Date: December 14, 2024

Venue: The Garage

Address: 20-22 Highbury Cor, London N5 1RD

Time: 23:00

Ages: 18+

Organized by: MARSM UK

Hishek Bishek is a pulsing club night dedicated to the Arabic-speaking world’s popular music history and vibrant sonic cultures. From chart-topping Iraqi and Lebanese dancefloor hits, and the newest releases from Egypt’s underground, to Palestinian electronic dabke and nostalgic synthed-out 90’s classics, Hishek Bishek has become a vibrant staple in London’s late-night club scene.

Guidelines for our guests and the community: We strive to make Hishek Bishek a safe space. There is no tolerance for Homophobia, Sexism, Transphobia, Racism, Anti-Blackness, Religious Discrimination, Ableism and/or Classism at our club nights. If you demonstrate any of the behaviours above you will be asked to leave. The venue and Hishek team reserve the right to remove anyone that is making fellow party-goers feel uncomfortable.

This event is 18+

*You must bring photo ID that is not expired (examples of accepted ID: drivers license, passport, BRP, or any other form of valid government-issued photo ID – can be international). Unfortunately, refunds cannot be provided if you are not able to show your ID to the venue’s security upon arrival.

Date: December 12, 2024

Venue: Band on the Wall

Address: 25 Swan Street Northern Quarter Manchester, M4 5JZ

Time: 19:30

Organized by: Marsm + AM Management

Hilarious, sensitive and poignant – join us for a night with Mo Amer.

On the cusp of releasing the highly anticipated Season 2 of MO on Netflix based on a Palestinian family seeking asylum in Texas. Mo takes the stage for what he calls ‘Back to Square One’ – expect intimate nights of conversation and special guests.

This is an 18+ event.

Rich Mix is fully accessible

Date: December 08, 2024

Venue: Rich Mix

Address: 35-47 Bethnal Green Road, London, England, E1 6LA

Time: 18:30

Organized by: Marsm + AM Management

Hilarious, sensitive and poignant – join us for a night with Mo Amer.

On the cusp of releasing the highly anticipated Season 2 of MO on Netflix based on a Palestinian family seeking asylum in Texas. Mo takes the stage for what he calls ‘Back to Square One’ – expect intimate nights of conversation and special guests.

This is an 18+ event.

Rich Mix is fully accessible

Date: December 06, 2024

Venue: Rich Mix

Address: 35-47 Bethnal Green Road, London, England, E1 6LA

Time: 18:30

Organized by: Marsm + AM Management

Hilarious, sensitive and poignant – join us for a night with Mo Amer.

On the cusp of releasing the highly anticipated Season 2 of MO on Netflix based on a Palestinian family seeking asylum in Texas. Mo takes the stage for what he calls ‘Back to Square One’ – expect intimate nights of conversation and special guests.

This is an 18+ event.

Rich Mix is fully accessible

Date: November 23, 2024

Venue: Grand Junction

Address: Rowington Cl, London W2 5TF

Time: 20:00

Palestinian Nay Master, Percussionist, and Composer Faris Ishaq brings his the Kham Project to London as part of the EFG London Jazz Festival

A Palestinian Nay Master and Percussionist, redefines the parameters of the Nay, an ancient Middle Eastern flute dating back to 5000 b.c. Rooted in his Palestinian heritage and passion for the Nay, Faris celebrates its cultural legacy in today’s modern musical landscape.

With an evocative and improvisational approach, he plays the Nay while simultaneously accompanying himself on leg-percussion, seamlessly embodying a fresh and unique fusion of Middle Eastern, Jazz, and contemporary Folk sounds.

As part of the 2024 EFG London Jazz Festival, the talented Palestinian Composer brings his Kham Project to the English capital for traditional music explorations. Faris is renowned for revitalising traditional Palestinian shepherd playing while pioneering contemporary jazz.

His latest project is “Kham,” which in Arabic means “Raw,” is inspired by the Nay’s raw material (Sugarcane), guiding Faris’s artistic exploration to honour its roots while exploring the ultimate and innate performance potential of this minimal instrument. The project members are distinguished by masterful and diverse musical artistry in world music cultures, especially jazz, Middle Eastern, and African music, inspiring an innovative dialogue between four ancient instruments. For Faris, “Raw” represents the faith in the inherent potential of any idea, substance, or even person, and the whole-hearted investment in perceiving and working with it.

Date: November 17, 2024

Venue: Kings Place

Address: 90 York Way, London, N1 9AG

Time: 19:00

MARSM is proud to present leading Palestinian jazz pianist and composer Faraj Suleiman’s return to the EFG London Jazz Festival, on the back of his new album As Much As It Takes.

