The Summer Misk Festival was a four-day celebration held for the second year in a row at Beit Misk, a residential community in Lebanon. The festival featured diverse musical performances each night that attracted different generations. Night one featured a performance by Wyclef Jean along with a surprise duet with Lebanese musician Guy Manoukian. Manoukian then held his own night of performances featuring his interpretations of beloved Lebanese songs. The third night was a comedy show featuring international comedians. The final night featured a performance by 90s artist Natalie Imbruglia. The festival proved successful in bringing together the Beit Misk community and beyond into a celebration of music, entertainment and community spirit.

1. “Love the life you live, and live the life you love” Bob MarleyEXECUTIVE LIFE
JULY 2015 | www.executive-magazine.com78
BEYOND A MUSICAL CELEBRATION
THIS YEAR’S SUMMER MISK FESTIVAL
Words by Sara Ghorra
who said you can’t build a real community out of a resi-
dential project? Well, it turns out you can. And that is
exactly what the team behind Beit Misk has been try-
ing to achieve, one successful step at a time.
Forthesecondyearinarow,BeitMiskheldits“Sum-
mer Misk Festival,” an eventful and artful four day long
celebration that is sure to become a tradition among its
residents and their friends from other parts of Lebanon.
The community spirit engendered by the festivi-
ties this past June has proved alluring to many new-
comers, leading the festival to grow organically, both
in terms of space and length. Not only did the antici-
pated turnout result in the widening of the audience
space, but it also inspired the much celebrated addi-
tion of another night of musical delight.
When an event is so well-crafted, set in a beau-
tiful location among charming buildings only a few
minutes drive from Beirut, where one can enjoy fresh
air and splendid views, how can the experience not
be tempting? And the concerts weren’t the only thing
that clearly pleased the crowds.
Summer Misk’s doors opened at 7 p.m., which al-
lowed people to enjoy the breathtaking sunset over
the Mediterranean Sea and begin their evening with a
drink or bite to eat while listening to an array of sum-
mer tunes to set the mood.
The artists chosen to perform were purposely
eclectic and attracted audiences of different genera-
tions. The first night catered to a rather young crowd
thrilled by the Haitian rapper and musician Wyclef
Jean’s enthusiastic performance. Yet, the co-founder
of the American hip hop group Fugees didn’t simply
settle for a solo performance. To the audience’s sur-
prise, he challenged his friend, Lebanon’s very own
Guy Manoukian, to join him on stage. That move of
musical sportsmanship added spice to the already
tingling atmosphere and left the crowd dazzled, as
Manoukian performed an unexpectedly superb im-
provised piece.
And that was only Manoukian’s warm up. On the
second night of the festival, he enchanted a full house
with a collection of his favorite pieces that got abso-
lutely everybody moving. From being transported by
the composer’s skillfully reinterpreted “Helwa ya Bal-
adi,” to feeling the desire to dance to his “Alexandria,”
to a flow of sweet nostalgia brought on by his touch-
ing “To My Son,” the musical night was an emotional
roller coaster for the audience. Then again, a talent
such as Manoukian, fueled by a palpable passion for
life and a heartfelt love for his origins and country,
could never disappoint.
The festival’s third night took on a lighter tone,
as comedy took center stage. Several international
stand-up comedians from Australia (Nick Cody), the
UK (Anil Desai), Mexico (El Jaguar) and the US (Tony
Woods) were featured. Finally, the closing night saw
‘90s icon Natalie Imbruglia take the stage. The Austral-
ian singer performed a mix of her hits from the ‘90s as
well as other more recent songs.
The Summer Misk Festival was no doubt a suc-
cess, in more ways than one. It proved to be more
than just a number of concerts for a few pleasurable
nights. Indeed, it unveiled the true essence of Beit
Misk’s ethos: the growth of a community.

2. www.executive-magazine.com | JULY 2015 79