UMF presents ROCK STOP at Nile Garden, near Mohamed Ali club on Friday May 18, 2012

We had not heard much from the UNDERGROUND MUSIC FEDERATION (UMF) since the event in November last year. They're back this year with a bang with Mashrou3 Leila for a headliner band. ROCK STOP taking place on Friday May 18, 2012 at the Nile Garden near the Royal Mohamed Ali Club promises to "bring back the noise with an electrifying Rock Concert."

 
Here is an event description from the Facebook event page:  

Celebrating the launch of our partners Discord Music Magazine, UMF presents to you Rock Stop Concert at Villa Andrawes "Nile Garden" featuring Beirut’s Mashrou3 Leila along with a line-up of Egypt’s best underground bands. So if you want to get your head banging and experience a real music festive with an extreme dose of Rock then make sure to make this stop at on May 18th.

CONCERT LINE-UP:

- MASHROU'3 LEILA is Arabic for ʻan overnight projectʼ lusting out a microphone, a violin, a bass, two guitars, drums and keyboards. It started out as a music workshop at the American University of Beirut in 2008, an open platform for students of architecture and design, somewhere to experiment with sounds and make things audible. Haig Papazian, Carl Gerges, Hamed Sinno, Omaya Malaeb, Andre Chedid, Firas Abou Fakher and Ibrahim Badr have enjoyed this sound fetish savoring its façade of nonchalance and feeding on its lack of genre – sustaining their collective as Mashrouʼ Leila, an experiment.

- HANY MUSTAFA or HanyMust, is a singer/songwriter and musician from Egypt. His music borrows elements from the indie/acoustic to alternative & ambient music. On the 22nd of July 2010. Hany released his debut solo EP entitled September,
Band Members
- Hany Must: Vocals, Guitars, Keys
- Adam Awad: Guitars
- Mostafa Kerdany: Drums and Percussion
- Yasmine Samy: Violin
- Ismael Gharib: Bass Guitar

- DIGLA
Digla is an Egyptian acoustic rock band, originally members of "Diskonnected"; a local seasoned cover-band, "Boro" and "Raafat" worked through high school whittling away at the vision that forms the band today. "Woman In Black" was their first original track in 2004 which two years later provide the blue print for a 7 track demo entitled "Free Your Mind".
Digla can always be found working on new material and exploring new ways to promote it and "Free Your Mind" was their latest release full length album and there are many more yet to come.
Band Members:
- Tarek Borollossy-Guitars/Vocals
- Omar Raafat - Drums/Keyboards
- Mohammed El Hakim - Bass
- Sary- Lead Guitar

- THE PERCUSSION SHOW : Seven Egyptian percussionists, together on one stage, turn their music talent into a professional world of stimulating beats, bringing you a performance of extreme rhythm and beats!
Band Members:
- Ahmed Hesham
- Ahmed Ali
- Moe El Arkan
- Ahmed Bahaa
- Shams
- Bob
- Mizo

- SIMPLEXITY is a progressive rock band based in Cairo, Egypt. Each member of the band enjoys a variety of different genres of music. The presence of such varied influences created the band’s original versatile sound.
Band Members:
- Omar El-Deeb - Guitar and vocals
- Noor Ayman - Bass and backing vocals
- Ahmed Adel Khalil - Keyboards and backing vocals
- Aly Hassab El-Naby - Drums

- FAKING IT is a Punk Rock Band formed in August 2006. Thier influences range from basically all types of Punk Rock such as Hardcore and Pop. The band is exceptional in using stunning sound effects especially with their guitarist Amir El Sherei, that definitely adds a special vibe and groove to their sound. Faking It composed lots of originals that won the heart of their fans and there are still many to come.
Band Members:
- Mahmoud Kamel aka 7oudster - Vocals
- Yousef aka Joe Birdhouse - Guitar
- Amir El Sherei - Guitar/Backing Vocals
- Mostafa Abdel-Sattar - Bass Guitar
- Andrew Mounir - Drums

More bands are expected.

Other details: TRANSPORTATION AND PICK UP CHECK-POINTS:
For those who don't have their own transportation we will provide pickups and check points in the following locations starting 2:00 p.m. buses will take off at 2:30 p.m. sharp so make sure to be there on time:

- Mohandessien (Game3 Mostafa Mahmoud)
- Dokki ( Giza Zoo Second Entrance infront of KFC)
- Masr El-Gedida ( Cilantro El- Marghany)
- Maadi ( Maadi Grand Mall Main Entrance)

IMPORTANT NOTE: Please note that you won't be allowed on the bus without showing your ticket. So please make sure to book your place on the bus while booking your ticket specifying your desired pick up from the above locations.
 

TICKETS:Guest list only, so pre-booking is recommended. Tickets price and distribution outlets will be announced soon!

FOR GENERAL INQUIRES
CALL:  012-07777-481 OR 010-02131-046.

Al Haya Haque at Darb 17 18 on Tuesday, May 1, 2012

On Tuesday May 1, 2012, Darb 1718 presents "Al Haya Haque" (Life is a Right) an event that aims at the abolition of death penalty. Al Haya Haque is an 18-month project, started in August of 2010 and which is funded by the European Union through the European Instrument for Democracy and Human Rights. It is a regional project aiming to contribute to the abolition of the death penalty in all of the occupied Palestinian territories, Lebanon, Jordan, and Egypt.

The event is presented by the Andalus Institute for Tolerance and Anti-Violence Studies, an
independent research institution that relies on the values of tolerance and citizenship aiming at contributing to human development in Egyptian and the Arab world. 

The bands participating in this ceremony are:
- Massar Egbari (Jazz, Contemporary)
- Ashara Gharby (Reggae, Blues and Afro Beats)
- 3lama band (Rock, Oriental)

Darb 1718 address:
Kasr El Sham3 Street
Al Fakhareen – Old Cairo
Behind the Hanging Church.
Nearest Metro Station: Mary Girgis

Jazz Sundays at Cairo Jazz Club, May 2012

 

Click to see full picture above. 

Film Screening: BULAQ on Thursday, May 3, 2012

The Rising Stars screenings restart on Thursday, May 3, 2012 at the Artistic Creativity Center at Opera House, 6:00 PM with the documentary BULAQ - Among the Ruins of an Unfinished Revolution.

Synopsis: On 25th January thousands of Egyptians gathered in Cairo’s Tahrir Square, sparking what we call now the Egyptian Revolution. Only a few hundred meters far from the world-famous square, the people from popular neighborhood Bulaq joined protesters, finding in demonstrations something more than a glimmer of hope. Through their voices, ‘Bulaq’ portrays their collective struggle against eviction and social marginalisation, whose destiny seems to be strictly intertwined with the hesitant fortunes of the Egyptian spring.

"Les Duos" by the Claude Brunachon and Benjamin Lamarche Company

The French Institute presents an evening with the French coreographers and dancers Claude Brumachon and Benjamin Lamarche on Wednesday May 2, 2012 at 8:00 PM at the Gomhouria Theatre in Downtown Cairo.
Free entry.

"Le duo est un élément important chez Claude Brumachon. Une part de l’œuvre qui prend ses origines dans la création même. Il est proposé de remonter le temps à travers plusieurs duos chorégraphiés par Claude Brumachon durant ces deux dernières décennies.
Des pièces, des histoires de corps errants et rebelles, dans lesquelles sont retracés la tendresse et le déchirement, la chaleur et le désir, la vivacité des luttes et des corps à corps. Claude Brumachon éveille la curiosité et la sensibilité du public sur la danse, art de vie et de l’extase.
Ses chorégraphies, revécues aujourd’hui à travers ces duos, sont une traversée du temps de 1998 à nos jours qui offre une succession de scènes intenses."

 For more information, click here.

