Latest news with #Soundstorm
Al Arabiya
23-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Al Arabiya
Guns N' Roses to rock Saudi Arabia's Riyadh in anticipated performance
Legendary US hard rock band Guns N' Roses will perform in Saudi Arabia's Riyadh for the first time on Friday, an event presented by MDLBEAST. View this post on Instagram A post shared by MDLBEAST (@mdlbeast) The band will take center stage at the Kingdom Arena, with a capacity of 28,000 attendees, performing its hits that have shaped generations to the eager crowd. The stop in Saudi Arabia is part of Guns N' Roses' global tour, which will also bring it to other Middle Eastern countries. With a rich catalogue, the band is known for classic hits such as Sweet Child O' Mine, November Rain and Knockin' On Heaven's Door. The latest performance in Saudi Arabia reflects the effort Saudi-based MDLBEAST entertainment company has been exerting in changing the entertainment and music scene in the Kingdom. MDLBEAST is behind the Soundstorm festival, that has been dubbed 'the loudest music festival in the region,' and that is known for its impressive lineup of celebrities that previously included performances by Post Malone, Bruno Mars, DJ Snake and David Guetta along with local and regional talent.
Arab News
25-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Arab News
A Thousand and One festival amplifies the Kingdom's music scene
RIYADH: Crowds from across the world flocked to attend A Thousand and One, MDLBEAST's new festival concept, where global musicians like DJ Snake and R3hab have come to Saudi Arabia to perform. The dance music festival is equipped with four stages — Sahaab, Bustan, Qafilah, and Qasr — each designed with their own sub-theme under the main concept, inspired by the timeless folktale. 'I think (the theme) is really smart. It's a good way to attract Saudi people as well as the expats,' Irma Saric from Bosnia told Arab News. She came to the festival alongside her friend, Ifeta Selimovic. The two Bosnians have been living in Saudi Arabia for several years and were excited to see a DJ from their home country, Salvatore Ganacci, on stage. 'What attracted me the most is the diversity in techno music and how there's a mix of culture, but yet it's so modern here … The music scene in Saudi is amazing. I love everything about it. I love the diversity the most. I love how they're also trying to mix Arabic music with modern beats,' Saric told Arab News. Selimovic is a regular attendee of MDLBEAST's events, including its flagship Soundstorm festival, and was excited to see DJ Snake and Turkish DJ Mahmut Orhan alongside Ganacci. 'I love the DJs a lot, the atmosphere, how they made this whole concert and everything. And I love, also, 'her' zone, because it's only us girls gathering and having fun … You are in your own world. You are just focusing on the music, and that's it, and it's not too crowded,' she told Arab News. Located in Banban, where Soundstorm's underground section took place, the four stages have transformed into magical, folkloric sets. The Qasr stage is inspired by a sultan's palace with Arabian architecture, where electronic and experimental sounds take over; the Qafilah stage echoed the spirit of camel caravans and Saudi Arabia's rich trading heritage, with tech house and melodic beats; the Bustan stage is a lush, immersive garden experience inspired by the ancient 'Kalila Wa Dimna' tales, featuring a diverse mix of genres; while the Sahaab stage was inspired by Aladdin's flying carpet. The festival also features the Bizarre Bazaar, a reimagined Middle Eastern souq where music, food, art, and culture collide. 'These kinds of festivals only happen, like, every three months, so I love to come and dance and have fun,' Saudi attendee Fares Alkudsi, who came especially for DJ Snake, said. 'The music scene has been good here ever since, but before 2019 there was not much attention to it, so now they're giving a lot of attention to the youth, they're giving a lot of attention to the artists that we love, so it's a good thing for us.' William Shakkour, from Syria but born and raised in Saudi Arabia, decided to attend the festival on a whim, and said it reminded him of the first edition of Soundstorm. 'It was basic, simple, and fantastic, so I think in the next versions, it (A Thousand and One) will be better than this one,' he told Arab News. 'Saudi Arabia has become an icon for music festivals, for the Red Sea Festival, for cinemas, for everything. I think in the near future, it will be the icon of the Middle East in different ways, like cinema, music festivals, and all the other things (in) entertainment,' he said. Vinyl Mode has been a part of the underground music scene for two decades, where many local DJs convened for the love of music, and he has since performed on countless stages during his career. On Thursday, he closed off the Sahaab stage with his house music set. 'I am excited because it's a very new concept. We are used to the massive production at the end of the year, and I have been always thinking, 'well, you know, what if we do something mid-year,' and it's happening, but with style,' he told Arab News. 'What makes it special is that it's a new moment, a new feeling, a new experience.' Hyped-up Saudi crowds have become a testament to the strength and growth of the music landscape in the region. 'The people (are) loving the music, the people getting more, learning more, being more educated. So I believe we are very lucky to be a part of this movement,' he said.
