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Morocco World
21-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Morocco World
Marrakech Gears Up for Moroccan Pink Floyd Show's Most Innovative Performance Yet
Casablanca – As Morocco's music scene continues to stretch the limits of what local artistry can achieve, the Moroccan Pink Floyd Show returns with its most ambitious appearance yet. Set to take place on June 28 at the Palais des Festivals et des Congrès, Mövenpick Mansour Eddahbi Marrakech, the concert promises an immersive sonic and visual experience that reimagines the legacy of Pink Floyd through a Moroccan lens. Led by Fayçal Tadlaoui and Yonnel Lallouz, the Moroccan Pink Floyd Show isn't just a tribute, it's a full show, a whole experience, a cultural statement. With over 60 Moroccan technicians and artists involved in this project, the production will feature, for the first time, the prestigious Choeur du Chambre du Maroc conducted by Amine Hadef, bringing 20 lyric voices to the stage. Joining them as a special guest is Moroccan icon Ahmed Soultan, who will perform a Pink Floyd classic alongside lead singer Fayçal. 'We want to show people that Moroccan artists can deliver a show at this scale,' Fayçal told Morocco World News at an exclusive pre-show event. 'The show is entirely Moroccan, from the performers to the sound engineers.' That vision comes with its price. Co-produced by Touareg Prod, Ligne Rouge Productions, and Radio Factory, the event cost nearly MAD 1 million ($100,000) to produce, with MAD 800,000 ($80,000) going solely into technical execution and equipment. Despite the scale, the show remains entirely self-funded. 'We are amateurs who want to deliver a professional show,' Fayçal said. 'We have no sponsors yet, but we're still going all in.' Co-producer Pierre Grevesse and CEO of Ligne Rouge Productions echoed the sentiment: 'Our objective is to professionalize this group and take them to the next level, international… In one year, we've done 14 concerts. This year, we're preparing for a full African tour for 2026. First we start from Africa, then we go international.' The Palais des Festivals et des Congrès itself has become a key cultural anchor in Marrakech, with its marketing director quoted in a press release describing it as 'a place of convergence between the national and international artistic scene and the city of Marrakech.' Hosting the Moroccan Pink Floyd Show for a third time is not just a logistical decision but a cultural mission. 'This is a unique concept that resonates with both local audiences and international visitors,' the director said, emphasizing the venue's role in shaping Marrakech's identity as a global cultural destination. Fayçal Tadlaoui and Yonnel Lallouz The group's popularity continues to surge both locally and abroad. The last two Marrakech editions sold out the Palais des Festivals et des Congrès venue, and this year's efforts and new strategy are expected to attract an even larger audience, including tourists . 'The first edition was 80-85% Moroccan. The second time, we brought in 400 tourists,' said Fayçal. 'Now we're getting messages on social media from Portugal and the Netherlands, etc…people are flying in to attend.' What sets the Moroccan Pink Floyd Show apart is not just its scale, but its sound. From classic and progressive rock to heavy metal influences, Moroccan instrumentation to classical harmony, the band fuses cultures and genres strengthening their musical identity. Songs like 'Shine On You Crazy Diamond' and 'Hey You' are reinterpreted with Oud and even a custom Outar built by band member Anas Chlih. Chorale arrangements will flow through every track, thanks to the Choeur du Chambre du Maroc's 'precise vocals' as Fayçal described. The show's technicians are just as proudly Moroccan as the musicians on stage. Fayçal insists: 'They are not just technicians, they're artists.' From the sound engineers to the lighting designers, each plays an integral part in creating the show's full experience. Of the dozens involved in the band, only three are full-time professional musicians. The rest live two lives and share one thing: a love for the music they perform. 