Jun-Jul 2012
No. 19
iSTYLE: A TECHNICOLOR SUMMER COACHELLA’S 24-HOUR PARTIES NEXT GENERATION MUSIC: THE FUTURE’S ELECTRIC IRISH FIRE, RUSSIAN CHILLS RIDING THE TROPICAL WAVE
YOU DON’T EXIST UNTIL THEY TALK ABOUT YOU
Directory
No. 19 Jun-Jul 2012 PUBLISHER
Tony Salamé Group TSG SAL EDITORINCHIEF
Marwan Naaman
CREATIVE DIRECTOR
Malak Beydoun
ART DIRECTOR
Laurent El Khoury JUNIOR EDITOR
Tala Habbal
CONTRIBUTING EDITORS
Natasha Dirany, Lucy Gillespie, AG Joy EDITOR AT LARGE
Serena Makofsky
ASSISTANT EDITOR
As summer takes over where spring left off, you have to make an all-important decision. Who do you want to be when the Beirut heat steams up the day and sexes up the night? We can give you a wise piece of advice: be a girl with a mind, a bitch with attitude and a lady with class. Words to live by if you will, whether you’re male, female or anything in between. See you in August, crackpots.
Rawan Al Kayat
IN-HOUSE STYLIST
Mouna Harati
JUNIOR ART DIRECTOR
Mélanie Dagher
WRITERS Grace Banks, Joe Daoud Ziad Gedeon, Coralie Garandeau Ruby Gotham, Jana Jammal Bourree Lam, Sydney Reade Shirine Saad, Cornelia Valle Kristin Julie Viola PHOTOGRAPHERS The Cobrasnake, Tres Colacion Raya Farhat, Jimmy Francis Brian Hashimoto, Alexei Hay Nini, Petrovsky & Ramone CONTRIBUTING STYLISTS Jennifer Eymère, Venus Waterman PRODUCTION Fadi Maalouf, Anne-Marie Tabet ADVERTISING DEPARTMENT Melhem Moussallem, Gaelle Dalati, Pamela el Kahi RESPONSIBLE DIRECTOR George Chahine PRINTING Dots WHERE TO FIND US facebook.com/GossipTheMagazine scandalmongering.blogspot.com scandalmongering.tumblr.com issuu.com/gossip.beirut twitter.com/gossipdigital 140 El Moutrane St., Fourth Floor Downtown Beirut, Lebanon T 961.1.974.444 E gossip@gossip-beirut.com
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Blast | News
Citizens | Mark Jenkins
STRANGE STREET THEATER Text SERENA MAKOFSKY
Artist Mark Jenkins’ lifelike installations will make your head spin Have you ever seen art that made you stop in your tracks? Mark Jenkins’ sculptures do that, but you might also cringe, hide, look away or run in the opposite direction. There’s something about a life-size sculpture, dressed to look like a man, with his head and torso buried in the beach sand, his sweats and sneaks basking in the sun. It inspires you to laugh, think and maybe feel just a little bit horrified, especially when, nearby, children dig in the sand and families splash at the shore.
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Jenkins travels the world, creating sculptures and installing them on city sidewalks, natural spaces, toilets, galleries and signposts. His mostly figural works are startlingly lifelike, but it’s the provocative placement of his sculptures that propels his work to the level of absurdist performance art. Passersby stop to stare at the headless, hooded figure crouched on a stoop like a homeless beggar. There’s the installation on a London street
corner of bodies bursting from garbage bags or a more playful piece with babies swinging between tree branches. Another startling aspect of Jenkins’ sculptures is his process. He wraps packing tape, mummy-style, around people, mannequins, animals or objects. He slices through the layers of tape, removes the cast from the form, seals the sculpture and then either adorns it, often with clothing, or leaves it bare. Jun-Jul 2012
Mark Jenkins | Citizens
In a short film that uses time-lapse photography to show his process, Jenkins explains what compels him to do his work. “It’s kind of the idea of turning the street into a stage…sort of urban theater. It has a life of its own.” Using packing tape as the means for his creative expression may seem to connect with themes of the devaluation of human life or the emptiness of urban existence, but the artist has a simpler explanation. Gossip No. 19
“If you have creative drive, and you need to manifest it, then you need some sort of medium to do that through. For me it worked out with sculpture. Tape is just a means of doing sculpture.” The artist’s latest show, “Glazed Paradise,” at Berlin’s Gestalten Space, features a sculpture of a man sticking his head through a concrete wall. It’s just another day in Jenkins’ humorous, somewhat twisted world.
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Citizens | Anwar Azzi
MAN IN THE MIRROR Text NATASHA DIRANY
Anwar Azzi’s soul searching takes on a photographic form Shy and startlingly sincere, Anwar Azzi doesn’t use photography to look cool, doesn’t speak in easy-toswallow sound bites, has no website and reluctantly joined Facebook six months ago. He’s only talking now because of “Clouded Mirror,” an exhibition of murky, mystical photos at Beirut’s smogallery that opened in May. Taken in dark urban corners of Paris, the series is the realization of Azzi’s own quarter-life-crisis and path to enlightenment. Born and raised in Beirut, Azzi has powerful memories of his Maronite Christian upbringing and the hoard of religious figurines, photos and candles that filled his grandmother’s room. He had his first spiri-
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tual crisis in his teens. “It was at the age of 15. I was devastated; it killed the light within me.” Azzi left Beirut in his 20s and moved to Paris, reporting on economics as a journalist. Until, at the age of 27, he questioned his faith yet again and ended up devoting the next two years to a non-religious pilgrimage around the Middle East. Journalism was dropped and a visual artist was born. Azzi plays on duality throughout his work: the physical versus the spiritual, the beautiful versus the brutal, light versus darkness. “I believe everything is dual. The world is a contradiction. We’re contradictions of ourselves,” he says.
First exhibited in Paris, before traveling to Berlin, Milan and now Beirut, “Clouded Mirror” is the first “opus” in a trilogy of exhibits that progresses from “a child searching for answers” to final enlightenment. At smogallery, Azzi transformed the space with partitions and sound and video installations. Groups of five are led from room to room by an eight-year-old boy, first found on a bench lighting matches. “The series was an instinctive thing to do. No staging, no reworking, no reshooting.” “Clouded Mirror” is on view until June 10 at smogallery, Karantina, Beirut, W www.smogallery.com Jun-Jul 2012
London | What to do
LONDON’S LITTLE BLACK BOOK Text GRACE BANKS
From boutique bars to innovative galleries and pop-up shops, here’s your guide to London’s totally rad hangouts skills to the revamp – don’t miss the “perfume of the earth” entrée. 9 Conduit St., W1S, W www.sketch-uk.com START BOUTIQUE Founded by London fashion’s wild child Brix Smith Start, this super chic boutique has become a mecca for fashion industry insiders. The store stocks the cream of British designers, including Richard Nicoll, Sophie Hulme and Zoe Jordan. 42-44 Rivington St., EC2A, W www.startboutique.co.uk
HIX RESTAURANT Mark Hix’s latest Soho restaurant is a must. Don’t miss out on their oysters and out-of-thisworld cocktails. 66-70 Brewer Str., W1F, W www.hixsoho.co.uk
SKETCH Sketch has been the urbanites’ favored destination to see and be seen in for a while now. Its recent refurbishment has transformed the space into a gallery as well as a restaurant. Turner prize-winner Martin Creed lent his Gossip No. 19
BLITZ Blitz is a self-proclaimed department store of fabulous vintage finds, from ‘50s Dior to grungy denim. 55-59 Hanbury St., E1, W www.blitzlondon.co.uk
BOXPARK Fresh to London’s wave of pop-up ventures, Boxpark prides itself on being the first ever pop-up mall. Located in the center of bustling Shoreditch, the place boasts over 100 “box shops” showcasing the most innovative and cuttingedge brands. You’ll find plenty of opportunities to relax and absorb the über-fashionable atmosphere too. 2-4 Bethnal Green Rd., E1, W www. boxpark.co.uk
DAMIEN HIRST
Every year, there’s an exhibition that changes the landscape of modern art. This year it’s undoubtedly Damien Hirst’s first-ever retrospective, bringing together 20 years of his work, including his infamous preserved animal installations. On view until September 9 at the Tate Modern, Bankside, SE1, W www.tate.org.uk
XOYO Londoners come here to let their hair down. With upcoming gigs from Theophilus London and Grimes, XOYO is the last word in trendy partying. 3237 Cowper St., Islington, EC2A, W xoyo.co.uk
GOODHOOD Londoners on the lookout for edgy yet urban style flock to this Shoreditch boutique. Showcasing designs from hip, covetable brands like ACNE, Pendelton, Junya Watanabe and Surface To Air, Goodhood is a true fashionista’s haven. 41 Coronet St., Shoreditch, N1, W www.goodhoodstore.co.uk
sential destination for urbanites and celebrities looking for a unique tattoo experience. 2a Market Row, SW9, W www.brixtonbarbers.com DANIEL HERSHESON London girls in the know can’t live without their visits to Daniel Hersheson. The hairdresser has been giving “it” girls and Vogue staffers unbeatable blow-dries since the early ‘90s, while maintaining his status as an industry secret. Booking in advance is advised. 45 Conduit St., W1F, W www.danielhersheson.com
FRANKS CAMPARI BAR A major player on the London pop-up scene, Franks Campari bar is a fashionable secret among London’s trendy dwellers. Filled with Camberwell College Art students, musicians and writers, this bar located at the top of a multi-story car park is an essential watering hole. Peckham Car Park, 10th floor, 95A Rye Lane, SE15, W frankscafe.org.uk
BRIXTON BARBERS AND TATTOOS Brixton market’s new tattoo parlor is an es-
HAWKSMOOR BASEMENT BAR Purveyor of the best steak in London, Hawksmoor has unveiled its latest venture, a stunning baroque bar in the basement of the Spitalfields restaurant. This bar is still on the down-low, but if you do get a reservation make sure you order the dynamite banana daiquiri. 157 Commercial St., Spitalfields, E1, W thehawksmoor. com/spitalfieldsbar
KEVIN ROWLEY London fashionistas have cobbler Kevin Rowley on speed dial. His ability to breathe life into five-year-old Manolo Blahniks, Jimmy Choos and Christian Louboutins is unparalleled. Tucked away in Marylebone, this quality cobbler is the city’s best kept secret. Sometimes London really does feel like a city of shopkeepers! 33 Paddington St., W1U.
