Sign up for IQ Index
The latest industry news to your inbox.
Held over three consecutive Fridays in August, the shows will bring acts such as Jack Harlow and Bebe Rexha to Saudi Arabia
By James Hanley on 25 Jul 2024
Saudi-based promoter MDLBeast has announced the launch of weekly music shows in partnership with Jeddah Season 2024.
The parties, which will be held over three consecutive Fridays at Onyx Arena in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, kick off on 2 August with performances by Don Toliver Lil Easy, Shaolin, and Axwell.
The 9 August event will then star Jack Harlow, Salvatore Ganacci, Jeed, and Saud, with the third and final show, on 16 August 16, featuring Dj Loush, Bebe Rexha and Afrojack. Tickets cost SAR149 (€37) for general admission and SAR699 (€172) for VIP.
Running from June to September, Jeddah Season is an arts, culture and entertainment festival last held in 2022.
The 12,000-cap Onyx Arena is the latest music venue to be launched by MDLBeast.
“The Saudi government has plans to build venues all across the country”
“The Saudi government has plans to build venues all across the country,” Iain Campbell, Oak View Group’s EVP Middle East and Africa, told the Global Arena Guide. “Not just in Riyadh but Jeddah and across the nation. The number of new venues in the pipeline is very exciting. Enthusiasm for sport and entertainment in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is phenomenal.”
OVG chief Tim Leiweke also addressed the huge growth of the market after returning from a trip to Riyadh last year.
“I am shocked at the trillions and trillions of dollars they are putting into that country and rebuilding that country as quick as they are,” he told The Bob Leftsetz Podcast. “By 2030, Riyadh is going to be the centre of the universe… The arenas they’re building there, they’re off the charts. I’ve never seen anything like it.”
Last week, the New Murabba Development Company, which is owned by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF), revealed designs for a new 45,000-cap stadium in Riyadh, which is anticipated to be complete by the end of 2032. Other new builds include the 45,000-cap Prince Mohammed bin Salman Stadium located in Qiddiya, while Saudi already has four large stadiums under construction or being upgraded ahead of its hosting of the 2027 Asian Cup.
In addition, ASM Global has planned a 20,000-cap Jeddah Arena Airport City at King Abdulaziz International Airport, and other developments are planned for Dammam.
Earlier this month, it was also announced Eminem will headline the 2024 Soundstorm by MDLBeast festival – the rapper’s debut performance in Saudi Arabia – in Riyadh from 12-14 December alongside Thirty Seconds to Mars and Muse.
Get more stories like this in your inbox by signing up for IQ Index, IQ’s free email digest of essential live music industry news.