Mohammed Bin Faris House of Sout Music, Manama, Bahrain

5Quentin1 5:00 PM Jan 13, 2014

Wow! Fabulous free music; don't miss this!
This venue is situated in Muharraq; the best way to locate it is to ask around -- but bear in mind that you may have to approach several people before you find it, as many locals didn't know it when we enquired, although it's in the middle of the neighbourhood. It seems to be an old building in which a new performance space has been built. Free sout (sometimes spelt 'sut') music is played here on Thursday evenings. Brochures from the Sheikh Ibrahim Cultural Centre state that the show starts at 20.30, but on the evening that I attended I arrived at this time and the music lasted only half an hour. The concierge then told me that the music had begun at 19.00 and ran for two hours. Apparently, the time depends on the hour of the final prayer of the day, so 'phone ahead to ask for the week's timing. I would think it would also be a good idea to check if the event takes place during Ramadan. Taxi drivers from Manama are unlikely to know the music hall, so make sure you leave plenty of time to get there. The music is fabulous! Performed (of course) by an all-male group, it involves a large number of musicians, singers and dancers, and it gets the audience in the swing (ladies can clap their hands only; some Arab male members of the audience were dancing in the seating area and shouting encouragement to the dancers on the stage). An evening spent listening to this music is an absolute highlight of any trip to Bahrain. If you're in town on a Thursday, do not miss this!

5Cristina C 5:00 PM Apr 24, 2014

Amazing music, fabulous cultural experience
If you can find this music hall in the heart of Muharraq it will be one of the highlights of your trip to Bahrain. Google maps led us there successfully though when we entered Muhammad bin Faris House. The concerts are free on Thursday nights around 8pm but you can walk in at any time and will be welcome. The musicians play traditional Bahraini songs and the audience is mostly Bahrainis who know all the words. Follow this website for more information and a contact number to make sure the concert is happening http://www.shaikhebrahimcenter.org/th-binfaris.html