Music from Southwestern Asia, Northern Africa and the Arab (SWANA) world will fill Joe's Pub for the third annual Habibi Festival, running Octber 1-7. Be transported to Marrakech, Baghdad and beyond to hear what's wafting through the airwaves there.
This multi-night showcase features performances by award-winning Palestinian oud player Clarissa Bitar; a new solo project from Algerian raï allstar Sofiane Saidi; the U.S. debuts of Franco-Algerian cellist Nesrine, Lebanese Arabic maqam virtuoso Firas Andari, and Moroccan-French neo-gnawa-rock ensemble Bab L’Bluz; and the world premiere of a new project by Lebanese-American pianist and composer Tarek Yamani, in collaboration with Habibi Festival co-founder Yacine Boulares.
The event's curators wanted to create a joyful space for performances and perspectives from artists rooted in the SWANA region.
