The Definitive Guide to Living in the Capital , Cairo , Egypt

Hello, Cairo!

Fight through the hunger, thirst and heat, for your prize awaits just over the horizon – a weekend packed full of live music, events and some Ramadan fun.

Thursday sees the long-awaited first night of Mawaweel at Darb 1718, as the cultural centre and Cairo Jazz Club Agency bring you the ‘alternative Ramadan experience’ once more, as Nas Makan and Sharmoofers take to the stage on a night that will also see a tannoura show, a bazaar, a pop-up food-court and art round off one of the highlight events of the weekend.

It’s not the only festival featuring big acts, though; the French Institute’s Fête de la Musique is back, taking place at Al Azhar Park, with the likes of Massar Egbari and Telepoetic among the acts.

Elsewhere, there’s live music at the Tap East, where Screwdriver take to the stage for an acoustic set, while at the other end of the musical scale, the musicians, poets and storytellers of the Bedouin Jerry-Can Band perform at El Dammah Theatre.

Elsewhere, the city’s Ramadan kheimas (tents) have plenty of entertainment lined-up, with Zamalek’s Riverside kicking off its weekend with Hossam Hosny and Eat & Barrel welcoming Hamdy Batchan. Meanwhile, Nedal Performs at Cavallini in Heliopolis, while a busy night at Cairo Opera House sees the Abdel Halim Nowera Ensemble perform in the Main Hall and Medhat Khouly perform in the Small Hall.

One of Friday’s biigest events is set to take place at Westown Hub, where Hany El Dakkak, Ousso Lotfy and Hany Adel, aka HOH, perform, while more live music can be found at ROOM Art Space in Garden City, where Ney player, Mohamed Antar, and Oriental percussionist, Ayman Mabrouk, return.

Hany, Ousso & Hany; HOH perfrom at Westown Hub on Friday

Elsewhere, Hossam Hosny and Hamdy Batshan swap stages, with the former performing at Eat & Barrel and the latter at Riverside, while Essam Karika is the headline act at Cavallini.

At Cairo Opera House, meanwhile, acclaimed pianist, Moushira Eissa, performs, while a separate concert to commemorate Nabiha Lotfty will also be held at the Opera.

Alternatively, American Plaza in New Cairo is holding a special Ramadan bazaar, while Maadi’s Osana Wellness Centre hosts another of Gaby Sadowski’s Disco Loco dance parties.

There’s more big gigs on Saturday, meanwhile, with this year’s Hayy Festival continuing with Brussels-based touareg rock band, Kel Assouf, and Sudanese folk singer, Asia Madani, taking to the stage. Elsewhere, Mawaweel X El Sat7’s second night sees brass band, El Nafekha, perform, while ROOM Art Space welcomes Noha Fekry and Amro Salah for a night of jazz and blues.

Kel Assouf are one of several foreign-based bands performing at this year's Hayy Festival.

Over in Zamalek, 3elbt Alwan hosts local band, 7araket Watar, while the Fabrica theatre troupe perform a live-action version of classic Ramadan puppet show, El Leila El Kebira, at El Sawy Cultureweheel.

There’s art to be found too across the capital this weekend, with Bread II having launched this week as part of Mawaweel, while exhibitions can also be found at Al Massar Gallery, Picasso Gallery and Art Talks.

For more events this weekend, check out the Cairo 360 calendar for more.