BLEACH LONDON Alex Bounsel, owner of Bleach London hair salon in East London, is responsible for the city’s ‘90s obsession. Get you hair dip dyed in an array of colors only if you’re fearless. 420 Kingsland Rd., E8, W bleachlondon.co.uk
WHIRLED CINEMA The location for this independent cinema is so secret it’s almost impossible to find. But stick with it, and you’re in for a treat. 259-260 Hardess St., Loughborough Junction, SE24, W www. whirledart.co.uk
PRUFROCK Coffee lovers know that the beans ground at Prufrock are the best in the city. It’s the perfect place to catch up with friends or have a solitary espresso and watch the world go by. The place even offers private barista training classes. 23-25 Leather Lane, EC1N, www.prufrockcoffee.com
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Citizens | Jenny Keith
HONEY ON THE CANVAS Text JANA JAMMAL
Jenny Keith uses beeswax to create her wild paintings It isn’t easy to make it as an artist. And those who have made it have, in some way, been able to differentiate themselves from the crowd, and have also been willing to take that leap of faith. For Canadian artist Jenny Keith, that leap was an impromptu visit to New York about four years ago. “I didn’t know anyone, but I wanted to branch out, and New York has a very vibrant art scene,” says Keith. Without any contacts or connections, she wandered Chelsea and Soho looking for art galleries that were interested in showing new artists. What she got was a lot of rejection, many raised eyebrows and advice that this wasn’t the way it
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was done. But the trip to the big city wasn’t for naught. As is often the case, luck had a part to play and her venture turned to opportunity. A chance encounter provided an important connection. And since then she hasn’t looked back. Last fall marked her fourth showing at the Prince George Art Gallery in New York. More than 200 people showed up for the opening. Pretty impressive, especially considering there were just a handful of people present the first time around. With Keith’s unique art it was surely just a matter of time before the secret got out. Much of her work
depicts animals, though other aspects of nature are also featured. “I’ve always been drawn to animals,” she says. “And sometimes it’s easier to use animals to convey a message or tell a story. Everyone knows what a fox is like.” Her portrayals of animals are unexpected and whimsical. Charming. Keith’s technique itself is also one-of-a-kind, as she incorporates beeswax into her works. After painting, Keith pours a layer of raw natural beeswax over the top, which mutes and alters the colors and also creates ripples because it dries quickly. Then she carves out any details or fine lines that she wants to bring out. “It works really well with animals with their Jun-Jul 2012
Jenny Keith | Citizens
whiskers and fur,” she says. Those etchings are then filled with dark brown or black paint, and then a final layer of color goes overtop. The result is something that is almost magical. “And the paintings smell like honey,” says Keith. “My whole house smells like honey from working with it.” Born and raised in Edmonton, Keith always wanted to be an artist. “It’s hard to think that one day it might happen, and you’ll be able to make a living at it,” she says. “It’s sort of like dreaming of being a rock star.” But made it she has. The future looks sweet for Keith, and perhaps smells just a little bit like honey. Gossip No. 19
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Music | Icons
THE NEW POP BLUE-BLOODS Text LUCY GILLESPIE
British pop divas have taken over the airwaves
The new pied pipers of pop span the gamut of sound, from soul to synth to dubstep. They’re young and lyric-literate, fashion-conscious and outspoken, oh – and they’re all British! ADELE Trained at the notorious BRIT stage school, Adele forewent reading, writing and arithmetic for the ABCs of Soul. With influences as diverse as Motown, Jeff Buckley and The Cure, it is fitting that pop-behemoth Diana Ross herself bequeathed to Adele the coveted “Best Album” Grammy – the first of six awards she received earlier this year. From the contagious bass of “Rolling in the Deep” to the heart-wrenching arpeggios of “Someone Like You,” her album 21 provided listeners in 2011 with a much-needed release from the oversynthesized, auto-tuned noise of the Top 40.
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KATE NASH This Londoner literally fell into songwriting: after auditioning for acting school, Nash tripped down a flight of stairs, broke her foot and starting spinning lyrics while laid-up in recovery. The result was the 2007 album Made of Bricks. Since then, Nash’s collaborations have proved equally infectious as she spreads girl-power overseas and across genres: she plays bass for punk band The Receeders, provides additional sound and vocals for Brooklyn-based Supercute!, with Brigitte Aphrodite, and is currently working on an upcoming album with all-girl glam-punk group My Ignorant Youth.
CHARLI XCX This fresh-faced goth popster says her influences include Wednesday Addams, Tim Burton and the Spice Girls. A childhood of sneaking into raves thrust her onto the DJ table; she cut her first single at the tender age of 14. Behind the bouffant, jewel-toned spandex and wolfmotif prints hides a heart that beats only for ‘80s music. “Nuclear Seasons” is a rhapsodic homage to Kate Bush and the romantic industrials. Currently making the festival circuit, Charli XCX most recently made a major splash at SXSW Festival in Texas. Jun-Jul 2012
Icons | Music
ELLY JACKSON OF LA ROUX First inspired by the piercing, poetic folk of Joni Mitchell and Carole King, Elly Jackson’s fire got started at early raves, when she realized she “didn’t want to sit on a chair with a guitar.” The public half of Grammy Award-winning duo La Roux is a poet, sound-maker and style-setter, in that order. The year 2011 saw her branch out in collaborations with Jay-Z and Kanye West, as well as guest appearing in Absolutely Fabulous. This year, she’s spicing her electronic tone with guitar and percussion in her upcoming album. Stay tuned. Gossip No. 19
KATY B Another BRIT school alumni, Katy B. was originally billed as Baby Katy on DJ NG’s “Tell Me.” This team player has since chummed up with such luminaries as Annie Lennox, Ms Dynamite, Arctic Monkeys and Mark Ronson. Her debut album, On A Mission, showcased her solo sounds of Garage, Dubstep and R&B from the beatific, lyrical title song through the urban flow of “Easy Please Me.” Come summer, the copper-haired mixtress will be impossible to ignore – alongside Mark Ronson, she’s creating the Coca-Cola theme song for the Olympics.
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What to do | 24 hours
24 HOURS IN MOSCOW Text BOURREE LAM
There’s a saying that both visitors and Russians can attest to: Moscow never sleeps. In Russia’s party capital, the men are big city kids who love Soviet kitsch and black Mercedes, while the girls wear skyhigh Jimmy Choos, red lipstick and the latest from Prada. Boasting the best metro system in the world, Moscow is a place where streets close so that millionaires can zoom around on Harleys (with an entourage of course), and nightclubs rock till dawn
10AM:
RED SQUARE No trip to Moscow is complete without visiting Red Square. Start here and take in the Soviet air: next to the Kremlin and in front of St. Basil church, you can see all the postcard scenes in one panoramic shot.
11AM:
GO SHOPPING Next to the national monuments is GUM – a beautiful row of shops. If that’s too touristy, head to Afimall City, where Russian boutiques (and foreign ones too) have everything you want to buy. W www.gum.ru/en/ and www.afimall.ru/en/
1PM:
BORSCHT TIME Duck behind the tourists, and head to this underground lion’s den for some authentic Russian food. Down three staircases, you’re led into a cavernous room featuring walls lined with stuffed foxes, dogs, even a bear. The specialty? Borscht, of course! Kolchuga, Varvarka Ul., 3 Gostiny Dvor.
2PM:
UNDERGROUND ART After lunch, drop by the New Tretyakov Gallery, where 20th-century Russian art, from modernists and avant-garde masters, is showcased. 10 Krymsky Val.
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3PM:
BATH TIME Before the long night ahead, head to a Russian bath for the works. Relaxation abounds in old Russian bathhouses, such as Banya Sandunov, many of which are adorned with gold and marble columns. The rooms are separated by gender, but in both cases friendly Russians will offer to beat you with the birch branches, which are said to have therapeutic effects.
