Wed 24 Jun 2026, Stroud Brewery, Stroud

Spellbinding Palestinian folk-rock-and beyond Zaid Hilal is a Palestinian singer and composer from Bethlehem, carrying forward a living musical heritage shaped by memory, resistance, and everyday life. As Palestinian artists, we dont only preserve heritage, we build on it. We create new music that grows from it, music that reflects our present reality and the struggles we continue to live through. Zaid Hilal This will be a solo act with backing tapes including Zaid's field recordings of Elders' remembered songs of resistance. The venue is a famous community venue with a particularly fine beer selection. Zaid's 2025 UK tour was a great success. Here's what one punter wrote at the Elementary Festival "There are moments when music becomes more than sound, it becomes collective prayer. This set at Elementary Festival deserves its own story. When Zaid took the stage, his voice carried more than melody, it carried memory, longing, resistance, and love. As we chanted back Hala lala layya with him, we werent just singing we were remembering. Rooted in ancient folk song, these words echo a love so powerful it would be "written on birds wings. Carried by wind. Etched in tears" In that moment, we sang not just for one another, but for all who long to be free. For Palestine. For the ones whose songs are interrupted. For the voices that rise even when silenced. It was joy... It was resistance. It was ancestral rhythm meeting modern grief. And it was holy. May we keep singing. May we never forget. May our voices carry around the world. How wonderfully blessed to be present with this" Maggie In the Middle East Zaid is a rising star with over a million youtube hits and multiple thousands of followers. See instagram @zaidhilalofficial And his thriving youtube channel. Also his website https://zaidhilal.com