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The Gipsy Kings are returning to Israel and will perform alongside Ishtar at the Meridian Festival in Ashdod, which will take place from June 14 to June 21. The festival will feature over 200 artists and offer a vibrant mix of music, theater, cinema, and culinary events. Tickets for individual performances range from approximately $27 to $88 USD.
Since the band revived the South American hit Bamboleo in 1980, it became a global sensation. That same year, the Gipsy Kings released their self-titled album, which sold millions of copies worldwide. Among their most beloved hits are Djobi Djoba, Volare, and their iconic cover of the Eagles’ Hotel California. The band has performed in Israel multiple times, hosting Israeli singers like Miri Mesika and Shlomi Shabat for joint performances on stage.
The Ashdod festival will also host a variety of international artists, including Nicolopoulos from Greece, who will perform with singer Fiza Papadopoulou, as well as Stelios Dionysiou and Elena Papagiannou. Spanish flamenco guitarist El Amir and the Majestic Three Tenors from Italy are also set to perform.
Additional Performances:
- Yehuda Poliker will celebrate 40 years since the release of his album Eyes of Mine.
- The cast of Zehu Ze! comedy show will take the stage.
- The Revivo Project, Yoav Yitzhak, Glykeria, Haim Moshe, and Avner Gadassi will collaborate on a special production for the festival titled Magic of the East.
- A tribute show to ABBA.
- Shimon Parnass will celebrate 30 years of his program In the Tavern.
- The Andalusian Orchestra will collaborate with Spini, Benis, and Dalal, as well as perform a joint show with Omer Avital and others.
The festival will also feature a 360-degree concert series with performances by Yuval Dayan, Harel Skaat, Shimon Buskila, Arkadi Duchin, Ayal Botner, and Roi Bar Natan. Each concert will begin with a musical workshop and a discussion led by broadcaster Yoram Swisa.
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Film Screenings:
In addition to the musical events, the festival will host screenings of narrative films, documentaries, and more. Highlights from the film program include:
- Four Houses and a Longing by Shimon Elkabetz, directed by Jasmine Keene (Israel, 2024).
- Only One Victory by Roy Alon (Israel, 2024).
- Everyone Loves Touda by Nabil Ayouch (Morocco, 2024).
- The Teacher Who Promised the Sea by Patricia Font (Spain, 2024).
- Monsieur Aznavour (France, 2024).
- The Marching Band by Emmanuel Courcol (France, 2024).
Other films featured in the program include:
- The Braid by Laetitia Colombani (France, Italy, Belgium, 2023).
- Blaga's Lessons by Stephan Komandarev (Bulgaria, 2023).
- Crossing by Levan Akin (Turkey, Georgia, 2024).
- Diamanti by Ferzan Özpetek (Italy, 2024).
- The Blue Caftan by Maryam Touzani (Morocco, 2024).
- In Your Eyes I See My Country by Kamal Hachkar (Morocco, 2019).
With an eclectic lineup of performances and screenings, the Meridian Festival promises a week of cultural richness and artistic celebration.