Alternative Brains Rule Festival

The 2025 edition of the festival formerly known as AfroBanana.
AfroBanana becomes the Alternative Brains Rule Festival, making its debut in the heart of Lefkosia on June 19-20-21-22, 2025.

4 days. 2 iconic venues.

Taking over the Municipal Gardens and Municipal Theatre in the heart of the city, featuring:
BEST OF: music in the Gardens
A celebration of the sounds that shaped the festival — and a dive into uncharted sonic territory in the Municipal Gardens. Our Best Of open-air programme brings back unforgettable artists from past editions alongside bold new acts from Cyprus and beyond.
Expect a triumphant return from South African headliners BCUC — winners of the 2023 WOMEX World Music Artist Award and one of the most talked about live acts in the world right now.

BCUC (SA) (LIVE) ・LUZMIRA ZERPA & DRYMBAGO (VE & WLS) (LIVE) ・BRASS RAVE UNIT (NL) (LIVE) ・NAMA DAMA (LIVE) ・SPHERICAL COW (LIVE) ・ZELZELEH (IN & IR) (LIVE)・RUMBA ATTACK (LIVE) ・TATADANA (AFR DIASPORA CY) (LIVE)・RADIO PANGEA ・CLAUDIO

1984-NOW – Η ιστορία της Ηλεκτρονικής Μουσικής στην Κύπρο | Electronic Music in Cyprus: a retrospective

Electronic music takes centre stage at the Municipal Theatre. Five showcases trace the scene from its underground roots to its contemporary voices. It all kicks off with an awards ceremony honouring the pioneers who helped shape it. Featured artists range from mavericks — Evagoras Karageorgis, Menelaos Tomasides, Manic Mike — to emerging voices like Kasska and La Rod’s. Curated by ABR, Sousami, Alex Tomb, Barking Cats Radio, Honest Electronics.

AWARDS CEREMONY・EVAGORAS KARAGEORGIS (LIVE)・MENELAOS TOMASIDES (LIVE)・PLASMATIK・BOMBASOUL・ARISTODEMOS・GEORGES D’ ANDRÉ・NANA・AFROFOX・SOCRATES x MANIC MIKE・JOHNNY BLUE・VALDÉS x SHAYAN・FLUX MAGNETIC・ALEX TOMB・LA ROD’S・MMCCCXCIX (LIVE)・RAFEE・ALCHEMIST・PAUL LAZA・ALEX CLE・MANOS・MESITIS・WHYNOTSAVIO・ALLEY CATS・PATSAS・PENNY K・SIÅLVIÅ x IOLI ・ KASSKA (LIVE) ・ ASTRAL WANDERER (LIVE)・ DJHARAMA・PANAYOTIS (LIVE)・X.YPNO (LIVE) ・YAKOVLEV (LIVE)・ANDROULA (LIVE)

COMMON GROUND: art & workshops in the Gardens

Wander through a living exhibition of site-specific installations, join a hands-on workshop, or stumble upon something unexpected. From a new bridge connecting the Gardens to the Theatre transformed into an immersive artwork, to glassworks made from river fragments, to hand-dying wool or tasting kombucha — Common Ground is where creative encounters spark new ways of seeing.

ART: WINDOWS TO THE SOUL by Maria Mitsi・ PEACOCK HAND JUICER by Visual Voices・HEAD & HAND SERIES by Kyriaki Costa
UMBRA by Studio [lamarina] x Ferhat Yeşilada・OUR STREETS by OPU COLLECTIVE
WORKSHOPS: CLOSER TO FARM・MIKRO KOMBUCHA・COMMUNITY CLOTH・TERRARIUM SYMPHONY
BEST FOR KIDS: FOREST SCHOOL・LEARNING MEETS CREATIVITY・JO’S FUNLAND・AHDR SONGBIRDS INTERCOMMUNAL CHILDREN’S CHOIR

TRAPEZOMA & STREET FOOD: feast under the trees

Look out for some of the island’s most exciting chefs popping up in the middle of the Gardens to cook up a storm — from taquerias to plant-based curries, ice-cream sandwiches and everything in between. Our street food court will be open to all — with or without a festival ticket.

And on Sunday, the gates swing open for everyone with free entry and the return of Trapezoma — a long-table feast, with DJs selecting grooves from the head of the table. Favourites like Synch founder Dimitri Papaioannou and Koulla P. Katsikoronou will be on the decks, while the team from Patrikon serves up a nostalgic menu featuring some of their most-loved dishes, from trachanokeftedes to kleftiko.

TRAPEZOMA: TO PATRIKON (FOOD)・DIMITRI PAPAIOANNOU (GR)・KOULLA P. KATSIKORONOU・FACETS (US)・SIXONESIX ・LIZZY’S KITCHEN (FOOD)
STREET FOOD COURT: LIZZY’S KITCHEN・THE ULTIMATE BITE・GARDEN GOURMET・ FATTY BUNS

Full programme at abrfest.com.
Visit www.abrfest.com and follow @abrfest for all the latest updates.
PRESALE (online)
THU €19 | FRI €29 | SAT €29
ALL DAYS €40
AT THE DOOR (& online from 19 June)
THU €25 | FRI €35 | SAT €35
ALL DAYS €45
Children under 12 get free entry.
But Sunday is free for everyone — no ticket required 🙂
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𝐒𝐏𝐎𝐍𝐒𝐎𝐑𝐒
MAIN SPONSORS: DEPUTY MINISTRY OF CULTURE | JACK DANIEL’S | ASAHI
MEDIA SPONSOR: ANT1 LIVE
CO-HOSTED BY: NICOSIA FOR ART
SPONSORS: SCAFFOLDING SOLUTIONS | G.I. ELECTRICAL LTD | ONEK
SUPPORTERS: SAFER + SAFER | CYPRUS PUBLIC TRANSPORT | HERMES AIRPORTS
CULTURE SUPPORTER: DEEJAY RADIO
TRAPEZOMA: POWERED BY EATAPP | SUPPORTED BY CSI
PRODUCED BY ALTERNATIVE BRAINS RULE (ABR)