Headfirst Editor's Pick
"Free Palestine! A Gaza solidarity special at Bristol’s Palestine Museum with live oud and vocals from the Middle Eastern and North African traditions played by Nabra and Soufian Saithi. In celebration of the Freedom Flotilla’s vessel Handala docking in Bristol harbour, this will be an essential gathering and sharing of current information on the situation in Gaza."
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A gig on Wednesday 12th July. The event starts at 19:30.
7.30pm open
7.45pm Gaza Musicians from Edward Said National Conservatory of Music Live Link Up on screen. Picture shows a choir in Gaza nurtured by the Conservatory staff. Actual act tbc
The A.M. Qattan Foundation established the Gaza Music School project in Gaza City in the summer of 2008, with co-financing from Swedish International Development Cooperation (SIDA).
The School was damaged by an Israeli airstrike during the Israeli war on the Gaza Strip in the winter of that year. However the Foundation worked extremely hard to ensure the continuity of this pioneering project, re-launching the School from its current location, and completing the academic year 2008-2009 successfully.
At the beginning of April 2012, after four years of work and achievement, the A.M. Qattan Foundation handed over the ownership of the Gaza Music School to the Edward Said National Conservatory of Music/Birzeit University, and it became the first branch of the Conservatory in the Gaza Strip.
In the 2018/19 academic year the Gaza Music School has 174 students, and a further 430 students participate in the outreach program's instrumental and choir projects around the Gaza Strip
8.15pm Soufian Saithi oud/vocals.
Moroccan oud player and composer Soufian Saihi brought his skills to the UK where he has progressed from street busking to the concert hall thanks to his remarkable musicianship.
Soufian discovered the Oud at the age of 15 and studied with master Hafid boudribila for two years before he moved to France where he played Arabic-Andalusian music with bands featuring Algerian and French jazz musicians.
He has been teaching the Oud and performing as a soloist and with several London based bands since 2004.
His deep knowledge in classical Arabic, North African and Gnawa Sufi music traditions earned him the status of a virtuoso player.
Soufian's music is rich in empathy for the immigrant and the oppressed.
8.45pm interval. Chance to see museum exhibition and buy Palestinian produce.
9pm There will be an explanation of the Freedom Flotilla concept.
9.15pm Nabra oud/vocals from Sudan and Germany
"Nabra" means the sound of one's own voice. The sound of the Nabra oud duo is an intoxicating blend of Sudanese and Middle Eastern influences with plenty of Taqsim (improvisations) thrown in.
Nabra features the combined ouds of Ali Elmubarak (Sudan) and Knud Stüwe (Germany) as well as Ali’s expressive vocals sung in Arabic.
Knud and Ali started collaborating in 2015 when they met through an initiative of Bristol Refugee Rights and they have since than become a well established act on the Bristol and Southwest music scene.
The oud is the ancient ancestor of both the lute la oud) and the guitar. It originated in the Middle East but is equally at home in North Africa.
9.45pm Jam session as the acts combine and others may join.
WEDNESDAY JULY 12th 2023
@ 7.30pm £10 /£8 conc Tickets on door & Headfirst
@Palestine Museum 27 Broad Street BS1 2HG
Organised by promoter David Mowat for Bristol-PSC
Entry requirements:
7.45pm Gaza Musicians from Edward Said National Conservatory of Music Live Link Up on screen. Picture shows a choir in Gaza nurtured by the Conservatory staff. Actual act tbc
The A.M. Qattan Foundation established the Gaza Music School project in Gaza City in the summer of 2008, with co-financing from Swedish International Development Cooperation (SIDA).
The School was damaged by an Israeli airstrike during the Israeli war on the Gaza Strip in the winter of that year. However the Foundation worked extremely hard to ensure the continuity of this pioneering project, re-launching the School from its current location, and completing the academic year 2008-2009 successfully.
At the beginning of April 2012, after four years of work and achievement, the A.M. Qattan Foundation handed over the ownership of the Gaza Music School to the Edward Said National Conservatory of Music/Birzeit University, and it became the first branch of the Conservatory in the Gaza Strip.
In the 2018/19 academic year the Gaza Music School has 174 students, and a further 430 students participate in the outreach program's instrumental and choir projects around the Gaza Strip
8.15pm Soufian Saithi oud/vocals.
Moroccan oud player and composer Soufian Saihi brought his skills to the UK where he has progressed from street busking to the concert hall thanks to his remarkable musicianship.
Soufian discovered the Oud at the age of 15 and studied with master Hafid boudribila for two years before he moved to France where he played Arabic-Andalusian music with bands featuring Algerian and French jazz musicians.
He has been teaching the Oud and performing as a soloist and with several London based bands since 2004.
His deep knowledge in classical Arabic, North African and Gnawa Sufi music traditions earned him the status of a virtuoso player.
Soufian's music is rich in empathy for the immigrant and the oppressed.
8.45pm interval. Chance to see museum exhibition and buy Palestinian produce.
9pm There will be an explanation of the Freedom Flotilla concept.
9.15pm Nabra oud/vocals from Sudan and Germany
"Nabra" means the sound of one's own voice. The sound of the Nabra oud duo is an intoxicating blend of Sudanese and Middle Eastern influences with plenty of Taqsim (improvisations) thrown in.
Nabra features the combined ouds of Ali Elmubarak (Sudan) and Knud Stüwe (Germany) as well as Ali’s expressive vocals sung in Arabic.
Knud and Ali started collaborating in 2015 when they met through an initiative of Bristol Refugee Rights and they have since than become a well established act on the Bristol and Southwest music scene.
The oud is the ancient ancestor of both the lute la oud) and the guitar. It originated in the Middle East but is equally at home in North Africa.
9.45pm Jam session as the acts combine and others may join.
WEDNESDAY JULY 12th 2023
@ 7.30pm £10 /£8 conc Tickets on door & Headfirst
@Palestine Museum 27 Broad Street BS1 2HG
Organised by promoter David Mowat for Bristol-PSC
Entry requirements:
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