Balad Beast: Introducing MDLBEAST’s 2nd Major Festival in Jeddah This December
After Aravia, XP Music Futures, and Soundstorm, Saudi event organisers MDLBEAST are about to bring more heat than they have already ignited in the region by bringing a brand new sonic experience to the heart of Jeddah. Here’s everything you need to know..
If you had any more doubts about Saudi Arabia turning into the region’s biggest sonic capital, think twice…
In recent years, the Gulf State has turned into a hub for several entertainment events, inviting some of the music industry’s most revered and esteemed names to perform in what has since been dubbed as some of the largest parties the Arab World had to offer. As the Kingdom is gearing up towards what is shaping up to be MDLBEAST’s third iteration of their now famed Soundstorm festival, the entertainment company has just recently announced a new cultural gathering, set to be held right in the middle of Jeddah.
Introducing Balad Beast.
Expected to fling its doors open this next Dec. 9 and 10, Jeddah’s Old Town district will soon play proud host to a new experience of a kind, featuring all genres from hip-hop, house, techno and EDM with over 70 international and local artists called up upon to make their way towards the UNESCO World Heritage site.
Founded in the seventh century, the historic quarter of town once served as Jeddah’s economic centre as built around an ancient trading port and was commonly referred to by pilgrims as one of their primary gateways before reaching the holy cities of Mecca and Medina. As locals slowly moved away with time, it is as if MDLBEAST wants to reignite the Old Town’s rich spirit, wanting to make the more traditional and modern meet by using the neighbourhood’s iconic architecture and unique palette of colour as the backdrop to their newest culture-making venture.
“Jeddah’s Old Town will be transformed into a stage for talents from near and far. This city is full of history, culture, and deeply rooted heritage, and through Balad Beast, we are striving to show the beauty of Jeddah to the world,” said Talal Al-Bahiti, MDLBEAST’s head of talent booking and chief operating officer, in a released statement.
“Given that it is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, MDLBEAST is coming in with a sustainable approach, eliminating any fireworks or pyrotechnics and replacing it with lightwork using 3D mapping and vibrant projections to bring life to the old buildings,” he continued.
As you could have probably expected, organisers have seen things in big for their first time hosting in Saudi Arabia’s second biggest city. With an impressive list of artists expected to take the stage across its two days, festival-goers can expect to see some of the industry’s most respected names flock to the Kingdom for one of the can’t-miss moments of this winter season.
Hailing all the way from the USA American rappers Busta Rhymes, Rick Ross and Lupe Fiasco will be some of the main names to get the 48-hour party going alongside DJ Premier, Italian electro duo Tale of Us and British pioneering composer Carl Cox amongst others. The promising lineup obviously includes some of Saudi Arabia’s homegrown talents, featuring the likes of Cosmicat, Vinyl Mode, Baloo, and Biirdperson.
With performances split across five different stages, namely Mirkaz Square, Roshan Square, Bab Square, Souq Square and Omda Square, Balad Beast is expected to continue establishing the Kingdom’s strong will and desire to be recognised as the regional hub for all things music, arts and culture.
How To Buy Tickets to Balad Beast
With only a limited set of tickets available, reportedly retailing at around 419 Riyals ($111), make sure to head to their website to make sure to not miss out on one of the events of this end-of-year period.