Leaks – Gino's Blog

Lana Del Rey in Beirut End of May

May 18, 2013 By Gino 4 Comments

GOD DAYYUM! My greatest fear used to be Islamist extremists, but after tonite, my new phobia is Lana Del Rey’s Lebanese fans. In a move that, in retrospect, caused way too much trouble, I teased that Lana Del Rey will be in Beirut this May after leaking that she will be one of the headliners in the Byblos Festival.

I wasn’t lying though, I have confirmed that Lana Del Rey will be in Beirut on the 30th of May for the opening of Sky Bar Beirut. And it doesn’t matter if she has a performance a day before and a day after, appearances at clubs means a short performance and she won’t have to be in Beirut too long.

The hint that there will be no tickets and announcement should’ve been obviously interpreted as a guest star at a club, but, some folks thought I was alluding that she won’t come at all and was trying to ruin their night.

Take a look at some of the tweets which made my night. On a side note, I love you all, and I apologize for not interacting with you more after dropping that bomb shell, but I was celebrating my dearest Najib’s bachelor-hood all over Beirut and Keserwen =P

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Filed Under: Leaks

The Weekly Leaks: The Gärten by Überhaus Opening June 22

May 14, 2013 By Gino 11 Comments

My love for Überhaus needs no introduction. I’ve seen most of you there by now, and whenever I can, I’m there Friday-Saturday when I’m in Beirut. I told you about the plans the guys at Uberhaus had to open a summer pop-up club, the first of its kind in Beirut. It’s getting closer and if you are passing by near BIEL today, you probably saw them setting up!

It’s gonna be open every Saturday during summer and officially opens June 22nd with the Parisian Trupple Appolonia (Dan Ghenacia, Dyed Soundorom and Shonky) headlining the night, alongside of course the Uberhaus residents: Romax, Ronin and Nesta, Fat Dutch, Phil, CAB, Richard Kahwagi.

On one side of the venue is the picturesque bamboo garden of The Beirut Exhibition Center, on the other will be a massive island bar and a separate garden space for a variety of art installations and exhibitions. It will also have a large grass lawn, so you can take off your flipflops and enjoy the grass between your toes (watch out for cigarette butts though =P)

The main feature though will be a large, open-faced dome (the kind I adored at Coachella this year!) that’ll easily fit some 800 clubbers. The lights and sound system incorporated into the framework is looking epic, and I seriously can’t wait to see how it all comes together!

Some of the names you can expect to see this summer include Danny Daze, Carl Craig and Polish duo Catz n Dogz… So, FUCK. YES. I told you this was gonna be the best summer Beirut has ever seen (nightlife-wise at least!)

Here’s what it’ll probably look like!

Filed Under: Leaks

The Weekly Leaks: 5 Unannounced Byblos Festival Acts + No Iron Maiden

May 14, 2013 By Gino 7 Comments

This leak was tiring. I literally used every single contact I had to try and find out, but for some reason, everyone is being extra tight-lipped this year. But, of course, there’s always a way to find out, and this year’s lineup has a couple of surprises.

1- No Iron Maiden

The Byblos Festival page denied that categorically several times already, so it’s no.

2- Pet Shop Boys

First big act which I think y’all will enjoy are the Pet Shop Boys. To my best reckoning, they’ve never been to Lebanon, so this will be an awesome first.

3- NAS

The legendary rapper and husband of none other than Kelis, is coming too! I saw NAS live last year at Virgin Mobile’s Freefest in Baltimore, and it was an epic performance that had everyone rapping along and Nas giving it his all. He’s the 5th best MC of all time according to MTV in 2012 and his feud with billionaire Jay Z up until a few years ago is what made them both so infamous (thanks wikipedia!). Nas is gonna be cool, it’s good to see more “legit” rappers pay us a visit and not just Lil-Wayn-type noobs.

4- Scorpions

They’re coming back it seems after their 2011 stop at Byblos. Not sure how smart that is, but I guess they did their research and found out that folks in Lebanon still want to see the band perform again… This leak is the only one I don’t trust completely. Nas and Pet Shop Boys are a definite.

5- Rahbani Play

Not sure which one, I reckon it’s something new. Rahbani plays at Byblos Festival have become a tradition we’re all used to. And even though that might not come off as a “leak” since it was pretty much expected, I think it’s definitely worth mentioning

Announced:

Nightwish and Yanni are already announced.

