Wust El-Balad

Infobox musical artist
Name =


Img_capt = Wust El-Balad
Img_size = 250
Landscape = Yes
Background = group_or_band
Alias =
Origin = Egypt
Genre = Soft rock
Years_active = 1999–Present
Label = Star Gate
URL = [http://www.wustelbalad.com/ www.wustelbalad.com]
Current_members = Ahmed Omran
Hany Adel
Adham El-Said
Mizo
Ahmed Omar
Asaad Nessim
Bob
Ismail Fawzy

Wust El-Balad (Arabic: وسط البلد) is an Egyptian Soft rock band, founded in Cairo in 1999 by only 2 of its current members Ahmed Omran and Hany Adel, currently the band consists of 8 members.

The band is considered to be the most successful rock act in Egypt, and the whole Arab world, as it's the first band in the region to gain such a huge success and acclaim such big following.

The band has finally released it debut album under the Egyptian label Star Gate Records, in 2007.

The band's name in Arabic means "Downtown".

History

Later after Omran and Adel formed the band, 6 more members joined, each with his own musical background, blending it all together.Their first appearance as Wust El Balad was at Al Mashrabeya Gallery, followed by their first paid performance at the Berlitz Language Center. Ever since that moment, Wust El Balad was a regular performer at all galleries, cultural centers, bars, special events and hotels, and even abroad.

Their vision then was to reach the average person that can't afford hearing them in bars or galleries, and so they were the first band to play in the Egyptian street, experiencing one of the most amazing concerts, playing in Al Alfi Street to the local community duringthe French festival "Les Français aiment l'Egypte".

They have also played in Bagdad street in 2005 in the celebration of Heliopolis's 100th anniversary, and ever since then, they play there every year as a celebration of the Spring.

Line-up

*Ahmed Omran, (One of the co-founders of the band, he plays the oud and the flute).
*Hany Adel, (The other co-founder of of the band, he plays the guitar and does vocals).
*Adham El-Said, (Vocals).
*Mohammed Gamal El-Din (Nicknamed Mizo), (Percussion and drums).
*Ahmed Omar, (Bass guitar).
*Asaad Nessim, (Spanish guitar).
*Ehab Abdel-Hameed (Nicknames Bob), (Percussion).
*Ismail Fawzy, (Vocals and rhythm guitar).

Discography

*"Wust El-Balad" (2007)

Reference

* [http://www.wustelbalad.com/ Official site]
* [http://stargatelive.com/wust.html Star Gate's site]
* [http://msn.mazika.com/en/news/Wust-El-Balad-release-their-first-album.aspx MSN Mazika's article about the album release]
* [http://www.dailystaregypt.com/article.aspx?ArticleID=2349 Article about the band's performance at the Cairo Opera House]

External links

* [http://www.wustelbalad.com/ Official site]
* [http://www.wustelbaladfansclub.tk/ Unofficial fan club]