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Photos

Some shots from Al Qahwa’s show last night at DROM

Some shots from Al Qahwa’s show last night at DROM Taberna!

What’s that? You missed it?

Well you’re in luck! You can catch us on Sunday, May 10th at my residency at The Southern Cross from 5 to 7 pm -PWYC

Maryem Tollar Presents “Al Qahwa’s Octet”
The Tranzac - 292 Brunswick Avenue
5 to 7 pm @maryemhassantollar @omneya___ @naghmehfarahmand_ @waleedkushafrojazz @demetriospetsalakis @laurenb_freeforall @jaash.singh @ernietollar @tranzac292 @mgamagency

We had our final rehearsal today and we are rarin’

We had our final rehearsal today and we are rarin’ to go! Al Qahwa Octet - Friday, April 24, 2026 8:30 p.m. at Drom Taberna.

I’m planning to go early to have dinner and listen to our ever so talented Demetri play with his jazz world trio from 6 to 8 p.m. featuring the wonderful Dimitra Kahrimanidis (one of the most beautiful singers I’ve ever heard!) - and to enjoy some of that delicious Eastern European dinner.

We can’t wait to see you on Friday! Only 2 more days! 🙂

Here are some more lovely photos of the band taken by Jen Squires

To make a reservation at Drom Taberna, call 647-748-2099 or text 437-450-2099
458 Queen Street West, Toronto @maryemhassantollar @ernietollar @naghmehfarahmand_ @waleedkushafrojazz @demetriospetsalakis @dromtaberna @laurenb_freeforall @omneya___ @jaash.singh @mgamagency

Al Qahwa is so excited to be coming back to Drom T

Al Qahwa is so excited to be coming back to Drom Taberna in just over a week - on Friday, April 24, 2026 - first set at 8:30 p.m. - don’t forget to make your reservation, if you want to come earlier to have dinner!

call 647-748-2099 or text 437-450-2099 or email: reservations@dromtaberna.com

Here are some of our new photos taken by Jen Squires — @qahwa4 @maryemhassantollar @omneya___ @waleedkushafrojazz @naghmehfarahmand_ @dromtaberna @ernietollar @jaash.singh @demetriospetsalakis @laurenb_freeforall

I am so happy that I get to sing with my little ba

I am so happy that I get to sing with my little babes - Omneya - these days! It’s so crazy that some of the tunes we’re performing are songs that I wrote when she was a baby - and now she’ll be up on stage with me singing in harmony :).

Thanks to Jen Squires for this lovely photo of the 2 of us! We are so looking forward to Friday April 24 when we’ll be sharing new repertoire with Al Qahwa Octet at the always exciting Drom Taberna! @maryemhassantollar @omneya___ @ernietollar @waleedkushafrojazz @naghmehfarahmand_ @jaash.singh @demetriospetsalakis @laurenb_freeforall @jensquiresphotographer

To make a reservation, you can call 647-748-2099 or text 437-450-2099 or email at: reservations@dromtaberna.com

See you there! — with Ernie Tollar and 6 others.

The Al Qahwa family is growing - start 2026 right

The Al Qahwa family is growing - start 2026 right with us at The Southern Cross (292 Brunswick Avenue) where you’ll hear lots of new tunes for the group - Al Qahwa Octet - Maryem Tollar, Ernie Tollar, Naghmeh Farahmand Music, Waleed Kush Afro-Jazz, Demetri Petsalakis, Lauren Barnett, Omneya Tollar and Jaash Singh. We’ll be doing a lot of original tunes, with Arabic, Jazz and North African vibes and a little Bollywood thrown in for good measure!
PWYC @qahwa4 @maryemhassantollar @ernietollar @naghmehfarahmand_ @waleedkushafrojazz @omneya___ @demetriospetsalakis @laurenb_freeforall @jaash.singh

Al Qahwa at The ROM - 1 set done, 1 to go 🙂 love

Al Qahwa at The ROM - 1 set done, 1 to go :) love these cuties! @qahwa4 @maryemhassantollar @naghmehfarahmand_ @waleedkushafrojazz @laurenb_freeforall @omneya___

Al Qahwa (Maryem Hassan Tollar, Ernie Tollar, Nagh

Al Qahwa (Maryem Hassan Tollar, Ernie Tollar, Naghmeh Farahmand Music, Waleed Kush Afro-Jazz)- is preparing some funky music for our show THIS FRIDAY - October 24 - 8:30 to 10:30 p.m. at DROM Drom Taberna - with special guests Jaash Singh on percussion, Patrick O’Reilly on guitar and Omneya Tollar on b.up vocals - PWYC

Let’s dance and groove together my friends! @qahwa4 @maryemhassantollar @omneya___ @jaash.singh @wire.circus @waleedkushafrojazz @naghmehfarahmand_ @ernietollar @dromtaberna

I love these 2 awesome musicians - Waleed Kush Afr

I love these 2 awesome musicians - Waleed Kush Afro-Jazz and Naghmeh Farahmand Music - this photo is from many years ago and I’m so grateful that we have been collaborating together for so many years - We recently completed a wonderful Al Qahwa tour across Canada - and many people have been asking when we’ll be playing again in Toronto - you will be able to catch Al Qahwa with special guests at DROM Taberna on Friday, October 24 - from 8 to 10 p.m. Mark your calendars friends!! :) @qahwa4 @maryemhassantollar @ernietollar @naghmehfarahmand_ @waleedkushafrojazz @dromtaberna

Thanks Patricia O’Callaghan for sending me this ni

Thanks Patricia O’Callaghan for sending me this nice write up from the local paper from last weekend at the beautiful Blue Skies festival :) @patricia_ocallaghan @maryemhassantollar @waleedkushafrojazz @demetriospetsalakis @naghmehfarahmand_ @ernietollar @mgamagency @qahwa4

