Central Park’s Rumsey Playfield will host a major celebration of Moroccan music on July 15 as New York’s SummerStage Festival presents “Morocco: From Dakhla to Casablanca,” an event dedicated entirely to the Kingdom’s rich and diverse musical heritage.
The free concert marks the first time in the festival’s 40-year history that an African country has been honored with a standalone cultural evening.
Organized in partnership with Morocco’s Ministry of Youth, Culture and Communication, the Council of the Moroccan Community Abroad (CCME), and Maroc Festivals, the event aims to showcase the country’s contemporary music scene and its varied artistic influences.
The program features an eclectic lineup spanning traditional and modern genres. Casablanca-based band Hoba Hoba Spirit will headline the evening, bringing its signature fusion of rock, reggae, and Gnawa rhythms to the iconic New York venue.
Also set to perform is renowned Gnawa musician Hamid El Kasri, whose performances center around the traditional three-stringed guembri. The lineup further includes Dakhla Casa Xpress, a project that blends Saharan sounds with urban music styles.
Electronic artists Mr ID and NDRK will round out the program with performances combining African percussion and regional melodies with contemporary electronic beats.
The event is part of the broader Maroc Festivals initiative, launched in 2012 to promote Moroccan artists on international stages and strengthen the country’s cultural presence abroad.
Beyond the performances, participating artists will take part in networking sessions with North American music promoters as organizers seek to expand Moroccan artists’ visibility and opportunities in the United States.
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