Oakenfest 2024
A Celebration of Music and Culture
Lebanon’s alternative music and camping festival, Oakenfest, is set to hold its 8th edition from July 19 to 21 in its usual oak forest in Lehfed, Mount Lebanon. This year's festival promises an immersive experience blending music, arts, and eco-consciousness.
The 2024 edition will feature artists from Lebanon and Palestine, exploring a variety of genres: electronic, Arab pop, Tarab, Shaabi, Dabke, Indie, Rock, and Shoegaze, highlighting the Lebanese and Arab creative music scene.
Oakenfest began in 2013 as a grassroots initiative in an oak forest, aiming to showcase the talents of independent Arab artists. Over the years, it evolved into a significant cultural event, promoting eco-consciousness and local development while maintaining a firm commitment to cultural integrity and resistance against commercial pressures.
After a hiatus due to the COVID pandemic and subsequent economic challenges, Oakenfest returned in 2023, reinforcing its role as a crucial platform for independent and alternative artists. According to Elsa Saadé, the festival's Managing Director and Curator, "The festival's perseverance acts as a form of cultural resistance, serving as a crucial platform for independent and alternative artists during turbulent times."
This festival holds a special place in my heart. From the very first edition, I felt an inexplicable draw to it. The atmosphere was unlike any other festival… warm, inviting, and truly cozy. Being part of the team, even in a small way, was a beautiful experience for me both professionally and artistically because I discovered many new genres and talented artists over the years. It also was one of my first experiences in event production, for which I am forever grateful.
I was known as the guy in the tree! Hanging decorations or setting up top-view cameras!
An Eclectic Lineup
The 2024 edition features a diverse lineup of artists, each bringing unique sounds and stories:
Zaid Khaled: A Palestinian-Jordanian pop artist who blends melancholic lyrics with 80s-inspired melodies, offering a nostalgic yet fresh take on Arabic pop.
Snakeskin: A Beirut-based duo, Snakeskin merges electronic dream pop with ambient and industrial elements, resulting in a moody, luminous sound.
Amal Kaawash: Known for her Levantine Arabic songs and dedication to heritage music, Amal's performances resonate with cultural depth and emotion.
Etyen & Salwa Jaradat: This duo combines traditional Arabic singing with electronic music, exploring themes of resistance and cultural identity.
Ashkara: This improvisational trio electrifies with their blend of psychedelic Shaabi and high-energy Dabke, creating a hypnotic live experience.
Hadi Zeidan: A cultural producer from Beirut, Hadi’s music intersects dancefloor rhythms with collective nostalgia and cosmic consciousness.
Khachan Moukarzel Tawil: This band transitions effortlessly from shoegaze to freeform rock, blending structured songs with spontaneous improvisation.
Bliss: A young grunge dream pop band from Beirut, Bliss is still in the early stages of experimenting and discovering their unique sound.
Oakenfest also offers a variety of activities designed to engage attendees in meaningful and creative ways, including film screenings, guided hikes, Palestinian embroidery workshops, dance workshops, electronic music presentations, yoga sessions, and a collective writing circle. These activities provide an experience that goes beyond music.
The festival is dedicated to reducing its environmental footprint. It features a comprehensive waste management operation, including sorting and recycling initiatives managed by REEF. Additionally, the Oakenstore offers a space for local artists and designers to showcase and sell their products, further supporting the local economy and creative community.
I left Lebanon three years ago, like many others, and missed Oakenfest's return last year. However, this year, I made sure to buy my flight tickets, and I'll be landing right in time for Oakenfest. This festival means so much to me, and I hope to see everyone I've met throughout the years up there.