French writer Marie Darrieussecq at the French Institute in Mounira

That's for all francophone readers of CLEG (and I know there are quite a lot). As I do not see the point in going if you do not speak the language, I'll leave the presentation of the event in French; if you understand it, ... you passed the test and can go with no worries.

A l’occasion de sa venue en Egypte pour participer à Ecrire la Méditerranée, Marie Darrieussecq sera à l'Institut Français d’Egypte au Caire pour une soirée exceptionnelle Dimanche 29 avril 2012 à 19h.

Marie Darrieussecq, romancière et psychanalyste, est née le 3 janvier 1969 à Bayonne.
Après des études de lettres, elle enseigne brièvement à l’université de Lille III puis publie son premier livre, Truismes, qui fait d’elle un auteur de premier plan. Elle est l’auteur de nombreux romans. Écrivain des sens et des sensations, elle nous fait partager les bouleversements physiques et métaphysiques qu’opère l’attente d’un enfant dans Le Pays (P.O.L, 2005) et s’interroge sur la maternité dans Le bébé (P.O.L, 2002), toujours avec un humour très subtil et une précision quasi scientifique. En 2011, elle publie Clèves, toujours chez P.O.L. qui observe le passage de l’enfance à l’adolescence d’une jeune fille.

WEEKLY AGENDA MUSIC April 28 - May 4, 2012

Hello there, 
Yet another week coming up.To those who can still catch it, big line up of musicians at clash of bands at AUC today.

Saturday, April 28, 2012

- MUSICANA AUC Orange Festival at New AUC Campus (CLASH of the BANDS) Black theama, Massar Egbary, Nagham Masry, Salalem, Taxi, Asflat, Zap Tharwat, Origin, Cadlillates, 1:00 PM to 11:PM
- Tausi Women's Taarab Orchestra (Zanzibar) - Spring Festival 2012 at the Amir Taz Palace, 8:00 PM
- Cairo Symphony Orchestra in the Main Hall of Cairo Opera House, 8:00 PM
- Song Concert with Omnia Hassan and Samir Gad in the Open Air Theater of Cairo Opera House, 8:00 PM
- Arab Takht Ensemble with Yasser Moawad at the Gomhouria Theatre, 8:00 PM
- Waguih Aziz in the Wisdom Hall of El Sawi Cultural Centre in Zamalek, 8:00 PM
- Ashara Gharby (Reggae, Blues and Afro Beats at the Cairo Jazz Club, 9:00 PM
- Amr Haha (shaabi) at After Eight, 9:00 PM
- DJ Feedo (Hip Hop) at Stilleto, 9:00 PM
- Al-Ghouri Tannoura Dance Group at the Ghouri Caravansaray, 7:30 PM

Sunday, April 29, 2012

- Commemoration of Mohamed Fawzy in the Small Hall of Cairo Opera House, 8:00 PM
- Fathy Salama and the Sharkiat at the Open Air Theater, 8:00 PM - Kolthomiat in the Arab Music Institute, 8:00 PM
- Hani Mostafa in the Wisdom Hall of El Sawi Cultural Centre in Zamalek, 8:00 PM
- Eclectic Band at the Cairo Jazz Club, 9:00 PM - Bashir (Nubian Fusion) at After Eight, 9:00 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, April 30, 2012

- Manal Mohie El-Din (Harp) 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
- Monib Band in the Wisdom Hall of El Sawi Cultural Centre in Zamalek, 8:00 PM
- Hekayat Band in the River Hall of El Sawi Cultural Centre in Zamalek, 8:00 PM
- Red Beats with Samer Nosseir, Ahmed Arossi & Mostafa Ayman at the Cairo Jazz Club, 9:00 PM
- Al-Ghouri Tannoura Dance Group at the Ghouri Caravansaray, 7:30 PM
- at After Eight, 9:00 PM
- Kids Festival at MUST Opera House, 10:30 AM *includes puppet show:El Leila el Kebeera

Tuesday, May 1, 2012

- Lotus Song Ensemble with Haig Avakian in the Small Hall of Cairo Opera House, 8:00 PM
- Rock n 'Lol and Salalem at the Cairo Jazz Club, 9:00 PM
- A Holy Night with the Pope at the River Hall of El Sawi Cultural Centre in Zamalek, 8:00 PM
- DJ Dina El Ghareeb at the After Eight Club, 9:00 PM

Wednesday, May 2, 2012

- Wessam Ahmed (Oboe and Piano recital) in the Small Hall of Cairo Opera House, 8:00 PM- Les Duos par La Compagnie Claude Brumachon Et Benjamin LaMarche (dance performance) at the Gomhouria Theatre, 8:00 PM
- Shwayat Fan Band in the Wisdom Hall of El Sawi Cultural Centre in Zamalek, 8:00 PM
- DJ Feedo 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
- at After Eight, 9:00 PM

Thursday, May 3, 2012

- Scenes from Favorite Operas conducted by Nayer Nagui in the Main Hall of Cairo Opera House, 8:00 PM
- Yehia Khalil Jazz Band in the Small Hall of Cairo Opera House, 8:00 PM
- Abdel Halim Nowera Ensemble for Arab Music at the Gomhouria Theatre, 8:00 PM
- Sakia Puppet Theater presents Om Koulthoum Back On Stage in the Wisdom Hall of El Sawi Cultural Centre in Zamalek, 8:00 PM
- AboMariam (contemporary Egyptian) at the Cairo Jazz Club, 9:00 PM- Music event at El Tanboura Hall, 8:30 PM
- Maryam Saleh (Album Launch) at the Geneina Theater at Azhar Park, 8:00 PM

Friday, May 4, 2012

- Scenes from Favorite Operas conducted by Nayer Nagui in the Main Hall of Cairo Opera House, 8:00 PM
- Violin & Piano Recital with Marlis Youniskhan in the Small Hall of Cairo Opera House, 8:00 PM
- Yorka Band (Andalusian music) in the Wisdom Hall of El Sawi Cultural Centre in Zamalek, 8:00 PM- Ashara Gharby (Reggae, Blues and Afro Beats in the River Hall of El Sawi Cultural Centre in Zamalek, 8:00 PM
- DJ Mmohasseb at the Cairo Jazz Club, 9:00 PM
- Dima Dima (Tunisia) - Spring Festival 2012 at the Geneina Theater at Azhar Park, 8:00 PM

Book Presentation: HOMECOMING, Sixty Years of Egyptian Short Stories selected and translated by Denys Johnson-Davies

On Sunday April 29, 2012 at 5:00 PM Café Riche (29 Talaat Harb Street, Downtown Cairo) will host the presentation of Homecoming: Sixty Years of Egyptian Short Stories, selected and translated by Denys Johnson-Davies (AUC Press, 2012).

Short story writing in Egypt was still in its infancy when Denys Johnson-Davies, described by Edward Said as “the leading Arabic–English translator of our time,” arrived in Cairo as a young man in the 1940s. Nevertheless, he was immediately impressed by such writing talents of the time as Mahmoud Teymour, Yahya Hakki, Yusuf Gohar, and the future Nobel literature laureate Naguib Mahfouz, and he set about translating their works for local English-language periodicals of the time. He continued to translate over the decades, and sixty years later he brings together this remarkable overview of the work of several generations of Egypt’s leading short story writers. This selection of some fifty stories represents not only a cross-section through time but also a spectrum of styles, and includes works by Teymour, Hakki, Gohar, and Mahfouz and later writers such as Mohamed El-Bisatie, Said el-Kafrawi, Bahaa Taher, and Radwa Ashour, as well as new young writers of today like Hamdy El-Gazzar, Mansoura Ez Eldin, and Youssef Rakha.
Denys Johnson-Davies has produced more than thirty volumes of translation of modern Arabic literature, including The Essential Naguib Mahfouz (AUC Press, 2011). He received the Sheikh Zayed Book Award in 2007 for Personality of the Year in the Field of Culture.

