RMF#03 is an edition of defiance and hope in times of uncertainty. The festival seeks to use the universal language of music to transcend barriers, promote community engagement, and support local economies. With Tripoli selected as the Arab Capital of Culture in 2024, the lineup will focus on local artists, as well as artists from Southwest Asia and North Africa (SWANA) to highlight the cultural richness and diversity of the Arab region. By continuing the festival in such difficult times, RMF emphasizes the importance of arts and culture as a beacon of hope and a catalyst for reimagining a brighter future.

About Rumman Music Festival (RMF)

Rumman Music Festival (RMF) is the only independent music festival taking place in Tripoli, North Lebanon. Our annual festival aims to present homegrown and international musical talents to the local audience and attract visitors and artists to discover a rich, authentic city and explore its hidden gems. Beyond the music performances, RMF incorporates a residency component in its program, providing musicians with the time, resources, and space to embark on an experimental journey with fellow musicians.

For us, RMF is not only about music; it's a community engagement project that supports the local economy. By attracting visitors and working with local service providers, we contribute directly and indirectly to generating revenue for businesses and creating job opportunities. This is particularly crucial in a city facing one of the highest unemployment rates in the Mediterranean basin. Looking at the bigger picture, we aspire for RMF to evolve into a yearly edition and become a recognized fixture on the local, regional, and international map for independent music festivals. Our first festival edition was held in September 2022 at the Rachid Karami International Fairground (RKIF). The second edition was planned for October 2023 at Stereo Kawalis to celebrate the launch of the new venue but was later canceled due to the war in Gaza and South Lebanon.

About this Edition

This year's edition comes at a critical and sensitive moment for Lebanon and the region. In 2024, Tripoli was selected as the Arab Capital of Culture, intended as a moment to celebrate Arab culture. Instead, it feels heavy to "celebrate" at a time when the Arab region, as a whole, is subjected to colonization, occupation, and dictatorships, resulting in an unprecedented wave of violence, economic hardships, rising discriminatory rhetoric, and pervasive censorship. Amidst the bleakness and uncertainties surrounding us, we chose to move forward with the festival as a statement that we will not surrender to violence and despair. For this edition, we will be curating a special lineup welcoming local artists, as well as artists from the SWANA region to reflect the rich and diverse musical landscape the region can offer. We see this as an invitation for artists and audiences alike to re-imagine—through the lens of music—how the Arab region can look when we transcend the artificial barriers and mobility restrictions imposed among Arab countries and artists residing there. Finally, hosting the festival at Stereo Kawalis is not only an opportunity to officially launch a new cultural space but also a pledge to our audience and community that we will remain a creative movement advocating for the decentralization of cultural events and making them accessible to all. We’ll ensure that our festival ticket prices are fair, factoring in the economic hardships we are facing. In addition, we're partnering with the Delia Arts Foundation to offer a donation option dedicated to supporting our fellow musicians in Palestine. We hope that through the universal language of music and the power of arts, we can offer a glimmer of hope and an opportunity to dream of a brighter future for Tripoli and beyond.

Program here