Faraj Suleiman’s path has been fraught with obstacles: when you’re born in 1984 in a Palestinian village, a career as a pianist is not a straightforward journey. And even if his name’s now known to European music lovers, he struggled during the pandemic—stuck in Paris even though he lives in Haifa—to get his new album out there. That’s the meaning of its title, As Much As It Takes. Whatever it takes, Suleiman composes and records to add to his already copious discography, because music overwhelms him. It’s the expression of his joys and sorrows, his anger too. It’s instrumental and narrative: it’s intimate, universal and political. Any work produced by a Palestinian is, according to the pianist, intrinsically political.

As Much As It Takes tells his story, from a youth torn between piano lessons and playing football with his mates, to the Montreux Jazz Festival, where he lived out his artist’s dream. Alongside his albums of songs, including Upright Biano in 2023, the prolific composer has created an instrumental project whose eleven tracks trace the stages of his dizzying career: Rama Village echoes his childhood, Akka-Safad is named after the road that crosses the Galilean landscape, Dal’ouna In The Galilean Wedding evokes the wedding music his father intended him to play, and so on.

Faraj Suleiman’s music is instrumental, but it tells us stories—his own, but also those of all the Palestinians buffeted by the winds of conflict, and of us all.

Date: November 16, 2024

Venue: The Garage

Address: 20-22 Highbury Cor, London N5 1RD

Time: 23:00

Ages: 18+

Organized by: MARSM UK

Hishek Bishek is a pulsing club night dedicated to the Arabic-speaking world’s popular music history and vibrant sonic cultures. From chart-topping Iraqi and Lebanese dancefloor hits, and the newest releases from Egypt’s underground, to Palestinian electronic dabke and nostalgic synthed-out 90’s classics, Hishek Bishek has become a vibrant staple in London’s late-night club scene.

Guidelines for our guests and the community: We strive to make Hishek Bishek a safe space. There is no tolerance for Homophobia, Sexism, Transphobia, Racism, Anti-Blackness, Religious Discrimination, Ableism and/or Classism at our club nights. If you demonstrate any of the behaviours above you will be asked to leave. The venue and Hishek team reserve the right to remove anyone that is making fellow party-goers feel uncomfortable.

This event is 18+

*You must bring photo ID that is not expired (examples of accepted ID: drivers license, passport, BRP, or any other form of valid government-issued photo ID – can be international). Unfortunately, refunds cannot be provided if you are not able to show your ID to the venue’s security upon arrival.

Date: November 08, 2024

Venue: Kings Place

Address: 90 York Wy, London N1 9GE, United Kingdom

Time: 19:30

Ages: 10+

Abbas Righi

Journey with Malouf and Algerian music

Abbas Righi, master of the Malouf tradition, returns to London following his resounding success at the Al Maqamat Festival in June.

Constantine musician, composer and performer Abbas Righi performs the poetry and music of Al-Andalus, a historic Muslim civilisation which flourished on the Iberian Peninsula (modern day Portugal and Spain) between the eighth and fifteenth centuries. During that era, the region flourished with extraordinary musical creativity, whose reverberations can still be felt to this day, across the Arabic-speaking world. Each city has developed its own ‘school’ of Andalusian music, each with its own nuances and influenced by local traditions.

Righi is a celebrated exponent of these ancient Andalusian musical forms as they took root and developed in Constantine, eastern Algeria. His performances are a tribute to the beauty of nature, the grace of beloved women, and the poignant sorrow of separation.

Date: November 04, 2024

Venue: Kings Place

Address: 90 York Way, London, N1 9AG

Time: 19:30

Enjoy a relaxed evening of music from the Arabic-speaking world at the 11th edition of ‘Open Mic Night – A Night of Arabic Music’

Enjoy a relaxed evening of music from the Arabic-speaking world at MARSM’s 11th edition of ‘Open Mic Night – A Night Of Arabic Music’.

Join us for an evening with some of the most beautiful vocals London has to offer.

To celebrate ten successful sold-out editions, which hosted performances by aspiring artists and drew in large audiences from across London and beyond, we’ve invited back four vocalists from previous editions for exclusive extended time slots to perform covers of your favourite Tarab songs (traditional Arabic songs) accompanied by a live band. Think Umm Kulthum, Warda, Fairuz and more…

Following the line-up, there will be time for members of the audience to perform, should they wish to. After all, it wouldn’t be the Open Mic without it! Everyone interested in performing should sign up with the host during the interval on the night.

