SOUNDSTORM 2022 Had More Than 600,000 Attendees Across Three Days

The centerpiece of “THE LOUDEST WEEK IN THE MIDDLE EAST” in 2022, SOUNDSTORM was attended by more than 600,000 people and was organized by MDLBEAST. The festival was 61% larger this year than it was the year before, and attendees were treated to 260 hours of live music from 200 performers on seven stages beneath the Banban desert sky. Saturday performances by Bruno Mars and David Guetta brought the three-day event to a close.

Four UNDERGROUND stages were added to the BIG BEAST, DOWN BEAST, and DANCE BEAST settings for SOUNDSTORM 2022 on a site that covered more than 5.5 million square meters in total. This year, indie was introduced to the varied spectrum of musical genres performed on several stages, in addition to EDM, hip hop, and R&B.

The biggest stage of them all, the BIG BEAST, which broke the Guinness World Record, comes first. The 135.5-foot stage, which was used by aggressive worldwide DJs like Tiesto, DJ Snake, Swedish House Mafia, R3HAB, DJ Khaled (and pals), Bruno Mars, and David Guetta, was built for their performances.

David Guetta said that performing in the Kingdom was “so special” because it “feels like being part of something that’s bigger than me” as he did on Saturday night’s BIG BEAST stage at SOUNDSTORM. On Friday night, he and Morten performed a “Future Rave” concert, and he said:

“When it comes to Saudi Arabia, I’ve been directly involved since day one with what is being done here, because I played the first SOUNDSTORM festival in 2019. What I see as I’ve started to play in Saudi is people with happy faces.”

On Friday, DJ Khaled and Swedish House Mafia performed two of the most memorable evening sets on the BIG BEAST stage.

“Thank you to everyone for making our first time in Saudi Arabia so special – I’d like to come back again real soon.”

Bruno Mars, who was performing live in Saudi Arabia for the first time, dedicated his popular song “Just the Way You Are” to every fan who had come to see his stunning performance on SOUNDSTORM’S BIG BEAST stage. Mars uttered:

Nervo, Claptone, Cedric Gervais, Timmy Trumpet, AfroJack, Morten, Acraze, and more artists performed over the weekend. On Saturday, Solomun opened UG1 with a spectacular set, while Steve Aoki followed Dimitri Vegas & Like Mike. Electronic favorite Marshmello was the last performer on the BIG BEAST stage for 2022 to keep the throngs of people dancing.

On Thursday, the Underground stage included house and techno performances by Cirez D, Artbat, Carl Cox with Nic Fanciulli, Carl Cox by himself, Sven Väth, Jamie Jones with Seth Troxler, Butch, Polo & Pan, Thomas Melchior, and others on four separate sub stages. Adam Beyer, Maceo Plex, Anna, Loco Dice, Cassy, Hot Since 82, Damian Lazarus, Fred P, Janaret, and other artists will perform on Friday. On Saturday, Luciano, Solomun, La Fleur, Ricardo Villalobos, Solardo, James Hype, Art Department, Chris Lake, and other artists delivered the goods.

“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 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. On behalf of MDLBEAST, I wish to extend our heartfelt thanks to all who have made SOUNDSTORM 2022 so enjoyable and impactful – from our dedicated staff and valued partners to the fans in attendance and artists on stage. We now look ahead to SOUNDSTORM 2023 and our fourth edition, so watch this space and stay tuned for news and updates in due course.”