For more information, click here to be redirected to AUC Press website.

SALAH EL MUR & SOUAD ABDELRASOUL's "MAPS MIRACLE"

On Sunday April 29, 2012 at 7:00 PM the Mashrabia Gallery (8, Champollion St., Dowtown Cairo) will host the vernissage of the exhibition "Maps Miracle", a series of drawings by Salah El Mur & Souad Abdelrasoul.

The more than 100 small sized works on display are the results of a co-production between the Sudanese artist Salah el Mur and the Egyptian artist Souad Abdelrasoul. Their first common exhibition aims at questioning the relationship between the physical nature of human beings and their psychological and metaphysical state of being, in connection with a certain body or natural shape:

“Nature is a part of every human and, in turn, both nature and man influence one another. For there is the vegetal in man, the animal in man and also the mineral in man, with a variety of densities and inclination towards a certain species within these elements. If you bear the attributes of a dog then assuredly you are of this species, if you gravitate towards flowers then you carry within you a tree, and if you seek out rocks then certainly you bear an old mineral within you - perhaps of translucent crystal or rusted metal – these creatures and elements we tend to sanctify and desecrate accordingly.
We take in these different vegetal and animal forms - which we casually degrade on a daily basis - into our divine bodies. If we believe that the body is divine and separate from these base elements, we take away from our divinity by our mere interaction with them. This interaction of ours strips us of our separation, and this union is a celebration and an elevation, but since the body is considered holy and veiled, the result is persecution from others the more we associate with these elements and creatures.” (Salah el Mur, March 2012)

The exhibition runs until Thursday May 24, 2012.

EL TANBURA at El Tanbura Hall

Tomorrow, Thursday April 26, 2012 at 9:00 PM the amazing El Tanbura Band led by Zakaria Ibrahim will play at their own hall in Cairo. Ticket are available at the entrance for 20 EGP.

A quarter of a century ago in the city of Port Said a group of Damma and Simsimia artists undertook the responsibility to gather, keep, and revive the musical legacy which was under the threats of loss and vanishing. These artists responded to Zakaria Ibrahim's call for establishing a new band to achieve those goals. This was the beginning of El Tanbura band.
In the first five years, the band successfully managed to gather 20 hours of that precious legacy which is orally transmitted through consecutive generations and had never been documented before. The band documented it in writing, recording, video, and photography. As important are the live performances which have continued over 24 years and through which the band presents regular, weekly shows on the beach of Port Said. These shows are presented free to the people of the city whose ancestors had helped in creating 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 (23rd of December) which commemorates the peoples' victory over the tri-partite attack of France, Britain and Israel in 1956. The resistance songs which the people created during this attack and after have become an important part of the band's repertoire. The band has continued to compose new patriotic songs for other situations and events, such as the 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 25th January during which the band performed often in Tahrir square and, most recently, the first anniversary of this same revolution for which they composed the "Aadi El Dalma" song.
In 2003, under the direction and encouragement of El Mastaba, the members of El Tanbura established a school in Port Said for teaching a new generation this art of singing, percussion, instruments and dancing. Young Tanbura, as it is called, is run by Mohsen El Ashry, and this young band has developed to the point where they perform with a high level of professionalism in Port Said, Cairo, Alexandria and other places.

To get in touch with El Mastaba call 01150995354 or write to info@elmastaba.org
www.elmastaba.org

CHECKPOINT 303 live in Cairo and Alexandria

The electronic experiment kicked off in 2004 when Tunisian sound cutter SC MoCha teamed up with Bethlehem based Palestinian sound catcher SC Yosh to form CHECPOINT 303.
The idea was to cut, track, fragment, and reconstruct the audio soundscape from daily lives in the middle east into new audio reporting on injustice. Paris-based SC MoCha reworks the field recordings made by SC Yosh in the occupied territories into rhythmical transcriptions that range from raw acoustic aggression to synthetic soothing tunes with everything in between. Several artists and friends from around the globe contribute to Checkpoint 303's recordings, recent collaborations include Cheikh Julian, Noise Generator SoM, VL MonaLisa, Ms K. SuShi, Mehdi Douss, Melski & Damski.

CHECKPOINT 303, surely one of the most original and innovative acts to come out of the Middle East in recent years, will play in Cairo in the framework of Al Mawred al Thaqafy Spring Festival at the Genaina Theatre in Al Azhar Park on Thursday April 26, 2012 at 8:00 PM and in Alexandria at the Jesuits Centre on Friday April 27.
The support band will be the Palestinian group Dirar Kalash.

CHECKPOINT 303
free tunes from occupied territories...

:: Website: http://www.checkpoint303.com
:: Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/CP303
:: Myspace: http://www.myspace.com/checkpoint303
:: Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/checkpoint303
:: Flickr: http://www.flickr.com/photos/checkpoint303
:: Linkedin: http://fr.linkedin.com/in/checkpoint303
:: Soundcloud: http://soundcloud.com/checkpoint303

CAIRO JAZZ CLUB UPDATE

We have made a mistake! The concert of Ashara Gharby is not on Friday April 27 but on Saturday April 28. On Friday there will be a night with House music with German DJ Beno Lunsen followed by DJ S. Nakhla. Our apologies.

And the CJC also informed us that Massar Egbari, scheduled to play on Thursday 26 had to cancel their concert. Instead of them, Jailbird and The Cadillacs will follow the early show of Noha Taha.

CARAVAN Festival of the Arts 2012

In the year following Egypt’s “January 25th revolution,” as the country seeks to find its way into the future, the 4th annual CARAVAN Festival of the Arts (2012) with the theme “The Road Ahead” will open in Maadi/Cairo on April 26, 2012. While recognizing it will be a long and at times difficult road for Egypt, the CARAVAN Festival of the Arts focuses on ending sectarian strife and encourages the establishment of a society that inherently respects and honors religious diversity, living and working together in harmony.
The goal of the festival is to build bridges between creeds (Islam and Christianity) and cultures (East and West) through the visual arts, literature, film and music. This strategic inter-religious arts initiative over the last three years has generated significant attention from the international media and art world.
The 2012 CARAVAN Festival of the Arts, with the theme of “The Road Ahead” seeks to build on the new spirit of interfaith solidarity that was so beautifully illustrated, witnessed by the world, during the “January 25 revolution” in 2011.
Hosted at the historic St. John’s Church in Maadi/Cairo, the CARAVAN arts initiative comes out of a vision that the Arts can be one of the most effective mediums to enhance understanding and encourage friendship between Muslims and Christians, for as the late Nobel Prize Egyptian novelist Naguib Mahfouz wrote, “Art is language of the entire human personality."
To be officially opened on Thursday April 26, 2012 at 7:00 PM by the celebrated Egyptian actress Yousra, 45 premier Middle Eastern and Western visual artists will come together for a selling exhibition which will be held inside the historic St. John’s Church, with each submitting one piece of work that reflects the theme, “The Road Ahead”. The visual art exhibition, curated by participating British artist Roland Prime, includes a diverse range of noted Arab contemporary artists such as Reda Abdel Rahman and Mohamed Abla, to expatriate artists such as the well-known Norwegian artist Britt Boutros Ghali and renowned American sculptor Erik Blome.

