriotic songs for subsequent situations and events, such as the on-going Israeli occupation of Palestine, the American invasion of Iraq, the 50th anniversary of the nationalization of the Suez Canal, the war of 1956, the revolution of the 25th January (during which the band often performed in Tahrir square) and, most recently, the first anniversary of this same revolution for which they composed the song, "Addi El Dalma" ("The Darkness has Passed").
In 2003, under the direction and encouragement of El Mastaba Center for Egyptian folk Music, the members of El Tanbura established a school in Port Said to transfer their skills and heritage to a new generation. Students between the ages of 6 and 16 learn the art of singing, percussion, instruments and dancing, becoming active players in their shared heritage. Young Tanbura, is managed by Mohsen El Ashry, one of El Tanbura's star simsimia players, and this band of youngsters has developed a high level of professionalism to the point where they perform for audiences in Port Said, Cairo, Alexandria and other places.
Latest News: El Tanbura band has just finished recording its new album, " January the 26th". The album includes resistance songs that date back to 1956, including "Patriotic Port Said ", as well as new songs composed during the January 25 revolution and the newest song, "January the 26th", which deals with the Port Said massacre and the imposition of curfew and the emergency law on that date. The album "January the 26th" will be released on the market soon.

Biography by El Mastaba Center For Egyptian Folk Music

Tickets at the counter 30 EGP, tickets by reservation 20 EGP. For reservations write to info@el-mastaba.org or call 011 50 99 5354/0223926768/011 243 66 241. Note: The reservation will be cancelled at 9:00 PM. Door opens at 8:30 PM
For more information please visit www.el-mastaba.org

CAIRO JAZZ FESTIVAL 2013


The CAIRO JAZZ FESTIVAL 2013 will take place from Thursday March 21 to Saturday March 23, 2013. This year lineup include bands from 14 countries, in addition to Egyptian artists. Among this year performers is Brazilian legendary guitarist and songwriter Gilberto Gil.
Partecipating artists are:

Dina El Wedidi (Egypt)
Ribab Fusion (Morocco)
Ali El Farouk Trio Ft. Karam Mourad (Egypt/Canada)
Gilberto Gil (Brazil)
Kristiina Tuomi (Germany)
Neil Cowley Trio (England)
EFTEKASAT (Egypt)
Mitko Rusev (Bulgaria)
GMHO (Austria)
Mikarimba (Japan)
KJ Denhert (USA)
Miguel Amado Group (Portugal)
Arch Stanton Quartet (USA)
Dainius Pulauskas (Lithuania)
Rembrandt Frerichs Trio (Holland)
Ziad Rahbani (Lebanon)
Namaste (France)

Performances will take place at the Geneina Theatre in Al Azhar Park, at DARB 1718, at the Cairo Jazz Club, and at the Kempinsky Hotel.
For a complete schedule of events, artist's bios, and information about tickets, and more, visit http://www.cairojazzfest.com/ (information about CJC and Kempinsky performances can be found under the "Jazz Beyond Stage" tag)

Monday, March 4, 2013

Book presentation: "Tweets and the Streets: Social Media and Contemporary Activism"


Baad el Bahr Cultural Association will present to Cairo's public the book "Tweets and the Streets: Social Media and Contemporary Activism" by Paolo Gerbaudo (King's College London) on Sunday March 10, 2013 at 7:00 PM at Mashrabia Gallery of Contemporary Art, 8 Champollion St., phone 25784494 or 0100 1704554

Introduction: Gennaro Gervasio, British University in Egypt
Participant: Salma Hegab, Egyptian blogger

"Tweets and the Streets analyses the culture of the new protest movements of the 21st century. From the Arab Spring to the 'indignados' protests in Spain and the Occupy movement, Paolo Gerbaudo examines the relationship between the rise of social media and the emergence of new forms of protest.
Gerbaudo argues that activists' use of Twitter and Facebook does not fit with the image of a 'cyberspace' detached from physical reality. Instead, social media is used as part of a project of re-appropriation of public space, which involves the assembling of different groups around 'occupied' places such as Cairo’s Tahrir Square or New York’s Zuccotti Park.
An exciting and invigorating journey through the new politics of dissent, Tweets and the Streets points both to the creative possibilities and to the risks of political evanescence which new media brings to the contemporary protest experience.
"

Copies of the book will be available at the event.

Dancing as Resistance (video)


I would like to share with you this truly amazing and inspiring video (from Your Middle East):
"With the assassination of Chokri Belaid, violence has returned to the streets of Tunis. Conservative Islamist forces target artistic freedom. But an initiative of young Tunisians now reclaims the streets. Their weapon is dance." 
Click here to be redirected to the article and video link.

Sunday, March 3, 2013

"The Enchanted East" by SAMIRA KIROLLOS


Renowned performance storyteller Samira Kirollos will present her work "The Enchanted East" at the British Council in Agouza on Wednesday March 6, 2013 at 7:00 PM. In this work Ms. Kirollos dramatises enchanting folk tales from Egypt, Iraq, Palestine, Saudi Arabia and Turkey.

Dr. Samira Kirollos is a professional, international, master performance storyteller who obtained her BA in English Literature from AUC, her MA in Theatre Arts from the University of Minnesota and her Ph.D in Drama from Stanford University in California. She has taught drama and storytelling up to university level and has spent half of her life in London. Samira trained as a ballet dancer and as a violinist and has for 26 years enchanted and beguiled audiences of all ages by storytelling in countless museums, schools, universities, libraries and art centres in the United States, Great Britain and Egypt. She has extensive radio and television experience and has published audio cassettes and audio CDs of Japanese folktales, an audio CD trilogy of myths and stories from Ancient Egypt and a trilogy of audio CDs of stories from Egypt throughout the ages. Dr. Samira is also a published author.
(Biography: courtesy of AUC)

Free tickets available from British Council Agouza reception.

Saturday, March 2, 2013

Movie Evening at the Austrian Cultural Forum


The Austrian Cultural Forum in Garden City (1103 Corniche El-Nil - next to Shepheard Hotel -1. Floor) presents "Wie man leben soll" ("The Way to Live") a 2011 comedy by David Shalko on Monday March 4, 2013 at 6:30 PM.
The movie is in German with English subtitles.
Free entry ... but sorry, no entry if you are below 16 years of age.
For more information, click here.

FLAMENCO ALGARABIA


The Main Hall of Cairo Opera House will host the Spanish troupe of the Fundación Casa Patas Flamenco with dancers Josè Barrios and Ana Gonzàles in "FLAMENCO ALGARABIA" on Tuesday 5, Wednesday 6, and Friday 7 of March, 2013 at 8:00 PM.