Arab Music Tour Canceled Out Of Concern For Musicians' Safety

NEW YORK (AP) - Desert Roses and Arabian Rhythms, a festival tour celebrating the diversity of Arab music has been canceled out of concern for the musicians' safety.

The tour which was to feature Algerian rai singer Khaled, Egyptian street-pop artist Hakim and Iranian-born singer Andy - was called off on September 11 as Khaled and Hakim awaited flights to New York. The tour was set to begin September 14 in Washington, D.C., with a show in New York two days later, according to a spokesperson for Mondo Melodia, the label that organized the festival. The tour was scheduled to hit 10 U.S. cities.

Andy, whose full name is Andy Madadian, lives in Los Angeles and sings in Farsi, Urdu, Armenian and English.
"This festival was really for young people, but the idea of Arab musicians and fans partying and celebrating to Arab music might have given some people the wrong message," the spokesperson said, adding that the artists involved were concerned for their safety in light of reports of Arabs being attacked in the United States.

The label plans to reschedule the tour for late January or early February.

The tour was named after the Sting hit "Desert Rose," which featured rai singer Cheb Mami, who was not on the tour lineup.