The 5th Edition of the Downtown Contemporary Arts Festival (D-CAF) Falaki Theatre American University in Cairo, Downtown Campus, 24 Falaki St, Downtown Cairo, Tel 012 88721446 Thurs 7, 8.30pm: Composer Bahaa Al-Ansary (Egypt) presents his new contemporary musical compositions such as The Art of Mist (2014): Trio for Violin, Cello & Harp, Nightmare (2015): Trio for Violin, Cello & Guitar and Lost (2015-2016): Solo Harp & 30 Cello (divided into six cello quintets). He will be accompanied by NeamTarek – Harpist, Cesar Mora – Guitarist, Mohamed Ali Farag – Violinist, Hassan Hosni – Cellist & Actor. An ensemble of thirty Cellists is invited by Harpist Neam Tarek to participate in the performance of the concert's closing piece.
Greek Campus 28 Falaki St, Bab Al-Louk, Cairo, Tel 010 90322400 Fri 15, 8pm-1am: A night that features the best of old and new Shaabi music, from the legendary Abdel-Baset Hammouda to the rising star Ahmed Al-Sweasy, Islam Chipsy with an opening show by the winners of the “Nogoum Al Mahragan” competition, Studio Stella.
Shahrazad Nightclub Downtown Thurs 14, 10pm-1am: ARABSTAZY (Tunisia) presents an electronic live performance.
Various apartments in Downtown Cairo (TBA) Thurs 7, Fri 8, Sun 10, Mon 11, Tues 12, Wed 13 and Thurs 14, (5pm and 9pm): “Home Visit Cairo”, interactive performance (Germany/Egypt), two performances per day.
Arab Music Institute 22 Ramsis St, Tel 02 2574 3373 Thurs 7, 8pm: The Abdel-Halim Noweira Arab Music Ensemble, conducted by Salah Ghoubashi, performs Umm Kulthoum songs featuring singers Ghada Adam and Rehab Motawaa. Sun 10, 8pm: The Arab Music Heritage Ensemble in a repertoire of classical Arab songs.
Alrabaa Al-Gamaliya, Al-Muaaz St, next to Al-Aqmar Mosque, Dar Al-Tambakshiya Thurs 7, 7-8.30 and 9-10pm: Tunisian singer Ghalia Benali will sing a selection of her much-loved songs.
Beit Al-Sehemi Al-Gamaliya, Al-Darb Al-Asfar Alley, Al-Muaaz St, Tel 02 2591 3391 Every Sunday, 8.30pm: The Nile Troupe for Folk Instruments, conducted by Abdel-Rahman Al-Shafaai, performs dances and songs from Upper Egypt on mizmar, tabla and other traditional musical instruments. Every Friday, 8.30pm: “Al-Aragouz wa Khayal Al-Zel” (The Shadow Puppet), a free public performance by clowns in Al-Muiz Street, presented by Wamda and directed by Nabil Bahgat.
Cairo Opera House Gezira Exhibition Grounds, Tel 02 2737 0602/2736 0361, box office 02 2739 0132/0144 Main Hall Sat 9, 8pm: The Cairo Symphony Orchestra performs a selection of international classics. Sun 10, 8pm: The National Arab Music Ensemble performs classical Arab songs. Mon 11, 8pm: Pianist Omar Khayrat, accompanied by the Cairo Opera Orchestra, performs his well-known compositions. Thurs 14, Fri 15, Sun 17, Mon 18, Tues 19, 8pm: The Cairo Opera Ballet Company and the Cairo Opera Orchestra present “Romeo and Juliet” ballet. Open-Air Theatre Thurs 7, 8pm: Emdan Al-Nour (The Light Pillars) band plays Coptic songs and hymns. Fri 8, 8pm: Eftekasat band with its seven members reaches out, as far as its sound could reach, with music lines that cherish the themes and rhythms legacy of the Arabs, and the Orient at large, bow to a prevailing faith in Jazz, and are willing to stroll side by side, interweave in a dance, or fuse, with the other's music. Sat 9, 8pm: Harp recital by Manal Mohiedddin. Thurs 14, 8pm: Al-Masryeen band, led by Hany Shenouda plays contemporary Egyptian songs. Small Hall Sun 10, 8pm: A singing recital by Hannan Madi. Tues 12, 8pm: The Cairo Symphony Orchestra performs a selection of international classics. Thurs 14 and Fri 15, 8pm: The Talents Development Centre concert.
Cairo Jazz Club 197, 26th July St, Agouza, Tel 02 3345 9939 Thurs 7, 10.30pm: Screwdriver band promises to cover all your top rock'n roll, pop, funk and blues hits that will have you drunk on good times. Fri 8, 10.30pm: DeeRailed, Shenzo, and Mohasseb play house music. Sat 9, 10.30pm: Al Dor Al Awal band is one of the first local bands to deliver an original mixture of Jazz and Oriental tunes and melodies that will captivate your senses! Sun 10, 10.30pm: A night around the fascinating Cuban sounds festivity with Los Compadres is happening in house.
