Manama, Bahrain Economic Development Board 20 March 2018: UK X Factor winner James Arthur will take the stage this weekend as part of the thirteenth edition of the annual festival the Spring of Culture. The concert will take place at Bahrain Bay on the 23rd of March at 8:30 pm.
James Arthur embarked on his music journey from a young age, writing and recording songs both as a solo artist and in bands in his teens. Apart from his extraordinary showmanship qualities and extremely distinct voice, James also has a natural talent for songwriting.
James became a star overnight after winning the ninth series of The X Factor in 2012, after which his debut single “Impossible” became a worldwide hit. With more than three million records sold, No.1 positions in 50 countries and multiple gold and platinum awards, the single “Impossible” became the most successful UK “X Factor” winner’s single of all time. His follow up single, ‘You’re Nobody ’til Somebody Loves You’, reached number two on the UK charts. James’ self-titled debut album hit number 2 on the album chart after release in November 2013.
In September 2016, James released the single “Say you Won’t Let Go” and it rocketed to the top of the UK music charts – as well as number 27 in the American Billboard Hot 100 chart. His subsequent album, “Back from the Edge”, was released in October 2016 and topped the charts, confirming his position in the spotlight.
Thirteen years after its inauguration, the Spring of Culture festival has transformed into a landmark in Bahrain’s calendar of events. The festival contributes significantly to Bahrain’s tourism sector each year which is a key priority sector for the EDB as part of its diversification strategy. The number of inbound tourists to Bahrain has been increasing year on year, with the total number of visitors reaching 12.7 million last year as compared to 12.2 million in 2016.
Apart from being a festival that builds cultural communication bridges between Bahrain and the rest of the world, Spring of Culture also supports SME’s in the Kingdom whose products and services are enjoyed by and promoted to a new and wider audience during the pre-shows.
Tamkeen is committed to helping drive growth in local businesses and contributes to the promotion of Bahraini SMEs. As a result, it has become a Partner of Spring of Culture for SME Development. SMEs focused on food and beverage can showcase their products during the festival, adding to the visitors’ overall experience of all that Bahrain has to offer and contributing to the promotion of Bahraini SMEs.
The Gold Sponsors of this year’s festival are: Bahrain Telecommunications Company (Batelco), GFH Financial Group, National Bank of Bahrain (NBB) and Tamkeen, while Silver Sponsors include: Aluminium Bahrain (ALBA), Bahrain Airport Company (BAC), Bahrain Duty Free, Bahrain Petroleum Company (Bapco), Bank of Bahrain and Kuwait (BBK), Gulf Air and Huawei. Other partners and supporters include: the Bahrain Institute of Banking and Finance (BIBF); Investate; the National Oil and Gas Authority; Bahrain Maritime & Mercantile International (BMMI); and the embassies of Italy, Japan, USA and Mexico.
For the latest news and updates on events, follow the official Spring of Culture official channel @springofculture on Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, and YouTube. The full festival program details are available on www.springofculture.org and on the Spring of Culture App.
-ENDS-
For more information, please contact:
Economic Development Board
Telephone: +973 17589966
E-mail: NC@BahrainEDB.com
Notes to editors:
About Spring of Culture
The Spring of Culture is an annual festival recognised as one of the most significant cultural events in Bahrain. The festival is organised by the Bahrain Authority for Culture and Antiquities (BACA), Bahrain Economic Development Board (EDB) and Shaikh Ebrahim Centre for Culture and Research, in cooperation with Al Bareh Art Gallery and La Fontaine Centre for Contemporary Art.
The Spring of Culture has offered up a multitude of exciting and distinctive experiences over the past twelve seasons. The annual festival has brought an array of talented artists from Bahrain, the Arab world and beyond, covering theatre, art, music, poetry and literature. The festival also includes a host of other cultural activities held throughout the Kingdom that highlight Bahrain’s rich heritage and unique cultural and historical landmarks, entertaining and educating local citizens and overseas visitors.