Special participating guests to this year’s CARAVAN Festival of the Arts are Ahdaf Soueif, the Anglo-Egyptian Booker Prize shortlist author in international acclaimed novels Map of Love and In the Eye of the Sun, Khalid Abdalla, British-Egyptian film actor (star of The Kite Runner and Green Zone), and the Ana Masry Band (meaning “I am Egyptian” in Arabic): a musical group that has become very popular since the revolution known for their fusion of Arabic, Muslim, Sufi and Christian music.
“It could not be timelier,” says Rev. Canon Paul-Gordon Chandler, author and the American Rector/Minister of St. John’s Church, and Founder of the Caravan Festival of the Arts, “to be involved in this interfaith aspect of peace-building in this country, toward promoting a sectarian-free Egypt”.
In looking toward this upcoming festival, Roland Prime, curator of the CARAVAN Festival’s visual arts exhibition, says, “Our desire through this fourth exhibition is to address the importance of religious harmony and unity for Egypt’s future.”
All attendance is free of charge, but 20% of all art sales go to Middle Eastern charities assisting the poor.

WEEKLY PROGRAM of the CARAVAN Festival of the Arts:
Thursday April 26 at 7:00 PM: Opening presentations by Yousra, celebrated Egyptian actress, and Muslim and Christian dignitaries, with a special performance by singer Rula Zaki. All 45 participating premier visual artists will be present.
Wednesday May 2 at 7:00 PM: Literature Night with Ahdaf Soueif, Anglo-Egyptian Booker Prize shortlist author. Her talk will be about her new book: Cairo: My City, Our Revolution.
DATE TBA: Film Night featuring a talk by and interview with British-Egyptian film actor Khalid Abdalla.
Saturday May 5 at 7:00 PM: Music Night with closing concert by the Ana Masry Band.

The participating visual artists include Egyptians Mohamed Abla, Mansour Ahmed, Maher Ali, Bishop Mouneer H Anis, Farid Adel, Farres Ahmed Farres, Omar El Fayoumi, Rania El Hakim, Carelle Homsy, Isolde Kadry, Ahmed Magdy, Naguib Mahmoud, Galila Nawar, Reda Abdel Rahman, Ahmed Selim, Mohamed Youssef, Hisham El Zeiny, and Khalil El Hakim (Lebanon), Mutaz Eleman (North Sudan), Hakim Jamain (Jordan), Wilson Abrama Adiuru Ntana (South Sudan), Soha Sabbagh (Lebanon), Asmaa Takieddine (Syria), Erik Blome (USA), Anne du Boistesselin (France), Maaike Draper-Albers (The Netherlands), Renata Dyk (Poland), Brian Flynn (U.K.), Britt Boutros Ghali (Norway), Dorian Haqmoun (Switzerland), Damon Kaworsky (Australia), Julie Klimentos (U.K.), Renee van Lille-Demetroudes (South Africa), Cosima Lukashevich (USA), Julia Morgan (USA), Sonja Moser (Austria), Kimberly Odekirk (USA), Julie Oxenforth (U.K.), Francois Perez (France), Roland Prime (U.K.), Carolyn Seaton (USA), Cecilia Smith (USA), Marian Villadsen (Denmark), Katrina Vrebalovich (USA), Lucy Westwood (U.K.)

The CARAVAN Festival of the Arts will be held at St. John’s Church in Maadi, corner of Port Said Rd & Rd 17.
For more information:
www.oncaravan.org
www.maadichurch.org

OTAAK BAND record release party at the Cairo Jazz Club

On Tuesday, April 24, 2012 at 10:00 PM, OTAAK BAND (SUDAN/USA) will bring their Beja blues/Afrobeat music at the Cairo Jazz Club to celebrate the release of their new record "Bejawiya" (funded through kickstarter).

If you do not know them already, click here to go to Otaak Myspace page and listen to some of their amazing tunes.

WEEKLY AGENDA MUSIC, April 21-27, 2012

Here is a quick round up of this week's events. Especially note recommended events at Rawabet (on April 23) and Carolyn Carlson (also April 23) and Spring Festival events including the Checkpoint 303 (April 26) and The Invisible Face of the Beloved (April 27).

Saturday, April 21, 2012

- Cairo Symphony Orchestra presents a Tribute to Dr. Tharwat Okasha in the Main Hall of Cairo Opera House, 8:00 PM
- Oshak El Nagham Ensemble with Mohamed Abdel Sattar at the Open Air Theatre of Cairo Opera House, 8:00 PM
- Louai in the River Hall of El Sawi Cultural Centre in Zamalek, 9:00 PM
- El Dor El Awal at the Cairo Jazz Club, 9:00 PM
- Al-Ghouri Tannoura Dance Group at the Ghouri Caravansaray, 7:30 PM

Sunday, April 22, 2012

- Opera Children Choir in the Open Air Theatre of Cairo Opera House, 6:00 PM
- Heritage Ensemble for Arab Music at the Arab Music Institute, 8:00 PM
- Violin & Piano Recital with Khaled El Showeikh in the Small Hall of Cairo Opera House, 8:00 PM
- Ritmo de Samba at the Cairo Jazz Club, 9:00 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, April 23, 2012

- Yacoub Abu Ghosh, Ahmad Omran, and Ayman Mabrouk at the Rawabet, 8:00 PM
- Carolyn Carlson & Company at the Gomhouria Theatre, 8:00 PM
- Kimball Gallagher (Classical Piano Recital) in the Word Hall of El Sawi Cultural Centre in Zamalek, 8:00 PM
- Ramy Essam in the River Hall of El Sawi Cultural Centre in Zamalek, 8:00 PM
- Red Beats (DJ competitions) at the Cairo Jazz Club, 9:00 PM
- Al-Ghouri Tannoura Dance Group at the Ghouri Caravansaray, 7:30 PM

Tuesday, April 24, 2012

 - Haitham Ibrahim (Piano Recital) in the Small Hall of Cairo Opera House, 8:00 PM
- El Asala fi Rabie we Omer (Arabic oldies) in the Wisdom Hall of El Sawi Cultural Centre in Zamalek, 8:00 PM
- Otaak Band (Sudanese) at the Cairo Jazz Club, 9:00 PM

Wednesday, April 25, 2012

- Sobhy & Friends concert in the Main Hall of Cairo Opera House, 8:00 PM
- Flute & Piano Recital with Rania Yehia in the Small Hall of Cairo Opera House, 8:00 PM
- Ali El Haggar (Arabic songs) in the Wisdom Hall of El Sawi Cultural Centre in Zamalek, 8:00 PM
- Ahmed Essam (Arabic songs) the River Hall of El Sawi Cultural Centre in Zamalek, 8:00 PM
- DJ Safi (Boogie) 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, April 26, 2012

- National Arab Music Ensemble in the Main Hall of Cairo Opera House, 8:00 PM
- Boghdady Jazz Band in the Small Hall of Cairo Opera House, 8:00 PM
- Bashir (Nubian Fusion) in the Wisdom Hall of El Sawi Cultural Centre in Zamalek, 8:00 PM
- Mohamed Adaweya (Arabic Shaabi) in the River Hall of El Sawi Cultural Centre in Zamalek, 8:00 PM
- Noha Taha followed by Massar Egbari at the Cairo Jazz Club, 9:00 PM .... Jailbirds and The Cadillacs will play instead of Massar Egbari.
- Music event at El Tanboura Hall, 8:30 PM
- Checkpoint 303 at the Geneina Theater at Azhar Park, 8:00 PM

Friday, April 27, 2012

- Chamber Music Concert with Mariam El Mamlouk in the Small Hall of Cairo Opera House, 8:00 PM
- Religoius Song Ensemble at the Gomhouria Theatre, 8:00 PM
- Andromida (Rock) in the Wisdom Hall of El Sawi Cultural Centre in Zamalek, 8:00 PM
- Basata Band (Contemporary Egyptian Music) in the River Hall of El Sawi Cultural Centre in Zamalek, 8:00 PM
- Ashara Gharby (Reggae, Blues and Afro Beats) at the Cairo Jazz Club, 9:00 PM The concert is on Saturday, April 28! In schedule is a night of House music with German DJ Beno Lunsen followed by DJ S. Nakhla
- The Invisible Face of the Beloved at the Geneina Theater at Azhar Park, 8:00 PM

