The Gnawa maalems and guest artists will join together just long enough to produce unique musical
creation. Discovery, research and perseverance will be the passwords of these exceptional moments of
interchange. This year five artistic residences will be on the menu on a very jazzy tonality along with a
sprinkling of latino.

Maalem Said Oughassal and Abdellah Akheraz, Djembe New Style - Inaugural concert

Guembri and percussions will be the stars of this artistic residence. These instrumentalists will be directed by a great Gnawa maalem from Casablanca, a fabulous drummer from Essaouira and djembé virtuosos from West Africa. This explosive mixture of song and dance will perform at the Festival's inaugural concert on Thursday 21st June at 8:00 pm in Moulay Hassan Square.

Maalem Abdelkebir Merchane and Querencia

When the Latin sonorities meet up with jazz and Gnawa music a highly rhythmic residence is created. This is what is offered by the musicians of New York band Querencia and the highly charismatic Maalem Abdelkebir Merchane. This event will, without doubt, occur alongside the concert to be held on Saturday 23rd June at 09:00 pm at Borj Bab Marrakech.

Mix Up Maroc: Maalem Hassan Boussou, Nasser, Komy

Mix up Morocco is a residence in partnership with the Marsatac Festival in France. Between the Tagnaouit of Hassan Boussou, the electro rock of the Marseilles Nasser troop and the freehanded rap of Moroccan Mobydick, this gettogether, shows much promise. « Mix Up Morocco » made a recording in 2012 as an occasion to improve and enrich even more this project. Meanwhile, come discover them in a first performance preview in Essaouira on Saturday 23rd June at 12:45 pm at the Meditel stage.

Fareed Ayaz and Abu Mohammad, Issaoua of Meknes  

Spirituality will be at its apex with Qawwali Fareed Ayaz, Abu Mohammad and the Issaoua of Meknes. In addition to their common shared Islamic faith, the Pakistan Qawwali and the Issaoua also share a passion for Sufi chants and will play their own music imbued with particularly deep similarities. The result of this artistic residence will be offered to the public on Friday 22nd June at 09:30 pm, Moulay Hassan Square at the Bab Marrakech Bastion on Saturday 23rd June at midnight.

Maalem Hamid El Kasri and Soweto Kinch quartet with special guest Eska

Maalem El Kasri is the ambassador of jazz and Gnawa fusion. This piece of news will greatly please American Soweto Kinch as for him jazz is much more than music. Overflowing with energy Soweto Kinch has no lack of genius.. His jazz cannot be classified into any category. The Soweto Kinch quartet, Eska, his special guest, Hamid El Kasri and his guembri all overflow with ingeniousness. They pool their forces and will be exploiting it to the hilt in making a success of this residency. To be relished on Saturday 23rd June 9:15 pm at Moulay Hassan Square.