Events in Amman, June 26 – July 2 - 7iber

This week’s agenda is packed with great events. The highlight is Al Balad Music Festival, which kicks off tomorrow and features an exciting group of musicians from Jordan and the region. The festival opens with Oumaima Al-Khalil at the Roman Amphitheater, and closes next Sunday with Algerian/French musician Suad Massi. It includes concerts by Rayan Al-Habr from Lebanon, Wlad Al-Hara from Palestine, Sanaa Moussa from Palestine, El Morabba3 from Jordan, Kaza Mada (Egypt/Jordan/Lebanon/Palestine), and Nasser Salameh from Jordan. It also features The People’s Choir, an outcome of a 10-day workshop where non-musicians collaboratively produce and sing songs about issues that matter to them, led by Egyptian musician Salam Yousri.

Also part of the festival, in a unique performance that brings on stage more than 20 of Jordan’s best musical talents, Jordanian musician Yacoub Abu Ghosh will be launching his new album “As Blue as the Rivers of Amman”, which is made up of 10 original compositions and songs that fuse Jordanian and Arab folklore with contemporary and modern beats and international arrangements.

For those interested in Jordan’s energy debate, this week’s calendar includes two important events: a public debate titled “Pros and Cons of Nuclear Energy”, Myce Schneider (nuclear analyst from France), Dr. Malek Kabariti (energy consultant), Dr Kamal Araj (vice chairman of Jordan’s Atomic Energy Commission), moderated by H.E. Khaled Irani, former minister of energy and environment. The second event is a forum hosted by the Center for Strategic Studies at the University of Jordan, on Jordan’s options between nuclear and renewables.

You also have Jordanian writer Elias Farkouh as the special guest of 7iber’s book club tonight, to talk about his book Land of Purgatory. Mozilla’s CEO Mitchell Baker is in Amman for a public event organized by the Arabic Mozilla community. You also have a Flamenco performance, a concert by Music Hall Beirut as part of a special fundraiser for a green art project, a round table discussion at Makan on local art narratives, Jordan’s Social Media Day, and more. Read on for details.

Sunday June 26, 2011

Inkitab hosts Jordanian author Elias Farkouh to talk about his book “Land of Purgatory,” followed by an open discussion, Makan Art Space, 7:00 pm.

We All Speak One Language: Mozilla, with Mitchell Baker – Mozilla CEO, and Chris Huffmann, Mozilla’s Language Support Director, at PSUT – Friendship Auditorium, 7:30 pm.

Monday June 27, 2011

Seminar on the Future of Energy in Jordan, exploring nuclear and renewable options, organized by the Center for Strategic Studies, at Rum auditorium, Global Center for Teaching Arabic as a Foreign Language, University of Jordan, 9:00 am – 3:00 pm

Makan’s Round Table Discussions – Inside-Out: critical points for varying local art narratives – , at Makan Art Space/Jabal Luweibdeh, 7:00 pm

Flamenco Theater Performance by Maria Juncal, at the Hussein Cultural Center, 7:30 pm.

Green Art Project’s Music Hall Fundraising Dinner, Grand Hyatt Amman, 8:00 pm

Oumeima El Khalil أميمة الخليل- Opening Concert of Al Balad Music Festival, Roman Amphitheater/downtown, 8:00 pm. Tickets 20 and 10 JDs

Tuesday June 28, 2011

Debate on Advantages and Disadvantages of Nuclear Energy, Landmark Hotel, 6:00 – 8:00 pm.

Australian Film Screening: Happy Feet, at Abdul Hameed Shoman Foundation, at 7:00pm

Concert: Songs of a Beautiful Time أغاني الزمن الجميل, at the Hussein Cultural Center, 8:00 pm.

Rayan Al Haber ريان الهبر – Al Balad Music Festival, Odeon Theater/downtown, 8:00 pm

Wednesday June 29, 2011

Concert: Bayt Al-Ruwwad led by Sakher Hattar, classical Arabic music, at the Hussein Cultural Center, 8:00 pm.

Wlad El 7ara ولاد الحارة- Al Balad Music Festival, Odeon Theater/downtown, 8:00 pm

Kazamada كزا مدى- Al Balad Music Festival, Odeon Theater/downtown, 9:30 pm

Thursday June 30, 2011

Concert organized by Polish Embassy, at the Hussein Cultural Center/Ras al Ain, 7:00 pm

Social Media Day (JORDAN), Abul Abed Al Hakawaty Restaurant And Cafe’ (across from Maijana restaurant/left from Rainbow street), 7:00 pm.

Al-Balad Music Festival: Nasser Salameh, an evening of rhythm and beats with guest musicians from Jordan, Palestine, Iraq , Lebanon, India and the USA, at the Odeon Theater/downtown, 8:00 pm

Sana’a Mousa سناء موسى- Al Balad Music Festival, Odeon Theater/downtown, 9:30 pm

Friday July 1, 2011