UPDATE: Lana Del Rey

After posting this, several friends and readers insisted that they are sure Lana Del Rey is coming, so, yes, Summertime Sadness for me =P

Filed Under: Leaks

10 Things You Need To Know About Virgin Radio Lebanon + Photos of Their Studios

May 13, 2013 By Gino 7 Comments

I can’t stress how happy I am of the leak earlier this year, and how lucky I was that I got on the good side of the guys behind it and apart from getting to meet Sir Richard Branson this week, I got the first scoop into what Virgin Radio Lebanon is gonna be all about, and how, as so many of us have wondered, will it compete in the already over-saturated English-speaking radio channel industry.

Here’s a summary I broke down into an easy-to-read list of what Najy Cherabieh, the General Manager, had to tell me.

1- It’s All About Social Media

It’s not an extra thing for them, it’s the most important one. Everything will be online and you can think of the FM as the manifestation of what’s happening online. Form song requests to competition participations, roadshows, events and even “hype” gauges, it’s all going to be on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and even Whatsapp.

2- Studios Open for the Public

Radio studios in Lebanon are usually apartments that were refitted, and rarely have any human eyes seen them. I mean, has anyone seen a radio studio? I’ve seen two, and I was not impressed. The Virgin Radio Lebanon one will not only be open to listeners, but also has a fully-equipped bar and a large rooftop lounge where I’ve been told events will be held, such as interviews, small shows and even signing sessions.

3- 10 Hits in a row

Most stations have a 3 or 4 song interval between ads, and if you’re like me, you switch to another one the second ads start to play. The ad campaign, which I didn’t get at first, is that VRL will play 10 hits back-to-back between radio spots, so that’s a solid 35-40 minutes of uninterrupted music, making actually putting the radio on outside of your car when stuck in traffic a viable option.

4- No self promotion

All the stations are number 1 in Lebanon. All of them have exclusives. All of them are the biggest, etc. VRL won’t ever do any of those things because it’s against the Virgin branding guidelines. So, yaaaay!

5- Ad-less Weekends

After 4:00PM on Fridays and Saturdays, there will be no ads at all. That means that when you’re going to a club, back from one or wherever else you were, you won’t here 3-minute epic poetry about whichever washed-up artist is coming to Beirut. I think this is awesome, and would be interesting to see how other stations react or try to adapt to that.

6- Non-Electronic Weekends

I’ve always loved the fact that all the 3 big stations feature electronic music sets on the weekends. But, I also am aware of how almost everyone else hates that. Plus, if you’re an EDM connoisseur, chances are you get your fix online, not on a weekly radio show the old-school way. VRL will have the same type of music all the time: commercial hits, even on weekends, which I think a lot of people will enjoy, given that the lowest listernship for the other 3 stations is on weekend nights.

7- Listener-controlled playlists and frequencies

A hit station usually bombards us with the same song 20 times a day for weeks, and if we hated it at first, we’ll be singing it by heart after a couple of days stuck in Beirut traffic. VRL won’t do that, in fact, new songs will have a very low frequency starting off, and the favorites will get played more often. There will be a “music jury” page online that anyone can log on to and upvote or downvote a song they like, and based on that, it’ll be played more often the more upvotes it gets. Why I think this is particularly cool? Well, imagine a rising Lebanese talent manages to produce a radio-worthy song. Getting it submitted, you could get your fans to upvote it, making it go up the charts, without needing to spend big money and getting favors!

8- Mandatory Replies

If you interact with anyone in VRL online, they have to answer you back, even if you’re being a dick. Usually, radios here act all high and mighty and getting in touch is a hassle most of the time, or your comments go unnoticed. At VRL, every email, comment, message will be answered, and they’re very serious about that, which is a leap in terms of customer service in Lebanon’s FM world.

9- No Expensive SMSes and They Call Back

Usually, when you text the 4-digits radio stations ask you to, you’re charged 1.5-2USD which the station gets 60% of, and you rarely ever get a reply back. VRL has no SMS line and you can enter competitions, submit requests, etc. via any social media platform, including popular chat client Whatsapp. Also, they’ll call you, you don’t have to call them. No money spent, it’s all free from your end.