This event will last approximately 2.5 hours, including an interval.

This event is presented by MARSM

Date: November 02, 2024

Venue: Theatre Royal Drury Lane

Address: Catherine St, London WC2B 5JF

Time: 19:30

Songwriter, singer, and multi-instrumentalist Hamza Namira returns to London for a west-end special to debut his new album.

Described as the ‘new Sayed Darwish’, Hamza Namira has become one of the leading figures in Egypt and the Middle East’s music scene. Through luminous expressions of resilience and ambition, Namira uses his work to explore and engage with the wider social issues of today. With his unique combination of Egyptian contemporary pop and traditional folk, rock and powerful ballads, Namira has sold out concerts in Alexandria, Cairo and London, while also performing internationally and across the Arab World.

Alongside his ensemble of some of Egypt and the Middle East’s finest instrumentalists, Namira will debut his new album Raye2 for the first time live on the London stage.

Date: October 20, 2024

Venue: Village Underground

Address: 54 Holywell Ln, London EC2A 3PQ

Time: 19:30

Ages: 16+

Damascus’s well-known soul and funk-influenced music producer, songwriter, rapper, and singer returns to London after several long years.

Bu Kolthoum chose music to pave the way of his life driven by the damascene ‘Tarab’ music that sank in his ears for years upon years in Syria, with the Hip-Hop/R&b and Soul influences that shaped his project’s sounds.

What sets Bu apart in the SWANA region is his seamless fusion of various sonic realms, drawing from the rich tapestry of ‘Zajal,’ and ‘Ataaba’ music that immersed him during his formative years. Complementing these influences is a diverse palette both sonically and thematically, incorporating his unique sound elements and refined his artistic vision.

With over 14 years of honing his craft, he has created what are now regarded as timeless classics of modern Arabic music, rendering him a pioneer of a sonic paradigm uniquely his own and charting new territory in the musical landscape of the Levant region. Over the years, he has graced some of the grandest stages across Europe and around the globe and took part in the most prestigious events. He also performed alongside luminaries such as Damon Albarn and The Orchestra of Syrian Musicians at the iconic music festival Glastonbury.

Bu continues to push the boundaries of his musical expression as he prepares for the release of his upcoming fourth studio album this year.

Date: October 12, 2024

Venue: The Garage

Address: 20-22 Highbury Cor, London N5 1RD

Time: 23:00

Ages: 18+

Organized by: MARSM UK

Hishek Bishek is a pulsing club night dedicated to the Arabic-speaking world’s popular music history and vibrant sonic cultures. From chart-topping Iraqi and Lebanese dancefloor hits, and the newest releases from Egypt’s underground, to Palestinian electronic dabke and nostalgic synthed-out 90’s classics, Hishek Bishek has become a vibrant staple in London’s late-night club scene.

Guidelines for our guests and the community: We strive to make Hishek Bishek a safe space. There is no tolerance for Homophobia, Sexism, Transphobia, Racism, Anti-Blackness, Religious Discrimination, Ableism and/or Classism at our club nights. If you demonstrate any of the behaviours above you will be asked to leave. The venue and Hishek team reserve the right to remove anyone that is making fellow party-goers feel uncomfortable.

This event is 18+

*You must bring photo ID that is not expired (examples of accepted ID: drivers license, passport, BRP, or any other form of valid government-issued photo ID – can be international). Unfortunately, refunds cannot be provided if you are not able to show your ID to the venue’s security upon arrival.

Date: September 21, 2024

Venue: Ronda

Address: Vredenburgkade 11, 3511 WC Utrecht, Netherlands

Time: 19:00

The spearheading Palestinian musical musketeers fly to Utrecht!

The spearheading musical musketeers have created global headlines with their no-compromise dance music, pioneering a genre called Shamstep, in which hip-hop and electronica are fused with Middle Eastern melodies and excellence.

Their trademark sound, rooted in chaabi music, pop culture, and tantalizing dabke beats, has become incredibly popular internationally and in the Arabic-speaking world. From their irresistible stage presence to their bilingual lyrics and showstopping visuals, 47SOUL has become one of the leading voices within Palestine’s unparalleled cultural resistance.

As they come to London for an exclusive night, expect the high energy, hypnotic hooks, and pulsing synths that define their pioneering sound.