See - Sada Elbalad
23-04-2025
- Entertainment
- See - Sada Elbalad
Metallica to Perform in UAE & Bahrain in December
Rana Atef Metal legends Metallica will come to the Middle East in December for two concerts. On December 3, the legends will perform during the after-race concerts as part of the 2025 Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix on Yas Island, near Abu Dhabi, the capital of the United Arab Emirates. Tickets to the After-Race Concerts are exclusive to those who have Abu Dhabi Grand Prix ticket holders. The Grand Prix appearance will mark the third time METALLICA has performed in Abu Dhabi. The band made its debut on Yas Island in 2011 and returned two years later. On December 6, the heavy metal giants will make their Bahrain debut at Beyon Al Dana Amphitheatre. The last time Metallica performed in the Gulf was at Soundstorm in Saudi Arabia. read more New Tourism Route To Launch in Old Cairo Ahmed El Sakka-Led Play 'Sayidati Al Jamila' to Be Staged in KSA on Dec. 6 Mandy Moore Joins Season 2 of "Dr. Death" Anthology Series Don't Miss These Movies at 44th Cairo Int'l Film Festival Today Amr Diab to Headline KSA's MDLBEAST Soundstorm 2022 Festival Arts & Culture Mai Omar Stuns in Latest Instagram Photos Arts & Culture "The Flash" to End with Season 9 Arts & Culture Ministry of Culture Organizes four day Children's Film Festival Arts & Culture Canadian PM wishes Muslims Eid-al-Adha News Egypt confirms denial of airspace access to US B-52 bombers News Ayat Khaddoura's Final Video Captures Bombardment of Beit Lahia Lifestyle Pistachio and Raspberry Cheesecake Domes Recipe News Australia Fines Telegram $600,000 Over Terrorism, Child Abuse Content Arts & Culture Nicole Kidman and Keith Urban's $4.7M LA Home Burglarized Videos & Features Bouchra Dahlab Crowned Miss Arab World 2025 .. Reem Ganzoury Wins Miss Arab Africa Title (VIDEO) Sports Former Al Zamalek Player Ibrahim Shika Passes away after Long Battle with Cancer Sports Neymar Announced for Brazil's Preliminary List for 2026 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers News Prime Minister Moustafa Madbouly Inaugurates Two Indian Companies Arts & Culture New Archaeological Discovery from 26th Dynasty Uncovered in Karnak Temple
The National
02-04-2025
- Entertainment
- The National
Travis Scott to bring Circus Maximus tour to Qatar in May
US rapper Travis Scott is set to bring his blockbuster Circus Maximus tour to Qatar, with a performance at the Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium in Doha on May 16. The announcement marks the third Gulf country he has performed in, following shows in Abu Dhabi in 2016 and 2023, and three separate concerts in Riyadh in 2023. Launched in 2023 in support of his album Utopia, the stadium tour is on track to become one of the highest-grossing solo rap tours of all time. It has reportedly grossed more than $200 million and sold about 1.6 million tickets to date. Visually, the tour resembles a haunted theme park, complete with dystopian flying heads and explosive pyrotechnics. The setlist features standout tracks from Utopia, including Hyaena, Sirens and Fe!n, alongside fan favourites such as Sicko Mode and Butterfly Effect. Reviewing Scott's 2023 performance at the Soundstorm music festival in Riyadh, The National praised the 'brooding and gothic quality' of the show, noting: 'Scott's punk-like energy and the sheer drama of his tracks still make him one of the most dramatic and controversial artists on stage.' Travis Scott's debut performance in Qatar follows a series of first-time shows planned in several countries, including India, South Korea and South Africa in October, as well as China and Japan in November. Scott's return to the Gulf coincides with the launch of the inaugural 1001 Festival, set to take place in Riyadh on April 24 and 25. Organised by MDL Beast – the team behind Soundstorm – the dance music festival will be held in the city's Binban district and features about 70 artists performing across five stages inspired by stories from One Thousand and One Nights. Headliners include DJ Snake, Salvatore Ganacci, Seth Troxler and Eric Prydz. Tickets for both events are available separately online.
