With one of the world's largest music festivals returning after a five-year hiatus, this summer is packed with offerings to suit all musical tastes – and it is not all about the UK’s Glastonbury or Spain’s Primavera.
From Afrobeats in a coastal town in Portugal and dance music in an 18th century fortress in Serbia, to hard rock in a former coal mine in the Czech Republic, there is something for everyone out there.
Here are 10 underrated European and North African festivals worth checking out this summer.
Jazzablanca: June 6 to 8
Where: Casablanca, Morocco
Headliners: Paolo Nutini, Kokoroko, James Blunt and Zucchero
Why go? Held in a sprawling public park that was formerly an airport, Jazzablanca is a festival where the vibes are as appealing as the electric line-up. Featuring two stages, with the minor one dedicated to western and North African jazz and the main home to popular acts, the festival is a foodie hub with plenty of trucks and tranquil picnic spots. Come for the music and stay for the atmosphere.
jazzablanca.com
Mawazine: June 21 to 29
Where: Rabat, Morocco
Headliners: Kylie Minogue, Najwa Karam, Ateez, Metro Boomin and Camila Cabello
Why go? Returning after a five-year hiatus, North Africa's biggest music festival returns with a bumper line-up of regional and international stars. Held in various venues across the Moroccan capital, Mawazine is a perfect opportunity to explore Rabat’s various neighbourhoods. Best part of all, most concerts are free to the public. Expect crowds nearing 50,000 for concerts on the main stages.
mawazine.ma
Afro Nation: June 26 to 28
Where: Algarve, Portugal
Headliners: Nicki Minaj, Rema, Asake and Tyla
Why go?: Over a space of only five years, Afro Nation has not only become the premiere festival for Afropop and Afrobeats, but has also extended its reach with events in North and South America. However, it is the original edition in a Portuguese coastal city that continues to bring out the genre's biggest stars.
www.afronation.com
Open’er: July 3 to 6
Where: Gdynia, Poland
Headliners: Foo Fighters, Dua Lipa, Doja Cat, Air and Michael Kiwanuka
Why go? Located in the port city on the Baltic coast, Open’er has one of the best artist line-ups in the European summer circuit. The dynamic programme has further gems like US grunge queen Kim Gordon and French electronic duo Air performing their classic album Moon Safari.
opener.pl
Exit Festival: July 7 to 12
Where: Novi Sad, Serbia
Headliners: Gucci Mane, Black Eyed Peas, Carl Cox and Tom Morello
Why go? You won’t know where to look at this mega festival, with the action taking place in an 18th-century Petrovaradin Fortress. More than 100 artists will perform across two dozen stages located on moats, trenches and tunnels.
exitfest.org
The North Sea Jazz Festival: July 12 to 14
Where: Rotterdam, Netherlands
Headliners: Andre 3000, Jessie Ware, Vincent Amigo and Cecile McLorin Salvant
Why go? Two years away from its 50th anniversary, one of Europe's premiere jazz festivals is renowned for a meticulous programme encompassing various sub genres from bebop and big-band to fusion and swing. Spread across 15 stages featuring over 1,000 musicians, the North Sea Jazz Festival is a bucket list item for serious jazz aficionados.
northseajazz.com
Colours of Ostrava: July 17 to 20
Where: Ostravia, Czech Republic
Headliners: Lenny Kravitz, Queen of the Stone Age, Sean Paul and Zara Larsson
Why go? In addition to being an epic music festival with 19 stages, this event is also home to film screenings, theatre performances and art workshops. Set in a former coal mine and ironworks site, the festival has clock towers on site which can be climbed for the ultimate selfie.
colours.cz
Untold: August 8 to 11
Where: Cluj-Napoca, Romania
Headliners: Burna Boy, Swedish House Mafia, Martin Garrix and Sam Smith
Why go? Fresh from its international launch in Dubai in February, Untold returns to the luscious greenery of camping grounds in Romania. Nearly half a million people attend each year, so expect a packed 24-hour line-up of performances across multiple stages.
untold.com
Sziget Festival: August 10 to 15
Where: Budapest, Hungary
Headliners: Stormzy, Martin Garrix, Janelle Monae, Halsey and Skrillex
Why go? Eastern Europe’s answer to the UK's Glastonbury Festival, the mammoth festival features nearly 60 stages on Obuda Island on the Danube River. With festival boats ferrying revellers to and from the mainland, Sziget features hundreds of artists ranging from pop stars to theatre troupes and acrobats.
szigetfestival.com
Malta Weekender: September 19 to 22
Where: St Paul’s Bay, Malta
Headliners: Liam Gallagher, Liam Fray, The Blossoms, Jake Bugg and David Morales
Why go? With Britpop rocker Liam Gallagher curating, expect some of the UK's finest guitar-based acts to perform on the coastal venue. After the live performances, a flurry of DJs will take the stage performing sets and paying tribute to Manchester's former super club The Hacienda.
www.lgmaltaweekender.com
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ECompany%20name%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EHayvn%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarted%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E2018%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFounders%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EChristopher%20Flinos%2C%20Ahmed%20Ismail%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBased%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EAbu%20Dhabi%2C%20UAE%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ESector%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3Efinancial%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInitial%20investment%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3Eundisclosed%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ESize%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%2044%20employees%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestment%20stage%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3Eseries%20B%20in%20the%20second%20half%20of%202023%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestors%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EHilbert%20Capital%2C%20Red%20Acre%20Ventures%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
hall of shame
SUNDERLAND 2002-03
No one has ended a Premier League season quite like Sunderland. They lost each of their final 15 games, taking no points after January. They ended up with 19 in total, sacking managers Peter Reid and Howard Wilkinson and losing 3-1 to Charlton when they scored three own goals in eight minutes.
