Jordan to host international artists, bands for a ‘summer to remember’

AMMAN — The Kingdom will host bands and international artists to promise Jordanians and tourists “a summer to remember”, organisers and tourism officials said on Thursday.

Spanish singer and Grammy award winner Enrique Iglesias will perform in Amman on August 11 at a show organised by iJordan and Play99.6 radio station at the Amman Exhibition Park near the Airport Road, Juman Obeidat from iJordan’s public relations department said.

Iglesias, who will visit Jordan for the first time, addressed his fans in Jordan earlier this week through a video posted on the radio station’s Facebook page, saying: “I can’t wait to see all of you in Amman on August 11 for a very special show, see you there!”

Ticket prices for the Spanish artist’s show range from JD45 to JD150, the company’s senior account executive said.

She said the tickets would also be available at the concert venue. They are also available online on www.sajilni.com.

Meanwhile, Friends of Jordan Festivals has announced it will host internationally acclaimed Greek composer and producer Yanni on September 25 at the Amman Citadel. 

At the same archaeological site, located in the heart of the capital, Marcel Khalife will be performing on September 13 as part of the Jordan Festival 2016.

The Beirut-born composer and oud performer, known for combining themes of Arab culture with influences of piano and jazz music, has previously performed at the festival, organised by Friends of Jordan Festivals.

Rahbani Brothers and Hiba Tawaji from Lebanon are performing for the first time in Jordan on September 23 for “Rahbani Summer Nights”, in a show staged by the events company 16th of May and Campbell Grey Living Amman.

Hana Zureikat, general manager and founder of 16th of May, said Iraqi singer Kadim Al Saher would perform on September 24.

The concert will take place at Dead Sea’s Service Rally Park, Zureikat said, adding that 10,000 people are expected to attend the events. 

Ticket prices range between JD35 and JD150, the organiser said, adding that Jordanians, tourists, and visitors from Palestine, Lebanon, Egypt and Gulf countries are expected to attend. 

Zureikat believes that hosting musical events promotes Jordan’s image as a secure and stable country, and “brings joy to the hearts of the audience”.

Aziz Maraka and the team behind the Bands Across Borders (BAB) concert tours said Jordan will also host Syrian singer Lena Chamamyan, Algerian artist Souad Massi and Jordanian singers Aziz Maraka and Yarub Smeirat on July 29.

Tickets cost JD20 and between 2,000 and 3,500 guests are expected to attend, organisers said.

BAB’s second music festival will take place on August 13, with several local and regional bands performing. 

The line-up includes El Morabba3, El Far3i, Lebanon’s “Adonis” band, Yazan Haifawi and other artists from the hip-hop scene in Jordan and Lebanon.

Jordan Tourism Board’s (JTB) Managing Director Abed Al Razzaq Arabiyat said the musical shows organised in Jordan this year signal a “fruitful tourism season”.

“We have been discussing such events with several organisers; the calendar is fully booked until the end of September. We have been promoting the events through social media and other paid ads,” he told The Jordan Times. 

Promotional campaigns were launched in Palestine, Lebanon and the Gulf, Arabiyat said, in addition to other campaigns in Europe promoting international artists who are scheduled to perform in Jordan.

“JTB has cooperated with several reservation offices to organise tours to Jordan around concert times,” he noted, and the board has been giving out brochures to visitors at border crossings and the airport since the first day of Eid Al Fitr, in early July.