The 6th edition of BBIMF, a celebration of innovation of diversity, is just around the corner. Mark your calendar as the festival is set to take place from December 6 to December 9, 2018 in venues across Beirut including Station Beirut, Metro Al Madina, Zoukak Studio, and The Ballroom Blitz. This year’s lineup is blooming with colors, be it genre-wise or in terms of the artists’ nationalities. The artistic program is not the only thing to look forward to as there is a professional program organized by BBIMF2018 simultaneously in order to provide local and international artists with a platform that allows for the merging of experiences. This article is divided into two sections: the first one will give you a detailed look at the artistic program. The second one will take you through the professional program.

 

|| Artistic Program ||

Day 1:

Date: Thursday, December 6  |  Time: 8:30 PM  |   Location: Station Beirut

Performers:

Imed Alibi // Frigya (Tunis, France, Burkina Faso)

 

Tania Saleh (Lebanon, Sweden)

 

Day 2:

Date: Friday, December 7  |  Time: 8:30 PM  |   Location: Metro Al Madina

Performers: 

Basel Zayed (Palestine)

 

Javier Díez Ena (Spain)

 

Lekhfa (Palestine, Egypt)

 

Day 3:

Date: Saturday, December 8  |  Time: 8:30 PM  |   Location: Zoukak Studio

Performers: 

Two or the Dragon – التنّين  (Lebanon)

 

Sig & ERIK TRUFFAZ (France)

 

Baskot Lel Baltageyya – بسكوت للبلطجية (Egypt)

 

Day 4:

Date: Sunday, December 9  |  Time: 8:00 PM  |   Location: The Ballroom Blitz

Performers: 

 

GURLS (Norway)

 

Kinematik (Lebanon)

 

Liliane Chlela (Lebanon)

 

|| Professional Program ||

Day 1 – Talking Music: Lekhfa

Date: Thursday, December 6  |  Time: 5:30 PM – 7:30 PM  |   Location: Dar El Nimer for Arts & Culture

Up close and Personal with members of Lekhfa: Tamer Abu Ghazaleh, Maurice Louca and Maryam Saleh.

More details here.

 

Day 2 – Meet the Artists + Discussion

Date: Friday, December 7

Event #1: Meet the Artists

Time: 2:00 PM – 4:30 PM  |   Location: The Ballroom Blitz

* * For registered professionals only * * 

A chance to meet the artists and provide a place for fruitful conversations ans potential local and international collaborations. This year’s selection:

The Rap Concerto (LB), Escalier 301 B (LB), Astral Vibes Conspiracy (AL), Faraj Suleiman (PL), Toni Geitani (LB), Alan Abi (LB), Almena – الميناء (EG), GIZZMO (LB), Arabstazy (Arab Collective), Glory & Tears (LB)

 

Event #2: Discussion

Time: 5:30 – 7:30 PM  |   Location: AR_KA

Major industry issues will be tackled in an interactive roundtable discussion led by Sacem, a leading Collective Management Organization whose main mission is to collect and distribute the royalties of more than 160,000 composers, authors and publishers throughout the world.

 

Day 3

Date: Saturday, December 8  |  Location: AR_KA

 

Event#1: Artist Entrepreneur Session

Time: 3:00 PM – 5:00 PM

(In partnership with The Featured Artists Coalition)

A time and place to learn from professionals and shared experience how to practically build a long-lasting career that offers sustainability in the music industry.

 

Event#2: Local promoters: Challenges, Achievements & Aspirations

Time: 6:00 PM – 7:30 PM

Moderated by Anthony Semaan, a discussion about the challenges faced, the goals achieved, and future plans will be shared by a number of major members of the local Lebanese music scene.

Day 4 – Jazz Tactics with Tarek Yamani – Masterclass in Rhythm & Harmony

Date: Sunday, December 8  |   Time: 10:30 AM – 4:30 PM  |  Location: Hammana Artist House

* * For registered candidates only * * 

New York-based Jazz Maestro Tarek Yamani gives an exclusive Masterclass in Jazz. Yamani is a self-taught jazz musician whose passion is the exploration of the links between African-American Jazz and classical Arabic music.

More details about the event here.