CENGIZ ÖZEK SHADOW THEATRE presents "THE GARBAGE MONSTER"

Have you ever thrown your garbage into the sea? If so, have you ever imagined what happens to it?
There’s a fish whose job is to clean the seas and it does its job with a great sense of responsibility. This fish has eaten so much garbage that it has turned into a monster, but a good hearted monster nonetheless. He resolutely tries to eat all the garbage he can find to keep the seas clean. He mostly hates plastic bottles. Oh what’s that?! Karagöz is throwing a plastic bottle into the sea, and now the monster is showing up and faces Karagöz! We’re following the fish under the sea, we’re going into the stomach of the monster, we’re sailing on the sea by Karagöz’ little boat on a screen 150 x 100 cm.
When the naive and attractive vision of all this scenery, comes together with tunes of traditional songs, it makes a tremendous and fantastic world of shadow puppets. Those who watch this fantastic comedy cannot believe that there’s only one person behind the screen to play so many figures.

CENGIZ ÖZEK: Cengiz Özek has worked with traditional Turkish shadow theatre, also called Karagöz, since 1977 when he was 13 years old. The first production was “Büyülü Ağaç – Magic Tree”, a play which is based on the shamanistic sources of Karagöz and compiles elements from a selection of the authentic and old performances still known.
Having a vast repertoire of classical Karagöz plays, Cengiz Özek Shadow Theatre produced its first modernization of Karagöz with “Çöp Canavarı” / “Garbage Monster” in 1998. In the same year he established the first Istanbul International Puppet Festival. It was the first attempt to bring performing artists and companies from all over the world together in one festival. The festival has continued annually ever since and has since then promoted and revived the art of puppet theatre around Istanbul.

Cengiz Özek Shadow Theatre has been hosted in many countries since it was founded and has performed more than 1000 shows as well as given workshops, exhibitions, and lectures on Karagöz. And now it is the turn of Egypt, in the framework of the Spring Festival organized by Al Mawred Al-Thaqafy! The performances will take place in Minya on Monday April 23 at the Jesuits Cultural Center (JCC, El Hommeyaat St., Ard El Moulid) at 5:00 PM and in Cairo on Wednesday April 25, 2012 at Beit El Seheimy, El Darb El Asfar Alley, Off Moez El Din El Fatemy St., El Gamaleya (click here for directions) also at 5:00 PM.

Free Admission to both performances.

More info about the event on Facebook & Twitter

DISCORD Magazine Wake & Bake event

Discord Magazine's Wake & Bake Brunch on Saturday April 21, 2012 will take place at Yasso Lebanese Lounge in Giza from 2:00 PM  until 8:00  PM

Wake & Bake is Cairo’s first cultural brunch series and will include live local music, delicious food, and an all around invigorating atmosphere.

The event series seeks to integrate Egypt’s bustling underground music + art scene into a tantalizing social gathering.

To it kick-off – DISCORD’s Wake & Bake Brunch will transform the Yasso into an all day music marathon featuring an array of local talent.

Also mixing into our cultural melting pot is Cairo’s first and leading pop-up chef, Alia Abdelrahman, with Lou’s Food Corner – guests will be invited to the Lou’s Food Corner station where they can purchase fresh, organic sandwiches made to perfection.

For visual kicks, Wake & Bake will feature several paintings by local artist Mounaz Abdel Raouf. Her paintings are bold and daring – each piece is often packed with symbolism and a pained narrative entirely self-contained within the work - Mounaz will be be unveiling pieces from latest series, "Oxy's friend, Moron".

Ticket price for the event is 100 LE - this ticket provides you with 2-draft beers or 1-hard liquor drink.

Dress Code: t-shirt, jeans. converse. shades.

**See Below for Reservation Booking**

MUSIC LINE-UP:

SOOPAR LOX – Cairo’s latest house music sensation, this multi-member band presents live house and oriental house music infused with live instruments, including, percussions, keyboards, vocalists and more.

WETROBOTS ♥ BOSAINA - One of Cairo's music original sound combinations, this electronic duo and dynamic vocalist take many of their cues from LCD Soundsystem, Peaches, and Cut Copy, but with a distinctly pop sensibility that draws on 80s pop singles with elements of electroclash, vintage disco and synth pop. For Wake & Bake, they will be DJ-ing their particular brand of indie/electro pop, and performing tracks from their debut EP.

MINUS T - Much like the voyagers before his time, T trekked through diverse musical terrains; rock, rap, reggae, techno, house and electronica. Minus T will be ripping old school rock, and indie favorites like The Cure, Depeche Mode, The Beatles, Arctic Monkeys, mixed with some groovy beats to keep the boat in high spirits between each performance.

ADAM AWAD is a half English, half Egyptian acoustic, folk singer + songwriter. His musical influences are Jimi Hendrix, Bob Dylan, Fleet Foxes, and jazz – all of these inspirations can be found in his unique sound and penetrating lyrics.

OMAR FODA - Egyptian singer + songwriter with a refreshingly original sound. Omar plays an array of originals and covers including, The Pixies, The Strokes, and The Velvet Underground. His blend of punk and post punk guitar riffs along with his plaintive anthems place him in the ranks of some of Egypt's best underexposed musical talents.

HASHEM El SAIFI - Born and raised in Egypt - Hashem is truly a vocal magician. His dynamic vocal range and musical versatility leaves his audience spellbound - Hashem is more widely known for his folk/rock sound and his self-contained guitar solos. Hashem sings a range of original songs and covers including, The Arctic Monkeys, Elvis, Little Joy, and The Doors.

ZIAD & ZONFOLY have been playing together ever since they decided to learn guitar years ago. They are both self-taught guitarist and have a unique sound entirely their own - both are influenced by different categories of music, but together, their sounds compliment each other in melody and feel.


Please Note SPACE IS LIMITED, to secure your name on the guest list please book your reservation online at -

http://tazkarty.net/EventDetails.aspx?EId=354

or call 02.3749.6162

DORKYPARK presents "HERE/AFTER" by Constanza Macras

Never before has it been so easy to be “by oneself” in a society which makes a confrontation with the “outside” avoidable through the sheer endless possibilities of communicating via the internet, chatrooms and delivery services. In fact, what is out there that one absolutely has to experience live?

In HERE/AFTER Constanza Macras along with four performers and one musician seek to find out more about Agoraphobia - the fear of certain, especially public and vast spaces, as well as of masses of people - with all its peculiarities like hyperventilation, panic attacks, dizziness and disorientation. Does everyday life in a metropolis pose a threat to the people?

Constanza Macras – born in Argentina and studied dance in Argentina, Amsterdam and New York, she received the GOETHE-INSTITUT Award for an outstanding German production in 2008, and the national German theater-prize DER FAUST for best choreography in 2010. She was also awarded with the Arts at MIT (Massachusetts Institute of Technology) William L. Abramowitz Residency in 2010.

Constanza Macras | DorkyPark was created in 2003 by Constanza Macras and dramaturge Carmen Mehnert. The company integrates dancers, actors and musicians with performers that range from 4 to 72 years old, combining text, live music, dance and video. DorkyPark has toured in Korea, Japan, India, Indonesia, Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, South Africa, The United States of America and has been invited to various European venues and festivals like Festival d’Avignon in France and Aarhus Festival in Denmark.

HERE/AFTER: Choreography and Direction: Constanza Macras
Dramaturgy: Carmen Mehnert
Text: Constanza Macras
From and With: Tatiana Eva Saphir, Miki Shoji, Ronni Maciel, Roberto de Buenos Aires, and Janaina Pessoa
Music: Santiago Blaum
Photos/Video: Manuel Osterholt
Light: Sérgio de Carvalho Pessanha

HERE/AFTER will be presented as part of Al Mawred Al-Thaqafy Spring Festival on Saturday April 21 and Sunday April 22, 2012 at 8:00 PM at the Falaki Theatre in Cairo, 24 El Falaki Street, Bab El Louk. Tel: 02 27976373
Free Admission

More info on Facebook & Twitter

GENTLEMAN concert in Alexandria - UPDATE: Location change

The Alexandria concert of the German raggae artist GENTLEMAN tomorrow Friday April 20 2012 (8:00 PM), will not take place at the Bibliotheca Alexandrina but at the cinema RIO, 37 El Horreya Road, Raml Station.
For tickets please call +(2012) 872 595 01 or email: deutschlandwoche@gmail.com
For more information, click here.

Cinema el Fourn films

Monday, April 23, 2012
Hard-Boiled (1992) - Hong Kong, Director: John Woo

Violence as poetry, rendered by a master-brilliant and passionate, John Woo's Hard Boiled tells the story of jaded detective "Tequila" Yuen (played with controlled fury by Chow Yun-fat). Woo's dizzying odyssey through the world of Hong Kong Triads, undercover agents, and frenzied police raids culminates unforgettably in the breathless hospital sequence. More than a cops-and-bad-guys story, Hard Boiled continually startles with its originality and dark humor

Wednesday, April 25, 2012
When the Wind Blows (1986) - UK/Japan, Director: Jimmy T. Murakami

A couple face a nuclear holocaust with only the instructions from the government's infamous 'Protect and Survive' leaflet to help them in this glorious animated adaptation of Raymond Briggs' book, voiced by John Mills and Peggy Ashcroft. Middle-aged Jim Bloggs becomes troubled at the mounting possibility of nuclear war. His wife Hilda is too busy with housework to be at all concerned. Jim returns home with some civil defence pamphlets and attempts to build a fallout shelter in his living room. And then the nuclear strike comes. They make it to the shelter in time but when they emerge they too have to cope with the drastically changed world. At first they discover that this means wondering when milk and newspaper deliveries will resume and that there is no power to boil a cup of tea, but soon come to realise that the devastation is much wider than that. After the success of his cartoons about Father Christmas, his book 'Fungus the Bogeyman' and 'The Snowman', creating a dark parable about nuclear fallout was not the most obvious for Raymond Briggs. But it was inspired. The grim humour and poignancy of his book rapidly made it a Cold War classic, and this animated adaptation directed by Jimmy T Murakami was one of 1980s cinema's most powerful indictments of mutually assured destruction. Title song by David Bowie and Music by Roger Walters

Monday, April 30, 2012

Dr. Strangelove, or: How I Learned To Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb (1964) – USA, Director: Stanley Kubrick

Arguably the greatest black comedy ever made, Stanley Kubrick's cold war classic is the ultimate satire of the nuclear age. Dr. Strangelove is a perfect spoof of political and military insanity, beginning when General Jack D. Ripper (Sterling Hayden), a maniacal warrior obsessed with "the purity of precious bodily fluids," mounts his singular campaign against Communism by ordering a squadron of B-52 bombers to attack the Soviet Union. The Soviets counter the threat with a so-called "Doomsday Device," and the world hangs in the balance while the U.S. president (Peter Sellers) engages in hilarious hot-line negotiations with his Soviet counterpart. Sellers also plays a British military attaché and the mad bomb-maker Dr. Strangelove; George C. Scott is outrageously frantic as General Buck Turgidson, whose presidential advice consists mainly of panic and statistics about acceptable losses


All films are subtitled in English
Ticket: 10 LE

Spring Festival Cairo calendar

A reminder that the Spring Festival organised by Mawred Al-Thaqafy taking place in Cairo from 20 April to 12 May, 2012 is near. Please see Cairowanderer's post on the festival more information and recommendations as well.

Here is the complete programme for Cairo. The festival is also taking place in Alexandria, Minya and Assiut.

Friday April 20, 2012 at 8:00 PM

Turkish Coffee (update on CLEG) (Music event)
Nedim Nalbantoğlu, Nuri Karadermili, Barbaros Erkose, Volkan Kipri and Ismet Kizil
Prince Taz Palace, Cairo
27 Seyoufeya Street, off Saleeba Street, Khalifa.
Free Admission


Saturday April 21 and Sunday April 22, 2012 at 8:00 PM

Here/After (Contemporary Dance event)
Dorky Park — Germany
Choreography and direction: Constanza Macras
Falaki Theatre, Cairo
By invitation
24 El-Falaki Street, Bab El-Louk, Cairo
For invitations contact: Tel: 27976373

Sunday April 22 and Monday April 23, 2012

Contemporary Dance Workshop
Constanza Macras with Karima Mansour
Cairo Contemporary Dance Centre (CCDC)

Wednesday April 25, 2012 at 5:00 PM

Garbage Monster (Shadow Puppet Theatre)
Gengiz Özek — Turkey
Beit El-Sehemy, Cairo
El-Darb El-Asfar Alley, Off Moez El-Din El-Fatemy Street, El-Gamaleya, Cairo
Free Admission


Wednesday April 25, 2012

Shadow Puppet Workshop
Cengiz Özek with Nabil Bahgat
Beit El-Seheimy

Thursday April 26, 2012 at 8:00 PM

Checkpoint 303 — Palestine / Tunisia (Music) (*CLEG recommends here)
El-Genaina Theatre, Cairo
Al-Azhar Park, Salah Salem Road, Darassa

Friday April 27, 2012 at 8:00 PM

The Invisible Face of the Beloved — Tajikistan / Tunisia / Uzbekistan (Music)
Abduvali Abdurashidov, Sirojiddin Djuraev, Ozoda Ashurova, Jasser Haj Youssef and Abbos Qosimov
Prince Taz Palace, Cairo
27 Seyoufeya Street, off Saleeba Street, Khalifa.
Free Admission

Saturday April 28, 2012 at 8:00 PM

Tausi Women’s Tarab Orchestra — Zanzibar (Music)
Prince Taz Palace, Cairo
27 Seyoufeya Street, off Saleeba Street, Khalifa.
Free Admission

Thursday May 3, 2012 at 8:00 PM

Panel Discussion moderated by Dina Abdel Rahman
The Future Manifesto
Alaa Abdel Fattah — Egypt
Aziz Amami — Tunisia
Fathi Terbil — Libya
Nabeela Al Mofti — Yemen
Ewart Hall, AUC, Downtown Campus
113 Kasr El-Aini Street
Free Admission

Friday May 4, 2012 at 8:00 PM

Dima Dima — Tunisia (Music and Singing)
El-Genaina Theatre, Cairo
Al-Azhar Park, Salah Salem Road, Darassa

Saturday May 5, 2012 at 8:00 PM

Zapp 4 — Netherlands (Music)
Prince Taz Palace, Cairo
27 Seyoufeya Street, off Saleeba Street, Khalifa.
Free Admission

Sunday May 6, 2012 at 8:00 PM

Music masterclass with Zapp 4
For Cairo Conservatory students

Monday May 7 to Wednesday May 9, 2012

Workshop
Dance Brigade with Darb Ahmar Arts School students

Tuesday May 8, 2012 at 8:00 PM

Samar with the Revolution (Storytelling)
Arwa Othman — Yemen
Nabil Tammam — Bahrain
Nader El-Sayed — Egypt
Makan — Egyptian Centre for Culture and Arts, Cairo
1 Saad Zaghloul Street, El-Dawaween 11461, Downtown, Cairo