Date: September 21, 2024

Time: 19:00

Organized by: MARSM UK + Tuzbiber International

Making his Turkey debut, the acclaimed stand-up comedian Alaa Abu Diab debuts his new show ‘Mish Abyad’ (Non-White)

Since stepping into the scene a few years ago, Jerusalem’s funniest man Alaa Abu Diab has gone on to sell out shows across the world from Cairo to London and Dubai to Toronto. His cutting-edge wit and hilarious political commentary have become a classic staple of his work while his nonchalant demeanour disarms (and charms) his audiences.

His new show ‘Mish Abyad’ explores the concept of ‘non-whiteness’ and ‘otherness’ and takes a dig at hypocrisy and double standards, touching upon subjects such as the current events taking place in Palestine and the invasion in Ukraine.

– This show is fully in Arabic

– This show is a bit over an hour

Date: September 20, 2024

Venue: KOKO

Address: 1a Camden High St, London NW1 7RE

Time: 18:00

The spearheading Palestinian musical musketeers return to London

The spearheading musical musketeers have created global headlines with their no-compromise dance music, pioneering a genre called Shamstep, in which hip-hop and electronica are fused with Middle Eastern melodies and excellence.

Their trademark sound, rooted in chaabi music, pop culture, and tantalizing dabke beats, has become incredibly popular internationally and in the Arabic-speaking world. From their irresistible stage presence to their bilingual lyrics and showstopping visuals, 47SOUL has become one of the leading voices within Palestine’s unparalleled cultural resistance.

As they come to London for an exclusive night, expect the high energy, hypnotic hooks, and pulsing synths that define their pioneering sound.

The general age restriction is 14+ (Anyone under the age of 16 to be accompanied by an adult).

Show ends: 10PM

Date: September 07, 2024

Venue: The Garage

Address: 20-22 Highbury Cor, London N5 1RD

Time: 23:00

Ages: 18+

Organized by: MARSM UK

Hishek Bishek is a pulsing club night dedicated to the Arabic-speaking world’s popular music history and vibrant sonic cultures. From chart-topping Iraqi and Lebanese dancefloor hits, and the newest releases from Egypt’s underground, to Palestinian electronic dabke and nostalgic synthed-out 90’s classics, Hishek Bishek has become a vibrant staple in London’s late-night club scene.

Guidelines for our guests and the community: We strive to make Hishek Bishek a safe space. There is no tolerance for Homophobia, Sexism, Transphobia, Racism, Anti-Blackness, Religious Discrimination, Ableism and/or Classism at our club nights. If you demonstrate any of the behaviours above you will be asked to leave. The venue and Hishek team reserve the right to remove anyone that is making fellow party-goers feel uncomfortable.

This event is 18+

*You must bring photo ID that is not expired (examples of accepted ID: drivers license, passport, BRP, or any other form of valid government-issued photo ID – can be international). Unfortunately, refunds cannot be provided if you are not able to show your ID to the venue’s security upon arrival.

Date: July 28, 2024

Venue: Kings Place

Address: 90 York Wy, London N1 9GE

Time: 19:00

Asmâa Hamzaoui, the foremost female ambassador of Gnawa music, joins the Songlines Encounters Festival bill with her group Bnat Timbouktou. Asmâa delivers a contagious brand of evangelistic desert blues.

Songlines Encounters 2024

Though women are essential to Gnawa rituals, there have not been many female Gnawa musicians. Asmâa Hamzaoui and the group Bnat Timboktou are part of a new wave changing this trend.

Hamzaoui was born into a Casablanca family who have lived and breathed Gnawa – her father is a master musician, her mother a dancer. She was taught the guembri as a child, and at an early age, she joined her father’s band on qraqeb and choir, before he encouraged her to start her own group. That became Bnat Timbouktou, the band who in late spring will release L ́bnat the follow up to the critically acclaimed debut album Oulad Ighaba on the Swedish label ajabu! Records.

‘To us, Gnawa stands above all other kinds of music. It’s our childhood. It’s spiritual, healing, and it makes you feel grounded.’

When this group of women performs, the guembri – a plucked lute played in a percussive style – and Asmâa Hamzaoui’s expressive voice are the centrepiece, while the soundscape is filled with the rhythmic percussion of qraqeb, so characteristic of Gnawa music.

‘When I play the guembri, I’m truly in my element. It’s hand-made of wood and goatskin. That makes it alive, in a sense.’

In 2017, Asmâa and the record label ajabu! forged a deeper connection and started recording the critically acclaimed debut album Oulad Lghaba in Casablanca and Stockholm. The album received great response and recognition worldwide and was also nominated for a Songlines Music Award. The follow up and new album L ́bnat will be released worldwide late spring 2024 and focus on the female traditions and spirits within the gnawa culture.

