Every edition of MED will have a guest country
Morocco will be the first guest country of Loulé MED Festival, the major summer festival held every year in the heart of the Algarve town.
The announcement was made at the BTL tourism fair in Lisbon, where some of the first artists who will perform at the 2024 edition, due to take place between June 27 and 30, were revealed.
The biggest novelty, however, will be that each new edition of MED will feature a guest country, with Morocco chosen as the first to “showcase in Loulé its culture and traditions, be it through music, handicraft, gastronomy, literature and other cultural means”.
A souk (marketplace) will be recreated in the cloister of the Espírito Santo convent in Loulé, allowing visitors to “experience the true atmosphere of the Maghreb, from decorations and smells and flavours to music and dances,” Loulé council says in a statement to the press. Indeed, Moroccan cuisine will be “one of the highlights” of the event, with daily tastings of typical dishes such as tagines, couscous, keftas or traditional mint tea. Live music performances by Moroccan artists and traditional crafts showcased live will also be a part of the programme.
“Our cultural identity and historical heritage are closely linked to the Arab legacy left in our territory. Loulé has a strong Arab influence, being home to the only known complete Islamic Baths in the Iberian Peninsula. Furthermore, there has been a strengthening of ties with Morocco, so this challenge made perfect sense,” explained local councillor Carlos Carmo, who is also the director of the festival.
The 2024 edition of MED Festival is expected to offer 90 hours of live music, divided amongst 54 concerts performed by 358 musicians from 30 countries on 12 stages. There will also be around 100 craftspeople showcasing their work, two art exhibitions, and 12 street artists groups.
The first confirmed artists for this year’s edition include Afrotronix (Chad), Anthony B (Jamaica), Antti Paalanen (Finland), Bixiga 70 (Brazil), Chico César (Brazil), Dubioza Kolektiv (Bosnia and Herzegovina), Idiotape (South Korea), Kumbia Boruka (Mexico/Chile/Argentina/France), Mazgani (Portugal/Iran), Mouvman Alé (Réunion Island), Oum (Morocco), Puuluup (Estonia), Roberto Fonseca (Cuba), Sofiane Saidi (Algeria), Throes+The Shine (Angola/Portugal), Tito Paris (Cape Verde), and from Portugal, Kumpania Algazarra, Lina, Rita Vian, and Teresinha Landeiro.
Tickets are already available for pre-sale until June 24, costing €10 (daily ticket), €30 (festival ticket, granting access to the entire festival) and €35 (daily family ticket).
