RUMMAN MUSIC FESTIVAL 2024 


 
 

 مهرجان رمان الموسيقي في الميناء طرابلس

ALL THE INFO YOU MIGHT NEED

Purchase your tickets right here

 

Rumman Music Festival (RMF) is the only independent music festival taking place in Tripoli, North Lebanon. Our annual festival aims to present homegrown, regional and international musical talents to the local audience and attract visitors and artists to discover a rich, authentic city and explore its hidden gems. 

This year, Tripoli was selected as the Arab Capital of Culture, and it feels heavy to "celebrate" at this critical and sensitive moment for Lebanon and the region. However, the 3rd edition of RMF comes as a statement that we will not surrender to violence and despair. To echo this spirit, we have curated a special lineup welcoming local artists, as well as artists from the SWANA region to reflect the rich and diverse musical landscape the region can offer. 

In addition, RMF is offering a support ticket option dedicated to supporting our fellow musicians in Gaza. We hope that through the universal language of music, we can offer a glimmer of hope and an opportunity to dream of a brighter future for our region.

Line-Up RMF 2024

DAY 1 - 05.09

FREE ENTRANCE -  BOOK YOUR TICKET HERE 

Music Genre : Lebanese rock & folk/electro-oriental 

Bandaly Tribute

A residency program organized by Rumman and supported by the British Council. The residency involves local musicians working on performing a tribute to the Bendaly Family who are originally from Mina, Tripoli.

Tarabeat 

Ṭarabeat is an electronic music act founded in 2016 in Beirut, Lebanon, now based in Melbourne, Australia. Tarabeat draws heavily from the traditions of Middle Eastern music, relying extensively on Arabic scales - maqams - and rhythms for their compositions.

DAY 2 - 06.09

BOOK YOUR TICKET HERE 

Music Genre : hip-hop/rap/trap/Electronic 

Aldowar

Hamza Abdelkader, known as "Al Dowar", is a poet and a rapper born and raised in Tripoli and currently lives in Beirut. "Al Dowar" finds in his art a way to communicate with the universe through his feelings, words, and music. He also believes that words can certainly change the history and the course of entire societies.

Hadi  

HADI, a Lebanese hip-hop producer and visionary artist, has left an indelible mark on the music scene with his innovative beats and unique style. Raised in Ain Baal, his musical journey began early, driven by a passion for rhythm and a knack for blending deconstructed sonic elements. His debut album, Al Sadd 8, seamlessly fuses old-school sonic elements with experimental structures, as experimentation lies at the heart of his creative process. Having worked alongside notable artists across the region, these partnerships have expanded his musical horizons and enriched the Lebanese music scene, pushing boundaries and shaping its future.

Ziad Nabulsi

Ziad Naboulsi is a rising DJ and beatmaker from Tripoli. His venture into the hip-hop world started at the age of 13. Inspired by the Moroccan music scene, his sets cover hip-hop, garage, drill, and trap.

El Waili

El Waili is the artistic name of Egyptian music producer Kareem Gaber. He initiated El Waili project in 2020 to experiment with noises and sounds that distinguished his music persona and developed his famous 'beat drop'. With his first two releases '2010' and a remix of the Egyptian hit "El-3bd Wa El Waili", "والوايلي العبد", El Waili places his mark in the electro-chaabi/EDM music scene.

TooDope

One of the main figures in the thriving Sudanese hip-hop industry is Tayeb Hajo, better known by his stage name 249TooDope, who has gained recognition for writing songs that are socially conscious and representative of the youth in Sudan today. His powerful voice, along with his captivating penmanship, clever wordplay, and exceptional talent, quickly captured the hearts of the populace in the region.

Soot Gilgamesh

"Soot" is Raed's evolving artistic project, started in 2013, rejecting injustice and oppression. A Palestinian refugee, Raed uses writing and rap to voice resistance. Amid the Arab Spring and Yarmouk siege, he stayed to help civilians, later developing "Soot" in Lebanon with other musicians. He studied Art in Canada, continuing his intellectual and collaborative work in the Arab hip-hop scene.


DAY 3 - 07.09

BOOK YOUR TICKET HERE 

Music Genre: Pop, Arabic dream pop, Psychedelic Gnawa Rock, World Music, SWANA sounds (raï, gnawa, dabke, mahragan), and Tech-house. 

Nana Koura

 Nana Koura, composed of Jonathan, Mathieu, and Clément, skillfully juggles between tender lyrics and humorous poems and fuses Réunionese music with modern Pop Rock. The trio is committed to inclusion and diversity, engaging in diverse cultural/social projects. Currently, they are working on their first EP, promising an authentic musical journey, blending powerful melodies and inspiring lyrics

Police Voleur 

Based in Beirut, dream pop band Police Voleur was formed by Scarlett Saad and Kristian Abouanni in March 2020 during the pandemic lockdown. The duo seized the opportunity to work on their music, fulfilling a lifelong dream. Their sound is a unique blend of Western music, Arabic beats, and Lebanese lyrics, with an aesthetic that ranges from playful to mellow to upbeat. Drawing inspiration from childhood memories, such as the game "Police Voleur," the band's music embodies a range of emotions, including happiness, excitement, anger, and dispute. Above all, Police Voleur believes that music should be fun, and their sound captures that spirit.  

