C.L.E.G. 1st Birthday

Exactly one year ago I opened this blog with the intention of providing few friends with information about cultural events in Cairo. Since then, this site has recorded exactly 22,316 hits.
I had a lot of fun, increased enormously my knowledge of the local scene and received many mails of support and practical help. It gives me satisfaction to read that people have gone out in the evening, had fun, discovered new venues, enjoyed a movie, new bands and new music thanks to this blog. That's what it's all about after all.
Many thanks to all of you and all the artists and organizers of events in Cairo.

"The more you steep yourself in the culture of the host country, the more you will be able to steep yourself in your own" 
Amin Maalouf

 

OMAR KAMEL

Omar Kamel is a musician (and much else, as you will discover from his facebook page) based in Cairo. His music is a blend between rock, Arabic tunes, electro and has a wonderful violin creeping in here and there. I have to say that this is some of the most original stuff I have heard so far here in Egypt. I definitely like it.
Check for yourself at Omar Facebook Page where you can also download some of his works.

Omar will also play a couple of songs from his new album tomorrow Sunday, August 30 at El Sawi Cultural Centre, 10:00 PM as part of the Regional Fusion Tour (or Rhythm Meeting as it was introduced to me; that's the name you'll find in the weekly agenda).

Lena Chamamyan at the Geneina Theatre

Friends that have been to Lana Chamamyan concert last night at the Geneina Theatre in Al-Azhar Park told me that if was so full that many people could not manage to get in. For this reason the organizers and the artist have decided to hold another concert tonight. I have also been told that they were already selling tickets yesterday evening and that many people did buy them already, so it might not be easy to get in tonight after all. Tried to call Al Mawred to check if it's already sold out but the line is on fax.
I'm afraid the only way is to give it a try and I'll do that. If I don't manage to get in, I'll sit on a bench and try to catch as much of it as possible; hope the wind blows in the right direction (if it blows at all).   

WEEKLY AGENDA MUSIC AUG.29 - SEP. 4

I anticipated it, it will be hard to choose what to do this week.
Enjoy the Ramadan Nights.

Saturday, August 29, 2009

- George Kazazian (Oud) at El Sawi Cultural Centre in Zamalek, 10:00 PM

- Donia Massoud (Folk Music) and Wust El-Balad (Modern Egyptian songs) at the Citadel, 10:00 PM

- Al-Ghouri Tannoura Dance Group at the Ghouri Caravansaray 9:00 PM

Sunday, August 30, 2009

- Black Theama in the Open Air Theatre of the Cairo Opera House, 9:00 PM

- Rhythm Meeting I with Ressala Band (Egypt), Aziz Maraka (Jordan) and Layla’s Project (Lebanon) at El Sawi Cultural Centre in Zamalek, 10:00 PM

- Nesma Abdel-Aziz (Percussions) at the Cairo Citadel, 10:00 PM

- El Nil Troupe for folk instruments (Folk music and songs) at Beit Al-Harrawi 9:00 PM

Monday, August 31, 2009

- Nubian Drums Troupe at the Ghouri Palace, 9:00 PM

- Ossama El-Sherif Troupe at the Ghouri Caravansaray, 9:00 PM

- Troupe Antar (Andalousian music) at the Cervantes Institute, 9:00 PM

- Rhythm Meeting II with Aziz Maraka (Jordan) and El-Dar Band (Egypt) at El Sawi Cultural Centre in Zamalek, 10:00 PM

- Hekaya troupe with Sherif Mustafa (Guitar) at the Amir Taz Palace, 9:30 PM

- Mohamed Abdel Sattar at Beit Al Suheimi, 9:30 PM

- Tannoura Dance Troupe at the Cairo Citadel, 10:00 PM

Tuesday, September 1, 2009

- El Sheykh Fayed, Mohamed Fayed (Zikr and Sufi songs) at the Makan Centre 9:00 PM

- Samaa Troupe (Sufi music and Chant) at the Ghouri Palace, 9:00 PM

- Pharaoniya Troupe of Ashraf Mahrous (Piano) at Beit Al-Harrawi, 9:00 PM

- Upper Egypt Choral Society at the Amir Taz Palace, 9:30 PM

- Taxi band at the Ghouri Caravansaray, 9:00 PM

- Beni Suef Troup (Folk music) at the Cervantes Institute, 9:00 PM

- Said Al Artist in the Open Air Theatre of the Cairo Opera House, 9:00 PM

- Sowar El Yasmine (Religious Inshad concert) at El Sawi Cultural Centre in Zamalek, 10:00 PM

