1 hour
The Queen's Hall, Edinburgh, UK
Sat, 21 Jun, 2025 at 07:30 pm to 08:30 pm (BST)
The Queen's Hall, UK
85-89 Clerk St, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
Join Reem Kelani and her trio for a night of music and song. Listen to a "voice holy strong and seductive like a call to prayer" (Evening Standard)
On Saturday 21st June renowned Palestinian musician Reem Kelani and her trio bring the rich sounds of Palestinian folk music to The Queen’s Hall Edinburgh. Rooted in Kelani’s heritage from Ya’bad (near Jenin) and Nazareth this powerful performance blends history politics and personal experience in a way that is both intimate and universal.
Kelani is acclaimed for her commitment to preserving the musical traditions of Palestine—traditions that are under constant threat due to displacement cultural as well as physical occupation and the erasure of Palestinian identity. Through her deeply researched work she ensures that the songs and stories of her people are not forgotten but passed on and kept alive.
Her repertoire includes songs inspired by the lives of Palestinian women across Palestine and in the refugee camps in Lebanon Syria Jordan and Egypt reminding us that music is not just art—it’s memory resistance and a declaration of presence. Her work speaks to the internationally recognised right of all peoples to pursue their cultural development as enshrined in instruments such as the International Covenant on Economic Social and Cultural Rights.
This is more than a concert—it’s a reclaiming of narrative and identity through song. Kelani’s unique fusion of folk traditions improvisation and political storytelling creates a moving and thought-provoking experience for all.
Part of Art27 Scotland’s CULTURE = LIFE programme for Refugee Week 2025 this evening invites you to witness the enduring spirit of Palestinian culture—through the voice of one of its most influential guardians.
Don’t miss this unforgettable performance.
“[Reem Kelani’s] off-mic introduction turned out to be an endearingly apt overture to a performance in which she combined restless energy with vigorous political engagement persuasive audience involvement and an illustrated impressively far-reaching musicological dissertation.” The Herald Glasgow January 2016
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Tickets for Reem Kelani & Trio can be booked here.
