The Dwarfs of East Agouza

The Dwarfs of East Agouza formed in Cairo, Egypt. The trio consists of American Alan Bishop (Sun City Girls, The Invisible Hands, Alvarius B.), Egyptian Maurice Louca (Alif, Bikya), and Canadian Sam Shalabi (Land of Kush, Shalabi Effect). The group came together in 2012 when all three members lived in the same residential building in Cairo's Agouza neighbourhood.

Their sound is a fusion of krautrock, Arabic influences, free jazz, and Egyptian shaabi music. Instrumental improvisations are driven by Louca's North African percussive loops and vibrant keyboards, Shalabi's West African-tinged free jazz guitar, and Bishop's krautrock-style acoustic bass guitar. The group has performed at festivals including Unsound Festival and Roskilde Festival.

To date, they have released six albums: Bes (2016), Both Sides of the Curtain (Live in Beirut) (2017), Rats Don't Eat Synthesizers (2018), The Green Dogs of Dashur (2020), High Tide in the Lowlands (2023), and Sasquatch Landslide (2025), which the trio will present at this Prague concert.

- Maurice Louca (keyboards, electronics)
- Sam Shalabi (electric guitar)
- Alan Bishop (acoustic bass guitar, alto saxophone, vocals)