5PM:
FACTORY CHIC The Krasny Oktyabr (Red October) factory once made chocolate, but its Moscow city center location was forced to shut down in 2007. It was probably a good thing too, since the factory district is now a hub for artists and hipsters. There are galleries and artists with studio spaces here, but nightfall brings the punk scene alive, and warehouse parties rage on the weekends.
7PM:
BAR HOPPING Before you leave factory town, check out the fantastic bars. Fashionistas and scenesters roam here after work. Gipsy Bar, the hottest place to be, boasts great cocktails and foreign celebs. Then try Art Academiya, the artsy industrial chic bar with leather sofas. The liquor here is brown, and often mixed with chocolate. Another option is Rolling Stone Bar, where punks and models drink side by side.
9PM:
DINNER BREAK Head back to the city center, and go to White Rabbit, a restaurant in a glass tunnel high above the city. There’s a curious sushi trend in Moscow (it’s literally on every menu), but the seafood is a highlight here. There’s also rabbit cooked a variety of ways – and even reindeer! Don’t leave without indulging in dessert: White Rabbit bakes a mean carrot cake and colorful macaroons. W www. whiterabbitmoscow.com
MIDNIGHT:
PARTY TILL DAWN Now that you’re back in the city, head to City Space for a drink. Perched on top of the Swiss Hotel, it’s another bar with great views. The minimalist, all-white interior is perfect for a midnight date – the singles scene is raging here. W cityspacebar.com Then head to Secret Bar, which once required a key to get in, but is now open to the public. The bar rocks until 6am, so stay as long as you’d like. Be sure to dress to kill though, or you won’t make it in otherwise. W www.secretbar.ru If you’re still up at the crack of dawn, head to Krysha Mira (Roof of the World) to catch the sunrise. The gigantic nightclub is outdoor and overlooks the Moscow river. W www.kryshamira.ru Jun-Jul 2012
24 hours | What to do
Gossip No. 19
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camper.com
CAMPER_T74_LIBANO_GOSSIP_BW.pdf
To&ether with Bernhard Willhelm by Camper
CAMPER. Beirut souks, Souk El Tawileh Street. Beirut central district. Tel: 01 99 11 11 ext: 568
Accessories | Style
ACCESSORY MANIA
Text TALA HABBAL Photo LAURENT EL KHOURY
Aïzone’s new collection of accessories is yours for the taking: go all out in bold arm candy, spice it up with a powerful statement necklace or add a bit of bling to your life with a dazzling pair of colorful earrings CREZUS NECKLACE Launched in 2010 by French fashion design graduate Alison Briquet, Crezus is a fun young label full of whimsical pieces set in different variations of Swarovski crystals. The long, gold knot necklace pictured here is one of the season’s most lust-worthy pieces. DANNIJO NECKLACE This unique and eclectic New York-based handmade jewelry line surpassed all expectations with its spring/ summer 2012 collection. The chunky silver metal and Swarovski knot necklace shown above is perfect as a stand-alone statement piece and also works great layered with additional mixed metal necklaces. NOIR EARRINGS This hip jewelry line is inspired by fantasy and a journey into the world of pop culture. The pieces are minimal, but pack a powerful punch. We especially love the silver punk princess earrings (above). Gossip No. 19
LUCAS JACK BRACELETS This cool London-based brand offers trendy yet affordable 18-karat jewelry with a strong architectural design aesthetic. Bracelets vary from chunky giraffe metal bangles in white and black to hammered thinner pieces with colorful rope detailing (all shown in the photo above). In addition to being utterly trendy, the brand gives back to the community with a portion of their online sales going to various charitable organizations. OSKLEN NECKLACE Brazilian luxury lifestyle brand Osklen has become famous for its super cool-chic clothing and accessories that echo a beachy Brazilian vibe. With a large cult following in Brazil, the brand is quickly gaining notoriety around the globe. The gold hammered bib necklace (middle necklace on model) is one of the line’s standout pieces. Available at Aïzone stores.
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ON THE ROAD Photos ALEXEI HAY Styling JENNIFER EYMÈRE
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Jun-Jul 2012
Garrett Hedlund Vintage jacket, Opening Ceremony shirt Kristen Stewart Proenza Schouler dress, Cartier bracelets
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Kristen Stewart and Garrett Hedlund have been making headlines for their roles in the movie adaptation of Jack Kerouac’s classic novel On The Road, which recently debuted at the Cannes Film Festival. The film has been garnering much acclaim, as have the extremely attractive leading man and lady for their on-screen chemistry and undeniable comfort with the roles.
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and Hedlund it was also the experience of a lifetime. “We relied on each other a lot, we were like a family,” says Hedlund. “It’s something we feel regularly in this line of work, but usually after a month or so we find ourselves with a completely different family. We felt a sense of belonging that you rarely get to experience.”
Stewart and Hedlund play a married couple in this adventure/drama directed by Walter Salles, and which takes place in the ‘50s. The film examines the decade’s Beat generation by relating the characters’ adventures during an emotional road trip across America. Salles previously directed such dramatic epics as Central Station and The Motorcycle Diaries.
Stewart’s character LuAnne exudes a strong sex appeal and is a departure from her usual roles. The 14-year-old falls head over heels for Cassidy and “he awakens something in her,” says the actress. “Nothing she does is tainted by fear. She is liberating herself from all inhibitions. She faces life’s challenges with her eyes wide open, without judgment, and she always sees the beauty in everyone around her. I envy her.”
“I read the book when I was 14, and it’s the first book that ever made me want to read,” says Stewart, who’s been anticipating her role in the movie since she received the script two years back.
“She understands that jealousy isn’t important,” adds Hedlund. “She knows that her man sleeps around, and she too doesn’t deprive herself from sleeping with all his friends!”
The hectic filming schedule forced the team to replicate the experience of the story’s lead characters, as they traveled around the globe to Chili, Argentina, Montreal, San Francisco and New Orleans over several months. It may have been a rough few months, but for both Stewart
Although Kerouac’s novel was set in the ‘50s, the story is timeless, featuring compelling characters that easily connect with the audience. Stewart and Hedlund confess that they fell under Kerouac’s spell, his spirit of adventure and his boundless thirst for freedom. Jun-Jul 2012
Garrett Vintage shirt, Paul & Joe pants Kristen Claudie Pierlot jacket, Prada dress, Linda Farrow sunglasses, Opening Ceremony boots
Gossip No. 19
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Kristen Les Petites jacket, Louis Vuitton top, Oakwood skirt, Cartier bracelets Garrett Levi’s shirt, jacket and jeans
Kristen Carven shirt, New Look skirt, Cartier bracelets, Falke socks, Opening Ceremony boots Garrett Adam Kimmel shirt, pants and suspenders, Linda Farrow sunglasses
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Jun-Jul 2012
Tommy Hilfiger polo, Dior skirt, Cartier bracelet, Falke socks, Opening Ceremony boots
Gossip No. 19
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iGIRL, INTERRUPTED
Photographers PETROVSKY & RAMONE Styling VENUS WATERMAN Location LAZY B, LEBANON
Balenciaga jacket, LL5,685,000; Marni top, LL938,000; Dolce & Gabbana earrings, LL705,000
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Jun-Jul 2012
Gossip No. 19
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Preen top, LL2,123,000; miu miu jacket, LL2,415,000; Delfina Delettrez necklace, LL2,468,000; and bracelet, LL2,293,000; Dannijo earrings, LL540,000; Roberto Cavalli ring, LL743,000
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Jun-Jul 2012
Diane von Furstenberg jacket, LL1,132,000; Dolce & Gabbana top, LL16,980,000; CC Skye earrings, LL323,000; Dannijo bracelet, LL1,343,000; CC Skye necklace, LL728,000; Marc Jacobs bag, LL4,298,000 Gossip No. 19
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Prada top, LL1,230,000; Maison Martin Margiela vest, LL1,478,000; Paul & Joe top, LL443,000; and shorts, LL1,024,000; Moschino belt, LL450,000, Marc by Marc Jacobs belt, LL270,000; Dolce & Gabbana bag, LL1,013,000; Jimmy Choo shoes, LL1,245,000; Dries Van Noten earrings, LL660,000; CC Skye bracelet, LL389,000; Crezus rings(left hand), LL195,000 and LL353,000; Roberto Cavalli ring, (right hand) LL743,000
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Jun-Jul 2012
Preen top, LL2,123,000; Marni shorts, LL818,000; miu miu jacket, LL2,415,000; Dannijo earrings, LL540,000; Delfina Delettrez necklace, LL2,468,000; and bracelet, LL2,293,000,Roberto Cavalli iPhone case, LL518,000; Roberto Cavalli ring, LL518,000 Gossip No. 19
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Diane von Furstenberg jacket, LL1,132,000, Dolce & Gabbana top, LL16,980,000; CC Skye earrings,LL323,000; Dannijo bracelet, LL1,343,000; Dolce & Gabbana bag, LL1,215,000; Dolce & Gabbana necklace, LL1,245,000
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Jun-Jul 2012
