Needle 2024 festival to electrify Larnaca

After six weeks of immersing in Larnaca's cultural richness, it's time for a musical journey that merges the city's cultural legacy with the island's artistic flair.

The free Needle 2024 lineup in Zouhouri Square, Larnaca, offers an array of new artistic creations, visual installations, digital artworks, and live music performances and DJ sets.

On Saturday, 11th May, Needle 2024 kicks off at 3:00 PM, filling Zouhouri Square with artistic delights until late into the night.

The festival commences with DJ Flawless, setting the mood with downtempo electronic beats, followed by Dervish Zeybek's captivating dance performance. Artist Nona Michael will showcase "Muhavere," drawing from the tradition of Karagiozis shadow theatre. Local poet m.ouv will recite her poetry, while Kasska presents her fusion of lo-fi beats with the essence of the Cypriot dialect. Pianist Hayat Sebep will enchant the audience with compositions inspired by Larnaca's Salt Lake, and Panagiotis Minas will offer experimental sounds inspired by the vanishing coastlines of Kiti. The smallest Creature will bring their alternative rock melodies, followed by Monsieur Doumani, who infuses the celebration with Cypriot-inspired music. The night concludes with DJ Cotsios O Pikatillis, spinning big beats and eclectic tunes to mark the end of Needle 2024.

In the background, Needle's ambiance, crafted from recycled materials by architect Michalakis Georgiou and enhanced with optical light projections by digital artist Haris Avraam, provides a unique setting for the festival.

The six participating artists underwent a six-week research process, guided by invited artists and cultural experts. Parallel events such as Needle & Thread Talks engaged the audience in conversations with the artists. Supported by the Phoebus Stavridis Foundation, Larnaka Cultural Foundation, Youth Maker Space, and Hot Soap Studios, the artists aim to transform Zouhouri Square into a hub of artistic expression, redefining Larnaca's cultural identity and promoting unity through culture.

"Needle is a social and artistic experiment that embodies our collective effort to address Cyprus's cultural identity crisis by embracing and exploring our cultural heritage," said Needle founder George Antoniou.

Program:
- 15:00 - 17:00: DJ Flawless sets the mood with downtempo rhythms
- 15:00 - 21:30: Brainstorming Board session imagines the island's cultural future with UNFICYP
- 17:30 - 17:45: Dervish performance blends traditional dance with contemporary movements
- 18:00 - 18:15 & 19:45 - 20:00: Nona Michael presents "Muhavere," capturing the essence of Zouhouri square's shadow theatre
- 18:30 - 19:05: m.ouv's piano compositions intertwine with poetry
- 19:15 - 19:50: Kasska's fusion of lo-fi beats and Cypriot soul
- 20:00 - 20:45: Hayat Sebep's piano-based fairy tales with natural soundscapes
- 21:00 - 21:35: Panagiotis Minas's experimental guitar sounds inspired by Kition's disappearing coastlines
- 21:45 - 22:30: The Smallest Creature performs pop tunes with a grunge rock twist
- 22:45 - 00:00: Monsieur Doumani explores Cypriot tradition with experimental compositions
- 00:00 - 01:00: DJ Cotsios O Pikatillis closes the festival with big beats and dance music for all to enjoy.