Portugal’s oldest travelling music festival brings Arab and Oriental sounds to seven Algarve cities

The Al-Mutamid Music Festival is back, marking its 26th edition and reinforcing its reputation as Portugal’s oldest travelling music festival. Dedicated to Arab and Oriental music, the event once again honours the poet-king Al-Mutamid, born in Beja in 1040.

This year’s programme features eight concerts across Albufeira, Lagos, Lagoa, Olhão, Loulé, Silves and Tavira, with Lagoa hosting two dates.

The festival starts on February 7 in Albufeira with the 1001 Nights Ensemble, a project bringing together musicians from Iran and Morocco. Inspired by the world of One Thousand and One Nights, the performance blends Persian and Arab sounds, with Iranian dancer Khatoon Fallah joining the ensemble for Persian and Oriental dances.

The closing concert takes place on March 15 at the newly inaugurated António Pinheiro Municipal Theatre, in Tavira. The Khaliji Quartet, formed by musicians from Morocco, Algeria and Qatar, will lead audiences on a musical journey through the Arabic world, from the heritage of al-Andalus to the rhythms of the Arabian Peninsula.

Al-Mutamid Music Festival dates in the Algarve

• Albufeira – February 7, Albufeira Municipal Auditorium: 1001 Nights Ensemble
• Lagoa – February 10, Carlos do Carmo Auditorium: MusiCinemas – The Adventures of Prince Achmed
• Olhão – February 20, Olhão Municipal Auditorium: 1001 Nights Ensemble
• Lagos – February 21, Lagos Cultural Centre: 1001 Nights Ensemble
• Loulé – March 7, Cine Teatro Louletano: Hamid Ajbar Ensemble
• Lagoa – March 7, Carlos do Carmo Auditorium: Al Felah-Menkub Ensemble
• Silves – March 13, Mascarenhas Gregório Theatre: Milo Ke Mandarini
• Tavira – March 15, António Pinheiro Municipal Theatre: Khaliji Quartet

The full programme is available on the festival’s official Facebook page.

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