Marc Jacobs top, LL1,530,000; Moschino cardigan, LL1,223,000; Mara Hoffman swimsuit, LL615,000; Dannijo earrings, LL540,000 Gossip No. 19
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McQ by Alexander McQueen peplum top, LL155,000; Dolce & Gabbana top, 141,000; Dolce & Gabbana shorts, LL1,163,000; Delfina Delettrez necklace, LL2,468,000; and bracelet, LL2,292,000; Dolce & Gabbana bag, LL878,000
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Jun-Jul 2012
Prada shorts, LL593,000; miu miu T-shirt, LL1,328,000; miu miu top, LL975,000; Dolce & Gabbana earrings, LL578,000; ChloĂŠ bag, LL5,453,000; Dolce & Gabbana bracelet, LL705,000 Gossip No. 19
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Marc Jacobs top, LL1,530,000; Moschino cardigan, LL1,223,000; Dannijo earrings, LL540,000
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Jun-Jul 2012
Marni top, LL938,000; Carven top, LL705,000; Carven shorts, LL773,000; Balenciaga jacket, LL5,685,000; Marc Jacobs bag, LL3,945,000, Dolce & Gabbana bracelet, LL705,000; Dolce & Gabbana earrings, LL578,000; Juicy Couture iPad cover, LL143,000; Marc Jacobs ring, LL550,000; Dolce & Gabbana bracelet, LL705,000. Available at A誰shti stores. Gossip No. 19
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Style | My Week
MY FASHION DIARY Photos NINI Styling MOUNA HARATI
MONDAY
Trendy 16-year-old high school student and professional swimmer Yasmina Hayek ups the fashion ante with her laid-back, preppy style
THURSDAY
Carven top, Jay Godfrey shorts, Prada shoes, McQ by Alexander McQueen bag, YSL ring
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Dsquared top, Paul & Joe pants, miu miu shoes, Balenciaga bag
FRIDAY
Osklen top, Diane von Furstenberg skirt, Prada bag, model’s own shoes
Jun-Jul 2012
My Week | Style
TUESDAY
Maison Martin Margiela vest, Diane von Furstenberg iPad case, YSL shoes, Noir bracelets, model’s own sunglasses
SATURDAY
Alice + Olivia top, Mara Hoffman pants, Stella McCartney bag, Giambattista Valli necklace, Stella McCartney shoes, model’s own sunglasses
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WEDNESDAY
Alice + Olivia top, Mark & James shorts, Prada shoes, model’s own bag
SUNDAY
Kain T-shirt, Mara Hoffman swimsuit, Joie shorts, miu miu shoes, Koku bag
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www.aeronautica.difesa.it
www.aeronauticamilitare-collezioneprivata.it Available at all A誰zone stores, +961 .1. 99 11 11
Shopping | Style
BRIGHT BEACH BEAUTIES Photos RAYA FARHAT Styling MOUNA HARATI
Get inspired by every color under the sun, from the jungles of the Amazon to the waters of the Caribbean
Balenciaga D&G
Burberry Alexander McQueen
Dior
Balenciaga Carven
Prada
Paul & Joe
Prada
D&G
Prada
Mara Hoffman
Carrera
Carven Mykita YSL
Moschino
Kotur
Mara Hoffman
Colors of California
Marc Jacobs
D&G
Balenciaga Fendi
Stella McCartney
Marc by Marc Jacobs
Marc Jacobs
Pucci
Salinas Salinas
Salinas Roberto Cavalli McQ by Alexander McQueen
Oliver Peoples D&G
Alexander McQueen D&G
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Pierre Hardy
Jimmy Choo
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Style | Love bites
TROPICAL AND TANTALIZING All things from the tropics to worship and adore
UMBRELLAS, UMBRELLAS
There’s something uplifting about the little colored umbrellas that we once used to decorate tropical drinks. Use them during your next summer blowout!
COCKTAIL VACATION
BRAZILIAN BEAUTY
If you can’t actually make it to the tropics, sipping on a yummy tropical drink like a Mai Tai is the next best thing. Sit back and enjoy.
Get some inspiration from gorgeous Brazilian model Ana Beatriz Barros’ rocking body before you flaunt the season’s hottest ab-bearing trend.
POLLY WANNA CRACKER?
Parrots, intelligent and musically minded creatures that make their homes in subtropical parts of the globe, also make loving pets.
MARNI’S BEACH FLAIR
If you’re looking to add just a punch of the islands to an otherwise muted outfit, dangle a pair of Marni’s brilliantly colorful hoop earrings from your earlobes.
CLUTCH THE TROPICS
Jimmy Choo’s spring/summer 2012 acrylic Candy clutch, with its cool surfer and sunset print, is a whimsical addition to any summer outfit.
GIN AND COCONUT WATER
The Baha Men, that down-home Bahamian band most famous for the song “Who Let the Dogs Out,” have just released a new comeback album, Dooo Da Mike Vick, packed with Junkanoo-inspired tracks.
STELLA GOES TO THE ISLANDS
Stella McCartney’s latest cruise collection couldn’t be more tropical. Hibiscus flowers, palm-trees, tiki huts and surfers adorn tops, pants and jumpsuits.
COLOR ME SEXY
This season’s makeup trends take a cue from the bright and bold colors of tropical islands. Turquoise eyeliners, peachy blushes and bronzy eye shadow shades will turn you into an island beauty.
A TRIP TO PARADISE
Take a trip through Polynesia, Sri Lanka, Mustique and other tropical islands with Assouline’s Island Hotel Stories book.
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HAITI ARTISTIC
Get to know the work of Haiti’s top artists, Semour Bottex and Stivenson Magloire. Their works are available at the well-known Gingerbread Gallery on St. Martin, in the French Antilles.
OIL ME UP
Nothing says tropical like the sweet scent of coconut-infused Hawaiian Tropic tanning oil, lathered over a sun-kissed body.
ICE, ICE BABY
CHEW ON THIS
LOUNGING AROUND
STILETTO SUMMER
Trident’s Tropical Twist gum explodes with a fresh burst of mango, kiwi and tropical citrus. A taste of the tropics for your palate.
Patricia Urquiola’s Tropicalia lounge chair, designed for Moroso, explodes with vibrant colors.
Relive your carefree childhood days with Calippo’s colorful, fruity ice treats. Lick your favorite stick: strawberry tropical, orange or lime.
Slip into Roberto Cavalli’s tropical-inspired stilettos, and let the sexy summer season start off with a bang.
Jun-Jul 2012
THE TRUE TRUE AMERICAN AMERICAN TRUERELIGIONBRANDJEANS.COM TRUERELIGIONBRANDJEANS.COM
Available in Aïshti Downtown, Aïshti Seaside, Aïshti Verdun, Aïzone ABC Ashrafieh, Aïzone City Mall, Aïzone Beirut Souks, Aïzone ABC Dbaye, +961.1.991111, Dubai, Mall of the Emirates +971.4.3479333, Dubai Mall +971.4.3306442, Mirdiff City Center +971.4.2843007, Jordan, City Mall +962 65815670, Kuwait, The Avenues Mall +965 22598016
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Music | Coachella
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Jun-Jul 2012
Coachella | Music
COACHELLA: MUSIC MANIA Text JOE DAOUD Photos THE COBRASNAKE
The three-day music festival rocked the California desert to its core Indio, with its picturesque desert location, towering palms and hazy mountains, serves as the surreal, dream-like setting of the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Annual Festival, the 10-day musical extravaganza that took place last April and that’s become one of the world’s top musical events. Coachella’s trademark juxtaposition of music genres is always mind-blowing. You can’t help but drift from stage to stage, following the magnetic energy across the Empire Polo Fields. Acts like Neon Indian, Jimmy Cliff, Explosions in the Sky, Jeff Magnum, The Shins, Fiest, Pulp and Beirut were outstanding this year. Bands like Gotye and M83 were assigned to smaller but just as popular stages. Although unannounced guests like Rihanna and Usher only pimped their acts the first weekend, Tupac’s hologram and Eminem/50 Cent’s cameos during Snoop Dog and Dr. Dre’s set were enough to uplift the crowds. And then there was Radiohead: intense, complex, fantastic. This being my third time at Coachella, I got to thinking about the global resurgence of musical festivals. There is first a desire for like-minded people to converge into communities and experience their passion together. Then there are social platforms like Twitter and Facebook that enable Indie musicians to build massive followings. Finally, thanks to offerings like diverse food options and art installations, today’s music festivals have evolved into legitimate cultural events. Although hundreds of thousands of people streamed the festival’s YouTube live feed in real-time, the chance to spend a few days wandering from stage to stage, show after show, is a truly unique experience – and one you’re likely to repeat year after year. Gossip No. 19
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napapijri.com
AVAILABLE AT ALL AÏZONE STORES IN BEIRUT, DUBAI, AMMAN. + 961 1 99 11 11
geo M1 232X350.indd 1
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Makeup | Style
I’M UNE TO YOU Text TALA HABBAL
British brand UNE is taking organic makeup to the next level
The trend in organic beauty products is on the rise as more and more women are becoming cautious when it comes to what they slather on their faces. By the same token, mainstream cosmetic brands like UNE are showing that organic and natural makeup doesn’t have to be boring. Organically sourced, 100 percent natural ingredients are at the core of UNE’s vibrant range of cosmetics. Free from parabens, silicones, synthetic colorings and fragrances, the line includes foundations, concealers, eye shadows, eyeliners, mascaras, blushes and bronzers, as well as various shades of lip gloss and lipstick,
all derived from mineral pigments and organic plant extracts. All UNE products, like the Skin Echo Concealer, Healthy Glow Mineral Powder and Skin Glow Foundation, are hypoallergenic, making them safe and suitable for those with sensitive skin. UNE also helps protect the environment by using cool, eco-friendly refillable packaging with recyclable materials and clean PET plastics with no added varnishes. UNE products are available at Aïzone.
