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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Ya Biladi
2 days ago
- Ya Biladi
Jazzablanca's wildest night yet : Caravan Palace and Black Eyed Peas bring down the house
It's Saturday night at Jazzablanca Village, the third day of this 18th edition—and the atmosphere is nothing like the two previous days. The venue is buzzing with festivalgoers, busier than ever. This time, more young people have shown up for a fiery lineup: Caravan Palace and the Black Eyed Peas. 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 «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 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.
Ya Biladi
2 days ago
- Ya Biladi
Jazzablanca's wildest night yet : Caravan Palace and Black Eyed Peas bring down the house
It's Saturday night at Jazzablanca Village, the third day of this 18th edition—and the atmosphere is nothing like the two previous days. The venue is buzzing with festivalgoers, busier than ever. This time, more young people have shown up for a fiery lineup: Caravan Palace and the Black Eyed Peas. 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 «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 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.
Ya Biladi
4 days ago
- Ya Biladi
Jazzablanca opens in style with Seal, Hindi Zahra, and village buzz
Jazzablanca, the standout event of summers in Casablanca, has returned. Now in its 18th edition, the festival spans, for the first time in its history, ten days with two spectacular music weekends. The first weekend kicked off a bit early in Casablanca, with Thursday, July 3, launching the festivities at the Jazzablanca Village. Friends, families with little kids, young and older couples, and even colleagues flocked to the village as early as 6 PM. In addition to this year's spectacular lineup, many came to fully experience what the village has to offer. Right after passing through the festival gates, one can spot entertainment everywhere: a food court serving delicacies to suit all tastes and cravings, a pop-up market for local designers, gaming stands, and multiple chill zones with seating and beanbags on the grass, perfect for taking a break between concerts. A crowd drawn by music, food, and connection Speaking to attendees, this is what makes the festival special, alongside the music, of course. «It's about the great vibes», says a young Casablanca-based festivalgoer. «It's my fourth time attending Jazzablanca, I'm a regular», she told Yabiladi while roaming the gaming and food court zones. «It's always good to see a lot of people, talk with so many fellow attendees, have good food, good conversations», she added. As for the lineup, she said she was «especially excited to see Seu Jorge», the Brazilian singer-songwriter and actor expected to perform this Friday. Other attendees came all the way from South Africa, for the love of jazz, and jazz in Morocco. «I had been researching jazz festivals around the world, but since Ibrahim Maalouf was playing here, we chose Jazzablanca. Plus, we've both always wanted to visit Morocco», said two South African sisters among the festivalgoers. Their trip was also a birthday gift. «I brought my sister for her 50th birthday. We both love jazz, it's a big part of life in South Africa, where we're from», one of them shared. Others were drawn by the artists they grew up listening to, and the chance to reconnect with old friends. «For our generation, the highlight is the Black Eyed Peas», said a young couple already lined up in front of the Village's big Scene, ahead of Moroccan star Hindi Zahra's show. In addition to the music, «The atmosphere is really nice, super well organized», they noted. «There's a village vibe : we reconnect, meet old acquaintances and friends. It's really lovely, we enjoy it a lot», they said, big smiles lighting up their faces. Where music meets makers For those who are also in the mood for a little shopping, the creators' market at the heart of the Jazzablanca Festival Village offers a vibrant showcase of Moroccan brands and entrepreneurs. Among them are best friends Yousra and Houria, co-founders of the HaïHaïVintage label from Marrakech. «Our brand is really a story of friendship, we've known each other for 20 years, we love vintage, and that's how it all began», says Yousra. Selling curated vintage pieces mainly online, this is their first time at the festival. «We came because we love music, and this gives us a chance to connect with a slightly different audience than the one we usually meet at pop-ups». Also present is Be the Artisan, a start-up blending heritage and innovation. «Our brand offers artisanal kits that promote Moroccan heritage and craftsmanship», explains founder Zakaria Loulidy. «Each kit is a semi-finished piece finalized by a craftsman, then completed by the buyer following a guide from a master artisan». And of course, no festival is complete without daring fashion and bold accessories, something Kenza Alaoui, founder of Kenza Klay, knows well. She brings her hand-sculpted clay earrings, necklaces, bracelets and charms to Jazzablanca. «This is my third time at Jazzablanca. I've done the creators' market before, but this year we're in a new space, and I love it», she told Yabiladi. «Jazzablanca is perfect for me, it's exactly my clientele. People who come here love jewelry that's bold and a little out of the ordinary. It's one of my best-selling events in Morocco». Hindi Zahra and Seal light up the opening night While many enjoyed shopping, gaming and food, Cuban jazz was filling the air, echoing through the village and into the ears of the buzzing crowd. El Comité, a Cuban-formed Latin jazz ensemble made up of top musicians from Cuba's jazz scene, had the crowd moving at Scene 21 with a high-energy mix of Afrobeat, funk, montuno, bolero, traditional jazz, and even Gnaoua fusion with Maâlem Khalid Sansi. It was just the warm-up to what was next on the main stage, Scene Casablanca Anfa. First on the lineup was the one and only Hindi Zahra, the Moroccan singer-songwriter known for blending Amazigh sounds with jazz, singing in Tamazight, English, and Darija. At 9 PM, the show began. Zahra graced the crowd with newer and older songs, opening with Gnaoua-inspired rhythms before launching into her classics. The crowd sang along to «Imik Si Mik», a romantic blend of Tachelhit and English, and danced to «Beautiful Tango», with a real couple performing tango on stage in a touching tribute to her loyal fans. There were piano solos, reggada-inspired dances, and plenty of emotion from Zahra. «You are my beautiful strangers. I missed you so, and I love you so», she told her audience before ending with a powerful rendition of «Stand Up», infused with an oriental touch that got the crowd on their feet. After a brief break to recharge, it was time for the long-awaited headliner, Seal. He launched the show with «All I Know Is Now», before switching to French: «Comment ça va tout le monde?» The crowd roared, chanting his name: «Seal! Seal! Seal!» He treated them to both new material and timeless hits. «It's been ten years since I came to Morocco», he shared between songs. «Not to perform, just to stay in this beautiful place in Casablanca». He recalled landing and being offered tea: «It wasn't just about the tea. It was about how it was presented, the warmth». The audience cheered. Then came the hits: «Kiss from a Rose» (1994), and «Bring It On», with an acoustic guitar session in the middle. Seal ended his show in spectacular fashion, with white confetti raining down on the crowd, a festive goodbye and the perfect wrap-up to Jazzablanca's opening day.