SUNDERLAND 2005-06
Until Derby came along, Sunderland’s total of 15 points was the Premier League’s record low. They made it until May and their final home game before winning at the Stadium of Light while they lost a joint record 29 of their 38 league games.
HUDDERSFIELD 2018-19
Joined Derby as the only team to be relegated in March. No striker scored until January, while only two players got more assists than goalkeeper Jonas Lossl. The mid-season appointment Jan Siewert was to end his time as Huddersfield manager with a 5.3 per cent win rate.
ASTON VILLA 2015-16
Perhaps the most inexplicably bad season, considering they signed Idrissa Gueye and Adama Traore and still only got 17 points. Villa won their first league game, but none of the next 19. They ended an abominable campaign by taking one point from the last 39 available.
FULHAM 2018-19
Terrible in different ways. Fulham’s total of 26 points is not among the lowest ever but they contrived to get relegated after spending over £100 million (Dh457m) in the transfer market. Much of it went on defenders but they only kept two clean sheets in their first 33 games.
LA LIGA: Sporting Gijon, 13 points in 1997-98.
BUNDESLIGA: Tasmania Berlin, 10 points in 1965-66
WISH
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDirectors%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Chris%20Buck%2C%20Fawn%20Veerasunthorn%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EStars%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Ariana%20DeBose%2C%20Chris%20Pine%2C%20Alan%20Tudyk%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%203.5%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
The specs: 2018 Maserati Levante S
Price, base / as tested: Dh409,000 / Dh467,000
Engine: 3.0-litre V6
Transmission: Eight-speed automatic
Power: 430hp @ 5,750rpm
Torque: 580Nm @ 4,500rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 10.9L / 100km
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Houthis: Iran-backed rebels who occupy Sanaa and run unrecognised government
Yemeni government: Exiled government in Aden led by eight-member Presidential Leadership Council
Southern Transitional Council: Faction in Yemeni government that seeks autonomy for the south
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COMPANY%20PROFILE
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EName%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Floward%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBased%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ERiyadh%2C%20Saudi%20Arabia%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFounders%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EAbdulaziz%20Al%20Loughani%20and%20Mohamed%20Al%20Arifi%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ESector%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EE-commerce%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETotal%20funding%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EAbout%20%24200%20million%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestors%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EAljazira%20Capital%2C%20Rainwater%20Partners%2C%20STV%20and%20Impact46%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ENumber%20of%20employees%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E1%2C200%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
PROFILE BOX
Company name: Overwrite.ai
Founder: Ayman Alashkar
Started: Established in 2020
Based: Dubai International Financial Centre, Dubai
Sector: PropTech
Initial investment: Self-funded by founder
Funding stage: Seed funding, in talks with angel investors
Sole survivors
- Cecelia Crocker was on board Northwest Airlines Flight 255 in 1987 when it crashed in Detroit, killing 154 people, including her parents and brother. The plane had hit a light pole on take off
- George Lamson Jr, from Minnesota, was on a Galaxy Airlines flight that crashed in Reno in 1985, killing 68 people. His entire seat was launched out of the plane
- Bahia Bakari, then 12, survived when a Yemenia Airways flight crashed near the Comoros in 2009, killing 152. She was found clinging to wreckage after floating in the ocean for 13 hours.
- Jim Polehinke was the co-pilot and sole survivor of a 2006 Comair flight that crashed in Lexington, Kentucky, killing 49.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Brief scoreline:
Liverpool 5
Keita 1', Mane 23', 66', Salah 45' 1, 83'
Huddersfield 0
Have you been targeted?
Tuan Phan of SimplyFI.org lists five signs you have been mis-sold to:
1. Your pension fund has been placed inside an offshore insurance wrapper with a hefty upfront commission.
2. The money has been transferred into a structured note. These products have high upfront, recurring commission and should never be in a pension account.
3. You have also been sold investment funds with an upfront initial charge of around 5 per cent. ETFs, for example, have no upfront charges.
4. The adviser charges a 1 per cent charge for managing your assets. They are being paid for doing nothing. They have already claimed massive amounts in hidden upfront commission.
5. Total annual management cost for your pension account is 2 per cent or more, including platform, underlying fund and advice charges.
TRAINING FOR TOKYO
A typical week's training for Sebastian, who is competing at the ITU Abu Dhabi World Triathlon on March 8-9:
- Four swim sessions (14km)
- Three bike sessions (200km)
- Four run sessions (45km)
- Two strength and conditioning session (two hours)
- One session therapy session at DISC Dubai
- Two-three hours of stretching and self-maintenance of the body
ITU Abu Dhabi World Triathlon
For more information go to www.abudhabi.triathlon.org.
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