Wednesday May 9, 2012 at 8:00 PM

Samar with the Revolution (Storytelling)
Ibrahim Alaguri — Libya
Ragab Makry — Tunisia
Yara Nosseir — Syria
Makan — Egyptian Centre for Culture and Arts, Cairo
1 Saad Zaghloul Street, El-Dawaween 11461, Downtown, Cairo

Thursday May 10, 2012 at 8:00 PM

Samar with the Revolution (Storytelling)
Guevara Nemr — Syria
Khaled Abdel Hamid — Egypt
Yousra Ennouri — Tunisia
Makan — Egyptian Centre for Culture and Arts, Cairo
1 Saad Zaghloul Street, El-Dawaween 11461, Downtown, Cairo

Friday May 11, 2012 at 8:00 PM

Cavewomen: The Next Incarnation (Dance)
Dance Brigade — USA
Falaki Theatre, Cairo
24 El-Falaki Street, Bab El-Louk, Cairo
Free Admission

Saturday May 12, 2012 at 8:00 PM

Music and Singing
Ajam — Iran / UK
El-Genaina Theatre, Cairo
Al-Azhar Park, Salah Salem Road, Darassa

NUBANOOR at El Tanbura Hall

El Mastaba Center for Egyptian Folk Music presents a night with the black Pharaohs NubaNour (click here for bio) tomorrow Thursday April 19, 2012 at 9:00 PM in El Tanbura Hall.
Tickets will be available at the front counter for 20 EGP.

Nubia is a very fertile land and the cradle to a very classy and deep kind of music representing the historical area. The art of joy is the speciality of artists from this area. Nubanoor will present both harvest and mourning songs but it is rare that their music is sad or digs too much into troubles.
The Nubian artist never forgets his two languages (Kenzy and Vadiky) nor his special Galabiya and traditions, so much so that you will find him, 1500 years after converting to Islam, singing a song for The Virgin Mary in what was the original language of the area.

To watch a video of Nubanoor, click here.

An amazing evening of Turkish music at the Amir Taz Palace

Al Mawred Al-Thaqafy (Culture Resource) presents an evening of traditional music from Turkey at the Amir Taz Palace on Friday April 20, 2012 at 8:00 PM. The evening will feature the musicians Nedim Nalbantbantoglu (Violin), Nuri Karademirli (Oud), Barbaros Erkose (Clarinet), Ismet Kızıl (Percussion) and Volkan Kirpik (Kanun).

NEDIM NALBANTBANTOGLU was born in 1966 in Kirklareli, Turkey. He studied music at an early age at Mimar Sinan Conservatory and Ecole Normal de Musique de Paris where he studied with Russian violinist Tatyana Affanasiyev, Devy Erlih and Bruno Lhuissiev. After graduation, he joined The National Jazz Orchestra as first violinist for 3 years where he performed with Johnny Griffin and Tooths Thielemans. He is known for his impressive improvisations and talent in mixing between different music genres as Jazz, Classical, Turkish, Balkan, Rock, Blues, Indian. He was invited to perform a special solo recital to Queen Elisabeth and performed numerous solo recitals around the world.

NURI KARADEMIRLI was born in Izmir in 1950. Thanks to the early development of his extraordinary talent on the Oud he was already a recognized virtuoso in Turkey at the age of 16. After a successful concert tour with his ensemble in Germany in 1969 he moved to Berlin where he has been based ever since. He helped to establish national conservatories in Istanbul in 1975 and in Izmir in 1984, and in 1998 he founded the Conservatory of Turkish Music in Berlin. He is a composer and the author of books in a variety of areas, and has published numerous CDs of his own compositions. He is also the recipient of numerous international awards and distinctions. In 2004 he established a workshop specialized in classical Turkish instrument building where apprentices receive an internationally recognized master certificate on completion their training.

BARBAROS ERKÖSE was born in Bursa in 1936 and started playing the clarinet at the age of nine. He comes from a family of musicians of international fame; his father was the oud player for famous Turkish singer Hafiz Burhan. He performed with many famous Turkish singers like Zeki Müren and Nesrin Sipahi and recorded albums with famous jazz players like Anouar Brahem, Craig Harris and Peter Pannke. Barbaros Erköse has released his solo album Atlantic and has released an album with Craig Harris and the Nation of Imagination called Istanbul.

FREE ADMISSION
Address: 27 Seyoufeya St., off Saleeba St., Khalifa (click here for directions)
Tel: 0225142581

Follow Culture Resource on Facebook & Twitter

Apologies for non-posting

Dear All,
Sorry about the delay in posting. Despite better intentions have not managed to post agenda this week. Back on track soon! Heartfelt thanks to Cairowanderer for keeping the site going!
Cairenebeat

GENTLEMAN & THE EVOLUTION from Germany at the Genaina Theatre

The German reggae singer GENTLEMAN and his band THE EVOLUTION, currently one of the hottest gig of the genre and very successful both in Europe and the US (click here to go to their website), will play on Thursday April 19 in Cairo and on April 20, 2012 in Alexandria as part of the German Weeks events. Information about the concert are available in Arabic and German at the following links:
http://www.germanweeks2012.com/ar/node/58
http://www.germanweeks2012.com/de/node/57

The concert in Cairo will take place at the Genaina Theatre in Al-Azhar Park while the one in Alexandria at the Bibliotheca Alexandrina. You can enter the show with an invitation that you can get for free at the Cairo Jazz Club (010 6880 4764 and 010 6880 4764). Both locations have limited capacity so, ... hurry up.

This event of the German Week is sponsored and managed by the Cairo Jazz Club Agency: www.cjcagency.com or www.facebook.com/cjcagency.

"DANTE READS DANTE" and "I HAD A DREAM ABOUT YOU" at the Italian Cultural Institute

The Italian Cultural Institute presents "DANTE READS DANTE", a lecture in Italian and Arabic language reflecting on the presence of Dante in the poetry of the 20th Century. The event will feature a conversation on The Divine Comedy led by Dante Marianacci and readings of the first canto of Inferno, and will be followed by "I HAD A DREAM ABOUT YOU", an Italian-Egyptian event between poetry and music directed by Abdalla Saad with the participation of the Italian-Argentian poet Maria Luisa Melo and the Egyptian poet Montassar Hegazy. A selection of orchestral pieces will accompany the poets’ performance.

The event will take place on Wednesday April 18 2012 at 6.00 PM in the Theatre of the Italian Cultural Institute in Zamalek.

DJ RAYSOO at the Cairo Jazz Club

RaySoo is one of Asia’s leading djs. His unique and quirky sense of electronic house music has taken him the world over. Steadily building up a strong catalogue of his very own style of productions on various labels, he was named ‘Best New DJ’ 2004 and ‘Best DJ’ 2005 two years in a row in Malaysian club culture and dance music bible Juice magazine.

RaySoo started djing at the age of 14, and at 17 was one of the first DJs to play at the now legendary Zouk Club in Singapore for the first “Sessions” parties in the early 90’s. His talent and passion for the music continued to enhance his regional profile, playing at such infamous clubs as Barracuda, Samsara, Liquid Room, Boom Boom Room and Heaven - culminating in his headlining performance at the massive 1998 Commonwealth Games Outdoor Closing Party at The Mines resort in Kuala Lumpur. From 2004 to 2007 he was resident dj at the new Zouk Club Kuala Lumpur, showcasing his versatility with his signature sets that cover an impressive range of electronic dance music genres - swerving from minimal to maximal house and techno via the freshest style-defining sounds from a multifaceted landscape of influences from around the world – and playing alongside the likes of Carl Cox, Tiefschwarz, John Digweed, Sven Vath, Danny Howells, James Holden and Stacey Pullen. His nite Push won ‘Best Clubnite” in Juice magazines ‘best of 2006 awards’.