10- Roadshows 2.0

Radio roadshows in Lebanon are usually standing in a mall, asking people a couple of questions and maybe giving away a few prizes with radio music playing in the background. VRL has a whole team just to organize those roadshows into something fun and interactive, with LED screens integrating all the social media feeds into one space, from which the winners would be chosen. I think this is cool because it gives everyone a chance, your name doesn’t need to be drawn and you don’t need to dial a busy number 2321 times and then hold for 13123 minutes for a mere chance to give an answer and participate… Plus, for advertisers, they’ll get a nice package of online, offline and “below the line” coverage, not just 3o-second spots. So, it’s sort of a new revenue flow for the station that ultimately means less air time for annoying spots.

A Few Notes

Of course, all these awesome things wouldn’t be possible without the massive infrastructure and support of Virgin all around the world. You must understand that the other stations did not have that kind of support, even NRJ, which is also an international brand, but open as a franchise in Lebanon and managed fully by Lebanese. VRL is jointly-managed by Lebanese entrepreneurs and businessmen and women as well as the Branson Group.

The radio won’t play songs older than 4-5 years. It’s all about the latest hits, so don’t expect Jimmi Hendrix and Pink Floyd. It’s about the pop and hiphop that’s new and fresh, but based on what listeners like, not what’s the freshest and wants to be pushed onto you by force.

I love the minimal ads too, and the lack of self-promotion as well as how accessible the station and its employees will be. At first, honestly, I thought it was just another radio station that will be mediocre and bring nothing new but a frequency. But, after being given the presentation today and allowed to ask anything I wanted, I am now a believer and am excited to see how it all plays out starting this week!

Oh, and Anthony Salameh, a Lebanese-born Australian stand-up comic, is gonna be hosting the morning show, and I think it’s genius getting a comedian as a morning radio show host. Chris Fade will be on in the afternoon, and a special show will air from 7-11PM which Mr Cherabieh has told me will be quite “different”.

Photos

Filed Under: Leaks, Leb Tagged With: richard branson lebanon, virgin radio lebanon

The Weekly Leaks: Patricia Kaas Live At Beiteddine Festival

May 6, 2013 By Gino Leave a Comment

I got wind of this while digging into the international festival scene this summer, and wasn’t 100% sure it’s leak-worthy. But, after consulting several of my Frenchie friends, I realize now that Patricia Kaas is in fact a big deal (Even I know one of her songs, Mon Mec a Moi)

She will be performing in Beirut on 26 September in the Beiteddine International Festival. The festival page and website are still dead, but her own website confirms a Beirut tour appearance.

So, you’re welcome Frenchies! =P

Filed Under: Leaks

The Weekly Leaks: SkyBar Opening May 31st

May 5, 2013 By Gino Leave a Comment

After leaking the opening dates of both White and Pier 7, I’m wrapping up “the big 3″ leaks with Sky Bar’s. I’ve confirmed the opening date for Friday, May 31st.

I also learned it’ll be opening only 3 nights a week, Thursday through Saturday. I think they’re gonna keep specifying Mondays for charity fundraisers, unless MixFM has a better pitch of course.

What’s certain though, is that the opening days at Lebanon’s big 3 for 2013 are a far cry from what they used to be in 2010 or 2011… Summer rooftop clubs were open every day, or at least 6 days a week and they could pull it off. This summer, we’re seeing the kind of schedule usually reserved for Ramandan. I guess that’s a clear indication of how much the situation in Lebanon has deteriorated since, and how less optimistic entertainment businesses are.

I am still optimistic though, and I feel this summer is going to be kind on us all. My faith this year is in the party crews and underground party scene, the part of our nightlife that does not rely on tipsy high-rollers from the region ordering one-too-many 6-liter champagne bottles.

No word on artist, will keep you guys posted though!

Filed Under: Leaks

The Weekly Leaks: Pier 7 Opening in 2 Weeks

May 2, 2013 By Gino 3 Comments

(taken from Pier 7′s FB page teasing about the opening)

May is my favorite season for leaks because they’re all fun stuff about the upcoming summer. Today, I’ve gotten my hands on the plans for Pier 7 this summer, and it’s looking good.

The Colosseum-like outdoor club will be opening 4 nights a week this season, with theme nights such as RnB nights on Wednesdays, and a different selection of artists Thursday through Saturday. This means that for all you event planners in Beirut (and charities!) you have 3 days available every week.

