Liverpool Arabic Arts Festival 2007
Sunday 1st – Sunday 15th July 2007
For the last six years, the Bluecoat has been proud to manage the Liverpool Arabic Arts Festival, the only one of its kind in the UK, which is now firmly established as a popular event on the city's cultural calendar.
Each year the event thrives and the 2007 festival had arguably the best range and highest quality programme to date. This means we are sure that the 2008 festival will be spectacular and a highlight of Liverpool’s year as European Capital of Culture.
The festival was launched on Sunday 1st July, at the ever popular Family Day at Sefton Park Palm House. Despite the wet weather 2,500 people turned out to enjoy live music, dance, workshops, stalls and food reflecting traditional and contemporary Arab culture – served up with true Arabic hospitality.
‘El Tanbura’ - a collective of musicians, fishermen and philosophers playing traditional ‘pharaonic’ funk– sufi chants, ancient lyres and driving rhythms from Port Said in Egypt absolutely wowed visitors with two incredible performances.
The programme also included Yemeni American musician Hagage AJ Masaed; the first musician to combine Arabic music and language with rap. Al Zaytouna, a UK-based Palestinian group performed traditional and contemporary Dabke dance and music.
There was an Arabic Bazaar of stalls, food and craft activities as well as an Arabic Health Fair to coincide with England’s first ‘Smokefree’ day.
The following two weeks saw talks, seminars, film, music and dance events taking place all over the city, culminating in the finale weekend highlights - spectacular performances by leading international artist Marcel Khalife in concert with the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra, and renowned Yemeni musicians Abdulatif Yagoub and Ahmed Taher on stage with DuOud who combine their North African heritage with the latest in western technology.
To sign up for updates on Liverpool Arabic Arts Festival and for information on the 2007 programme visit the website.
