Byblos , Lebanon ( CNN ) -- The ancient town of Byblos has long been a draw for visitors to Lebanon 's picturesque west coast . Home to a fascinating history , it is believed to have been the first Phoenician city and can be dated as far back as 7000 BC . But these days Byblyos ( or Jbeil as it is more commonly known in Arabic ) dances to a very different tune . Every summer a 600 strong production crew comes together to put on the Byblos International Festival ( BIF ) , transforming the Mediterranean town into an unlikely haven for music lovers . This year 's event witnessed a record number of artists on stage in one night -- a testament to how popular and ambitious the event has become . `` Lebanon and this particular venue , for those who have experienced it , has a particular aura , '' said Naji Baz , the festivals producer and artistic director since 2003 . For Baz , the festival is a full time job , which he and his core team spend all year working on without pay . It 's this passion and commitment that has allowed them to convince international stars like the Gorrillaz , Patti Smith , Snow Patrol and Lana Del Rey to perform at Byblos . `` Artists do talk to each other , so each one who came here over the past 13 years has become our best ambassador . '' Artistic roots . BIF first began in the 1960s and ran periodically through the next four decades before becoming an annual fixture since 2003 . The spectacular setting backlit by a 12th-century castle has become the event 's defining feature . But putting on the show does n't come without its challenges . `` We 're in the site that 's 2,500 years old so each time you need to use a hammer , you have to get proper written authorization from the Ministry of Tourism and stuff because it 's very much a protected site , '' Baz said . Ancient artifacts are n't the only obstacles . Putting world-renowned artists on show is an expensive business . Baz describes how this year 's festival will cost between $ 4 million and $ 4.5 million . Sponsors and public funds take care of $ 1.5 million worth of this cost meaning the extra $ 3 million must be met ticket sales . Just to break even on expenses , therefore , the event has to sell 40,000 tickets . Whereas most other festivals rely on ticket sales for a third of their income , in Byblos they make up 75 % of revenues . Regional unrest . Then there 's the difficulty of bringing international musicians and fans to a country that has experienced its fair share of turmoil in recent years . Visitor numbers have been dipping since the war in neighboring Syria began three years ago . `` We 're relying almost solely on locals ( for ticket sales ) , '' Baz explained . 2014 headline act Marcel Khalife , a Lebanese singer and composer , led an ensemble of 160 musicians . He spoke of the concerns of his fellow artists on visiting and performing in his country . `` I always play with large orchestras around the world , '' Khalife said . `` However , here in Lebanon in these difficult situations to be able to carry out this sort of work is not easy . `` People come warily because maybe something will happen , an explosion , so it was difficult . '' Fortunately for Baz and Khalife , this year 's event has been a success despite all of the difficulties entailed with staging such a sizable event in this part of the world . `` We 're achieving our quantitative goals year after year because Lebanon has got a strong middle class and a strong need for cultural events , '' Baz said . But after all the drama and the stress of ensuring everything goes off without a hitch , there is now another pressing concern for the indefatigable organizers . How to begin preparing for next year .
Byblos International Festival attracts music lovers from across the world . World famous acts like Gorillaz and Snow Patrol have played the event over the years . Instability in Lebanon and the wider region has caused headaches for the organizers .