Bab L'Blues  

Bab L' Bluz (literally "The door of the Blues") is a Franco-Moroccan group created in 2018 in Marrakech, following the meeting of the Moroccan singer/guitarist Yousra Mansour and the French guitarist/producer Brice Bottin. Bab L' Bluz resonates a mixture of Gnawa trance rhythms, Hassani songs from southern Morocco, and Chaâbi polyrhythms, propelling their music into the magnetic fields of psychedelic rock and volutes of incense.

La Louuve 

Growing up in western Algeria in the 2000s, La Louuve developed a profound understanding of Algerian counter-culture through her expertise in the history of Raï, a musical genre and lifestyle. Passionate about the genre, she naturally positioned herself, with her turntables, to become a female icon of the Algerian electronic scene.Growing up in western Algeria in the 2000s, La Louuve developed a profound understanding of Algerian counter-culture through her expertise in the history of Raï, a musical genre and lifestyle. Passionate about the genre, she naturally positioned herself, with her turntables, to become a female icon of the Algerian electronic scene.

Ticketing - Availble on Ihjoz and at the Door

Day 01 - Thursday, 05 September 2024: Free Entrance (reservation required via Ihjoz)

Day 02 - Friday, 06 September 2024: $12 via Ihjoz 

Day 03 - Saturday, 07 September 2024: $12 via Ihjoz

Two Days Pass - Friday & Saturday, 06 & 07 September: $20 (Via Ihjoz Only)

 

Buy Tickets


Where to Stay in El Mina? 

Where and What is Stereo Kawalis ? 

In October 2023, Stereo Kawalis became Rumman’s new home. Originally established in 1954 as Cinema Radio, this Art Deco-style cinema was founded by Tawfiq Remlawi and Jean Abdo Rawady. Housed in a building owned by influential figure Fouad Al-Bart, a key shareholder in Intra-Bank, the cinema became a high-end gem in Mina.

With two floors boasting 525 seats on the ground floor and an additional 200 seats on the balcony, Cinema Radio played a vital role in the cultural life of Tripoli back in the day. The venue hosted a diverse array of Arabic movie screenings, becoming one of seven cinemas operating in Mina and leaving indelible memories for a generation.

The impact of the civil war and the systematic marginalization of Mina and Tripoli by successive governments since the 1990s led to the decline of the city's cultural infrastructure. As technology advanced, cinemas like Cinema Radio began to close their doors, and in 1995, this cultural hub ceased its operations.

In 2023, Rumman succeeded in reviving this cultural landmark by restoring Cinema Radio to Stereo Kawalis, the new largest indoor music venue nestled in the charming alleys of Yaacoub Labban Street (Mino). 

About this edition 

This year's edition comes at a critical and sensitive moment for Lebanon and the region. In 2024, Tripoli was selected as the Arab Capital of Culture, intended as a moment to celebrate Arab culture. Instead, it feels heavy to "celebrate" at a time when the Arab region, as a whole, is subjected to colonization, occupation, and dictatorships, resulting in an unprecedented wave of violence, economic hardships, rising discriminatory rhetoric, and pervasive censorship.

Amidst the bleakness and uncertainties surrounding us, we chose to move forward with the festival as a statement that we will not surrender to violence and despair. For this edition, we will be curating a special lineup welcoming local artists, as well as artists from the SWANA region to reflect the rich and diverse musical landscape the region can offer. We see this as an invitation for artists and audiences alike to re-imagine—through the lens of music—how the Arab region can look when we transcend the artificial barriers and mobility restrictions imposed among Arab countries and artists residing there.

Finally, hosting the festival at Stereo Kawalis is not only an opportunity to officially launch a new cultural space but also a pledge to our audience and community that we will remain a creative movement advocating for the decentralization of cultural events and making them accessible to all. We’ll ensure that our festival ticket prices are fair, factoring in the economic hardships we are facing. In addition, we're partnering with the Delia Arts Foundation to offer a support ticket option dedicated to supporting our fellow musicians in Palestine.

We hope that through the universal language of music and the power of arts, we can offer a glimmer of hope and an opportunity to dream of a brighter future for Tripoli and beyond. 


About Rumman 

Rumman was founded in 2021 to support and promote the independent music and cultural scene in Tripoli and beyond. Rumman’s scope of work and objectives focus on:

Operating an Independent Music & Cultural Venue

We operate “Stereo Kawalis,” an old Art Deco cinema converted into the largest independent music venue in the city. It hosts diverse, open, and accessible creative musical and artistic productions to reach the widest audience possible.

Supporting & Promoting the Independent Local Music & Cultural Scene

In addition to organizing monthly music programs, we support local bands and artists by providing our space and studio for rehearsals and recording purposes. We also organize an annual music festival in September featuring local and international musicians.

Building Regional and International Collaborations

We build regional and international collaborations and partnerships with other independent music and cultural entities and artists through co-productions, artistic residencies, and music exchange programs.

Building Sustainable Relationships with the Local Community

We see our project as an antithesis of gentrification. Our operational model is built on working with local businesses and service providers, such as partnering with local hotels, buying from small shops, and organizing meals at family-owned restaurants, as a way to preserve the neighborhood’s culture and promote sustainable development and community inclusivity.