While a traditionalist in many ways, Hamzaoui is also a trailblazer, bringing the gnawa music to places such as the Roskilde Festival, BAM in Barcelona, Kaustinen in Finland and in summer 2024 to Womad. She wants to keep gnawa alive – in this instance, it’s a case of transformation through preservation.

This event will last approximately 2 hours, including an interval.

Date: July 13, 2024

Venue: The Garage

Address: 20-22 Highbury Cor, London N5 1RD

Time: 23:00

Ages: 18+

Organized by: MARSM UK

Hishek Bishek is a pulsing club night dedicated to the Arabic-speaking world’s popular music history and vibrant sonic cultures. From chart-topping Iraqi and Lebanese dancefloor hits, and the newest releases from Egypt’s underground, to Palestinian electronic dabke and nostalgic synthed-out 90’s classics, Hishek Bishek has become a vibrant staple in London’s late-night club scene.

Guidelines for our guests and the community: We strive to make Hishek Bishek a safe space. There is no tolerance for Homophobia, Sexism, Transphobia, Racism, Anti-Blackness, Religious Discrimination, Ableism and/or Classism at our club nights. If you demonstrate any of the behaviours above you will be asked to leave. The venue and Hishek team reserve the right to remove anyone that is making fellow party-goers feel uncomfortable.

This event is 18+

*You must bring photo ID that is not expired (examples of accepted ID: drivers license, passport, BRP, or any other form of valid government-issued photo ID – can be international). Unfortunately, refunds cannot be provided if you are not able to show your ID to the venue’s security upon arrival.

Date: July 05, 2024

Venue: Grand Junction

Address: Rowington Cl, London W2 5TF

Time: 19:00

Enjoy a relaxed evening of music from the Arabic-speaking world at the 10th edition of ‘Open Mic Night – A Night of Arabic Music’

Enjoy a relaxed evening of music from the Arabic-speaking world at the 10th edition of ‘Open Mic Night – A Night of Arabic Music’

After nine sold-out Open Mic Nights which hosted a range of performances by talented singers and musicians and drew in large audiences from across London and beyond, we’re back for the tenth time and, for this edition, we’ll be back at the beautiful Grand Junction.

Join us for a night immersed in the beautiful sounds of the Arabic-speaking world. Bring your friends, order refreshments at the bar, and get ready for another incredible line-up of live performers bringing you everything from covers of the likes of Umm Kulthum, Fairuz and Mashrou’ Leila, to original songs and exclusive mashups.

Following the scheduled performances, we’ll then be opening up the stage to the audience for anyone who would like to perform, so start getting those voices/instruments warmed up!

See you in July.

– This show is fully seated (first come, first serve)

– All ages welcome

– Grand Junction is fully accessible

Date: June 16, 2024

Venue: ICA

Address: The Mall, St. James's, London SW1Y 5AH

Time: 14:30

ALiF is proud to present a number of films from Lebanon to showcase the various stories the regions has to offer.

In 2018, Joumana, a fiery feminist writer, poet and activist runs for election defying a political system that has been suffocating Lebanon for 40 years. She gets elected, only to be ousted the very next day through fraud, leaving her supporters furious. In 2019, the people’s rage turns into a revolution. The streets swell with thousands of voices. Among them Perla Joe, a fearless woman who rapidly becomes a symbol of this uprising. Her unyielding voice echoes the frustration of a youth struggling to find its place. But the past looms like a shadow over their aspirations for progress and change. Georges is the guardian of that mysterious and violent past. He is a veteran of the Lebanese Civil War (1975-1990) where he lost a leg but clung to his delusions of “glory.”

In the form of diaries, the filmmaker narrates four tumultuous years of a nation in turmoil, battling to break free from its own chains. As the country is shaken by disruptions, personal quests for meaning and survival unfold. How can we continue to dream when the world around us is collapsing?

The screening will be followed with an in person screen talk with the director.

Date: June 15, 2024

Venue: Lafayette

Address: 11 Goods Way, London N1C 4DP

Time: 19:00

Ages: 18+

Organized by: MARSM UK + AM Management

Renowned for their emotive lyrics and uplifting songs, Adonis has been, for over a decade, re-shaping the sound of modern Lebanese music.

Adonis is a Lebanese rock band formed in 2011 by Anthony Adonis (vocals, keys) and Joey Abou Jawdeh (guitars). The pair, who met during their university days studying architecture together, were later joined by Nicola Hakim on drums and Gio Fikany on bass guitar.