TWEET BEAT
Museum of Modern Tweets | Wireless
Text SERENA MAKOFSKY
Check out the world’s first tweet museum In November 2009, illustrator Odessa Begay awoke to the news of the Tiger Woods sexting scandal. Where others saw tawdry affairs and the dissolution of a marriage, the artist found inspiration. She created illustrations of some of the stellar sexts, which her clients snapped up. Not satisfied with limiting her scope to Woods’ salacious messages, she moved to the infinite world of celebrities’ Twitter accounts. Begay snags stars’ piss-poor phraseology, dangling clauses and all-out awkward posts and pairs them with her humorous, strange images. Before she sells her illustrations, she posts them in all their painful wonder at The Mu-
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seum of Modern Tweets aka The Museum of Illustrated Celebrity Tweets, a virtual gallery one part comic strip and two parts The National Enquirer. In the artist’s words, “Making illustrations of tweets [is] the next best thing to poorly written text messages.” As far as where inspiration comes from, it’s mostly Begay doing free association. “I ask myself the first thing that comes to mind when I read a line. That’s usually what I’ll go off of,” she explains. Visit the Museum of Modern Tweets at tweetmuseum.com
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Music | Punch
ELECTRIFY ME Text SHIRINE SAAD
Don’t know what music to listen to? Here are 12 bands and DJs burning up the airwaves
JUSTICE
A$AP The son of a Harlem dealer who grew up selling narcotics in the streets, A$ap Rocky, aka Rakim Mayers, 23, lost his brother to the violence of his ‘hood. He resolved to get away from dealing and started looking for jobs at luxury stores – until he received his first $3 million contract. His wild hip hop is a collage of rapping styles from all over the United States. Obsessed with Vogue magazine and fashion since his youngest age, A$ap perfects his “swag,” wearing “Comme des Fuck Down” logos and Jeremy Scott for Adidas sneakers. A$ap Rocky’s first real album comes out in June, accompanied by a worldwide promo tour.
OF MONTREAL
Kevin Barnes founded Of Montreal in Athens, Georgia, in 1996, after a failed romance with a woman from Montreal. The band has since changed several of its members and released 10 albums, mixing pop influences with psychedelic, vaudeville, afrobeat and funk. Part of the legendary Elephant 6 collective, which brought together some of the best indie bands in the ‘90s, including Neutral Milk Hotel and Elf Power, Of Montreal is iconic for hipsters who love weird sounds and tortured lyrics. This year, the band released Paralytic Stalks, a noisy pop album influenced by modern classical composers such as Charles Ives and Ligeti.
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Electronic music freaks and DJs are obsessed with French electro-house duo Gaspard Augé and Xavier de Rosnay – 30-somethings in leather jackets and artfully messy hair, whose logo is a huge cross. Justice mixes electronic beats with rock and indie sounds and rich influences from funk to heavy metal. Their first album, which came out in 2007 with no other title but a cross, was a huge hit, with songs like Phantom or D.A.N.C.E. (an homage to Michael Jackson). Several awards later, the second album, Audio, Video, Disco, which came out last year, further pushed the boundaries of electronic music with prog-rock influences and big sounds. And while
some accused the duo of gratuitous sensationalism for their clip “Stress,” which shows the violence of the French suburbs, Justice responded with their usual cool, stating that they were only trying to provoke a debate around this heated issue.
BOYS NOIZE Alexander Ridha is a German electronic music producer who’s remixed Snoop Dogg and Depeche Mode. His Boysnoize Records label has produced some of the best electronic music in the past decade. Ridha is also an electronic music artist, mixing techno, electro, hip hop, disco and noise, earning comparisons with Daft Punk and bringing crowds to hysteria with his hard dance beats. After Boys Noize released his monumental Oi Oi Oi (2007) and Power (2009), he became an icon of cutting-edge dance music.
A-TRACK
Montreal-born A-Track, whose real name is Alain Macklovitch, is the first DJ to win five World Championships. In 2004 Kanye West hired the hip hop prodigy as his tour DJ. A-Track has also recorded his scratches on two of West’s albums Late Registration and Graduation. This year the DJ was featured on the cover of Rolling Stone magazine with Diplo and Skrillex, two other world-famous DJs.
The Magician
Stephen Fassano, aka The Magician, is a Belgian DJ and Kitsuné prodigy who recently left the group Aeroplane to launch his career. His nu-disco song “I Don’t Know What to Do” is a global hit. His sexy ‘80s-inspired sets, mixing everything from italo disco to synth pop, piano house and new beat, rock the crowds. Jun-Jul 2012
Punch | Music
Bon Iver If Williamsburg hipsters could pick just one band, they might go for Bon Iver, the dreamy folk act that won the Grammy awards for Best Alternative Music Album this year. Singersongwriter Justin Vernon wrote his first album, For Emma, Forever Ago, in an isolated Wisconsin cabin, surrounded by snow and silence, recording songs with an acoustic guitar and his melancholic voice. The album was named one of 2008’s top 30 releases by Rolling Stone magazine. In 2011, the band’s eponymous second album was named best release of the year by Internet publication Pitchfork.
GREAT LAKE SWIMMERS
Canadian band Great Lake Swimmers have just released their fifth album, New Wild Everywhere. Exploring altcountry pop, roots music and indie folk, the band has been compared to Iron and Wine, Neil Young and Nick Drake.
MONEY
Inspired by their hometown Manchester’s grittiness, Money create soft post-punk tunes evoking the dark poetry of Joy Division. Money’s Tumblr links to the Wikipedia page of the Romantic poet Rilke, and their songs have titles like “Lonely Sexy Death.” The band’s new album is titled Solong (Godisdead). Seriously.
SKRILLEX
ZOLA JESUS
Zola Jesus studied philosophy and took the first half of her stage name from French writer Emile Zola; as for the second part, it is defiantly sacrilegious. The young musician uses her music to express her deep angst. Living somewhere between pop, punk and electronic music, her songs are dark and noisy, with her haunting voice overpowering the beats. The 2011 album Conatus (her third) garnered lots of critical acclaim.
Any self-respecting clubber knows the name of Skrillex, aka Sonny Moore, a 20-something Californian who has quickly become one of the hottest DJs, musicians and producers in the world. This year Skrillex earned three Grammy awards, and he’s played live with Korn and remixed Lady Gaga and Bruno Mars tunes.
