JORDAN-AL BALAD FESTIVAL Al Balad Festival brings musicians to the Jordanian stage

Record ID: 145442

  • Title: JORDAN-AL BALAD FESTIVAL Al Balad Festival brings musicians to the Jordanian stage
  • Date: 30th July 2015
  • Summary: (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) DIRECTOR OF AL BALAD THEATRE, RAED ASFOUR, SAYING: ''The city needs joyous events, and every time these joyful events increase, especially in times of increased suffering, conflicts and wars. We as human beings need to feel that there is hope, happiness is hope. They have increased, but may God let them increase and be blessed, because it's very import
  • Embargoed: 14th August 2015 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Jordan
  • Country: Jordan
  • Topics: General
  • Reuters ID: LVA7QBO6VZ473NDQ8YSYDTC42W41
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: Jordan's summer music festival season is in full swing, with the Al Balad Music Festival underway in Amman.
    The music extravaganza which kicked off on Wednesday (July 29) aims to provide a platform for Arab artists in the kingdom introducing them to a new audience.
    Performing on the opening night was Nadin al Khalidi's band Tarabband.
    "I have a microphone and I have a talent that gives me the chance to stand on the stage with the microphone to send your voice, your message to thousands of attendees. These people who are victims and have lost their lives and freedom, their needs to be a voice for them in the east and west. I am proud to be the voice of Arabs in the west and Sweden, and I'm very proud that I have my Swedish and French colleagues with me who agree with my human opinions, not political,'' said the Swedish based artist who is of Arab origin.
    Tarabband describe their genre of music as 'Arabic music from Sweden' according to the band's Facebook page.
    This year's event will see instrumentalists, composers and vocalists from Tunisia, Ramalla and Lebanon taking to the stage.
    Al Balad Music Festival takes place every two years, and according to Raed Asfour, Al Balad theatre director, an event of this kind offers hope and joy for the country.
    ''The city needs joyous events, and every time these joyful events increase, especially in times of increased suffering, conflicts and wars. We as human beings need to feel that there is hope, happiness is hope. They have increased, but may God let them increase and be blessed, because it's very important for the flame of hope not to die out, and for this space in Amman and Jordan to be joyful,'' he said referring to the unrest in the region.
    The festival ends on Monday (3 August) with a performance by Tunisian oud player, composer and vocalist Dhafer Youssef.
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