11 April 2013
JOUNIEH: Lebano-British popster Mika will return to Lebanon, gracing the Fouad Chehab Stadium courtesy of the 2013 edition of the Jounieh International Festival.
Dignitaries, including Jounieh Mayor Tony Frem and Neemat Frem, director of nonprofit organization Phellipolis, announced this year’s festival lineup during a news conference at the Automobile and Touring Club of Lebanon Wednesday.
Organizers stressed that JIF is not just about having concerts of local and international artists. It is also interested in promoting the city’s richness and enhancing cultural activities there.
JIF will be inaugurated on June 21 with a fireworks event and a festival of lights and music.
Jounieh on Bike (June 23) gives residents an opportunity to leave their cars in the driveway and enjoy riding a bicycle, skateboard or even roller skates. For those who don’t own bicycles, Fouad Chehab Stadium will offer rentals.
Family and Kids Day (June 24-26) promises to attract and entertain children and adults alike, transforming the streets of Jounieh’s old town into a venue for playgrounds, activities and orchestral performances.
If you’re in the mood to dance, be sure to attend Jounieh Summer Fever (June 27-28), which promises to light up the streets with international dance performances that include fire dancers.
There will also be several musical performances. Renowned French vocalist Michel Sardou will present a unique concert entitled “Les Grands Moments” (The Big Moments) on June 29. Sardou has released many albums over the years and it’s assumed he’ll croon out such classic tunes as “La Maladie d’Amour” (The Love Disease) or “Les Lacs du Connemara” (The Lakes of Connemara).
Ragheb Alama, ranked among the most-loved performers in the Middle East, will give a show on June 30. Propelled to the status of one of the best-known Lebanese pop artists by his debut single “Bukra Byebrom Dulabak,” his intense vocal stylings may leave some lady audience members shivering.
If neither Sardou nor Alama is quite your cup of tea, JIF’s final musical performance will feature the multitalented Lebanese-born artist Mika. His vocal range, on-stage dynamism and catchy tunes promise to transform the Fouad Chehab Stadium into a fantastical and psychedelic world.
The Red Bull Car Park Drift Lebanon Final (July 6) will lower the curtain on this year’s festival, providing an opportunity for motor sports aficionados to demonstrate, or witness, some astonishing drifting talents.
The Jounieh International Festival will take place from June 21 to July 6 in several venues around the city. For ticketing, please call 01-999-666 or visit www.jouniehinternationalfestival.com.
Copyright The Daily Star 2013.
