Update on 47 Soul - a message from our partners at the Toronto Palestine Film Festival.

+

Sometimes life imitates art. 47SOUL is a brilliant band that sings about exile, borders and movement. Their lyrics resonate even more as we received word yesterday that two of the band's members have not received their visas to perform in Canada. As we are painfully aware these performers are not unlike many others awaiting visas to Canada. Each year is a struggle for TPFF to bring artists from Palestine to Toronto.

However, don't despair - the show will go on! We are extremely pleased that the two members of the band - Z the People and Walaa Sbeit - will perform. Let's show them some Toronto love and solidarity at Lula Lounge!

If you would like to exchange your tickets for another festival screening or event, or to obtain a refund, this can be done through the TIFF Bell Lightbox Box Office. If you have not yet picked up your tickets and have purchased them with a credit card, you will be able to do the exchange/refund over the phone (416 599 TIFF (8433)). If you have picked up your tickets and/or purchased them with debit or cash, the exchange/refund will have to be facilitated in person at the TIFF Bell Lightbox Box Office 350 King Street West, Toronto 10 am to 10 pm daily.

For more information about the about the refund/exchange please contact TBL Box office at 416 599 TIFF (8433) or email submissions@tpff.ca

+

Launching both the 14th Annual Small World Music Festival and the 8th Annual Toronto Palestine Film Festival, an Arabic music party featuring the Toronto debut of one the most exciting new acts from the Middle East!

47SOUL is a young Palestinian / Jordanian band that was formed in 2012 when four inspiring young solo artists joined forces from different regions: El Fari (MC, darbouka), Z The People (keys, vocals), Walaa Sbeit (MC, daf) and El Jihaz (guitar, vocals). It is rare to see a band gain such a passionate following to rapidly, a testament to their music making and the message behind the music. Laying down Arabic Reggae, Hip Hop, and Mijwez solos overtop of Debka, Rai, and Afrobeat grooves, this is real revolution party music.

This new electro-mijwez, shamstep, choubi sound has rapidly amassed fans in the Middle East and Europe, blasting the electric Arabic vibe through underground music scenes. On top of beats that have been bumping in the Middle East for centuries, 47SOUL hypes it up with analog synthesizers, hypnotic guitar lines, and shattering verses mixing Arabic and English from the four singers.

Overcoming physical and logistical challenges, they came together to play electronic Palestinian street music. 47SOUL writes and performs to speak about freedom of movement, whether that’s sparking new dance styles or singing about breaking down border check points. For the past 2 years the band has based itself between Jordan and the UK, to spread their new wave of Arabic music.