Music festival Beirut & Beyond postponed in support of protesters

Regional indie music festival Beirut & Beyond has been postponed because of the ongoing protests in Lebanon.

Festival director Amani Semaan told The National that the annual event, which was scheduled to run from Thursday, December 5, to Sunday, December 8, has been put on hold in solidarity with the demonstrators.

Lebanon is in political and economic turmoil after three weeks of protests that prompted Saad Hariri to resign as prime minister on October 29.

“In light of what is happening in Lebanon at the moment, we have made the decision to postpone this edition of Beirut & Beyond until further notice,” Ms Semaan said. “We have decided to strike in support of the rising movement in Beirut.”

The uncertain period that Lebanon is going through, Ms Semaan said, poses challenges when it comes to running an international music festival. “Each year we invite more than 50 artists and professionals from outside Lebanon,” she said. “We are obliged to suspend activities because it will be very challenging on different levels, such as security, administration and logistics.”

Ms Semaan, who is Lebanese, said the country’s arts and culture industry suffered from what she views as chronic government corruption, which fuelled the protests. In such a climate, she said, organisers need to think creatively and be prepared for disappointment.

“The arts and culture sector is affected a lot by the corruption in Lebanon. The cultural sector in our region is challenged all the time with [a lack of] security, and on the political and economic levels. So we know the risks we are taking when working in arts and culture events in Lebanon, and we are aware that sometimes we need to have alternative plans. Sometimes we also need to stop, postpone or cancel. But at the same time, we are resilient; we use all our engagement, power and determination to go on.”

Beirut & Beyond was launched in 2013 and quickly established itself as one of the best showcases for the Arab world’s thriving independent music scene. Modelled after the Oslo World Music Festival, which is the organisation’s partner, Beirut & Beyond features concerts and seminars discussing the issues and challenges facing the regional scene today.

Those who have performed at the festival in the past are among the who’s who of the Arab independent music scene, including Lebanese stalwarts Tania Saleh and Yasmine Hamdan, Egyptian singer Maryam Saleh and Sudanese group Alsarah & The Nubatones.

Although the festival has yet to announce new dates, Ms Semaan

is confident that it will return bigger and better. She is already seeing the inspiring effects the present turmoil is having on local performers.

“Some artists are inspired to produce music on the streets, record what is happening and use their music or any art to act as an influence,” she said.

“We see that during such [difficult] times that arts and culture can have an influence on the street by creating pressure, by expressing demands, by impacting people … we are hopeful that structural change will happen and, in the light of the updates, we will be able to set and announce the new dates for Beirut & Beyond.”

The cultural sector in our region is challenged all the time with [a lack of] security, and on political and economic levels AMANI SEMAAN Festival director