The Alif Ensmble review


The Alif Ensemble – photos

Thank you to all who came out to see the Alif Ensemble at Ikon Gallery last week – it was a really special event with some incredible musicianship. Thanks also to all the performers, the Ikon Gallery staff and Khyam Allami for putting it all together.

Pictures below by Katja Ogrin

Simon Fox opened the show with a beautiful acoustic set

We’ve got two great shows in store for you next week, of a slightly different nature. Space rockers Bardo Pond perform at the Hare & Hounds on Wednesday 1st August and we’ve got a Supersonic Taster at Eastside Projects on Saturday 4th August, featuring King Midas Sound System, JK Flesh and a host of experimental musicians. Tickets for both shows are available via https://www.theticketsellers.co.uk

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The Alif Ensemble tonight!

We thoroughly recommend you spend your Thursday evening at Ikon Gallery tonight to witness The Alif Ensemble a new collective of superbly talented and inventive Arabic musicians. Support comes from acoustic guitarist Simon Fox. Doors are 8pm and you can still grab a ticket via https://www.theticketsellers.co.uk/

Reviews from their debut performance at

Liverpool’s Arabic Arts Festival are coming in…

What quickly becomes apparent is that amongst these seven musicians – while they are clearly taking their lead from Allami – there is no real hierarchy, just a warmth and mutual appreciation of each other’s playing ability. Any concerns around the chances of Ghazaleh relaxing are quickly forgotten, as his earlier intensity is swapped for a rich vocal, allied with expert and driving buzuq-playing. Just like that he is a match for anyone on stage.

Indeed, this is a real feature of the whole set: seven musicians equal in quality and renown (at least to our untutored ears) working together for the simple enjoyment of it. Just when you are admiring the amazing drumming of the pony-tailed Ayman Mabrouk, the violin playing of Yaroub Smarait will kick in and briefly take centre-stage, keeping you on your toes and reminding you to look around, lest you miss out on something extraordinary. Read more via http://www.thedoublenegative.co.uk/2012/07/alif-ensemble-reviewed/

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Khyam Allami interview

You cab read an interview with Khyam Allami in advance of his show with the Alif Ensemble in Birmingham on Thursday 19th July about his first experiences of Arabic music and a little of what you can expect from this exciting show.

Despite his cultural background, Khyam Allami wasn’t expecting to fall in love with Middle Eastern music.

Having moved with his family from Damascus at the age of nine, and quick to embrace his new home, it was the electric guitar wizardry and thumping drum solos of rock music that got his heart beating quickly.

Then in 2003, a US-led coalition invaded Iraq and Allami found his world view shifting.

“It wasn’t so much that I wanted to play Middle Eastern music per se, it was more that I wanted to immerse myself in music full stop,” he explains.

Tickets for the Alif Ensemble feat Khyam Allami + Simon Fox at the Ikon Gallery are £8 /£6 and available from https://www.theticketsellers.co.uk

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The Alif Ensemble – Liverpool Philharmonic review

The debut performance by this new Arabic music collective took place in Liverpool at the weekend as part of the Arabic Arts Festival. We’re delighted that the Alif Ensemble will be performing in Birmingham this Thursday 19th July at Ikon Gallery. Tickets are still available via https://www.theticketsellers.co.uk/

Here’s a review of the show from the Liverpool Echo –



The ‘sound’ is led by ensemble founder Kyam Allami, playing the oud, the traditional fretless string instrument which is the basis of middle eastern music.

Add to that the buzuk, mastered by vocalist Tamer Abu Ghazaleh, the the rest integrates the already widely familiar – bass guitar (Khaled Omran), two percussion players (Ayman Mabrouk and Kaled Yassine) with Yaroub Smarait on violin and Maurice Louca on keyboards.

Indeed, when also operating the mixing desk, Louca’s bodily animation communicated enthusiasm for a sound world which, frquently, could easily have crossed over into the realms of mid-period Pink Floyd.

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Thurs 19th July – Alif Ensemble teaser (plus Simon Fox support)

The Alif Ensemble have posted up this teaser in advance of their UK tour dates. One of the most exciting new projects to come from the Arab world, bringing together musicians from Syria, Lebanon, Jordan, Palestine, Egypt and Iraq for a beguiling blend of acoustic and contemporary electronic sounds. The ensemble will feature Capsule favourite Khyam Allami, who has blown Supersonic audiences away both solo and in collaboration with Master Musicians of Bukkake.

The Alif Ensemble will perform at Ikon Gallery, Birmingham on Thursday 19th July. Support comes from Simon Fox whose work ranges from traditional folk songs to more challenging sonic experiments.

Tickets are available via https://www.theticketsellers.co.uk/

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Khyam Allami and the Alif Ensemble – 19th July – Ikon

We are extremely pleased to be bringing this very special show with some of the most talented and inventive young Arabic players to Birmingham. Fresh from a performance with the Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra as part of the Liverpool Arab

Arts Festival, the Alif Ensemble will perform at Ikon Gallery on Thursday 19th July.

The Ensemble will feature the magnificent Khyam Allami on oud. See below his previous performances at Supersonic, both solo and with Master Musicians of Bukkake.

Tickets are £8 or £6 concessions and available from theticketsellers

http://www.khyamallami.com/alifensemble/

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Still places left on Simon & Tom Bloor’s boat

Join Ikon and the Bloors in Eastside to launch Hey for Lubberland!, their specially adapted canal boat, utilising geodesic design and dazzle camouflage. Music by Khyam Allami.

As part of the Supersonic Festival Simon & Tom Bloor’s boat will be moored near Ikon Eastside. Visitors can make short journeys, accompanied by soundtracks selected by artists performing at the Festival.

To reserve a place call Ikon on 0121 248 0708

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