A look back at this year’s homegrown edition

From a showcase festival to an established organization: a look back at Beirut and Beyond International Music Festival’s 8th edition

Following a two-year break, Beirut and Beyond International Music Festival held its second homegrown edition at KED over the course of 3 days, from March 10 to 12, 2022.

As enthusiastic as ever, a crowd of over 300 people flocked to the venue every night of the festival to get immersed in a musical experience carefully-curated by the organizers and well-presented by the eclectic lineup.

Founded in 2013 and in partnership with Oslo World, BBIMF started as a yearly showcase festival that shed the light on established and rising artists from the undergrounds of Lebanon, the region, and abroad. In 2020, and in response to the series of unfortunate events that reigned over Lebanon, BBIMF gave birth to the first homegrown edition. The goal was to help and support the struggling local scene that had endured an economic collapse by encouraging people to follow the music being performed live at the different chosen locations all around Beirut. After the COVID takeover, B&B morphed into an organization that works beyond the scope of live music, answering to the needs of the local scene through a series of workshops, support programs, residencies, webinars, etc. Having put the festival on hold for two years, and given the restrictions imposed on a crowd that was hungry for some soul-stirring live music, Beirut and Beyond found it necessary to plan and execute yet another homegrown edition.

To ensure quality and professional standards in terms of sound and light, the festival took place in one venue, KED, that became a home for music lovers for the three nights. The stage welcomed a total of 9 acts, with a special international guest and an electrifying regional one.