What a glorious way to end the Al Qahwa 2025 summe

What a glorious way to end the Al Qahwa 2025 summer tour at Blue Skies Music Festival in Ontario.
The energy of the whole community at our Saturday Night concert transported us - this was the highlight of our summer! Thank you!!! @maryemhassantollar @ernietollar @naghmehfarahmand_ @waleedkushafrojazz @demetriospetsalakis @blueskiesfestival @moskittobar @trojkanomad @ahmedmoneka @sarahkravetz @majdsukarmusic @tangilion29 @thereallotuswight @mgamagency @christinegravesottawa

Calgary Folk Music Festival 2025 - Al Qahwa had a

Calgary Folk Music Festival 2025 - Al Qahwa had a beautiful time reconnecting with old friends and making new ones - Thank you to Kerry Clarke and your whole team for another awesome and beautiful festival :) @mgamagency @maryemhassantollar @naghmehfarahmand_ @waleedkushafrojazz @calgaryfolkfest @ernietollar @dennis.duffin @demetriospetsalakis @viikband @elbalconmusic @elisapie @medusaquartet @timwilliamsblues @saskia_tomkins @martasolek @theferalfiddler

Beautiful day off in Yellowknife with our new frie

Beautiful day off in Yellowknife with our new friend Oskar who borrowed a car to show us the gorgeous natural beauty here. I hope I can come back one day to experience the Northern lights. @maryemhassantollar @ernietollar @joskatollar

Thank you Carly McFadden for inviting Al Qahwa Qua

Thank you Carly McFadden for inviting Al Qahwa Quartet to Folk On The Rock #FOTR2025 in Yellowknife, NWT - so awesome to experience the natural beauty, midnight sun and awesome community of people.

I was so surprised to find out Carly saw us showcase at “Your Roots Are Showing” music conference in Dublin, Ireland!! And that’s when she decided to book us - like I tell my music friends - you never know who’s going to see you at these things

All to say I’m so grateful for it all :) @qahwa4 @maryemhassantollar @ernietollar @naghmehfarahmand_ @waleedkushafrojazz @folkontherocks @mgamagency

Mark your calendars Vancouver! See you on July 24t

Mark your calendars Vancouver! See you on July 24th! FREE Al Qahwa concert! @caravanworldrhythm @maryemhassantollar @ernietollar @waleedkushafrojazz @naghmehfarahmand_ @mgamagency

Al Qahwa Quartet is looking forward to performing

Al Qahwa Quartet is looking forward to performing in Vancouver this week on Thursday, July 24 - FREE Concert!

Tell your Vancouver friends to come and check us out - before we head to The Calgary Folk Festival July 25,26,27 :) @robertbenaroya @mgamagency

Al Qahwa Quartet is looking forward to performing

Al Qahwa Quartet is looking forward to performing at the Calgary Folk Music Festival! Photo by Jeff Fasano @jefffasanophoto @maryemhassantollar @ernietollar @waleedkushafrojazz @naghmehfarahmand_ @calgaryfolkfest @mgamagency

Thank you to the NAC for an awesome couple of days

Thank you to the NAC for an awesome couple of days performing with Al Qahwa sextet! Al Qahwa’s summer touring has officially started!

We’re looking forward to playing at Folk On The Rocks in Yellowknife; Calgary Folk Music Festival and finishing off our tour at Blue Skies Festival back in Ontario! @maryemhassantollar @ernietollar @naghmehfarahmand_ @waleedkushafrojazz @demetriospetsalakis @laurenb_freeforall @mgamagency @nac.cna @folkontherocks @calgaryfolkfest @caravanworldrhythm @aviary.edmonton

We will have a couple of in between shows in Vancouver July 24th and in Edmonton July 29 - check our website for details:

https://www.alqahwa.ca/performances/upcoming/

#FOTR2025 Folk On The Rocks
Caravan World Rhythms
Calgary Folk Music Festival

Trio Arabica - together again at The Aga Khan Muse

Trio Arabica - together again at The Aga Khan Museum for the “As The Sun Appears From Beyond” - Twenty Years of the Al Burda Award @maryemhassantollar @demetriospetsalakis @naghmehfarahmand_

We can’t wait to do our first gig tomorrow - on mo

We can’t wait to do our first gig tomorrow - on mother’s day - as the full 6 piece band (Maryem Tollar, Ernie Tollar, Waleed Abdulhamid, Naghmeh Farahmand, Demetri Petsalakis and Lauren Barnett) since Lauren became a mom herself 🙂. Come and say congratulations to Demetrios Petsalakis and Lauren at DROM Taberna (Queen Street West and Augusta) - we start at 8 pm. @maryemhassantollar @ernietollar @naghmehfarahmand_ @waleedkushafrojazz @demetriospetsalakis @laurenb_freeforall @dromtaberna

So looking forward to performing again with Naghme

So looking forward to performing again with Naghmeh Farahmand - my darling - on Mother’s Day - Sunday, May 11 - 8 to 10 pm at DROM Taberna with the full 6 piece - Al Qahwa - getting ready to tour across Canada in July and August 2025!

Please come to see the band in Toronto at DROM before we set off - details of the tour coming soon!
Maryem Hassan Tollar, Ernie Tollar, Naghmeh Farahmand Music, Waleed Abdulhamid, Demetrios Petsalakis, and Lauren Barnett @maryemhassantollar @ernietollar @naghmehfarahmand_ @waleedkushafrojazz @demetriospetsalakis @laurenb_freeforall @dromtaberna

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© Al Qahwa, 2020