- Sobhi Bidair (Tenor) at the Ceramic Centre in the grounds of the Cairo Opera House, 9:30 PM

- Aswan Folks Art Troupe and the National Arab Music Ensemble at the Cairo Citadel, 10:00 PM

- Al-Enshad Al-Dini Troupe (Religios songs) at the Gomhouria Theatre, 9:30 PM

Wednesday, September 2, 2009

- Karam Murad (Nubian music) at the Amir Taz Palace, 9:30 PM

- Madayeh with Mazaher Ensemble (Music of the Delta) at the Makan Centre 9:00 PM

- Nadia Mustafa (Arabic pop) at Beit El Harrawi, 9:30 PM

- Al-Ghouri Tannoura Dance Group at the Ghouri Caravansaray 9:00 PM

- Ana Al-Masri Band at Beit Al Suheimi, 9:30 PM

- The Nubian Drums led by Intesar Abdel-Fattah (the same great group that performs normally at the Ghouri Palace) at the Cervantes Institute in Dokki, 9:00 PM

- Ali El-Haggar (Arabic pop) at the Ghouri Palace, 9:00 PM

- Al-Enshad Al-Dini Troupe (Religious songs) and the National Troupe for Folk Music at the Cairo Citadel, 10:00 PM

Thursday, September 3, 2009

- Aziz Maraka and Razz Band (Jordan/Fusion Oriental, Jazz Rock) at the Genaina Theatre in Al Azhar Park, 9:30 PM

- Ghemiza Band (Contemporary Egyptian Music) at Beit El Harrawi, 9:30 PM

- Omar Khayrat (Piano) at the Fustat Traditional Craft Center at 9:30 PM

- Basata Band at the Amir Taz Palace, 9:30 PM

- Tannoura Dance Group at the Cervantes Institute in Dokki, 9:00 PM

- Ahmed Ibrahim (Classical Arab songs) at the Ghouri Caravansaray, 9:00 PM

- Al-Sharkiya Folk Art Troupe and singer Mohamed Tharwat at the Cairo Citadel, 10:00 PM

- Medhat Saleh (Arabic pop) in the Open Air Theatre of the Cairo Opera House, 9:30 PM

Friday, September 4, 2009

- Fayruz Karawaya (Oriental fusion) in the Garden of the British Council in Agouza, 10:00 PM

- Waed Bouhassoun (Syria/Sufi singer & Oud player) at El Genaina Theatre in Al Azhar Park, 9:30 PM

- Manal and her Troupe (Religious chant) at the Cervantes Institute, 9:00 PM

- Tahfeel Masry and Limouzine (Contemporary Egyptian Songs) at El Sawi Cultural Centre in Zamalek, 10:00 PM

The first CD from an Egyptian Heavy Metal band?

Well, I have to admit that Heavy Metal is not really my cup of tea, but I stumbled across this article in the Community Times and, music being music, I read it and found it interesting and well written.

Good luck, WYVERN!

PS: COMMUNITY TIMES is a wonderful publication full of interesting articles and useful tips for Cairo residents. Do support them buying the hard copy (15 EGP only) and you will not regret it.

Tannoura Performances at the Ghouri Caravansaray

A reader has kindly informed me that yesterday the performance of the Al-Ghouri Tannoura Dance Group started at 9:00 and not 8:30 as customary. Apparently this new timing will apply to the whole month of Ramadan. 

MOVIE AT THE ITALIAN CULTURAL CENTRE

Tonight, August 23, 2009 at 9:00 PM, in the Theatre of the Italian Cultural Centre in Zamalek will be shown the movie
DON CAMILLO,  Director: Julien Duvivier. Starring: Fernandel, Gino Cervi, Franco Interlenghi, Saro Urzì, Leda Gloria, Vera Falqui, Charles Vissière. Comedy, running time: 100 minutes. Italy - France, 1952.
The story is set in Brescello, a small village in the open countryside of Reggio Emilia, where the parish priest and the communist mayor are always fighting to gain leadership of the community. They spend their time thwarting/frustrating each other, even though in the end they always manage to come to a fair (oppure reasonable) compromise/agreement. Don Camillo has a fiery temperament and because of this he is often reprimanded by the Crucifix set in the major altar of the church. Italian with English subtitles.Free Entry.