The band has become known for their electrifying live shows and poignant, often whimsical songwriting. Written in the Lebanese dialect, and tackling themes of identity and longing, many of their songs, such as “Yeb’a Enna” and “Al Khafif”, have become anthems across the Arabic-speaking world.

Adonis has, so far, released 6 studio albums and performed sold-out shows around the world, headlining some of the most prestigious concert venues and festivals, such as the Amman Roman Amphitheatre (Jordan), the Carthage International Festival (Tunisia), and the Baalbeck International Festival (Lebanon).

The band has also collaborated with UNICEF, Netflix and Brazil’s Globo TV. Its frontman Anthony Adonis has written and produced music for leading Lebanese artists, such as Hiba Tawaji and Dana Hourani.

Lebanon’s favourite quartet is now set to perform at the Arts of Lebanon Festival (ALiF) in London, June 2024.

Age limit: 16+

This is a fully standing concert

This show is presented to you by Marsm and AM Management

Date: June 14, 2024

Venue: Bloomsbury Theatre

Address: 15 Gordon St, London WC1H 0AH

Time: 20:00

Ages: 18+

John Achkar uses humour as his favourite coping mechanism to transform life into a daily workshop. A rollercoaster evening of relatable laughter.

Experience a heartfelt evening of comedy with John Achkar, in Shou Zakeh?!

Delve into the comedic nuances of his fresh relationship, travel escapades, and witty observations on the corporate realm. Using humour as his favourite coping mechanism, Achkar transforms life into a daily workshop. Expect to be taken on a rollercoaster tour of relatable laughter in an evening filled with a cheerful atmosphere.

John Achkar is a Lebanese stand-up comedian who has garnered audience attention through his viral TikTok and Instagram content, with relatable jokes, exploring topics related to race, marriage, and culture. He starred in “Stand-Up Baladi” (2020), the first Lebanese stand-up comedy series in Arabic and is widely recognised for his comedy specials including “No Worries” (2020) and “Wein 3ayish” (2022).

Recently, he completed his inaugural tour in Europe and the GCC. Craving the comedic high, he launched his latest special “Shou Zakeh!?” in October 2023. Achkar will return to London to perform his show as part of the first Lebanese Arts Festival in the UK.

The show is performed in Arabic with no translation.

This show is brought to you by AM Management and Marsm

This performance will be filmed by the artist’s production team. By purchasing a ticket you consent to being filmed.

– Content is intended for 18+ audiences

– This is a seated show with allocated seats

Date: June 13, 2024

Venue: Bloomsbury Theatre and Studio

Address: 15 Gordon St, London WC1H 0AH

Time: 20:00

This unmissable comedy monodrama will take the London stage for the very first time, as part of Arts of Lebanon Festival (ALiF).

The sole heroine on stage, Anjo Rihane plays three different women from the southern village of “Nabatiyeh,” as she recounts her hopes and disappointments in the comic drama “Moujadarra Hamra.”

Living in the southern suburbs of the city Maryam, Fatmeh and Souad—the three women—share their experiences about all the familiar topics from marriage, divorce and kids to food and immigration, while also bringing up the important conversation of violence against women and the male chauvinist mindset with a lighthearted and carefree touch. The show alternates between different characters’ dialogues as we delve into their personal lives and experiences.

Maryam, an educated woman who moved to Paris to pursue her dream of becoming a writer while enjoying the liberties of the city, falls in love with and marries Bassem, a southern-born Lebanese guy. Fatmeh, a widow, asks her late husband if he is okay with her getting married again ten years after his passing. Souad, the third character, personifies the southern woman who is crushed beneath her husband’s cruel authority. Constantly battered

by her husband, Souad chooses to heed her mother’s advice that the only way to a man’s heart is his stomach.

Written and directed by Yahya Jaber, “Moujadarra Hamra” has gained a reputation for its witty humour and engaging storytelling: After five years of entertaining audiences in Lebanon and across the Arabic-speaking world, this unmissable comedy monodrama will take the London stage for the very first time, as part of Arts of Lebanon Festival (ALiF).

The show is performed in Arabic with no translation.

This show is brought to you by AM Management and Marsm

This performance will be filmed by the artist’s production team. By purchasing a ticket you consent to being filmed.

Date: June 12, 2024

Venue: Curzon Bloomsbury

Address: The Brunswick Centre, London WC1N 1AW

Time: 18:00

Organized by: Marsm + AM Management

ALiF is proud to present a number of films from Lebanon to showcase the various stories the regions has to offer.

