The A-list headliners include Calvin Harris, J Balvin, Pharrell Williams and Wizkid
Countdown events start
MDLBeast Soundstorm 2023 runs from 14 to 16 December, and is in its fourth edition. Taking place in the Banban desert outside of Riyadh, the festival is your chance to catch local and international talent in the Kingdom
Calvin Harris: 14 December
Calvin Harris, whose birth name is Adam Richard Wiles, boasts an impressive array of accolades, including BRIT Awards, Grammy Awards, and Ivor Novello Awards. He held the coveted top spot on Forbes’ list of the world’s highest-paid DJs for an impressive six consecutive years. His chart-topping tracks span from classics like Acceptable In The 80s to modern hits like This is What You Came For. Throughout his illustrious career, he has collaborated with notable artists such as Dizzee Rascal, Ellie Goulding, Frank Ocean, and Rihanna
H.E.R.: 14 December
H.E.R. is an American singer-songwriter with a voice that effortlessly oscillates between soulful depths and ethereal highs. Her debut album was released to critical acclaim and earned her Grammy recognition. Songs like Best Part and Focus have cemented her status as a rising star in the music industry. She has also collaborated with the likes of Chris Brown, DJ Khaled, Ed Sheeran and Wizkid, who is also performing at MDLBeast Soundstorm 2023.
Martin Garrix: 14 December
Over the last decade, Martin Garrix has cemented himself as one of EDM’s most prolific artists. He is a DJ and producer known for his hits Animals, In the Name of Love, and Scared To Be Lonely. American Singer-Songwriter Miguel is known for the Grammy Award-winning Adorn, plus the singles All I Want Is You, Coffee, How Many Drinks, Simple Things and Sky Walker. Martin Garrix last visited Riyadh in January to headline the Diriyah E-Prix concerts.
R3HAB: 14 December
It’s time to get hyped up as R3HAB takes the stage. This guy knows how to work his magic behind the turntables and create beats that will make you lose control of your dance moves. Surrender yourself to the irresistible blend of EDM and catchy melodies that only R3HAB can deliver because once the music starts, there’s no way you’ll be able to resist the urge to dance your heart out to tracks such as All Around The World and Rock My Body. R3HAB is no stranger to the Kingdom having performed at Gamers8.
Wizkid: 14 December
Wizkid is a Nigerian singer, songwriter, and music sensation from Lagos, Nigeria. His music is a captivating fusion of Afrobeat, reggae, dancehall, and contemporary pop, often addressing themes of love and life. His hit tracks include Holla at Your Boy and Essence, a collaboration with Justin Bieber and Tems. One of Wizkid’s career-defining moments was his collaboration with Canadian rapper Drake on the hit single One Dance, which became a global sensation in 2016. He has also worked with Burna Boy, Chris Brown and Skepta.
Black Coffee: 15 December
DJ, record producer and songwriter Black Coffee will also take to the MDLBEast Sounstorm stage. Black Coffee will make it a night to remember with his distinctive “Afropolitan house” music. With multiple awards under his belt, including a Grammy win for Best Dance/Electronic Music Album, the celebrated house music DJ will showcase to the Kingdom the deep house music that his DJ sets are known for
Outlandish: 15 December
This Danish group performs hip-hop music with a rich blend of Middle Eastern and North African influences, combined with thought-provoking lyrics. Outlandish’s music explores themes of identity, cultural diversity, and social issues. Their breakthrough single Aicha in 2002 became an international hit, and their thought-provoking songs have touched on subjects like the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, global unity, and the challenges of immigrant life
Pharell Williams and Phriends: 15 December
Pharrell Williams is an icon of the fashion and music world. He and his childhood friend Chad Hugo formed The Neptunes, whose innovative beats and production work revolutionised hip-hop and R&B in the early 2000s. Their signature sound can be heard on hits like Nelly’s Hot in Herre and Snoop Dogg’s Drop It Like It’s Hot. Pharrell’s solo career took flight with the release of his infectious single Happy. He is also known for the tracks Get Lucky with Daft Punk and Blurred Lines, a collaboration with Robin Thicke. In February this year, Pharrell was appointed as Louis Vuitton’s new men’s creative director
Solomun: 15 December
Solomun is an influential figure in the electronic music scene. Born in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Solomun’s musical journey has taken him from a small town to the global stage. DJ Solomun is celebrated for his ability to create immersive and dynamic sets, and his selections often include a blend of deep house, techno, and melodic tracks, creating a unique and mesmerizing sonic journey for the audience
Afrojack: 16 December
Afrojack (real name Nick Leonardus van de Wall) hails from Holland. He went from learning graphic design to playing in local pubs. Today, he is one of the highest-earning DJs in the world. Over his career, he has collaborated with artists including David Guetta, Nicki Minaj and Missy Elliott. This won’t be the first time you can catch Afrojack in Saudi Arabia, as he previously performed at last year’s edition of MDLBeast Soundstorm and the Formula 1 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix 2023. Popular in the kingdom, he is loved for his high-energy shows, spinning hit after hit. We’re hoping he plays his famous numbers including Ten Feet Tall, Turn up the Speaker and Unstoppable.
Armin van Buuren: 16 December
Armin van Buuren is one of the world’s biggest DJs and producers. He was born in the Netherlands and has headlined shows and festivals across the world including Electric Daisy Carnival, Ultra Music Festival and Tomorrowland. He has held residencies at Hï Ibiza and Las Vegas. We’re hoping he plays his famous dance hits at MDLBeast Soundstorm, which include Blah Blah Blah, Great Spirit, Leave A Little Love and Music Means Love Forever. The DJ has collaborated with Alesso, Steve Aoki and Trevor Guthrie, so we’re keeping our fingers crossed for surprise guests
David Guetta: 16 December
David Guetta is no stranger to the MDLBeast Soundstorm stage, having headlined the event in 2022. The popular DJ hails from Paris, France, and is famous for his electronic beats and collaborations. His popular songs include Titanium, She Wolf and Don’t You Worry. Over his career, he has sold more than 10 million albums and 65 million singles. Plus, he has won Grammy Awards, American Music Awards and Billboard Awards
J Balvin: 16 December
Colombian reggaeton singer J Balvin has become a global sensation in the realm of Latin music and will take to the MDLBeast Soundstorm stage this year. The rapper has delivered a string of chart-topping singles, including tracks like Mi Gente with Beyoncé and I Like It, a collaboration with Cardi B. He’s also worked with Bad Bunny, DJ Khaled and Maluma, racking up Latin Grammys and Billboard Music Awards along the way.
Steve Aoki: 16 December
The one and only Steve Aoki is about to bring an adrenaline-pumping experience like no other as he unleashes his signature brand of EDM in Riyadh. With his electrifying remixes and original tracks like Boneless and Delirious, he’s got the magic touch to ignite the Gamers8 crowd and turn the atmosphere into pure euphoria. The superstar DJ was last in the Kingdom for the Gamers8 festival in August
Tickets Platform
MDLBeast Soundstorm tickets are available via Platinumlist and start from SAR 169 for one-day general admission passes, and go up to SAR 1,999 for one-day VIB (very important beast, of course) passes.
So, put the 14 to 16 December in your diary, as it’s about to get loud.
GO: Visit https://riyadh.platinumlist.net for tickets and more information.
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