Alicia Keys To Perform in Saudi Arabia: The Award-Winning Singer-Songwriter Announces Performance at Maraya In AlUla This February
Presented by Good Intentions, “One Night Only” will be a history-making moment for both the UNESCO heritage site and the artist herself
Alicia Keys will perform at Maraya in AlUla, Saudi Arabia on February 11; Bazaar Arabia shares all the details here…
R&B and soul lovers in the region, mark your calendars…
Multi-Grammy-award winner and American singer-songwriter Alicia Keys is set to perform for “One Night Only” at the awe-inspiring concert hall Maraya in AlUla, Saudi Arabia. This is the first time the singer-songwriter – who has sold more than 90 million records worldwide – will perform in the Kingdom, at the majestic epicenter of art and history and progression under a glistening night sky, showcasing her latest album, KEYS.
Maraya, which means reflection or mirror in Arabic, is built close to Saudi Arabia’s first UNESCO World Heritage site, Al-Hijra. Brilliant in its architecture, the mirrored hall is a combination of modernism and antiquity and is surrounded by mountains – the perfect cultural setting for an evening of music.
In addition to the live concert and, and in dialogue with HRH Princess Reema Bint Bandar Al Saud – the first female Saudi Ambassador to the US – Keys who is an influential activist will co-host a Town Hall, titled “Women to Women,” on February 12; the event will be focusing on female empowerment initiatives and the Kingdom’s plans on pursuing a progressive vision.
In an intimate discussion, HRH Princess Reema Bint Bandar Al Saud and Alicia will cover a variety of topics with ground-breaking female entrepreneurs, business owners, creatives, and artists, focusing on themes of power, purpose and progression.
“There is no denying the beauty and enchantment of AlUla, I have always been an explorer and I adore discovering ancient places and what has been left behind of times long gone. But there is something more. I met women business owners here that had a powerful sense of creating meaningful experiences,” Alicia said in a statement. “I visited a women’s music school in the old town and got to see firsthand the continuation of the timeless artisan traditions here. I feel the future emerging in a way I was never aware of before. And as an artist, I feel a sense of belonging and connection – with nature, with the humanity, with the magic of this special place. I have been really enjoying doing these “One Night Only” shows all over the world in special once in a lifetime location. I’m excited to add AlUla to the very exclusive and special list.”
This special event will be presented by Good Intentions, a global creative agency founded by Kasseem “Swizz Beatz” Dean – Alicia’s husband – and partner, Noor Taher. The agency, which opened its doors late last year, aims to create meaningful cultural experiences that spark dialogue, invoke positive feelings, and nurture creative cultural exchanges – both within the region and around the world.
The season will also see two other female artists perform at AlUla: rising popstar Naika, who will perform alongside regional sensation Rahma Riyadh on Feb 24.
Having sold more than 90 million records, the classically trained pianist started composing songs at the tender age of 12, before going on to secure her first record deal three years later. Songs in A Minor, her debut album, was released in 2001, leading to both critical and commercial success, making Alicia a household name; it sold over 12 million copies worldwide and produced her first Billboard Hot 100 Number One single, “Fallin.”
The concert will be broadcast on MBC and YouTube (AlUla Moments), taking place the same weekend as AlUla Desert Polo and the Desert X AlUla art event.
For more information, visit experiencealula.com
