A soulful fusion of poetic dream-pop, jazz and colourful Arabic vibes

Ruba Shamshoum's unique sound - at once heart-breaking and hopeful - comes from her masterful melding of poetic dream-pop, jazz and Middle Eastern harmonies.

Songs that flow between catchy pop hits, smouldering balladry and experimental textures, are led by Ruba's silken voice as she sings captivating stories of vulnerability, femininity and our connection to the world and to ourselves.

Her most recent album Risha, released April 2021, weaves in themes of flight, femininity and freedom in a prayer-like tapestry of electronic soundscapes and ethereal instrumentations. You can listen to the single Sununu and watch the accompanying video by clicking on the Youtube frame on this page.

Ruba plays keyboard and laptop and is joined by Georgie Pope on pedal harp, Nina Harries on double bass and Nuno Brito on drums.

 

Born in Palestine and based in London, Ruba studied jazz performance at Newpark Music Centre in Ireland and was an active part of the Irish jazz scene.

She wrote music for the film "When I Saw You", and released songs that were part of top indie charts in the Middle East and North Africa, generating much acclaim. She performed in international festivals in Ireland, the UK, and the Middle East. In 2016 Ruba gave a TED talk about "Being Creative in a Society that Worships the Past", hosted by the London Business School.

 

Oxford Maqam join us in the support slot with their pioneering approach to classical Egyptian music. Featuring the oud (the Arabic ancestor of the lute), the qanun (a plucked instrument similar to the zither), Arabic song and percussion Oxford Maqam take us back to 1930s Cairo with their rich and melancholy sounds.

Oxford Maqam (trio) are Tarik Beshir (oud, voice), Martin Stokes (qanun) and Yara Salahiddeen (voice, percussion).

 

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Timings:

  • 7.30pm Doors open and bar available
  • 8.00pm Concert starts
  • There will be an interval at this event.
  • The bar is provided by Church Hanbrewery.

 

After listening to our audience's views on how they feel about attending indoor events, we have decided to offer "distanced seating" for this concert, ie an empty seat between each audience group, and we will be asking ticket holders to take an LFT (Lateral Flow Test) on the day and only attend if the test is negative. In the possibility of a positive test, the ticket price will be refunded.

We will also be strongly encouraging everyone to wear masks.

Ruba Shamshoum singing live
Ruba Shamshoum portrait for "Risha"
Oxford Maqam: Tarik Beshir plays oud
Oxford Maqam: Yara Salahideen sings