Jazzablanca's wildest night yet : Caravan Palace and Black Eyed Peas bring down the house
The party kicked off at Scene 21 with British jazz musician, saxophonist, composer, and bandleader Nubya Nyasha Garcia. She got things off to a powerful start with her extraordinary saxophone riffs, electrifying an audience eager to dance the night away.
Caravan Palace brings electro-jazz to Casablanca
Later, on the Casablanca Anfa stage, the energy reached a whole new level as Caravan Palace performed for the first time ever in Morocco. The French electro-swing band was welcomed by an enthusiastic crowd, mostly young fans, whose numbers far surpassed those of the previous two nights.
They launched straight into a head-banging, jazzy set packed with saxophone, clarinet, and trombone solos. «Bonsoir Casa! You can't believe how happy we are to be here for the first time», lead singer Zoé Colotis shouted. One of the band members followed up with a message in Darija: «Salam Casa, labas? Kolchi labas? M3akom Caravan Palace! Hna ferhanine m3akom! Dima Maghrib, 3acha l'malik!»
Their charisma and stage presence were magnetic. With hits like Mirrors, Wonderland and Lone Digger, the band had the entire venue clapping, jumping, and singing along. The show reached a theatrical climax with a slow-motion robot dance before diving back into a full-throttle party mode.
By the end of their set, the crowd was fully fired up, and impatiently waiting for the night's headliner: The Black Eyed Peas.
Morocco rocks, and so do the Peas
The transition was seamless. Spectacular visuals lit up the stage as the iconic group made their entrance to deafening screams. They opened with Let's Get It Started, instantly setting the crowd in motion.
The Peas powered through a high-octane set. J. Rey Soul, the group's female vocalist, took the stage with her phone in hand, capturing the roaring crowd. «We came to Morocco for one thing», said will.i.am. «Morocco rocks!» The crowd shouted back: «Morocco! Morocco!»
From Boom Boom Pow and Pump It to Mamacita and The Time (Dirty Bit), the setlist was packed with fan favorites. «This is not the last time we're coming back», they promised. «We'll visit Marrakech, but Casablanca is the best!»
The audience roared in delight, waving heart signs and phone flashlights during Where Is the Love? The whole venue pulsed with emotion and unity. A freestyle shoutout to Morocco, live guitar riffs, and multiple encores, including I Gotta Feeling, kept the party going late into the night.
The evening closed with an explosion of confetti and a powerful moment as will.i.am returned to the stage draped in the Moroccan flag, taking a bow with the rest of the band.
That's a wrap. A night full of rhythm, emotion, and connection, Casablanca showed once again that it has the soul of a true festival city.
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