Darb 1718 Kasr Al-Shama'e Street, Al-Fakhareen, Old Cairo, near Mar Girgis Metro Station, Tel 02 2361 0511 Sat 9, 7pm: Mashrouaa Al Mareekh (Mars Project) presents an open mic concert. Wed 13, 8pm: Mazzika Fi Al-Sath (Music on the Roof) concert.
El Genaina Theatre Al-Azhar Park, Salah Salem Road, Darassa, Tel 02 2362 5057 Thurs 7, 8pm: The first concert features Lebanese 2010 Murex D'Or award winner Abeer Nehme, who is a strong believer that music is the best language for communication among nations. Fri 8, 8pm: Moroccan Gnawa musician Aziz Sahmaoui will be joined on stage with members of his Moroccan Senegalese music project called University of Gnawa: Alione Wade, Harve Sambe and Adhil Mirghani. Sahmaoui spent hours experimenting mixing music from Morocco and Senegal.
Al-Ghouri Caravansary Mohamed Abdou St, off Al-Moaiz St and Al-Azhar St, Tel 02 2514 7475 every Sat, Mon and Wed, (9.30pm, free admission) Al-Tanoura whirling dervishes perform to live Sufi music.
Makan Saad Zaghloul St, Al-Mounira, Cairo, Tel 02 2792 0878 Every Monday: (fixed event) Zikr and Sufi night. Every Tuesday, 9pm (doors open at 8.30pm): Mawawil and Gamalat Shiha present traditional music of the Nile Delta; Nubian Fadeka music and songs with Aragid, featuring Saleh Abbas and Farah Al-Masri; traditional Sudanese music and songs performed by Queen of Henna Settouna; Al-Jaafra music played by musicians from Aswan; Nass Makan (People from Makan) and Sanet perform traditional music from Eritrea. Every Wednesday, 9pm: Zar music and songs by Mazaher, featuring Umm Sameh, Umm Hassan and Nour Al-Sab.
Al-Mastaba Centre for Egyptian Folk Music 30A Al-Balaqsa St, Abdeen, Downtown. Tel 011 5099 5354 Al-Dammah Theatre for Free Arts Thurs 7, 8pm: Al Tanbura troupe from Port-Said performs folk music and dances.
Al-Muaaz Street Al-Mansour Qalawun Complex, for information and ticket reservations call 010 0488 8479/011 5876 7774 between 12pm-10pm before Thursday 7 April Fri 8, 9am-4pm: Al-Muaaz Street Carnival, a Spring Feast celebration, the day opens with performances by Al-Tanoura whirling dervishes, Mizmar band playing folk music on Egyptian oriental instruments and Hassaballah band (the oldest Egyptian folk music band). Visitors can also tour the area's landmarks, including Al-Mansour Qalawun Complex, the mosque and the school of the Mameluke Sultan Al-Zaher Barquq.
El Sawy Culturewheel End of 26th of July St, under the 15th of May Bridge, Zamalek, Tel 02 2736 8881/6178/2737 4448 River Hall Thurs 7, 7pm: Nubian songs by Mounib band. Fri 8, 7.30pm: Munshid (religious chanter) Ali Al-Helbawi chants religious songs. Sat 9, 4 and 7.30pm: Contemporary Egyptian songs by Cairokee band. Sun 10, 6.30pm: Religious chanting by Waslet Samaa band featuring Nour Al-Sayed, Mustafa Mohalel, Mustafa Al-Shafaay, Islam Mounir. Thurs 14, 8pm: Pop singer Soma sings a collection of love songs from her latest album. Wisdom Hall Thurs 7, 6 & 8pm: El Sawy Culturewheel Puppet Theatre show revives Um Kolthoum concerts playing two of her best songs. Sun 10, 8.30pm: Al Shrouk lel Ghnaa Wa Al Tarab band, led by Rafaat Al-Demerdash plays classical Arab songs by the likes of Um Kolthoum, Fayza Ahmed and Souad Mohamed. Tues 12, 7pm: A singing recital by Belal. Word Hall Thurs 7 and Thurs 17, 8.30pm: “Al-Farah” (The Wedding), a stand-up comedy show features Walid Abul-Magd.
ALEXANDRIA
Alexandria Opera House (Sayed Darwish Theatre) Fouad St, Mahatat Al-Raml, Alexandria, Tel 03 486 5106 Thurs 7, 8pm: The Alexandria Opera Company for Arab Music and Singing. Tues 12 and Wed 13, 8pm: Fursan Al-Sharq lil Turaath wa Al-Raqs Al-Hadith (Knights of the Orient for Heritage and Modern Dance) company presents “Misr Al-Mahrousa Folklore” show. Thurs 14, 8pm: The Arab Music Heritage Ensemble features singer Mohamed Mohsen in a programme of classical Arab songs.