In the past years he has been invited to play in the Global Gathering in Malaysia, Worldwide Festival in Singapore, Hanoi Sound Festival in Vietnam, and the C/O POP Festival in Cologne Germany. In 2008 he spent three months in Berlin, playing gigs at the Berghain/Panoramabar and several other venues around Europe.

In 2008 Ray launched his new label Love International who managed so far more than 20 releases from the likes of Losoul, Goodnight Electric, Space System, Turner, Mr. Fluff, PelleGrosso, DeepHouseSociety, Tonic, and others. RaySoo releases have found their way into the record/cd boxes/computers of people from house heavyweight John Digweed to techno veteran Marco Bailey. Love International continues to hold label showcases in locales from Singapore to Amsterdam to Tokyo to Berlin.

The internationally acclaimed DJ RaySoo will perform tomorrow Friday April 13, 2012 at 10:00 PM at the Cairo Jazz Club.

For more information, see www.loveint.net, Raysoo's Myspace page, and Raysoo on Facebook.

LUXOR SPRING FESTIVAL IS POSTPONED

That's the message I received few minutes ago:
Dear Likers, Fans, Supporters, & Participants, in order to present Luxor Spring Festival as we desire, including all the shows we promised will be performed, we are hereby to announce that our Festival is delayed till further notice ... Thanks 4 ur support

BEDOUIN JERRY-CAN BAND at El Tanbura Hall

The BEDOUIN JERRY-CAN BAND is a collective of semi-nomadic musicians,poets, storytellers, and coffee grinders from the Egyptian Sinai desert. Members are drawn from residents of El Arish, an oasis city lying on the Mediterranean coast of Sinai and from followers of a Sufi sect of the Suwarka tribe who reside at the nearby settlement of Abo El Hossain.

The group's songs and poetry recall the exploits of the ancient Arabian Bedouin tribes through stories from Sinai, Jordan, Syria, Lebanon, and the Arabian Gulf, recounting boundless generosity to guests, 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.

Blending the Simsimiyya (a traditional Egyptian lyre) with desert flutes and reed pipes, BJB perform traditional melodies accompanied by infectious rhythm splayed on tablas, frame drums and clay jugs; augmented by ammunition boxes & jerry-can percussion salvaged from the former battlegrounds of the Six-day War of 1973

The Bedouin Jerry-can Band is ready to mesmerize you tomorrow Thursday April 12, 2012 at 9.00 PM at El Tanbura Hall. Tickets are available at the entrance for 20 EGP.

For more information get in touch with El Mastaba: 01150995354
info@elmastaba.org
www.elmastaba.org

 

AL MAWRED AL THAQAFY (CULTURE RESOURCE) SPRING FESTIVAL 2012

THIS IS A BIG ONE! I would go to each and every single performance if I could, but, ... if I really had to pick only one ... I would not miss the opportunity to see Checkpoint 303. Have been following them for years (here's my post on CLEG of September 2009) and was looking forward an opportunity to see them. And now they come to Cairo, alas ... few months too late for me. Anyway, here's the news: 

Culture Resource in collaboration with The Cultural Cooperative Association for Youth in Theatre and Cinema SHAMS, and with the support of the Delegation of the European Union in Egypt, Doen Foundation, Open Society Foundations, Aga Khan Music Initiative, The Netherlands Embassy, Goethe Institute, and the British Council. present the fifth edition of the Spring Festival 2012, which will take place from 20th of April till the 14th of May 2012. This year the festival will be held in Cairo, Alexandria, Minya, Assiut, Beirut and Tripoli.

Spring Festival 2012 will start with a celebration of Turkish music on Friday 20th of April at Prince Taz Palace at 8:00 PM, featuring the distinguished musicians Nedim Nalbantoglu, Nuri Karadermilli, Babaros Erkose and others.

This year’s program features a whole range of musical genres and international groups including: Checkpoint 303 - Palestine/ Tunisia/ France, Dima Dima –Tunisia, Zapp 4 –Netherlands, and the Tausi Women’s Taarab Orchestra from Zanzibar. Furthermore, the festival is bringing together five acclaimed musicians from Central Asia to perform in an evening concert entitled "The Invisible Face of the Beloved”. A concert of the Iranian/ British band AJAM, presented with support by the British Council Egypt, will conclude the festival on 14th of May.

The program also includes two contemporary dance performances, ‘Here/After’ by Dorky Park, the ensemble of famous choreographer Constanza Macra, and "Cavewomen: The Next Incarnation" by the US-American group “Dance Brigade”, in addition to the Turkish shadow puppet show ‘Garbage Monster’ by Cengiz Ozek.

The performance program of the festival will be complemented by a side program which includes “Future Manifesto”, a panel discussion featuring cultural and political activists from Egypt, Tunisia, Libya, and Yemen, moderated by remarkable TV presenter Dina Abd El Rahman. It also includes a series of storytelling evenings “Samar with the Revolution”, which will take place from 8th to 10th of May at Makan - Egyptian Centre for Culture.

For more information please visit Culture Resource website 

LUXOR SPRING FESTIVAL

In case you're planning a visit to Luxor, the weekend of April 20, 2012 will give you the additional thrill of being able to take part to the Luxor Spring Festival, with concerts by Michelle Rounds, Hamza Namira, Hisham El Gakh, DJ Momo Rivera, and other shows.

For full details, click here (facebook page of the event).

Tagore Film Festival, April 15-19, 2012

On the the occassion of the 150th birth anniversary celebrations of Rabindranath Tagore in Egypt the Maulana Kalam Azad Culture Center presents Tagore Film Festival from Sunday April 15 to Thursday April 19, 2012 at the Artistic Creativity Centre, Opera House Complex

As part of the on-going celebrations of the 150th birth anniversary of Asia’s first Nobel Laureate Rabindranath Tagore (1861 – 1941), the Maulana Azad Centre for Indian Culture, Embassy of India, Cairo is organizing, in cooperation with the Cultural Development Fund of the Egyptian Ministry of Culture, a retrospective of Indian films based on Tagore novels and short stories from Sunday, the 15th April to Thursday, the 19th April at the Artistic Creativity Centre, Opera House Complex.

The festival will commence on 15 April 2012 at 6 p.m with a panel discussion chaired by renowned Egyptian film critic Dr Rafik Al Sabban. Ms Khairiya Al Bishlawi, film critic will also participate. The event will be graced by H.E the Ambassador of India Mr R Swaminathan and the Director of the Cultural Development Fund, H.E Eng. Mohamed Abou Seada.

Five award winning films, directed by renowned Indian film directors such as Satyajit Ray, Tapan Sinha, Hemen Gupta and Kumar Shahani will be shown in the retrospective along with a biographical documentary on Tagore as well as a rare silent film in which Tagore himself acted. While the original languages of the films are Bengali and Hindi, all have been sub-titled in English and specially in Arabic for the Egyptian audience. The films have been selected by the National Film Development Corporation of India (Indian Ministry of Information & Broadcasting. The schedule of films is as follows:

Date	Title	Director	Duration
15/04/12	Ghare Baire (Home and the World)	Satyajit Ray	138 min.
16/04/12	Kabuliwala	Hemen Gupta	140 min.
17/04/12	Teen Kanya (Three Daughters)	Satyajit Ray	161 min.
18/04/12	Khudito Pashan (Hungry Stones) & Natir Puja (Silent with English Commentary)	Tapan Sinha Rabindranath Tagore	106 min. 20 min
19/04/12	Char Adhyay (Four Chapters) & Rabindranath Tagore (Documentary)	Kumar Shahani Satyajit Ray	110 min. 52 min

For further details, please contact the Centre at: Tel: 23933396 / 23960071; Fax: 23936572; e-mail: macic@indembcairo.com