The UK’s biggest annual celebration of Arab culture will bring three of the Arab world’s most ground-breaking and internationally renowned artists to the city for the opening weekend of its 20th anniversary festival.
Liverpool Arab Arts Festival (LAAF)
5th – 15th July, 2018
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Liverpool Arab Arts Festival’s (LAAF) enhanced musical programme will enjoy a spectacular opening weekend with a performance from internationally acclaimed singer-songwriter and the “voice of the Tunisian revolution”, Emel Mathlouthi on Saturday 7th July at the Invisible Wind Factory.
LAAF will be hosting Emel as she enters a new phase of her extraordinary life, with a powerful, heartfelt performance of tracks from her sophomore album Ensen (Human), as well as her 2007 recording and viral anthem of the Arab Spring, Kelmti Horra (My Word is Free).
On Friday 6th July the festival will also present an enthralling and powerful co-headline performance from Arab electronic hip-hop supergroup 47SOUL and TootArd, a trailblazing duo from the occupied Golan Heights, at Constellations in the Baltic Triangle.
Setting the tone for a weekend of inspirational and cutting-edge Arab music, 47SOUL will bring their unique combination of Dabke, traditional Palestinian street music and dance, with deep electronic beats mixed with the sounds of the Middle East, to Liverpool’s Baltic Triangle, performing tracks from their first full-length studio album Balfron Promise.
Earlier this year LAAF was one of 14 festivals provided with extra funding from the Festival Enhancement Fund, allowing an even more ambitious musical programme as the city celebrates a decade since its year as European Capital of Culture.
Liverpool’s Director of Culture, Claire McColgan, said: “Each year Liverpool has an incredible calendar of events, so as part of the Liverpool 2018 programme we are giving additional support to some of our much-loved festivals to help them curate their best line-ups to date. LAAF is a real feast for the senses and the acts taking to the stage are of an exceptional caliber which will be a wonderful celebration of Arab arts and culture. We’re delighted to be able to be involved with the festival which is set to wow audiences, both locally and from around the world.”
The festival’s 20th anniversary edition will also include its ever-popular Family Day on Sunday 15th July and a packed programme of visual art, music, dance, film, theatre, literature and special events showcasing the richness of Arab culture, all taking place in venues across the city.
Website: www.arabartsfestival.com
Edited by Sarah Watson