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Grimes GRIMES IS THE HOTTEST NEW ELECTRONIC MUSIC ACT, OFFERING UP ‘80S POP, ABSTRACT DANCE AND INDUSTRIAL, ALL WITH HER SOFT GIRLY FALSETTO. HER 2012 FULL-LENGTH DEBUT RELEASE VISIONS WAS CELEBRATED BY CRITICS FOR ITS ARTSY WEIRDNESS. GRIMES OPENED FOR SEVERAL LIKKE LI CONCERTS AND HAS NOW BECOME A POP STAR HERSELF. 49
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Nightlife | Dublin
PARTY DESTINATION: DUBLIN
Text LUCY GILLESPIE Photos THE COBRASNAKE
From Guinness and Jameson to Lord of the Dance, Dublin is known the world over for its hospitality. This compact city bursts its seams on Friday nights, where red-eyed revelers flock to Harcourt Street in cobbled, bustling Zone 2. First in line is the requisite crawl of such legendary super pubs as The Stag’s Head, Kehoe’s and The Long Haul. Once you’ve got your bearings, follow the craic to one of these world-class joints, where locals welcome an international crowd VANILLA Wandering through the freshly renovated Vanilla with a drink in hand provides a blast from Barbarella-past. All-white, padded leather walls, back-lit glass dance floor and bulbous beehive chandeliers that glow all colors of the candy rainbow surround aficionados from across the globe. This too-cool crowd has nothing to prove – more jeans and bling than cocktail finery. Morehampton Rd., Donnybrook, Dublin 4, W www.vanillanightclub.com
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THE SUGAR CLUB Teak-stained walls, a hazy, vermilion glow and cushy velvet banquettes give this civilized venue the air of the last outpost of culture. Here, you can party to a variety of live diversions, from the hilarious (Isy Sutty’s one-woman show “Pearl and Dave”), to the enchanting (Bella’s Victorian Exotica Cabaret burlesque act). Grab a whiskey elderflower then step up to the dance floor. 8 Lower Lesson St., Dublin 2, W www.thesugarclub.com
LILLIE’S BORDELLO The jewel in the crown of the Emerald Isle’s club scene is this gilded locale, named for the infamous actress (and King’s mistress), Lillie Langtry. Painfully pretty people – among them the likes of Rihanna – are echoed in gold-framed mirrors mounted on burgundy velvet wallpaper. Disco balls beckon from behind the golden branches of ornate chandeliers above the dance floor. Adam Ct. at Grafton St., Dublin 2, W www.lilliesbordello.ie Jun-Jul 2012
Dublin | Nightlife
HONORABLE MENTIONS
KENNEDY’S UNDERGROUND A long-standing favorite of Dubliners and students at the prestigious Trinity College, this cozy storybook pub is perfect for winding down on Friday night with a Guinness and a succulent sausage roll. With midnight comes the southward migration. Follow the throngs outside and down the alley-staircase to Underground – the adjoining basement club. 30-32 Westland Row, Dublin 2. Gossip No. 19
D|TWO Perhaps it’s the luminous fairy-lights in the enchanting garden at Dublin’s 2011 Club of the Year that cast dazzling glows upon revelers perching on the wrought iron furniture: at D|two you’re in presence of truly wondrous creatures. Inside, the club is all kinds of ‘90s throwback: roller rink disco floors, a laser show of glowing primaries and pulsing pop music. 60 Harcourt St., Dublin 2, W www.dtwonightclub.com
THE CHURCH After a long day of traipsing through Dublin’s cobbled streets, ecstasy is sitting in the sunset glow of stained glass windows, perfect Daiquiri in hand, at this gloriously converted cathedral. The Gallery has ample room for devoted congregants to mingle around the bar or formulate the evening’s agenda around sprawling banquettes. Mary St. at Jervis St., Dublin 1, W www.thechurch.ie HOWL AT THE MOON For all those Twi-hards seeking glamour in the Mystic Isle, this gothic haunt, spread over four floors, comes complete with heavy drapes to hide behind, languid sofas to sprawl upon and a sylvan library for erudite foreplay. Descend the vine-splayed staircase to the blood-red cave of a club, thrumming with classics and mash-ups from resident DJ Joss. 7 Lower Mount St., Dublin 2, W www. howlatthemoon.ie THE GEORGE Ready and willing seven nights a week, with a legendary lineup of madcap drag performers, the George is a must-see for any Dublin newbie. Come Sundays for Bingo, hosted by the legendary Shirley Temple Bar, and stay for the fashion, the drama and the disco. Summer sees the return of the infamous pool parties. 89 S. Great George’s St., Dublin 2, W www.thegeorge.ie TRIPOD The stone-walled tunnels of this former railway station lead you furtively from the jazz-deco lounge bar to the cavernous concert hall. Equal parts club and venue, Tripod owns the intimate stadium atmosphere and has housed such juggernauts as Nas, Cyndi Lauper and Public Enemy. Come prepared – this one’s all about the act. Harcourt St., Dublin 2, W www.pod.ie/ venue_tripod.php
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Music | DJ Base
AN ACE CALLED BASE Text SHIRINE SAAD
Lebanon’s DJ Base has grooved the world’s greatest clubs and performed with Akon, 50 Cent, Flo Rida and Wiz Khalifa Bassel Naaman, 22, was born in DC and grew up in Beirut. He discovered music at a young age, playing guitar and piano, performing in the school band and later creating hip hop beats, teaching himself how to DJ. At 17, he began performing live, mixing big R&B hits with “old school” classics such as Snoop Dog or Notorious Big. “I love hip hop; I love the variety of it,” says DJ Base from his LA studio. “It’s club music, street music, smoking music. It’s a bit of everything, and I love the hip hop beat. I can listen to a song over and over just for the beat.”
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The resident DJ at Skybar in Beirut, DJ Base plays the Base Sessions on NRJ Lebanon 99.1 FM and continues touring the world. In LA, his second home, he is working with DJs such as the legendary Skee, producing music and radio shows. DJ Base started out organizing parties for Ronin and Nesta in Beirut. He was quickly hired by the radio station NRJ for a show. “It all happened very fast,” he says. “They organized the Akon concert at BIEL on my birthday in 2009, and I got to do the warm-up, even though I had only done radio for two weeks.
After the Akon concert, hip hop grew more popular, and I started playing everywhere.” The same year Base started spinning at Skybar with major stars. Meeting Snoop Dog was a particularly powerful moment: “I was playing, and he said ‘Yo DJ, drop some of that Snoop shit.’ It was something. I was 18 years old.” DJ Base is now in LA to study and work in music production. He’s working for a hip hop marketing company and helping out DJ Skee. “LA is the place to be,” he says. “Everything is going on here.” Jun-Jul 2012
Albums | Music
SOUNDS LIKE SUMMER Text SERENA MAKOFSKY
Hot Chip IN OUR HEADS A new label with indie street cred, a new tour that includes Chicago’s Pitchfork Music Festival and a new album, but the same harmonies and dance pop beats you expect from Britain’s electro quintet. “Motion Sickness,” the first track, has Hot Chip’s characteristic R&B groove and a synth-fueled sound, but brings in steel drum, marimba and vibraphone. “Flutes” opens with a seductive chant, layering in instrumentation and beats into a dizzying jam, peppered with the Alison Moyet-esque vocals of Alexis Taylor. Other tracks reference Detroit house, funk, soul, symphonic pop and disco, but the overall tone is pure electro-romantic. PLAYLIST Regina Spektor WHAT WE SAW FROM THE CHEAP SEATS Regina Spektor shared in a recent interview, “This record is not analog, and we don’t live in an analog world, but it feels very analog to me.” The decision to record many of the songs live and add instrumentation later makes for a more human, less-produced sound. The new release harkens to Spektor’s roots as a café singer in New York’s Lower East Side.
Sigur Rós VALTARI Iceland’s post-rock band takes you on a tour of ambient sound nearly free of rhythm or hooks, but with a sparse, seductive mood just right for swimming through deep water or backing a scene in a Wes Anderson movie. The musicians’ challenging journey took the roundabout route that, ultimately, resulted in a resonant album.
George Tabet, 27, has been DJ-ing at
Lebanese bars, restaurants and clubs for
over seven years. He spins rat Behind the Green Door, Momo’s, Kashmeer, Centrale, The Gathering and Stay.
“How Come You Never Go There” by Feist
Tenacious D RIZE OF THE FENIX As evidenced by the viral hit “To Be the Best,” mock rockers Jack Black and Kyle Gass have managed to make “the greatest album ever recorded by anyone. Ever.” At least according to them. With a nod to “Eye of the Tiger,” the title track is more down-and-dirty pop than Spinal Tap-styled arena rock. David Grohl returns on drums.
“The Words That Maketh Murder” by PJ Harvey “Creep Along Moses” by Mavis Staples “Turn On The Radio” by Nina Kravitz “Swing Bop” (Acid Pauli’s Kosmik Remix) by Der Dritte Raum “Too Insistent” (Trentemøller Remix) by The Dø
Fiona Apple THE IDLER WHEEL IS WISER THAN THE DRIVER OF THE SCREW... Sparse instrumentation pushes the haunting quality of Fiona Apple’s vocals to the forefront, exemplified in the track “Every Single Night.” You hear every quiver, the sharp inhale between phrases, the uplift in her soulful crescendos. It’s been seven years since the singer released an album, though fans have witnessed sneak previews of new material at live shows.
“I Knit You” by Kate Wax “Gógó “(Lulu Rouge Remix) by Kúra “When Tiger Smoked” by Nôze “Liar” by Niconé & Sascha Braemer “Blue Monday” by Biosphere “Immigrant Song” by Trent Reznor & Atticus Ross feat. Karen O “Genesis” by Grimes
Usher LOOKING FOR MYSELF Usher survived a recent death-by-Internet hoax to release a soulful follow-up to 2010’s megahit Raymond v. Raymond. DJ Diplo collaborates on the slow jam “Climax,” while other tracks feature production by Rico Love, Salaam Remi, Jim Jonsin and Max Martin. The album marks Usher’s exploration of a new genre he dubs “revolutionary pop.”
Gossip No. 19
“The Last Child’s Tears” by Rio En Medio “Bad As Me” by Tom Waits “Trash Tongue Talker” by Jack White “Me And My Shadow” by M. Ward “Sweet 17” by Dirty Beaches
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Movie | Posters
FABULOUS FAKES Text SERENA MAKOFSKY
Take a look at some amazingly pirated movie posters Summer is the season of the Hollywood blockbuster. It’s also the time of year studios foist in-your-face movie posters on audiences. Slick and formulaic, these marketing tools are not likely to wind up in a museum. Some artists, however, see the genre’s potential. Using the films’ imagery and characters, these artists re-imagine the poster art. The scene opens in India, on the streets of Bangalore. For 30 years, Ramachandraiah and Raju have traced official ads, movie stills and posters and used a 1901 lithograph press to create splashy five-color images that speak to local audiences. AsiaObscura writer Andy Deemer captured one of their recent
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creations on film. In the poster for Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, a burly-looking Harry pierces the edges of the poster with his wand. Travel back to the future with Eric Palmer’s pseudo-Nintendo renditions of famous movie characters and scenes. His 8-bit style art reinterprets blockbuster favorites; note the tiny toilet detail in the art for Jurassic Park, a masterstroke that shows the scale of the dinosaur. Palmer shares, “I think my favorite is Kill Bill…Kill Bill takes all the over-the-top violence of the movie and whittles it down to a cute sprite that makes you think of your childhood.”
