Downtown open air concert celebrates Europe Day

AMMAN — The downtown Odeon Theatre on Saturday resonated with the notes of Jordanian band Ayloul and Swedish pop group Diskopunk, in celebration of Europe Day, marked globally on May 9.

Organised by the EU Network of Cultural Institutes (EUNIC) and the European Union in Jordan, the event aimed to further strengthen the EU-Jordan cultural bridge, according to the organisers.

“This free-of-charge outdoor concert aims at celebrating Europe Day and the European Year of Cultural Heritage by highlighting the common heritage and cultural bridges between the EU and Jordan. It also contributes to enhancing the EU support to youth, creativity, diversity, variety and dialogue,” EU Ambassador to Jordan Andrea Matteo Fontana told The Jordan Times after the concert.

Held annually in various locations across the globe, Europe Day celebrates peace and unity in Europe as it marks the anniversary of the Schuman declaration, which set out the idea for a new form of political cooperation in Europe, which would make war between European nations unthinkable, according to the EU official website.  

“We are delighted to have had the chance to bring together two up and coming bands to come and perform at such an amazing historical landmark that is the Odeon Theatre in front of hundreds of young Jordanians and foreigners,” said Tala Al Sayyed, EUNIC communication and events officer.

A band formed by students of Jordan University of Science and Technology who grew up in Irbid, Ayloul started in the university’s music room before performing its first gig in September 2013.

“Our lyrics focus on addressing social and political issues that face young generations, such as unemployment and wars, while aiming to become a platform for positive change,” Abdel Fattah Terawee, the bass guitar player, told The Jordan Times.

Along with Ra’ed Al Tabari, Mounif Zghoul, Ma’in Mheidat, Yusser Al Zou’bi and Hayyan Juqqa, he warmed up the Odeon public with the catchy notes of the alternative music that brought Ayloul into Jordan’s musical landscape’s spotlight.

“Coming from different origins, we all grew up in a time of tough challenges, where a lot of changes happened in a short period of time due to the regional crises,” remembered Tabari and Zghoul, adding that “these events had a direct effect on all of us personally, which strongly reflects in our music. We believe this is why a lot of people see our music and our style as a socially engaging band”.

Commending the great organisation of the event, Mheidat voiced the band’s happiness with the event, where they played part of their first full length album scheduled to be released at the end of July.

For their part, the five Swedish members of Diskopunk, a Stockholm based dance and pop group started in 2016, exposed the Jordanian and foreign music fans to their eclectic tunes mixing disco and post-punk.

“From the first minute on stage to the last chord of their upbeat tunes, the band Diskopunk from Sweden inspired a packed Odeon Theatre to dance and sing along. It was a mutual love affair between Jordan hospitality and Swedish entertainment,” deputy head of mission at the Swedish embassy Jakob Ström told The Jordan Times after attending the event.

Some 400 people attended the concert at the archaeological landmark, including foreign tourists who voiced their admiration of the multicultural event.

“What a pleasure to punctuate our stay in Jordan with beautiful musical spirits. If Europe was in the spotlight tonight, we mostly remember the multicultural openness and the Jordanian welcome,” said Julie Durban and Marine Picco, two French tourists on holidays to the Kingdom