SOUNDSTORM Festival by MDLBEAST has been praised by global superstars as being a crucial part of “witnessing history in the motion” in Saudi Arabia. They are growing the music scene and providing a platform for local artists from the region to perform on the big stage.
The global superstars were the headline BIG BEAST acts to help bring the curtain down on an incredible event that saw revellers enjoy 260 hours of live music from hundreds of artists across eightstages under the Banban desert skies. From 14th to 16th (December 2023) it was a weekend that provided memories to last a lifetime. But fear not, Saudi Arabia.
The beast is coming back – and soon. Because while the lights may be going out in Riyadh, they are being switched fully on in Jeddah for BALAD BEAST in January, a stunning spectacle in the traditional courtyards of the city on the Red Sea.
Soundstorm Thursday night saw the likes of Tiësto, Metallica, R3HAB, Calvin Harris, and more than 60 other artists flock to the Saudi desert for the fourth edition of the festival. Where the opening night was filled with elite performances across all eight stages. Friday night was filled with a wide range of different music styles from superstars like Will Smith and Jazzy Jeff, Timbaland, Martin Garrix, Wiz Khalifa, along with local talent such as Hakeem, Hamid El Shari and Fulana. Saturday night was the best scene for 50 Cent, David Guetta, Steve Aoki, Swedish House Mafia, J Balvin, Armin van Buuren, Luciano, Ricardo Villalobos and many others. Just to name a few.
Soundstorm now in its fourth year has gone from strength to strength and is only continuing that trajectory. It has laid down a marker of quality and consistency that the rest of the MENA region can follow while building and encouraging the music industry around it.
International DJ Superstar Steve Aoki had the following to say when he sat down for a pressconference with international journalists during the festival: “I love coming here, I love the crowd and watching the culture here grow and expand. It’s been amazing to see it from day one when things first started to open up. I’ve really gotten to experience it all first hand. When I think about coming here it’s not just about playing a show. It’s about laying a footprint and being part of this amazing growth at this early stage”.
About MDLBEAST
MDLBEAST LLC is a music entertainment company committed to growing talent, building the regional scene, and advancing the creative economy. MDLBEAST was established following the success of its flagship festival, SOUNDSTORM, in 2019. Through its focus on artists and talent, MDLBEAST is building a talent infrastructure and providing them with opportunities which put them on global stages. Similarly, through owned events andexperiences, content, conversation, fashion, and more, MDLBEAST is helping to build a thriving, and economically sustainable, music community in and for the region. MDLBEAST operates under its three corporate arms: XP Music Futures, MDLBEAST PRESENTS and MDLBEAST Record Label.