Before there was faux retro there was faux vintage. Enter Peter Stults, an illustrator who calls his posters “pre-makes,” his vision of what today’s blockbuster movies would have looked like had they been released closer to Hollywood’s silver age. William Shatner and Natalie Wood nab the starring roles in his version of Avatar, while Drive, of course, has James Dean in his trademark leather. While execs are in the business for the money, Stults is in it for the laughs. He says: “The posters let you also try to be funny or explore the world of absurdity, like Leonard Nimoy being the lead in Die Hard or Frank Zappa in The Big Lebowski.” Jun-Jul 2012
Pulse | Movie
WICKED-GOOD SUMMER FLICKS Text RUBY GOTHAM
ON THE BIG SCREEN
ROCK OF AGES Tom Cruise as a headbanger? Yep. No mission impossible here, as Cruise embodies the quintessential ‘80s rocker Stacee Jaxx (band: Arsenal) in this musical based on the Broadway show. The main plot, however, centers on Sherrie (Julianne Hough), a young and beautiful waitress with Hollywood dreams, and Drew (Diego Boneta), a young and beautiful busboy with rock-star aspirations. Falling in love is easy, but life’s challenges test the romance, as they each chase their dreams. A backdrop of classic songs of the era – Def Leppard, Foreigner, Poison, Twisted Sister and Pat Benatar – along with an A-list cast (Alec Baldwin, Paul Giamatti, Russell Brand, Mary J. Blige, Malin Akerman) adds up to a rocking good time.
MAGIC MIKE
SNOW WHITE AND THE HUNTSMAN
BEL AMI
TO ROME WITH LOVE
Thank you, Channing Tatum for your real-life experience as an exotic dancer at 19 – and for those sexy abs! This comedy, directed by Steven Soderbergh, is inspired by Tatum’s nights dancing on stage. Here, he plays the title character, a male dancer who makes his living at club Xquisite. Mike and his dance crew shake their hips and school the new kid (Alex Pettyfer) in the ways of their world.
She’s just as beautiful as Julia Roberts, but Charlize Theron’s evil queen is a world away from the Pretty Woman’s campy portrayal in Mirror Mirror. This epic version of the Grimm fairy-tale is dark and beautiful with a seriously wicked Queen Ravenna. While Snow White (Kristen Stewart) remains the target of the queen’s hit list, there is a twist: the huntsman dispatched to kill Snow becomes her protector.
This drama is based on the classic novel by Guy de Maupassant. Robert Pattinson stars as Georges Duroy, an ambitious and ruthless young man of peasant stock with a single-minded mission to conquer Paris. He arrives circa 1890 with only his ridiculous good looks and his wily ways. Through a series of affairs with wealthy women, Duroy rises through the ranks (and opulent salons) of Parisian society.
Bye-bye Midnight in Paris, hello Rome at all hours. Woody Allen heads to Europe again with his latest flick. And it’s classic Woody – chock-full of laughs, neurosis and sexy ladies. For the first time in years, Allen shows up on screen, as a father who travels with his wife (Judi Davis) to Rome to meet his daughter’s Italian in-laws. This is just one of many non-interconnected stories; the thread is Rome itself.
FLICKS TO DOWNLOAD
THE WOODMANS
ZERO BRIDGE
PRAIRIE LOVE
THE TURIN HORSE
FOUR LOVERS
THE VOW
This doc celebrates the late photographer Francesca Woodman. She committed suicide at 22 in 1981, in despair over her lack of success.
Troubled teen and petty thief Dilawar’s life changes in unexpected and affecting ways as he develops a relationship with one of his victims.
A quirky dark comedy from first-time co-writer/director Dusty Bias. A trio of lonely souls looks for love (and hijinks ensue) in the frozen North Dakota tundra.
This somber tale of a farmer reliant on an old horse for his livelihood is based on Nietzche’s mental breakdown after witnessing a brutal horse whipping.
A French drama about a modern-day couple swap – aka a sex romp where the gorgeous foursome spends most of their time basking in the afterglow.
Rachel McAdams is Channing Tatum’s beloved wife. But after an accident leaves her with no memory of him, he has to win her back all over again.
Gossip No. 19
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Citizens | Scott Porter
SOUTHERN GENTLEMAN Text KRISTIN JULIE VIOLA
TV heartthrob Scott Porter heats up the screen on the hit show Hart of Dixie Scott Porter has certainly perfected the part of Southern gentleman. The Nebraska-born star first made waves on the acclaimed Texas-based series Friday Night Lights, and he has gone south yet again with his new show Hart of Dixie. Gossip chatted with Porter about his Friday Night Lights days, his reasons for signing on to Hart of Dixie and his next role on the big screen.
. How did you prepare for your role playing paralyzed
1
ex-quarterback Jason Street on Friday Night Lights? Playing Jason Street was a huge honor. We wanted to pay respect to David Edwards [a paralyzed high school football player] whom the character was based on. To prepare, I came down a couple weeks before we started filming the show, and I spent time in rehabilitation centers with occupational therapists. When I played wheelchair rugby on the show, I stayed in a wheelchair all day. Three of the guys and the coach were paralympic athletes. They definitely put me through my paces, and they hazed me a little just like
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any other athlete. I think the role really opened people’s eyes. Kids that this happened to sent me letters thanking me for shedding light on this issue. It was the ultimate payoff.
.
2 What was it like being part of such a beloved series? It’s pretty cool to be able to walk into a room somewhere and have everyone be a fan of the show. I’d say it’s a legacy that will live on in our lives personally and professionally.
. Have you stayed close with your fellow Friday
3
Night Lights co-stars since the show ended? Yes, with both the old and the new cast. We all lived together filming the show in Austin, so it created a bond that’s going to last. I just talked to Matt [Lauria] and Michael [B. Jordan] not too long ago.
. What made you want to join the cast of Hart of Dixie?
4
It’s a new direction for me, and it really was all about the right timing. I was the last guy in, and I looked at the cast, and it was phenomenal, I
knew I wanted to be a part of it. After acting in so many dramas, it’s nice to cut loose a little and do something lighter.
. Can you tell us about your role in the upcoming
5
movie To-Do List? The movie’s an R-rated coming-of-age story about a girl who finishes high school and realizes she has no sexual experience. It’s set in 1993, and I play a rocker named Rusty Waters. It has a fantastic cast with Rachel Bilson, Andy Samburg, Aubrey Plaza, Connie Britton, Bill Hader and Christopher Mint-Plasse.
.
6 Of all the characters you’ve played, who do you identify with most? I think it’s a mix of Jason Street and George Tucker [in Hart of Dixie]. Jason was a little more immature than I was, so I had a lot of fun playing him. As for Tucker, I wish I had his generosity and non-cynical nature. He trusts everyone, but sometimes it gets him into trouble. Jun-Jul 2012
Bullets | Green
ECOBUZZ Text ZIAD GEDEON
Any product can easily be manufactured with eco considerations in mind, be it a stereo set, racing car, portable kitchen or even a private plane. Read on for more
EAT THE BOOK
A German publishing house recently released The Real Cookbook, a book that you read, prepare and eat. Made from fresh pasta layers, the book is an important ingredient in the recipe that yields one delicious lasagna, taking recycling to a whole new level. Feel free to splash the book’s pages with tomato sauce.
POWER WAVE
Sick and tired of Eléctricité du Liban’s services? Then check out Richard Yemm’s award-winning Pelamis Wave Power (dubbed the “sea snake”), a device that makes energy from waves. If Portugal is using it to provide clean electricity for 1,500 homes, Lebanon certainly can as well!
FERRARI GOES HYBRID
BOOM, BOOM,
BOOM
Grace Digital’s Eco Terra Boom Box is a floating, waterproof iPhone/MP3 player case that is fully submersible in water. The case is built with two large waterproof stereo speakers and is powered by four C-Cell batteries or by an AC Wall Charger.
LIVING IN A DUMP
High-school students in Italy have created the Officina Romani, a funky little house made out of trash featuring a kitchen made with old bottles, a bedroom with car doors and a roof with oil barrels. This puts another twist on the expression “living in a dump!”
Even super cars are joining the eco bandwagon. Ferrari is planning to release its hybrid V12 Models by 2015, helping to keep CO2 emissions in check. The company will eventually apply this technology to all its cars.
PACK YOUR KITCHEN AND GO
Planning an outdoor wedding? Moving to a remote island? Order your portable outdoor kitchen that can be folded into a container and shipped anywhere. The N1 kitchen even has a cutting board that adjusts to the number of guests, in addition to smart storing ideas.
SUN ‘N’ SAND
Saudi Arabia’s spectacular sand dunes are also rich in silicon. The kingdom is partnering with the Germans to transform its desert sands into polysilicon, the key ingredient used to produce solar energy. The facility in Yanbu is slated to be the largest in the Middle East to manufacture pure polysilicon.
