With roots deeply embedded in Cairo’s vibrant underground, The Dwarfs of East Agouza have been refining their uncompromising and free-spirited sound since 2012. Founded by Maurice Louca, Sam Shalabi and Alan Bishop, the trio moves effortlessly between free jazz, hypnotic krautrock and pulsating shaabi rhythms in a constant, organic flow. After a formidable performance at Roskilde Festival in 2018, our expectations are sky-high, and we’re excited to welcome The Dwarfs of East Agouza to ALICE this May, where they invite us into their boundless, improvisational universe.

On stage, The Dwarfs of East Agouza embrace the spontaneous and unpredictable. With Maurice Louca’s electronic textures and shimmering synth layers, Sam Shalabi’s electric guitar and Alan Bishop shifting between guitar, bass, alto saxophone and vocals, a collective presence emerges that both trembles and erupts. Their music never feels forced, but winds freely between Arabic scales, the motorik drive of krautrock and the liberating spirit of free jazz.

The Dwarfs of East Agouza are a vital part of Cairo’s experimental scene, alongside names such as Nadah El Shazly, Land of Kush and Louca’s own Elephantine Band. Many will remember their electrifying concert at Roskilde Festival in 2018, where they truly cemented their reputation as a band that must be experienced live. After a decade of performances across Europe, the Middle East and North America, and the release of the critically acclaimed album Sasquatch Landslide on Constellation, they are ready to take the stage at ALICE this May.

The concert is presented in collaboration with Out of Office.