Sahel is the new Ibiza

MARK YOUR CALENDAR-

? Did that trip to Ibiza not make it out of the group chat? Well, you’re in luck. ParadiseIbiza — one of the Mediterranean island’s most celebrated party series — is marching to the beat of its own EDM drum all the way to the North Coast’s Solare in Ras El Hekma on Friday, 11 July. The line up includes Welsh DJ Jamie Jones (the brains behind Paradise), US DJ Seth Troxler, UK’s East End Dubs, Danish-Filipino Manda Moor, and Egypt’s own Awadly. Tickets are yet to be announced, however we’d suggest keeping an eye out on Paradise Ibiza’s website.

HAPPENING THIS WEEK-

When life gives you lemons, you head to CJC 610 and wait for The Comedy Bunch to serve some lemonade. On Tuesday, 17 June, The Comedy Bunch’ s Engy Hashem, Mohamed Gamal El Din, Halawa, Ahmed El Hareedy, and Amgad El Shawshy will be taking the stage with the sole purpose of making you laugh — and given these comedians’ track records, we’d say that you’ll be laughing plenty. You can secure your spot through Ticketsmarché.

Get loud or get out. CJC 610 is bringing back Casino El Fotrikiano, its signature Mahraganat madness experience, on Wednesday, 18 June, and it’s set to be louder than ever. Turning it up with his signature sha’bi sound, Mozmar Abdelsalam will be joined by Egyptian Mahraganat singer Mahmoud Elleithy and DJ Sadam for a night celebrating the best that Egypt’s local genre has to offer. You can secure your spot through CJC 610’s website.

No tickets needed, these concerts are on the house. Viral Egyptian singer and rapper LellaFadda is throwing two pro-bono concerts this June. On Thursday June 19, Fadda will be lighting up Alexandria’s Antoniades Park before heading back to Cairo for an encore at The Greek Campus in Downtown Cairo on Saturday, 21 June. You can secure your spot through Laylo.

Miami-based Mexican artist and producer Sainte Vie is giving Cairo a taste of Floridian summers. Bringing his signature groove to CJC 610 on Thursday, 19 June, the techno dynamo will be joined by local DJs Ziad Mousa, Mohasseb, and Ashmawy. You can get your tickets from Ticketsmarché.

They might be creeps, they might be weirdos, but they’re definitely going to be entertaining the crowd. On Thursday, 19 June, Egyptian Radiohead tribute band The Bends will be taking over Garden City’s Room Art Space with an intimate unplugged session featuring Radiohead’s most beloved hits. Tickets can be purchased through EasyKash. Now, cue Exit Music (for a Film).

Need a dash of folklore in your life? Reconnect with your Egyptian roots at El Sawy Culturewheel on Friday, 20 June, as the all-Egyptian, all-women band Tablet el Sitt take the stage. On a mission to spread joy and preserve Egyptian folk music, the band will be performing from 8pm to 10:30pm. Tickets are available on El Sawy Culturewheel’s official website.

HAPPENING LATER-

Legendary Egyptian pianist Omar Khairat is back at the Cairo Opera House with two concerts on Sunday, 22 June and Monday 23, June. Tickets can be purchased through Tazkarti.

Ever dreamt of being a DJ? Kamelizer wants to make your beat-dropping dreams come true at District 5’s Townhall by Kamelizer this June. Collaborating with the DJ Academy in Cairo, Kamelizer is hosting a three-week-long DJ Bootcamp kicking off on Monday, 23 June, and taking place on Mondays and Wednesdays from 6:30 to 9:30pm. Want to master mixing? Be a transition-tron? Know how to work a crowd? The bootcamp will teach you how to do all that and more — and the best part? You’ll get to show off your skills at two live events following the bootcamp. To register for the bootcamp and find out more details, head to Kamelizer Spaces’ Instagram and click the link in their bio.

World-famous ventriloquist Jeff Dunham is bringing his puppets to Egypt this June. Performing live in Cairo for the very first time, the American comedian, actor, and host of the Jeff Dunham show will be playing puppet-master as he orchestrates a comedic showcase under the theme of Artificial Intelligence, stringing along his comical cast of characters at the Drama Hall in the New Capital’s Arts and Culture city on Thursday, 26 June. You can grab your tickets from Ticketsmarché — and don’t worry, you won’t have to pull any strings to get in.

Debuting her first release in 10 years, Lena Chamamyan will be pulling up to Cairo this June. Her latest album, Sohab — written in collaboration with a slew of Egyptian and Arab artists — will be debuting at Theatro Arkan on Thursday, 26 June, shining the spotlight on Middle Eastern folk music. A little birdie tells us that the Syrian-Armenian singer, songwriter, and soprano will be joined by a few special guests, but details remain under wraps. You can grab your tickets from Ticketsmarché.

The ‘90s are calling, and on Friday, 27 June, we’re picking up. Egyptian band Cassette ‘90s will be performing live at Zamalek’s El-Sawy Culturewheel, and you best believe they’ll be doubling down on nostalgia. This motley crew of ‘90s aficionados knows how to keep an audience on their feet, so if a trip a few decades back sounds like a fun time, secure your spot through El-Sawy Culturewheel’s website.

Lose yourself in the last of Beethoven’s symphonies at the Cairo Opera House. On Saturday, 28 June, Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9 will reverberate throughout the Main Hall as Maestro Ahmed El Saedi guides his orchestra through the most influential of symphonic works. Tickets can be purchased through Tazkarti.

The Cairokee Empire rises once more, this time at the Cairo International Stadium. On Saturday, 28 June, the band promises over a decade’s worth of iconic music at the largest venue in Africa. You can grab your tickets through Tazkarti.

Freshen up your linen shirts and pack up your shades, because Egyptian megastar Amr Diab will be kicking off Sahel season at Sol Beach Marassi on Friday, 4 July. Joining the Hadaba will be German electronic dance music producer and singer Monolink, and Copenhagen-based experimental pop trio WhoMadeWho. You can grab your tickets from Ticketsmarché. Just don’t forget your sunblock.

This summer, New Alamein city will be playing host to two landmark art events. Announced by the Egyptian Prime Ministry, the second edition of contemporary exhibitionArt Space will kick off on Saturday, 19 July and wrap up Tuesday, 30 September, as Sahel season comes to a close. Throughout its duration, the exhibition will feature a slew of visual art installations, interactive workshops, and multidisciplinary exhibitions, including the Egypt Sculpture Symposium, which takes place from Wednesday, 6 August till Saturday, 30 August, hosting 30 of the world’s most renowned sculptors.

Get caffeinated and grab your polaroid camera, because on Friday 8 August, &ME — one fifth of Keinemusik — will be bringing the beats all through the night until sunrise at North Coast’s Sol Beach. Promising to have you dancing till the sun’s up, the German EDM DJ and producer will be going solo this time around. Tickets can be purchased through Ticketsmarché.

In the mood to party by the Pyramids? On Friday, 19 December, world-famous Dutch DJ and Producer Tiësto is coming back to Egypt for a solo show at the Giza Plateau. Once voted “The Greatest DJ of All Time,” Tiësto will surely make this upcoming show one to remember. Tickets are available on Ticket Egypt.