JEDDAH: Music festival Balad Beast is set to return to Jeddah’s Al-Balad between Jan. 30 – 31 with an international lineup of performers.

The UNESCO World Heritage-listed district will play host to the likes of Grammy-winning 21 Savage, Atlanta rap star Gunna, JID, and 2020 Mercury Album of The Year winner Michael Kiwanuka on day one. Regional artists such as Disco Misr from Egypt and Saudi Arabia-based talents DISH DASH, Gazi, Saoud and Varoo will also perform on Jan. 30.

Day two will feature hip-hop icon Wiz Khalifah, producer Metro Boomin, musical duo Hats & Klaps, and Ghostly Kisses with her ethereal pop sound from Canada. All-female Saudi rock band Seera will hit the stage on Jan. 31.

The festival will also feature immersive art installations — yet-to-be-named contemporary artists and designers will reimagine Al-Balad’s historic architecture with projections, large-scale sculptures, and interactive artworks.

“We are coming back to Balad with really exciting experiences. Fresh music with new and returning acts, and as always, otherworldly immersive experiences inspired by our past, present and future,” said Ahmed Alammary, MDLBEAST’s Chief Creative Officer.

Balad Beast is part of Saudi music entertainment company MDLBEAST's lineup of annual events, including SOUNDSTORM in Riyadh and XP Music Futures in the Saudi capital.

According to MDLBEAST, the historical buildings in the area — some of which are 400 years old — will be protected from potential degradation due to sound testing and strategically placed stages “to minimize any impact on the buildings.”

The houses are made of stones, mined from Arabia Lake, separated by wooden planks to alleviate the heat of the area’s climate. One of its infamous sights that garners attention from tourists is Nassif House. 

In 2024, the festival played host to a similarly high-profile list of performers, including Ty Dolla $ign, Wu-Tang Clan, Major Lazer Soundsystem, Russ, and DJ Snake.

DUBAI: Chilean Palestinian singer Elyanna concluded her “Woledto” (“I Am Born”) tour with a heartfelt message on Instagram, just weeks after winning Best Arab Indie Artist and Best New Artist at the inaugural Billboard Arabia Music Awards in Riyadh in December.

Elyanna launched her “Woledto” album in April and kicked off the tour in October, performing across North America and Europe. She graced stages in 30 cities, including Barcelona, Paris, London, Brussels, Berlin, Stockholm, Montreal, Toronto, Washington, Houston, and more.

“Feeling emotional and grateful of what this album and the tour has given me and given my fans,” she wrote. “It was a gathering of community to spread light and preach across each city and theater.”

She also hinted at upcoming projects, stating: “The sunrise and the rebirth of the ‘Woledto’ project is just (the) start for the next chapter of 2025. Arabic is the music of the soul and the sun. Grateful for all the talented people that believed in this project and helped with the vision to come to life this tour (sic).”

Elyanna’s debut album featured nine songs: “Woledto,” “Ganeni,” “Calling U,” “Al Sham,” “Mama Eh,” “Kon Nafsak,” “Lel Ya Lel,” “Yabn El Eh” and “Sad in Pali.”

Before releasing the album, she wrote to her Instagram followers: “This album is the embodiment of pride to be an Arab woman, to be from Nazareth, to be from the Middle East.

“This is the closest I’ve been to where I come from,” she added. “The only feature on my album is my grandfather.”

The Los Angeles-based singer’s music is a mix of Arabic and Western beats, which she attributes to her multicultural upbringing.

Elyanna has been normalizing Arabic lyrics in the Western world throughout her career, taking inspiration from artists including Lana Del Ray and Beyonce, as well as Middle Eastern legend Fayrouz.

She recently lit up New York’s Times Square when she was featured on a Spotify Arabia billboard, highlighting the streaming platform’s “Equal Arabia” playlist.

Elyanna is set to perform live with British hitmakers Coldplay when the band heads to Abu Dhabi for four shows in the UAE capital in January 2025.