On the last day of school in June 1982, 11-year-old Wissam wants to tell his crush Joanna that he loves her. This heart-stopping pursuit takes place in the shadow of a war that is inching closer and closer. From their classrooms in the mountains on the outskirts of Beirut, the children see warplanes overhead and an imminent invasion. Starring actress and Oscar-nominated director Nadine Labaki as Yasmine, the schoolteacher trying to keep calm in the face of cataclysmic brink,1982 is a semi-autobiographical first feature by Lebanese director Oualid Mouaness. This is the story of looming war through the innocent eyes of a child in love for the first time. 1982 is an award-winning, life-affirming, coming-of-age tale, and is screening as part of the inaugural Arts of Lebanon Festival (ALiF), co-produced by Marsm and AM Productions.

The screening will be followed by a virtual Q&A with the Director Oualid Mouaness.

Date: June 11, 2024

Venue: Khalili Lecture Theatre, SOAS University of London

Address: SOAS University Bloomsbury London WC1H 0XG

Time: 19:00

A talk on the Lebanese Alternative Music Scene by Mazen El Sayed (aka El Rass), Anthony Semaan and Nasser Shorbaji (aka Chyno with a Why?).

The SWANA Region has become a main talking point in the boardrooms of almost every major record label in the Middle East. The Arabic music industry is developing at such a rapid pace in places like the Gulf due to the funds that have been allocated for its cultural development, or Egypt where the sheer population of the country guarantees the longevity of its music industry. By contrast, countries like Lebanon, which have had a long history in creating avant-garde music and pioneered alternative culture youth movements, seem to be lagging behind due to being affected by constant socio-political unrest.

In this talk we will explore whether Lebanon is doomed to simply be a vessel bringing cutting edge alternative music that shapes the region but remains very niche in its regional appeal, or if the Lebanese Alternative Music Scene can have enough commercial success in the region to be sustainable.

Speakers:

Mazen El Sayed (aka El Rass)

A rapper and music producer from Tripoli, Lebanon. His discography includes 8 albums, the most recent is titled “Ard El Khof” , as well as more than 200 singles in collaboration with other music-makers and rappers from the region. El Rass’s work has earned recognition and visibility in the Arab world, specifically for his dense lyrical content, versatility of styles and subject matter, and his personal sonic approach. El Sayed worked as a journalist before devoting his time to music, and has been described as a subversive voice inspired from traditional and contemporary expression, from the spiritual and the worldly.

Anthony Semaan

Anthony Semaan is the co-founder of Beirut Jam Sessions, an organization that has produced numerous concerts and sessions in Lebanon and the Middle East for artists such as Joss Stone, Ibrahim Maalouf, Papooz and many more. He is also the co-founder of nos // nos productions, an events management company in London that organizes and promotes concerts, comedy shows and parties for artists from the SWANA region in the UK.

He has also worked with the Byblos International Festival, Deezer and, in his current role, at Patch, he is the Events & Partnerships lead.

As a music consultant he has collaborated with numerous artists and brands such as Red Bull, Sofar Sounds and many more.

Nasser Shorbaji (aka Chyno with a Why?)

As a founding member of the legendary Beirut-based Hip Hop crew Fareeq El Atrash and a prolific artist who toured Europe and the MENA region multiple times, he is no stranger to the scene.The Syripino (Syrian-Filipino) rapper-producer, based in Beirut, became the first artist to be signed by Warner Music Middle East in 2020. In 2021 he dropped his 2nd solo album: Mamluk. It explores the marginalization of migrant communities affecting millions around the world and pairs Chyno’s unique perspective and upbringing with his intense rhymes and infectious flow over a range of beats.Apart from his artistic endeavors, Nasser is the cofounder of The Arena: “The Middle East’s First Arabic Battle Rap League” that has garner millions of views on Youtube. He is also one of the founder of Beirut S.C.U.M. Week, and manages multiple hip hop artists in the SWANA region.

Mediator:

Lina Khatib

Dr Lina Khatib is director of the SOAS Middle East Institute and MBI Al Jaber Chair in Middle East Studies as well as Professor of Practice at the Department of Politics and International Studies at SOAS University of London.

Prior to this, she served as director of the Middle East and North Africa programme at Chatham House and director of the Carnegie Middle East Center at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace.

She also co-founded and led the Program on Arab Reform and Democracy at Stanford University’s Center on Democracy, Development, and the Rule of Law and was a senior associate at the Arab Reform Initiative.

She has published several books and is a frequent writer and commentator on current affairs in the Middle East.

Date: June 10, 2024

Venue: Curzon SOHO

Address: 99 Shaftesbury Ave, London W1D 5DY

Time: 18:20

ALiF is proud to present a number of films from Lebanon to showcase the various stories the regions has to offer.

