Expats and local music fans celebrated by turning out in their droves for the kingdom’s favourite biannual music extravaganza, Trib Fest, on Friday.
Thousands descended on the grassy fields of the Bahrain Rugby Football Club in Janabiya, bringing parasols, ground sheets, picnic blankets and fold-up chairs to enjoy the fun family festival featuring a multitude of acts.
This event just keeps getting bigger and better, and as always caters for everyone with a blend of sounds old and new.
Earlier in the day, children cartwheeled and jumped around like mad to current chart-toppers such as Bruno Mars, Lady Gaga and Olly Murs.
As the sun lowered in the sky, the middle-aged mums and dads came into their element and boogied the night away to classics from David Bowie, Bryan Adams and the Beetles.
Many of the acts have visited Bahrain before, but Arctic Monkeys were here for the first time and stole the show, filling the area in front of the stage with teenage boppers and head banging thirty-somethings in a loud and rocking set.
The ever-reliable Stereophonics brought a piece of pop paradise to the crowd, while the closing triumvirate of Bon Jovi, Queen and The Killers was a triple-attack of musical genius across generations.
I have to give a shout out to the Freddie Mercury tribute act; many of the bands visit Bahrain on a cycle with two shows a year, but he is the only one who makes every iteration of this wonderful event without fail. It’s no wonder when he sends every single reveller into raptures!
In fact, the quality of musicianship was absolutely fantastic throughout the day, from nailed-on vocals to the tightness of the backing musicians.
It’s easy to see why tribute acts are in huge demand these days when imitators can get this close to the original. Huge credit must go to the organisers too for ensuring everything continues to run smooth as butter with no downtime between acts or technical hitches.
More than anything, this was a chance to enjoy a day of frivolity and laughter with perfect weather and great people, proving once again that music is the one thing that can bind everyone together.
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