Saudi Arabian music entertainment brand MDLBEAST’s staple event Soundstorm makes its highly-anticipated return from December 16th - 19th for its sophomore 2021 edition. The four-day electronic dance music festival serves as one of the first of its kind in the region and is slated to take place once again in Banban, Riyadh, welcoming over 150 international and regional artists to soundtrack festival-goers’ experiences, all sprawled across 8 stages in-total. For those looking to attend the festival and the first edition of its accompanying 3-day XP Conferenceevent, tickets are on sale now via the official MDLBEAST website - https://mdlbeast.com/.
PURCHASE: MDLBEAST: SOUNDSTORM 2021 TICKETS HERE
A major hub for culture and music in Saudi Arabia, the first edition in December of 2019 saw over 400,000 in attendance, with over 80 artists playing across 6 stages. Upping the ante tenfold, the upcoming festival now features over 150 acts from across the globe, including key performances from EDM industry heavyweights the likes of Afrojack, Alesso, Armin vanBuuren, Axwell, Benny Benassi, The Chainsmokers, David Guetta, Deadmau5, Major Lazor Soundsystem, R3hab, Steve Aoki, Tchami, and Tiësto, to name a few.
Techno and house are also covered throughout the festival’s entirety, with sets slated from AdamBeyer, Amelie Lens, Bedouin, Black Coffee, Camelphat, Carl Cox, Charlotte de Witte, HotSince 82, Jamie Jones, Jeff Mills, Kevin Saunderson, Lee Burridge, Nina Kraviz, and Solomun, amongst others. Additionally, regional DJ/production talent will also be on full display with artists such as Cosmicat, Biirdperson, DesertF!sh, Hats&Klaps, Jeme, and Malkinjoining the lineup alongside many more.
MDLBEAST: Soundstorm 2021 - 'Chase The Storm' [YouTube]
In the case of a potential cancellation, ticket holders will be granted a full refund or an option to roll over their ticket as valid for the next edition of Soundstorm. On-site, COVID-19 rules and regulations, aligning with local entertainment and health regulations, have been implemented across the board, with a required proof of vaccination needing to be shown upon entry by all via the Tawakkalna app. If one tests positive for COVID-19 before the event, MDLBEAST’s customer service team will be on hand to help facilitate the next steps concerning the money that was paid.
MDLBEAST: Soundstorm 2019 - 'Big Beast Memories' [YouTube]
Single-day and 4-day tickets are on sale via the official site now, with differing tiers starting at 'Storm Chaser' (SAR 399), 'Storm Blazer' (SAR 1,649), and 'VIB / Very Important Beast' (SAR 8,999), with 'VIB Box' and 'VIB Table Service' options and pricing available upon request. Tickets are also available to purchase in-person throughout Saudi Arabia at Virgin Megastores. Party bus shuttle services to Riyadh start at SAR 135 a day, and exclusive VIB shuttle service options are also available each day for SAR 2,999. Those looking to upgrade their ticket may do so at any time by directly contacting MDLBEAST’s customer service call center. Further information regarding set times and venue location details will follow shortly.
“We are thrilled to announce the return of SOUNDSTORM and are proud to welcome some of the industry’s biggest and brightest artists and creators. Our inaugural festival in 2019 was pivotal for the music and entertainment scene in Saudi Arabia, as it put us on the world map and revealed just how rich music culture is in the Kingdom and the region. Saudi Arabia is transforming and, with it, the popularity and appetite for music and festival culture are growing exponentially. MDLBEAST is supercharging the creative industry, and we’re excited to continue showcasing it to the world. We’re ecstatic to be bringing over the biggest and best names of dance music while providing our regional audiences with regional talent to enjoy. For us, that’s the future, a clear balance which showcases the best global talent alongside stars from here in the Middle East, with a unique audience loving every minute of it.” - Talal Albahiti, MDLBEAST's COO and Head of Talent Booking and Events
ABOUT MDLBEAST – MDLBEAST is a burgeoning, multifaceted music entertainment brand that was established following the success of its flagship 2019 electronic dance music festival, MDLBEAST Soundstorm. Placing a central focus on live entertainment and its accompanying music culture, it aims to showcase established, as well as up-and-coming, talent, while also consistently presenting its enthralled audiences with original content. The company recently expanded its presence across three business sectors, including the talent, content, and events landscapes, with the sole vision to inspire and connect with Arab youth and beyond. Its talent division scouts and develops upcoming regional artists from all genres of music, giving them a platform to elevate their presence in the area across its various channels including MDLBEAST Records, the company’s imprint which produces and distributes music by local, regional, and international artists. The company’s media and publishing arm produces, distributes, and publishes original content through the lens of music inspired by regional youth culture, all of which is complementary to its live entertainment events.