CairoScene
01-04-2025
- Entertainment
- CairoScene
No Walls Required: The Art of Reimagining Space in Saudi Arabia
Katy Spurrell operates with a rare duality in the art world—part strategist, part creative—bridging logistics and cultural vision. Her journey began in 1980s London, where a university job at a gallery introduced her to the art scene. 'I was a tea girl,' she says, undercutting any glamor with her characteristic English irony. After graduating with a degree in Art History, Spurrell initially aspired to become a curator. Instead, she entered the field of fine art logistics, overseeing the international movement of works by masters such as Rembrandt and Michelangelo. With a calm confidence earned through experience, she speaks of the high-stakes handling of artwork—transport, storage, preservation—with a pragmatism that suggests she's seen it all. Her career has taken her across England, Italy, China, and Russia, and now to Saudi Arabia, where she serves as Head of Art and Public Programming at Aimes, based in Riyadh. Aimes is a cultural agency dedicated to designing exhibitions and immersive experiences across the region. Among its most recent projects was a collaboration with the Royal Commission for AlUla and AlUla Moments, which brought the history of the Incense Road to life through a two-hour, multisensory journey inside a labyrinth of mud-brick homes—an experience that defied conventional museum expectations. Spurrell's arrival in Saudi Arabia coincided with a pivotal chapter in the country's cultural evolution. In the five years she has lived in the Kingdom, Saudi Arabia's art and culture scene has undergone a seismic transformation, gaining international attention with initiatives like the Diriyah and Islamic Biennales and MDLBEAST's Soundstorm. And yet, Spurrell recalls a quieter period, before the spotlight, when Jeddah—not Riyadh—was the creative capital. 'It wasn't a government-led art scene; it was a grassroots movement developed by collectors and artists,' Spurrell tells #SceneNowSaudi. The establishment of the Ministry of Culture in 2019 marked a turning point, shifting not only the center of artistic gravity, but also the mechanism of opportunity—placing institutional direction at the helm of cultural production. Asked where she sees herself in this fast-moving landscape, Spurrell answers without hesitation: 'I'm the Granny.' The affectionate nickname, given to her by young Jax-based artists, had taken on added meaning—she had just become a grandmother. Her role may evolve with the seasons, but her approach is unwavering. 'I think the word nurture is the most important—to nurture people, allow them to take their own path,' she explains. 'It's not about leading; it's about me saying, 'Here's a lovely pair of hands—off you go.'' That ethos extends beyond her work with Ministry-backed exhibitions. At Aimes, she has led the development of some of the Kingdom's most ambitious creative projects, from the inaugural Noor Riyadh to the forthcoming exhibition at the King Fahad Cultural Center—set to open in September in the very venue that once hosted the first opera performed in Arabic. But Spurrell's influence reaches beyond formal institutions. She is equally committed to carving out alternative spaces for emerging creatives—artists still unaffiliated with galleries or major platforms. Think underground, reimagined for a new generation. 'We've hosted everything—heavy metal bands, once banned in Saudi, theatre workshops, open mic nights, architectural workshops. A Jeddah-based collective called Sindibad even pulled up with a truck full of art.' It's a vision that has defined Spurrell's work across continents: finding room for art where it seemingly doesn't belong. While working in Italy, she staged exhibitions in a 15th-century castle in Bari and in Renaissance palaces in Ferrara. Her work resists the sterility of white-cube galleries. Instead, it thrives in spaces never intended for cultural production—merging artistic vision with logistical prowess in a model that now finds fertile ground in Saudi Arabia. True to her British sensibility, Spurrell discusses these projects with self-effacing understatement. Asked what benefits have come from her unconventional approach, she replies drily, 'Not a lot.' In 2021, Aimes launched the first edition of Noor Riyadh inside a conference center in King Abdullah Financial District—an industrial space with concrete floors and no walls to hang artwork. 'You don't have walls to put works on, so you have to build the space from scratch,' Spurrell says. 'It's a full-scale production, not just an exhibition.' Even staff members familiar with the building were surprised by its transformation. But the format comes with challenges. Unlike traditional museums with fixed infrastructure, each new venue requires fresh investment—climate control, security, structural adaptation—tailored for museum-standard works. And then there's the matter of the audience. In cities like New York or Paris, museum-going is second nature—tourists make a beeline for the Met or the Louvre. But in Saudi Arabia, cultural tourism is still finding its rhythm. Exhibitions set in unconventional or remote locations don't fill themselves. Still, Spurrell points to an unexpected reward. 'The surprise—people are amazed when they realize they're in a space they didn't expect to see an exhibition in.' Throughout her work, one theme recurs: community. Art, in its many forms, becomes a vehicle for gathering. 'A lot of people come to Saudi thinking it's going to be an easy deal—like, 'We're going to make money, and then we'll just turn around and go home,'' Spurrell reflects. 'That's not how I see it. When I came here, I wanted to contribute—not for my own legacy, because it's not mine—but to leave something meaningful.' She expresses a sense of timing—of gratitude for arriving in the Kingdom at a moment of cultural construction. 'The energy of the Kingdom is incredible,' she says. That energy is mirrored in the spaces she's helped animate. Spurrell takes what once lived underground and makes it public. The Aimes warehouse in Jax becomes a cultural incubator throughout the year. On one evening, Saudi men belt out 1970s Italian disco under a spinning disco ball; on another, once-banned heavy metal takes the stage. Young Saudis and the international crowd converge, drawn not just by spectacle, but by a hunger for shared experience. 'We try to give people a place to create,' she says. An upcoming edition may center around Arab funk. Her career advice often echoes a broader life philosophy. Her willingness to embrace nontraditional spaces reflects a deeper openness to uncertainty. 'I've never had fear,' she says, recalling her experiences across China, Russia, Italy, and Saudi Arabia. 'I think you just need to pick yourself up and go.' That instinct—to adapt to the rhythm of a place rather than impose one's own—has quietly shaped her approach. She doesn't dictate tempo. She listens for it. Her work is shaped by this responsiveness: fluid, intentional, and unafraid of the unconventional. Asked what guidance she would give to young people hoping to enter the field, Spurrell answers without hesitation: 'My belief is that you don't have to be academically brilliant—you just have to be courageous.'
