Solidere held a press conference announcing the launch of the 7th Beirut Jazz Festival (BJF) 2013, which will take place on September 5 and 6 in Beirut Souks. This announcement was unveiled in the presence of the representative of his Excellency Fadi Abboud, the Minister of Tourism, Mr. Rabih Shaddad director of festivals at the Ministry of Tourism and Ambassador to Belgium Her Excellency Colette Taquet as well as the representative of the UNESCO international professor Joseph Kreidy.
Mrs. Randa Armanazi, Communications & Public Relations Director at Solidere pointed out that "this year the BJF takes an international dimension after it had won the support of the UNESCO Organization, when Beirut joined the International Jazz Day on April the 30th, which is sponsored by this same global organization and celebrated in several world capitals. For the first time this year, Beirut has been involved in this unique celebration, helping to strengthen dialogue and openness through the language of jazz, concerts by hosting concerts which attracted thousands of persons to the Beirut Central District."
Armanazi then added, "After it became an annual tradition, we were keen that the BJF hosts local and international artists. This year's program also includes performances of Pop, Rock, Jazz, Soul, R & B, Reggae and Blues."
She also noted, "The festival kicks off on Thursday, September 5th, 2013 with the famous Lebanese singer Tania Saleh and her band, who had previous participations in Arab and international festivals, earning them wide recognition and brought their latest album to the number one rank in sales in Lebanon during 2011.
On the evening of Friday, September 6th, the exceptional Pop, Rock and Soul Belgian artist, Selah Sue, will perform for the first time in Beirut. Selah Sue is the owner of international awards, including the "European Borders Breakers Award" as the best European emerging 2011 artist.
Armanazi concluded by saying that "the festival comes in the framework of the sustainable strategy of Solidere to establish, organize and support several artistic and cultural activities aiming to leverage the status of Beirut, as the capital of art and culture on the regional and international levels."
The representative of the Minister of Tourism expressed his appreciation for the activities carried out by Solidere and his ministry's support for the festival. The Ambassador of Belgium, then spoke about the advantages and global fame of the Belgian singer Selah Sue who has recorded an attendance of approximately 17 thousand people in one of her festivals. The Ambassador then called the Lebanese public to attend the concert that Selah Sue will hold in Beirut Souks. She also praised the efforts of Solidere for the organization and the success of this festival, which "deserves every encouragement." The final word was for the UNESCO representative who explained that jazz is "the language of freedom and the exchange between cultures and civilizations."
