Al Qahwa Trio (Maryem Tollar, Ernie Tollar and Naghmeh Farahmand) providing beautiful Middle Eastern music from Egypt, Lebanon, Palestine and Iraq at this wonderful Mediterranean themed restaurant – The Skylight Restaurant – in the W-Hotel in Toronto. Come enjoy the atmosphere, cuisine and music as we serenade you!
Please join Al Qahwa Quartet (Maryem Tollar, Ernie Tollar, Naghmeh Farahmand and guest artist John Gzowski on oud and guitar) at Beyond Our Roots Festival at Lee Lifeson Art Park in North York – produced by the Latino Cultural Association – FREE
After a successful showcase at Circulart 2024 in Medellín, Colombia (with support fromthe Ontario Arts Council Market Development grant), Al Qahwa is excited to share an evening with their Toronto audiences at one of the best venues in town. Come and join us and have a delicous Eastern European meal and enjoy our Middle Eastern vibes!
Al Qahwa – the full 6 piece band – performing at Mekan Restaurant. Come on down for the delicious Turkish food and great vibe to enjoy our traditional Arabic tunes, as well as our songs from our latest release “Weyn Allah” and other hits from our other albums.
Al Qahwa is excited to be nominated for the 2024 “Oliver Schroer – Pushing the Boundaries” Canadian Folk Music Award for their latest release “Weyn Allah”. The 6 piece group will be performing at the Award Ceremony on Sunday, April 7, 2024.
Al Qahwa’s new recording “Weyn Allah” has contributions from different members in the group. The performers are: Maryem Tollar (qanun, vocals), Ernie Tollar (sax, flutes, b.up vocals), Demetri Petsalakis (oud, guitar, b.up vocals), Naghmeh Farahmand (percussion, b.up vocals), Waleed Abdulhamid (bass, vocals) and Lauren Barnett (sax, b.up vocals). It was made with support from The Toronto Arts Council and The Ontario Arts Council. “Weyn Allah” has been nominated for the 2023 FMO ACTRA RACS Award for Best Recording Artists and the 2024 CFMA Award – “Oliver Schroer Pushing the Boundaries Award”. Come out to hear music from “Weyn Allah” as well as songs from their previous recordings.
PWYC
Al Qahwa was nominated for the 2023 ACTRA RACS award for best recording artist for their latest release “Weyn Allah”. See them perform at the Ontario Folk Music Awards Ceremony on Sunday, October 15, 2023.
Al Qahwa is excited to be a part of the NAC’s Free Summer Series in August 2023. They will be performing songs from their new recording “Weyn Allah”. The core group – Maryem Tollar, Ernie Tollar, Demetri Petsalakis, Naghmeh Farahmand and Waleed Abdulhamid – will be joined by dancer, Roula Said. There will be 3 shows – August 15 at 7:30 p.m.; August 16 at 7:30 p.m.; and August 16 at Noon.
All of the shows will be FREE.
Al Qahwa is currently booking festivals and venues in Western Canada and around Ontario. Check in after the new year to see where you can catch the 6 piece band who will be touring and promoting their 4th album release – “Weyn Allah” which is being recorded with support from The Toronto Arts Council and The Ontario Arts Council.
Al Qahwa is in talks with festivals and venues and will reveal the full tour as things get confirmed.
AL QAHWA SUMMER 2023 TOUR (Check back in the new year to see upates)
July 11 and 12, 2023 – Harrison Festival of the Arts, Harrison Hot Springs, BC
July 14 to 16, 2023 – Vancouver Island Musicfest, Courtenay, BC