Gossip No. 19
SOLAR FLIGHT Even better than the recently launched electric version, the Elektra One solar plane flies twice as far, thanks to solar cells on the wings (that result in great zeroemissions flying). Much less noise and significantly lower operating costs make this an amazing prototype for air travel.
RECYCLED AND NEW
If you combine recycled paper and polypropylene plastics together, you get paper alloy, an eco-friendly material that can be used to make computers and electronics. This strong, elastic product is affordable and totally recyclable.
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What to do | Freakers
OMG, I’M FREAKING OUT! Text CORNELIA VALLE
Which one is the real you? Ivan Olita, 24, is set to revolutionize the Italian art scene. His latest collection of photographs, a joint effort with Italian photographer Daniella Benedetti, sent ripples of scandal throughout Italy’s artistic circle. Called “Freakers” (check out the full set of images at www.freakersonline.com), the series consists of two photos of each subject, one taken at night and the other during the daytime, reflecting two entirely different aspects of the same person. Olita and Benedetti spent months visiting alternative nightclubs and edgy bars, places where
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transvestites, drag queens and prostitutes mix with students, workers and intellectuals. They were on the lookout for “freakers,” or as Olita describes them, “strange, ambiguous, out-ofthe-ordinary posers and exhibitionists. They’re unusual, avant-garde and ambiguous.”
all rips and chains, poses in the bedroom where she sleeps at her parents’ house, surrounded by stuffed animals. Then there’s the drag queen, plump and colorful at night, who come morning, in a small middle-class bathroom, puts on his suit to go to work as a bank teller.
This was the first part of the project. Olita adds: “Then we asked ourselves, what do these people do during the day? What sort of house do they live in? Do they work?” The result is a collection of fascinating shots, where the punk rocker,
“It’s research that I will also continue outside of Milan,” says Benedetti, who’s currently enrolled at London’s prestigious Central St. Martins. “We want to create a book, and I’m curious to see where we’ll be in 10 years.” Jun-Jul 2012
Bulletin | Wireless
TECHBYTES Text SYDNEY READE
LEOPARD LUST The new calligraphic leopard case by id America is a snap-on hard shell case with a rubberized finish for a soft and luxurious feel. The separate black camera ring around the cutout minimizes the glare from the camera flash. Available colors include yellow, blue, purple and pink. W www.idamericany.com
RETRO BEAUTY Musubo’s chic retro case for iPhone 4/4S showcases your passion for music with its imaginative design. The case comes in black, red, blue, silver and white. W www.musubo.com.hk
SPEAKER STYLE A 2.1 speaker system with a pyramid-shaped subwoofer and stylish satellites, the Prisma from Edifier features a five-inch driver and bass level adjustment. The two-way satellites include soft silk dome tweeters and are made from anti-resonant composite materials. The Prisma comes in a variety of metallic colors. W www.edifier.us.com
CAUGHT ON CAMERA Ematic’s eSport Clip is a stylish, compact 4GB MP3/ video player with a built-in clip for hands-free use while working, walking or exercising. The device can store up to 2,300 songs, 20 hours of video or thousands of pictures, while the 1.8-inch color display allows for sharp, clear video and images. W ematic.us
MARC YOUR TABLET Why oh why do so many people still insist on carrying their tablets in black, boring, outdated cases? Marc by Marc Jacobs’ stylish, colorful and eyecatching cases are designed to wrap your iPad, tablet or any other device in oodles of style. Check out the ever-changing collection and find one that’s just right for you. Available at Aïshti stores.
PHOTO LICKING GOOD
YOU’RE SO GAY
BEST OF THE BLOGS JOE AND HIS BOX
www.joesbox.me
irinawerning.com
wheningaybeirut.tumblr.com
Joes Box is a Lebanese blog that focuses on advertising but is wide enough in scope to include art, design, music, movies and more. One recent posting featured amazing Lebanese postcards from 1910 that showcased Lebanon’s lost beauty, and another posting highlighted a new video game inspired by the hit TV show Mad Men.
Irina Werning is a Buenos Aires photographer who posts radical pics on her blog. In her “Damned and Beautiful” section, she shows black-and-white photos of London’s secret nightlife. Meanwhile, in “Back to the Future 2, 2011,” she displays portraits of people she’s taken now, in the exact same position and setting as portraits taken of these same people when they were younger.
What happens when you put gay Lebanese men in different precarious situations? You get a hilarious, totally believable blog called When In Gay Beirut. The blog will literally make you pee in your pants, laughing over scenarios like: “when you know that the cute guy hitting on Rami Saidi has genital warts.”
THE SHINS – SIMPLE SONG
MISS TEEN SOUTH CAROLINA ANSWERS A QUESTION
YOUTUBE CLIPS DJ FRESH FT. DIZZEE RASCAL – THE POWER
You heard it here first: DJ Fresh and Dizzee Rascal are set to define the sound of summer 2012. Shot entirely on location in Miami, their new clip for the sensational tune “The Power” is as, well, “fresh” as an ice-cold beer. Check out the opening shot of an old Florida license plate: a beat-up, rusty bumper has never looked so cool! Gossip No. 19
The Shins’ glossy video for “Simple Song” is an imaginary journey into the future life of band frontman James Mercer. The clip begins with Mercer’s death and then chronicles his turbulent relationship with this three children – played here by the other members of the group – as they ransack the house looking for the title deed.
Okay, so this one is five years old, but the sheer ignorance of Miss Teen USA 2007 South Carolina is just as mind-blowing today as it was back then. When asked why a fifth of Americans can’t locate the country on a world map, the teenage beauty queen gives the most confusing, most jaw-dropping answer ever! You just have to hear it to really appreciate it.
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Nightlife | Snapshots
BIG IN BEIRUT Photos TRES COLACION and JIMMY FRANCIS
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Jun-Jul 2012
Event mania | What to do
DATEBOOK JUNE 5 MUSIC HALL, BEIRUT
JUNE 14-24 LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA
JUNE 15 NEW WATERFRONT, BEIRUT
JUNE 23 NEW WATERFRONT, BEIRUT
ERIK TRUFFAZ QUARTET
LOS ANGELES FILM FESTIVAL
DERULO, TEMPAH AND JEREMIH
EVANESCENCE
French jazz trumpeter Erik Truffaz, who infuses hip hop, rock ‘n’ roll and dance music into this tunes, performs at Music Hall in Starco.
This prominent festival showcases the world’s best independent features. Woody Allen’s To Rome With Love opens the film fest.
For one night only, hip hop sensations Jason Derulo, Tinie Tempah and Jeremih are joining forces to stage a massive concert in Beirut.
The famous American rock band is performing in Beirut. Listen to hits like “The Other Side” and “My Heart is Broken.”
JUNE 25 BYBLOS, LEBANON
JUNE 28 NEW WATERFRONT, BEIRUT
JUNE 29-JULY 1 MALSAUCY, FRANCE
JUNE 30-JULY 7 MADRID, SPAIN
SLASH
PITBULL
LES EUROCKÉENNES
ROCK IN RIO MADRID
The rock legend and former Guns ‘n’ Roses band member – and one of the greatest guitar players of all time – performs at the Byblos Festival.
Sing along to “Give me Everything,” “International Love” and “I Know You Want Me” with American rap sensation Pitbull.
Get ready for one of France’s largest rock music festivals. This year’s performers include Cypress Hill, Lana Del Ray and Jack White.
Afrojack, Calvin Harris, and David Guetta are performing at this year’s highly anticipated Rock in Rio Madrid musical event.
JULY 5-8 BIEL, BEIRUT
JULY 8-14 BROOKLYN, NEW YORK
JULY 10 BEIRUT FORUM
JULY 13-15 HYDE PARK, LONDON
BEIRUT ART FAIR
BROOKLYN HIP HOP FESTIVAL
WITHIN TEMPTATION
HARD ROCK CALLING
Now in its third year, the Beirut Art Fair has become a platform for the promotion of contemporary art and design in the MENA region.
Hip hop lovers can get their fix at one of New York’s largest hip hop festivals. Q-tip will be headlining this year’s event.
The famous Dutch symphonic metal band hits Lebanon for a concert guaranteed to rock you out of your seat.
This massive festival features music performances by the likes of Sound Garden, Lady Antebellum and Iggy and the Stooges.
JULY 14 BEITEDDINE, LEBANON
JULY 15 BAALBECK, LEBANON
JULY 17 BYBLOS, LEBANON
JULY 17 BEITEDDINE, LEBANON
THE CRANBERRIES
MASHROU’ LEILA
SNOW PATROL
DIZZY GILLESPIE BIG BAND
The Cranberries’ classic hits, like “Zombie,” never get old. This show is in support of the Irish band’s latest album, “Roses.”
Lebanese band Mashrou’ Leila headlines the Baalbeck International Festival. Their hits include “El Hal Romancy” and “Raskit Leila.”
One of the world’s most successful rock bands is performing hits like “Called Out in the Dark” and “Just Say Yes” as part of the Byblos festival.
The Dizzy Gillespie All-Star Big Band perform in the spectacular outdoor setting of the Shouf mountains’ Beiteddine Palace.
Gossip No. 19
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