ALSO APPEARING AT AL BARZAKH FESTIVAL
47Soul
Performing tomorrow night is a Palestinian group at the front of one of the region’s most exciting sub-genres. 47Soul’s leanyet-chaotic sound is billed as electro-dabka. It is as fun as it sounds, with the flamboyant percussion of the famed Levant folk genre laced with perky synthesisers and taut guitar grooves. On top of it all are the distinct vocals from each of the four band members which represent singing styles from the region. Futuristic music without losing its historical significance, 47Soul is party music with a purpose.
RAM
Their regular Thursday-night shows in Port-au-Prince are the stuff of legend. RAM was the soundtrack to many a rowdy night filled with colourful characters straight out of a Tarantino film. The Haitian group, a large collective which can consist of more than a dozen performers, is set to bring that visceral energy to Abu Dhabi with their blend of Afro-Haitian songs fuelled horns and blistering guitars. After being one of the Caribbean’s best kept secrets, the group gained international attention after appearing in the soundtrack of the 1993’s Academy Award-winning film Philadelphia. They will make their regional debut on the back of their latest album, RAM 6: Manmanm Se Ginen, and perhaps we will hear some tunes from their next studio album, which is in the works.
Al Nuban Folklore Troupe
The group’s routines are rooted in the ancient Afro-Emirati tradition, with some dances linked to the region that is now called Sudan. Helmed by Taher Ismael, performances often consist of 20 dancers divided into two lines as they perform to the heady sounds of the tanboura, drums and manjour. The group is a mainstay of cultural festivals across the UAE in addition to being an in-demand act for weddings.