Organized by MDLBEAST and tagged as the “loudest week” in Riyadh, Soundstorm 2022 which opened on December 1, 2022, was attended by more than 600,000 fans in three days culminating with stunning shows from headliners Bruno Mars, David Guetta, and Marshmello on Saturday.
The global superstars were the headline BIG BEAST acts to help bring the curtain down on an incredible event that saw revelers enjoy 260 hours of live music from 200 artists across seven stages under the Banban desert skies. The event had seven stages that offered different unique beats and music from various local and international artists and performers.
Soundstorm 2022 was located on a site with a total area of more than 5.5 million square meters. It had the Big Beast, Down Beast, and Dance Beast along with four Underground stages featuring a diverse range of musical genres including EDM, hip hop, R&B, and indie.
BIG BEAST headline acts on Thursday and Friday at the three-day festival included Tiësto, Swedish House Mafia, DJ Khaled, Post Malone, Nancy Ajram, Amr Diab, and many more. The other stages saw Jorja Smith at Down Beast, Solomun at Underground 1, and Steve Aoki in Dance Beast.
Ramadan Alharatani, MDLBEAST CEO, said, “This year’s third edition of SOUNDSTORM has emulated the success of its predecessors, exceeding our own expectations as well as our guests, delivering a world-class festival experience, and ushering in a brand-new chapter for the regional music scene. Whilst setting new benchmarks for future music events staged in Saudi Arabia and the wider region, we’re equally proud of the legacy these last three days leave behind.”
The party is not stopping though as MDLBEAST is heading to Jeddah after a successful weekend in Riyadh with its inaugural BALAD BEAST. Alharatani said “The response we’ve witnessed at SOUNDSTORM, and the feedback of huge anticipation we’ve received ahead of BALAD BEAST, highlights the love, appreciation, and demand for music amongst our communities. It is a beautiful mix that will advance the creative economy, inspire new talent, and propel the Middle East’s position as an emerging global hub for music, art, and culture.”
Riyadh’s “loudest week” was kickstarted by XP Music Futures 2022, a 3-day music conference that was created to accelerate the music industry in the Middle East. This year’s second edition hosted workshops, panel discussions, fishbowls and networking opportunities from November 28-30, 2022.
