From Tahrir to Traquair

Egyptian musician Ramy Essam went to join the protesters in Tahrir Square in Cairo with his guitar as soon as the January 2011 uprising started. He became known as the voice if the Egyptian uprising, dubbed ‘the Billy Bragg of Tahrir Square’. On the 25th January, the first day of the Egyptian uprisings, Ramy performed in Mansoura, a northern city where he lived and studied. By February, he was in Tahrir Square – Freedom Square – performing countless times a day on makeshift stages, most poignantly on 2nd February, ‘Bloody Wednesday’, when he continued to perform as Hosni Mubarak supporters rode into the square on camels and horses to attack demonstrators. His song ‘Irhal’ (‘Leave’) became the anthem of the revolt and a huge viral hit on the internet.

Ramy Essam will perform in on Saturday 20th August, at 16.00 at the Vale Club Venue in Innerleithen, in a collaboration between Books, Borders & Bikes, and The Innerleithen Music Festival.

He will also speak as part of Books, Borders & Bikes on the Arab Spring and the Power of Democracy, at 17.15 on Saturday 20th August, at Traquair House