The Definitive Guide to Living in the Capital , Cairo , Egypt

Hello Cairo!

Despite today’s cloudy weather, we’re still hoping for a bright,
sunny weekend. Nonetheless, if we have to stay indoors, Cairo is prepared with
a plethora of indoor concerts, dance performances, shopping bazaars and more!

Kick your Thursday night off early with the Peaceful
Revolution Festival at El Sawy Culturewheel, a four-hour concert featuring
bands such as Taxi Band, Sohba, Blue Notes and Ana Masry.

For a taste of classical music, Cairo Opera House has a
chamber orchestra concert that includes works by Bach and Mendelssohn.
Speaking of classical, the Opera House will also host a performance of Swan Lake Ballet at 8PM.

For a little art inspiration, check out the Ibrahim El
Tanbouli Retrospective at Mahmoud Mokhtar Cultural Centre, which will launch
with a concert of Sufi music. Also worth checking out is ‘A State of the Nation’,
the latest painting exhibition by Sarwat El Bahr at the Opera House’s Palace of the Arts.

Stuck in New Cairo for the night? Check out the AUC’s latest
play ‘Menein Aguib Nas?’ directed by Mahmoud El Lozy and starting at 6PM. The
Moscars Al Hurria First Film Festival continues at Rawabet Theatre in
cooperation with Townhouse Gallery at 6PM.

For a little consumerist indulgence, head to Beymen at Four
Seasons Nile Plaza for the last day of Egyptian Designers for Freedom
shopping fair, an all-day event that ends at 10PM.

The Cairo Jazz Club will host jazz legend Yehia Khalil on Thursday night, while El Sawy Culturewheel will hold El Sakia Puppet Theatre’s
performance of Om Kolthoum classics for some light entertainment.

This Friday, 6th of October residents should
check out the Ladylicious Easter Fair, an all-day event at Palm Hills featuring
shopping stalls by dozens of local designers including Alchemy, Malaika and
Joud, as well as fun family activities. Tickets cost 100LE.

Music-wise, we’ve got a double bill at the Cairo Jazz Club
from 6PM onwards with an acoustic session by local singer Shady Ahmed’s followed by Nile GM resident
DJ Carlos on the decks. You could always check out Om El Nour
Choir’s Easter-themed concert at Gomhouria Theatre, the Jazz Band at the
Cairo Opera House’s Small Hall or even the Open-Air Theatre’s concert for the
martyrs of January 25th.

If you’re in Alexandria on Friday, be sure to
head to Antoniadis Gardens for the First Underground Music Festival in
Alexandria, featuring bands such as Mascara, Massar Egbari, Soot fil Zahma and
more. The concert starts at noon and ends at 10PM.

If you’re in Ein Sokhna, Tamarai has re-launched its Sokhna
Nights at Stella Di Mare; so call for reservations if you’re interested.

It seems that there’s a new festival almost every weekend. This Saturday,
the AUC Downtown Campus will host Festival of Freedom, a music festival that
aims at raising funds for the production of the martyr monument to be
built in Tahrir square. Expect performances by Omar Khayrat, Esseily, Hany Adel
and Amir Eid, and many more.

Saturday is another busy day of political awareness and
education at El Sawy Culturewheel, with a lecture by Ahmed Seddik on
constitutions, a seminar by Mohamed El Gamal titled ‘The Spirit of Tahrir’ and
a lecture on political awareness tilted ‘Egypt during the Transitional Phase’.

Live music-wise, Salalem will bring their sarcastic, witty
social lyrics to the stage at Cairo Jazz Club, while rock group Klaket will
perform at El Sawy’s River Hall at 8PM.

Saturday also marks the launch of The Waiting Panorama workshop
at Townhouse Gallery, which aims to produce film work in collaboration with
Danish artists. For other art events, check out ‘Tahrir!’ art exhibition at the
AUC, ‘Thawretna Souretna’ exhibition at Tache Art Gallery, or for something
non-revolution related, the ‘Environment Exhibition’ at AUC’s Sharjah Art
Gallery and Thaier Helal’s exhibition at Ayyam Gallery in Zamalek.

And there you have it, Cairo! A little art, lots of music, and some interesting lectures to fill up your weekend!