ABOUT MDLBEAST’S INAUGURAL XP CONFERENCE — MDLBEAST presents the first edition of their XP Conference, a progressive three-day event taking place agongside Soundstorm. Running from December 13th - 15th, 2021, XP will boast various day-time and night-time speakers, panels, workshops, on-site activations, and more, all with the intent to bring together music professionals from all parts of the world in order to cultivate the region’s ever-growing, creative music industry and scene. Topics covered will include talent development, the importance of furthering research, advocacy and policy development, developing the scene and mapping out opportunities for up-and-comers, and focusing on making impacts with a social purpose. Those confirmed to speak at the conference include Omar Basaad of Coexist Records, Andrea Magdalina of sheasaid.so, Director of A&R at Sony Music Entertainment Karima Damir, and Christine Osazuwa of Pollen, amongst others. Tickets to the conference are now available via the official XP website.
PURCHASE - MDLBEAST: XP CONFERENCE 2021 TICKETS HERE
“XP is a truly ground-breaking opportunity to contribute to building a new music and creative ecosystem that will offer benefits for all. The Middle East and Africa music market, which accounted for around US$170 million in the year 2018, is expected to grow to more than US$650 million in 20271. This is the scale of the opportunity and the reason why XP exists, to build the infrastructure to support and accelerate that growth.” - Ramadan Alharatani, MDLBEAST’s CEO
MDLBEAST: Soundstorm 2021
Thursday Dec 16, 2021: 3:00pm – 2:30am
Friday Dec 17, 2021: 3:00pm – 2:30am
Saturday Dec 18, 2021: 3:00pm – 2:30am
Sunday Dec 19, 2021: 3:00pm – 1:00am
16+ to enter | Photo ID required
Full Lineup (A-Z)
3MRO
ATFC
AZM
Acid Arab (Live)
Acraze
Adam Beyer
Adriatique
Afrojack
Agha
Ahmed Zainal
Alesso
Amelie Lens
Amine K
Amr Diab
Anfisa Letyago
Anmarz
Arabianeze
Armin van Buuren
Artbat
Asala
Axwell
BKR
Baloo
Balquees
Bedouin
Benny Benassi
Biirdperson
Black Coffee
Black V Neck
Blond:ish
Bob Moses (club set)
Brother
Butch
Camelphat
Carl Cox
Carlo
Cassy
Cedric Gervais
Charlotte de Witte
Chemical Surf
Chris Lake
Chuckie
Claptone
Cosmicat
DJ Snake
DJ Sobia
DJ Tennis
DJ Viva
Dabous
Daddybisht
David Guetta
Daylomar
Deadmau5
Desertf!sh
Dimitri Vegas & Like Mike
Dish Dash
Dixon
Don Edwardo & Moses
Dorar
Dubfire
Dul
EDX
Eagles & Butterflies
Elfuego
Eli & Fur
Elissa
Emad
Ethicals
F3ΣZ
Fawazo
Fisher
Galantis
Gehlen
Gooner
H-Foundation
Hakïm
Hameed
Hats & Klaps
Herodot
Hosh
Hot Since 82
Jamie Jones
Jason Derulo
Jazzy Spa Sounds
Jeff Mills
Jeme
Jungle
K.Led
KSHMR
Kayan
Kevin Saunderson
LJ
La Fleur
Lee Burridge
Loco Dice
Lost Frequencies
Loush
Maceo Plex
Maher Daniel
Mahony
Majid
Majid Al Mohandis
Major Lazer Soundsystem
Malaa
Malkin
Mambo Brothers
Martin Garrix
Mat-B
Matthias Tanzmann
Mind Against
Mishaal
Mishal
Mohammed Hamaki
Morten
Myriam Fares
N0sefin
N7
Nancy Ajram
Narkbeat
Niazi Salama
Nic Fanciulli
Nicole Moudaber
Nina Kraviz
Nomad
Nora En Pure
Omar Fayyad
Paul Kalkbrenner
Qüsa
R3hab
RDJ
Rashid Al Majid
Ricardo Villalobos
Salvatore Ganacci
Saoud
Saz
Sokkary
Solardo
Solomun
Solskin
Spceboi
Steve Aoki
Sunnery James & Ryan Marciano
Sven Väth
Sweely
Talal JK
Tale of Us
Tamer
Tamer Hosni
Tarab Electro
Tarek Antabi
Tchami
The Blaze (DJ Set)
The Chainsmokers
The Engineers
Thomas Melchior
Tiësto
Usif
Varoo
Vintage Culture
Vinyl Mode
Vok Sounds
Wael KFoury
Zedd
Zenim
Zone+