'We all have jobs and families,' Fayçal told journalists, adding, 'People used to laugh at the idea of a Moroccan tribute band… They said, 'Are they going to play with tagines?' But when they come, they leave stunned.' When asked about their audience, Fayçal told MWN that 'It's transgenerational. Our audience goes from 8 to 88,' He added 'We have Francophones, Arabic speakers, tourists, young people, old people, and they all know the lyrics. They remind me of British audiences. Extremely demanding when it comes to sound and performance. That pushes us to deliver at the highest level.' The group has even bigger plans ahead. Starting in 2026, the band will embark on an African tour, with dreams of one day performing in the dunes of Dakhla or Merzouga. 'That would be an image for Morocco that is absolutely incredible,' Fayçal said. So, how do we go? Tickets for the June 28 performance range from 100 MAD ($10) (student rate) to 400 MAD ($40) with four seating tiers available: Orchestra, Mezzanine 1 & 2, and Balcony all available on The band told MWN that student discounts are non-negotiable to keep the shows accessible for younger generations. The show starts at 9 p.m. Moroccan time. Not before, not after. In a cultural landscape still recovering from years of infrastructural and financial gaps, the Moroccan Pink Floyd Show stands as proof of how far Morocco has come. 'Twenty-five years ago, you couldn't even buy guitar strings here,' said Fayçal. 'Now we have music stores, young bands, festivals, and more.' Tags: Moroccan Pink FloydMusicnostalgiatribute band


Time of India
16-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Iconic Cannes red carpet looks that featured dramatic long trains
Image credits: Getty Images The Cannes Film Festival , which is held annually in May at the Palais des Festivals et des Congrès has long been a platform that not only recognises and appreciates works of cinema but also is popular for the fashion statements that are made on it's red carpet. Over the years a number of A-list celebrities have made some unforgettable appearances on the Cannes red carpet in ensembles that featured designer brands and dramatic trains. While the festival banned nudity and long trails for the event being held from 13-24th May, 2025, here's a look at some iconic red carpet looks that featured dramatic long trains. Blake Lively Image credits: Getty Images Actress Blake Lively who has been in the headlines due to her lawsuit with her 'It Ends With Us' co-star Justin Baldoni made a regal blue appearance at the Cannes Film Festival in 2016. The actress who was pregnant at the time with her second-child adorned a blue custom Versace gown that showed off her baby bump and had a long train in the back. Aishwarya Rai Bachchan Image credits: Getty Images Aishwarya Rai Bachchan has been a common celebrity to grace the Cannes red carpet and in 2018 in a purple and black Michael Cinco gown that was inspired by a butterfly metamorphosis and had a 20-foot long train. Deepika Padukone Image credits: Getty Images In the 2018 Cannes Film Festival, actress Deepika Padukone showed off a dramatic and long train in a pink Ashi Studio gown. The actress wore an origami gown by the label that had a long tulle train in the back. Kendall Jenner Image credits: Getty Images Kendall Jenner has been setting new fashion trends for years. The supermodel turned heads at the 2019 Cannes film festival where she attended the amfAR Gala in a pink tulle dress which was a part of the then newly launched Giambattista Valli x H&M collection. The dress included a detachable train that looked like a pink cloud of tulle following Jenner across the carpet. Elle Fanning Image credits: Getty Images Elle Fanning is one actress you can expect to always slay the red carpet. In the Cannes Film Festival held in 2023, the actress adorned an Alexander McQueen gown designed by Sarah Burton which had a petal-adorned sculptural bodice with a pale-pink tulle skirt and a long train. Heidi Klum Image credits: Getty Images German supermodel Heidi Klum looked timeless and elegant at the Cannes Film Festival 2024 red carpet in a regal gown by Lebanese fashion designer Saiid Kobeisy. While her dress was a true work of art, stealing the highlight was the long trail that the actress showed off on the red carpet. The model's gown that she wore at the Cannes this year also included a long and dramatic petal-inspired train. Halle Berry Image credits: Getty Images While actress Halle Berry may have changed her outfit once to follow the rules of the red carpet, she definitely decided to break some with her second appearance where she adorned a Celia Kritharioti gown with a pink and black high-low skirt that had a puffy long black train. One step to a healthier you—join Times Health+ Yoga and feel the change