Latest news with #Oakenfest
L'Orient-Le Jour
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- L'Orient-Le Jour
A weekend in Oakenfest's alternative music village
Under the oak trees of Lehfed, in the mountains of the Jbeil district, the alternative music festival Oakenfest asks the question, 'What if instead of going home after a concert, you had a massive sleepover with everyone there?'That was founder Elsa Saade's vision in 2013, at just 21 years old, organically born out of the annual camping trip she used to host for her university friends on her family's land. 'A friend of mine asked me if I could invite a musician, and then one musician became eight and then we added a stage and lighting,' explained Saade, recounting how year after year she and her friends transformed a summer get-together into a must-attend event in the alternative scene's calendar. The result: Lebanon's only annual camping music festival, with its original 'identity of intimacy,' organized by the same group of close...
L'Orient-Le Jour
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- L'Orient-Le Jour
Gucci in Beirut, a history of Lebanese advertising and the return of its popstars
Some weekends are for rest, others are for trying to see everything at once. I've somehow committed to seeing Carmen in Baalbeck, Oakenfest in Lehfed and the vague but urgent idea of a sea swim all in the same 48 hours. Oh, and I'm excruciatingly close to the last few chapters of my book. Wish me luck! In the spirit of overcomitting to culture, this week's selection of Breakfast in Bed has a rich spread, either to help you plan your own repertoire of excursions, or to help feed your cultural appetite from the comfort of your bed. Enjoy At 53, pan-arab pop star Carlole Samaha, in the middle of grief, regional collapse and a career comeback, is choosing to tackle the demanding stage of musical theatre. In her interview with L'Orient-Le Jour, she reflects on ambition after working with the Rahbanis, the pressure of performance and what it means to keep going when other people's paychecks are on the line. Jad Rahmeh is the director who, among a portfolio of work for illustrious clients, staged a Gucci shoot at Sporting Club in Beirut. He spoke with L'Orient-Le Jour about the rise of his career, his creative process and how he channeled spontaneity while filming the now viral Dazed x Gucci video. Not many pop stars can say they've shared barracks with U.N. peacekeepers in South Lebanon, but then again, not many pop stars are Nâdiya. In one of Raphael Abdelnour's brilliantly oddball interviews, the early-2000s icon dishes on her return to the stage, Catholic school grudges, cardio routines and why Enrique Iglesias wasn't quite her type. The instantly recognizable retro MEA or Air Liban posters conjure nostalgia for Beirut's golden era and the thrill of the jet age. But beyond the charm, they chart a deeper story. The Philippe Jabre poster exhibition offers a way to trace the trajectory of modern Lebanon through the lens of what it once wanted the world to see. I'm also hoping they have a gift shop! For more must-see exhibitions taking place across the Middle East from Beirut to Amman, Cairo to Abu Dhabi — Marguerita Sejaan's Culture Map this week highlights the abundance and diversity of the regional art scene.
CairoScene
26-06-2025
- Entertainment
- CairoScene
Lebanon's Oakenfest 2025 Announce First Wave Line-Up July 25th-27th
Lebanon's Oakenfest 2025 Announce First Wave Line-Up July 25th-27th Oakenfest comes to Lebanon from July 25th to the 27th, featuring Bu Nasser, Boshoco, 3yooni, Joy Moughanni and Tarabeat. The 2025 edition of Lebanon's Oakenfest is on the horizon. Known for its intimate, eco-conscious setting and genre-defying curation, the three-day camping and music festival will return to the oak forests of Lehfed from July 25th to the 27th, bringing with it a fresh wave of artists who reflect the region's evolving soundscape. This year's first wave of performers is led by Bu Nasser, a defining voice in Lebanon's hip-hop underground. A poet, writer, and rapper whose work has echoed across streets and protests, his journey began with Touffar's 2009 release Ashab El Ard. Since then, Bu Nasser has carved a solo path rooted in inquiry, resistance, and community, weaving revolutionary sound with sharp, layered lyricism. On the electronic front, Boshoco brings a percussive, emotionally charged energy shaped by his upbringing in Aleppo. Drawing from the city's centuries-old blend of cultures, Boshoco's DJ sets and productions fuse breakbeat, indie electronica, and soulful techno into mixes that carry both emotional depth and dancefloor momentum. 3yooni, whose debut album 'Baghdad' is already making quiet waves, blends synth-forward electronic sound with dreamy Iraqi vocals and deeply poetic lyricism. His work navigates themes of identity, language, and orientalism, balancing rage with grace, rhythm with resistance. Joy Moughanni - producer, songwriter, engineer, and Tunetork Studios partner - is another key name in Beirut's alternative scene. Formerly of projects like Pomme Rouge and Gizzmo, Joy's solo work leans ambient and textured, the product of years of sonic mentorship under the likes of Fadi Tabbal. Rounding out the first announcement is Tarabeat, an ambitious electro-tarab project that draws on maqamat, classical rhythms, and traditional instruments. Inspired by Sufi, folk, and regional Tarab traditions, the result is a bold, energetic sound that travels between past and present with rhythmic precision. Tickets for Oakenfest 2025 are now available.
CairoScene
21-03-2025
- Entertainment
- CairoScene
Tootard's Hasan Nakhleh to Perform at Oakenhouse in Lebanon March 23rd
The show is part of Oakenhouse's 'Support the Artist' series, which aims to keep the music culture alive in Lebanon, and celebrate the talents shaping the region's music scene today. Mar 21, 2025 Hasan Nakhleh, a member of the Syrian-Swiss trailblazing 'mountain rock reggae' ensemble Tootard, is set to perform an intimate live concert at Oakenhouse in Byblos, Lebanon on March 23rd. Oakenhouse, the home of Lebanon's eco-conscious music festival Oakenfest, is a platform dedicated to empowering regional musicians, aiming to nurture a vibrant and interconnected music community by offering artists a safe space to create, connect, grow and gain international recognition –all while immersing themselves in Lebanon's cultural heritage. The show is part of Oakenhouse's 'Support the Artist' series in collaboration with Beirut's Tunefork Studios, which aims to keep the music culture alive in Lebanon and celebrate the talents shaping the region's music scene today. The concert starts at 8 PM followed by a jam session. All proceeds from the show will be directed to support the creation of an artist residency at Oakenhouse. The event is held at a very limited capacity. To RSVP, head to the link in @oakenhouse's Instagram bio.
