The Baalbeck International Festival, one of the oldest and most prestigious events in the Middle East, was back again this year despite the circumstances sinking Lebanon into collapse.
For its second year in a row, the Baalbeck International Festival went virtual as Lebanon battles various crises, including health, economic, gasoline, and electricity.
It went live on July 9th for its “Shine On Lebanon” concert pledging to “defy darkness with music” in these dark times… literally because Lebanon’s electricity crisis is something else.
“The glory that is Lebanon is fading, yet we keep chasing rays of light. Our hope lies in the voice of the young and independent generation of musicians and artists who come together to shine our once bright beacon even brighter because the time has come to #ShineOnLebanon,” the festival wrote on social media.
The concert takes people on a “musical road trip” featuring 10 alternative local performers such as Blu Fiefer, Postcards, Beirut Vocal Point, Zef, Makram Aboul Hosn, and more, across the ancient Roman temples of the Bekaa Valley.
The event has been around since 1955 and its organizers have refused to allow crises brought on by political corruption and a global pandemic to end the annual tradition.
The concert streamed on YouTube and regional TV channels. You can watch it here:
