Beit Al-Sehemi Al-Gamaliya, Al-Darb Al-Asfar Alley, Al-Muaaz St, Tel 02 2591 3391 Every Sunday, 8.30pm: TheNile 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 Open-Air Theatre Fri 26, 8pm: Contemporary Egyptian songs by Basata band featuring eight artists: composer, singer, oud player Nabil Lahoud, guitarist Ihab Abdel-Wahid, singer Maris, cellist Ihab Samir, oud player Mohamed Saad, qannun player Michael Fouad, together with Raaid and Hani Sika on percussions. Sun 28, 8pm: Sweet Sound band. Wed 31, 8pm: Guitar and violin recital by Emad Hamdi and Hassan Sharara respectively.
Cairo Jazz Club 197, 26th July St, Agouza, Tel 02 3345 9939 Thurs 25, 10.30pm: Screwdriver band promises to cover all your favourite rock and roll, pop, and funk and blues hits. Fri 26, 10pm: Starting off the night, melodic vocal deep house sets sensation FairouzT will unleash her magic behind our decks. Next, internationally recognized DJ Omar Sherif pays the CJC crowd a visit to ensure that we have just the right amount of Progressive House in our lives. Sat 27, 10.30pm: Indie-Egyptian pop band Salalem produces relocatable music that is both lyrically humorous and melodically diverse, inspired by current life issues. Sun 28, 10.30pm: The Big Band Society, an Egyptian medley of 15+ jazz musicians playing together under one roof. Followed by the rising band Cocoon, who will be gracing out our stage with another dazzling Latin and Cuban performance.
Darb 1718 Kasr Al-Shamaa St, Al-Fakhareen, Old Cairo, near Mar Girgis Metro Station, Tel 02 2741 2129 Wed 31, 8.30pm: Mazzika Fi Al Sath (Music on the Roof) presents Mostafa Rizk who will perform blues in an Egyptian and contemporary way. Coming from Aswan, Rizk is inspired by the rich musical heritage of the city, then he gained an experience in various music types and singing.
Al-Ghouri Caravansary Mohamed Abdou St, off Al-Muaaz St and Al-Azhar St, Tel 02 2514 7475 Al-Tanourawhirling dervishes perform to live Sufi music (Performances every Sat, Mon and Wed, 8pm, free admission).
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 Abbass 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 25, 9pm:A night of mystical and healing sounds of Zar from Egypt and Sudan including songs about the metaphysical beingspresented by Rangoband.
Al-Muaaz Street Al-Mansour Qalawun Complex, for information and ticket reservations call 010 0488 8479/011 5876 7774 Sun 28, 7.15-10.30pm: Al-Muaaz Street Carnival, 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.
Salaheddin Citadel Salah Salem Rd, Mokattam, Cairo, Tel022512 1735 The 25Salaheddin Citadel Festival for Music Al-Mahka I Theatre Thurs 25, 8pm: The Wave Jazz band. Fri 26, 8pm: Sufi singing byAbu-Shaar Brothers band from Syria. Sat 27, 8pm: Jazz music by Glass Onion band. Sun 28, 8pm: The Egyptian Mawlawiya troupe, led by Sufi singer Amer Al-Toni performs Sufi songs and dances. Mon 29, 8pm: Jazz fusion by Ahmed Rabie. Tabla master Said Al-Artist. Tues 30, 8pm: Pianist Fathi Salama and his Sharqiat band. Sharara Sextet. Wed 31, 8pm: Boghdady jazz band. Thurs 1 September, 8pm: The Nile Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Mohamed Saad Pasha will feature singers Rola Zaki and Amr Yehia. Al-Mahka II Theatre Thurs 25, 10pm: Syrian singer Magd Al-Qassem. Fri 26, 10pm: SingerMedhat Saleh. Sat 27, 10pm: A singing recital by Mohamed Al-Helw. Sun 28, 10pm: Promising singer Nesma Mahgoub. Mon 29, 10pm: Budding singer Mohamed Shahin. Tues 30, 10pm: The powerful voice Marwa Nagui. Wed 31, 10pm: A singing recital by Khaled Selim. Thurs 1 September, 10pm:The powerful voice Ali Al-Haggar.
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 25, 7pm: A stand-up comedy show by Ali Qandil. Fri 26, 8pm: A concert features the poetry of Amin Haddad and the music of Eskenderella band. Sat 27, 7pm:The Egyptian Mawlawiya troupe, led by Sufi singer Amer Al-Toni performs Sufi songs and dances. Tues 30, 8pm: Charisma band. Wisdom Hall Thurs 25, 8pm: Al-Nafikha brass quintet brings old and new tunes to Cairo's audience. Fri 26, 8pm: Religious chanting by Sheikh Mahmoud Al-Tohami. Sun 28, 7.30pm:Musion band. Tues 29, 7.30pm: El Sawy Culturewheel Puppet Theatre show revives the concerts of late singer Abdel-Halim Hafez playing two of his best songs. Wed 31, 9pm: A classical Arab music concert features the powerful voice Ali Al-Haggar.
ALEXANDRIA
Bibliotheca Alexandrina Chatby, Alexandria 21526, Tel (03) 4839999 The BA's 14th annual International Summer Festival (29 July-8 September) Open-Air Theatre Thurs 25, 8.30pm: Stormand Zajel bands (Egypt). Fri 26, 8.30pm: Singing recital by Rima Khcheich (Lebanon). Sat 27, 8.30pm: Sound of Egypt Orchestra, conducted by Ahmed Atef (Egypt). Sun 28, 8.30pm: "Music from Here" concert features Telepoetic and Disorder bands (Egypt), in cooperation with Goethe Institute in Alexandria. Mon 29, 8.30pm:Andromidaband (Egypt). Tues 30, 8.30pm:Singer Hanan Madi performs, accompanied by the Sound of Egypt Orchestra, conducted by Ahmed Atef (Egypt). Wed 31, 8.30pm:High Dam and Mina bands (Egypt). Thurs 1 September, 9pm: The Cairo Celebration Choir conducted by Nayer Nagui (Egypt).