The opening date is set for the 15th of May, but I’m not sure who the opening act will be, if any.

I’ll keep trying to find out who the opening act will be, but till then, keep working on your tans everyone and keep the beach Instagram photos coming before you start taking the drunken ones in what will hopefully be another awesome summer in Beirut!

Filed Under: Leaks

The Weekly Leaks: Uberhaus Summer Pop-Up Club Location + Opening Date

April 24, 2013 By Gino Leave a Comment

Y’all know how much I adore Uberhaus. Well, the rumors you might have heard are true and the summer’s gonna have a new venue, right near the Beirut Exhibition Center on the Beirut Waterfront.

It’s gonna be an outdoors venue of course, in the big plot of land that is sandwiched between the concrete skeleton of what’s supposed to be Sky Bar’s “The One” and the Beirut Exhibition Center. I haven’t been able to get renders of what the plans are, but I do have some details. The bar and bathrooms will be real and fully-equipped. None of those wooden, rickety event tables for bars, or horrid porto-potties for toilets.

It’s opening on June 22nd, and I’m gonna be there. I missed the first opening, not going to miss the second one!

Here’s the location closer.

: Location

: Location closeup

Filed Under: Leaks

The Weekly Leaks: White Opening May 15th

April 22, 2013 By Gino 1 Comment

It’s here. Summer that is. I asked around and confirmed that White will be opening on May 15th this year. The official opening will be on that date, though I expect they’ll test everything out with a pre-opening event, like these rooftop clubs often do every year. I most probably won’t be in Beirut for the opening, but thought you guys would like to know since the questions about the rooftop club sensations are already starting to come in.

Can’t believe it’s summer again! And my my what a massive summer we have waiting. This is, hopefully, the first in many more leaks about this summer and what’s happening in our capital city, especially in the underground music sector!

Filed Under: Leaks

The Weekly Leaks: SMA’s Blog of the Year and Best Business on Twitter Finalists

March 26, 2013 By Gino 7 Comments

I hope this doesn’t disqualify me, but I took a couple of photos off of a person in the Online Collaborative’s laptop… They’re a couple of categories’ finalists and I’m super happy I’m one of the finalists! I think all of you will like if not love all the others in both categories.

All the finalists will be announced tomorrow around noon at Phoenicia, but this is a sneak peek that has got me all excited already. Thank you everyone who nominated this blog!

Filed Under: Leaks

Fahed Supervalue Nahr El Mot Opening This May

March 22, 2013 By Gino 2 Comments

So, that big center being built right across the highway from CityMall is a rebranded Fahed store, called Fahed Supervalue. They were putting up the sign yesterday morning and it’s fully up today, so the hunches have been confirmed: it is a Fahed. This one definitely looks much nicer than the the Jounieh one, which quite honestly, looks a little shabby and unappealing to say the least. This one is nice and shiny and streamlined.

It’s opening May of 2013, but I don’t have an exact date. I guess that means even more traffic on our already overcrowded highway into Beirut. Yaaay!

Filed Under: Leaks

The Weekly Leaks: City Centre Beirut Sneak Peek + Pleasant Surprise

March 12, 2013 By Gino 13 Comments

Remember back in 2011 when I leaked that Victoria’s Secret is opening up its first branch in Lebanon at the brand new City Centre Mall? Well, City Centre is almost complete and is set to open on April 4, 2013. There are dozens of new brands and to name a few I, and many of you guys are excited about: Victoria’s Secret, The Cheesecake Factory, Carrefour and Shake Shack!

Today, I managed to take a quick peak into the mall bustling with dozens of construction workers, architects and engineers working well beyond normal hours of business to finalize this mega-mall by April 4.

One thing I was extremely happy about was finding out Fatburger is also setting up shop in City Centre! Fatburger is my favorite burger joint in California. It’s a chill, laid-back ”burger stand” which has a really, really good burger. So, that’s a plus to this otherwise mega-leak of the interior of City Centre Beirut.

I’m going to try to go again and find out where Victoria’s Secret, The Cheesecake Factory, Carrefour and Shake Shack are opening exactly (how big the venues are, indoors or outdoors, etc.) And try to find out if anything else is a “first” for Beirut in this new mall or worth “leaking”.