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

Summer is almost upon us, folks. While that might mean hot, sticky days in Cairo, we like to look at the bright side of things, because it also means beach season is upon us.

Yes, time to dust off your favourite pair of designer flip-flops and make sure your coolest bikini still fits, because Soma Bay is kicking off what we hear is set to be an exciting summer with the Soma Bay Music Festival. Taking place between April 14 and 16, the three day extravaganza supported by The Egyptian Tourism Authority has a mighty tasty line-up in store.

Things begin as they mean to go one with a first day that will welcome Gipsy Kings led by Paco Baliardo to the stage, for a performance that will have the crowd dancing the night away with masterpieces like Bamboleo, Djobi-Djoba, Un Amor, Volare and many others.

Day two, meanwhile, will see local Coldplay tribute band, Strawberry Swing, perform after a string of excellent gigs around Cairo in the last few months, as well as Romanian band, Freestay, who hit the headlines back in 2013 when they won the Romanian version of The X-Factor. While many fade away into obscurity, this six-man band have being going from strength to strength and arrive in Soma Bay in the middle of a world tour.

The last day, however, is the big one: The Dire Straits Experience – eek!

Saxophone legend and former Dire Straits member, Chris White, as well as one of the band’s original drummers, Chris Whitten, return to Soma Bay along with some of the most accomplished musicians you’ll have the pleasure of seeing in Egypt this year. The Dire Straits Experience will truly mesmerise the audience with their own subtle spins to the original band’s distinctive rootsy pub rock sound.

Now that we have you hooked, here’s how to make sure you’re there. Tickets are 2000LE and can be bought here, while accommodation options include the Kempinski Hotel Soma Bay, The Weston Soma Bay Golf Resort & Spa and the Sheraton Soma Bay amongst others – all of which you can book via the Soma Bay Music Festival website, where you will also find all the information you need.