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

There’s a palpable excitement in the air as a we sit on the eve of the week-long Eid holiday and while many are taking it as one last chance to hit the beach, a weekend in Cairo is calling.

We begin on Thursday over in Garden City, where Rooftop marks its second anniversary, with Ouzo, Sebzz and Akladios providing the music. Staying in the area, ROOM Art Space kicks off its weekend with a double-header of live music , as unique folk bands, NAR and OLMO, take to the stage.

There’s live music at Cairo Jazz Club, too, with quirky brass band, El Nafikha (The Blowers), kicking things off before, saxophonist, Nour Ashour, and his band take to the stage. Elsewhere, Al Mestrabaa bring their contemporary take on Eastern music at Zamalek’s 3elbt Alwan, while Salalem perform at Downtown’s After Eight.

If electronic music is what you seek, Ayman Nageeb mans the decks at the Garden Nile-Front in Manial, while DJs Ramsi Lehner and Sherif Nakhla kick it old school at the Tap Maadi, leabing DJ Teddy  in charge of hip-hop night at sister venue, the Tap East.

At the other end of the musical scale, Cairo Opera House have a busy night ahead, with the Cairo Opera Company set to perform a medley of Mozart, Puccini, and Verdi pieces. Down the halls, meanwhile, the seemingly timeless El Masryeen Band perform.

Moving onto Friday, Cairo Jazz Club welcomes local DJs, Shawky and Nader Tahawy, for this weekend’s Friday Fever, while that man, DJ Teddy, is back again, but this time at the Tap Maadi. Elsewhere, sultry songstress, Michelle Rounds, debuts a new interactive project at ROOM Art Space, while at 3elbt Alwan, the unique Sharq West perfrom.

Elsewhere, the Garden Nile Front goes Oriental, as belly-dancer, Raneem, and DJ Hany Khalil provide the Friday night entertainment, while Basheer takes to the stage at After Eight.

Before all of that, though, a lavish brunch is on offer at Kempisnki Nile Hotel, while another busy day at Cairo Opera House beckons, with guitarist, Elhamy Khoushid, performing, as well the Abdel Halim Nowera Ensemble, in separate gigs.

The weekend’s usual festivities might be cut short, but there’s plenty more live music and parties come Monday – stay tuned to the Cairo 360 events calendar.