Two decades after the Lebanese-Syrian war, Thérèse is yet to make peace with her brother’s death by a Syrian bomb. Thérèse is the mayor’s wife in a Lebanese village, joyfully preparing for her only daughter’s engagement. She excitedly shares the happy news with pictures of her beloved brother who was killed by a Syrian bomb 20 years ago and is still present in every corner of her house. Only when the long-awaited guests are at her doorstep, she discovers they are Syrian. Mahbas (Solitaire) is an award-winning, Lebanese rom-com, with a message of tolerance and forgiveness. This comedic roller coaster is screening as part of the inaugural Arts of Lebanon Festival (ALiF), co-produced by Marsm and AM Productions.

The screening will be followed by a virtual Q&A with the Director Sophie Boutros and Producer Nadia Eliewat.

Date: June 09, 2024

Venue: ICA

Address: The Mall, St. James's, London SW1Y 5AH

Time: 18:15

Ages: UK PREMIERE: Diaries from Lebanon

ALiF is proud to present a number of films from Lebanon to showcase the various stories the regions has to offer.

In the ever-present desire to capture, record, and understand Beirut, and by extension himself, director Zakaria Jaber has been trying to tell a coherent story of his city.

Towards the end of 2019, the situation in Lebanon led to a continuous barrage that helped materialise the story of Beirut, and its culmination in a series of events in fluctuating climaxes. Anxious in Beirut is Zakaria’s personal diary that documents these events – the revolution, destruction and demonstrations.

Living with constant anxiety, Zakaria narrates his own life while a series of unfortunate events prevent him from leaving Lebanon. These events, which have happened before and will happen again, are part of the cyclical nature of this city. The differing details only give rise to new observable symptoms and new forms of necessary adaptability, to an older more inherent systemic problem.

It is through the intersectionality between the general and the personal, the public and private, the old and young, that we are able to answer: why are we anxious in Beirut?

Anxious in Beirut is an award-winning documentary that holds a mirror to Lebanese society, and is screening as part of the inaugural Arts of Lebanon Festival (ALiF), co-produced by Marsm and AM Productions.

The screening will be followed with a screen talk with the director.

Date: June 08, 2024

Venue: Kings Place

Address: 90 York Wy, London N1 9GE, United Kingdom

Time: 19:30

Ages: 18+

Organized by: MARSM UK + AM Management

Mazen El Sayed, known for his stage name El Rass, is a rapper and music producer from Tripoli, Lebanon.

Writing and performing in both standard and colloquial Arabic, his songs have addressed many of the stories and themes surrounding the Arab region including unemployment, corruption, foreign occupation, freedom and religion.

His discography includes 9 albums with his most recent release “Hudhud.” El Rass has more than 200 singles in collaboration with other music-makers and rappers from the region. El Rass is known for his lively blend of modern wordplay from the streets of Lebanon and beyond with classical Arabic, an idiom that is rarely used in rap.

His work has earned recognition and visibility in the Arab world, specifically for his dense lyrical content, versatility of styles and subject matter, and his personal sonic approach. He worked as a journalist before devoting his time to music, and has been described as a subversive voice inspired from traditional and contemporary expression, from the spiritual and the worldly.

El Rass will return to London to perform as part of Arts of Lebanon Festival (ALiF).

Date: June 08, 2024

Venue: The Garage

Address: 20-22 Highbury Cor, London N5 1RD

Time: 23:00

Ages: 18+

Organized by: MARSM UK

Hishek Bishek is a pulsing club night dedicated to the Arabic-speaking world’s popular music history and vibrant sonic cultures. From chart-topping Iraqi and Lebanese dancefloor hits, and the newest releases from Egypt’s underground, to Palestinian electronic dabke and nostalgic synthed-out 90’s classics, Hishek Bishek has become a vibrant staple in London’s late-night club scene.

Guidelines for our guests and the community: We strive to make Hishek Bishek a safe space. There is no tolerance for Homophobia, Sexism, Transphobia, Racism, Anti-Blackness, Religious Discrimination, Ableism and/or Classism at our club nights. If you demonstrate any of the behaviours above you will be asked to leave. The venue and Hishek team reserve the right to remove anyone that is making fellow party-goers feel uncomfortable.

This event is 18+

*You must bring photo ID that is not expired (examples of accepted ID: drivers license, passport, BRP, or any other form of valid government-issued photo ID – can be international). Unfortunately, refunds cannot be provided if you are not able to show your ID to the venue’s security upon arrival.