What happens when you mix AlUla with a music festival? You step into an alternate dimension.
There’s something special about dancing at 2:30 AM under a sky full of stars, desert sand kicking up around you, with ancient rock formations towering overhead. That’s AZIMUTH for you, a music festival set in one of the region’s most stunning locations: AlUla.
Saudi Arabia has become the GCC’s go-to place for big, bold music events. MDL Beast and Soundstorm have put the Kingdom on the map for festival experiences, from mainstream to underground. AZIMUTH is part of that growing scene, and this year it lined up nicely with the Kingdom’s 95th National Day celebrations.
You get why they chose AlUla as soon as you step into the festival. The rocky cliffs look dramatic against the golden lights of the festival, and the cool evening air is perfect for a festival. The entrance sets the tone with an installation called the Eternal Flame. Walking through that ring of fire (simulated) actually feels like crossing into another world.
From 8 PM to 7 AM, Thanaya Venue transformed completely. Time worked differently when the desert energy, ancient history, and modern electronic music blended.
What made AZIMUTH different from other festivals, though, is how it’s put together. The two-day festival feels more intimate and thoughtful than some of the bigger events. This year marked its fifth edition on 25-26 September at Thanaya Venue, and it was my first time experiencing it.
The festival had two stages, each with its own vibe. The Hive by Ray-Ban focused on the region’s underground sound. The lineup featured incredible artists such as Saudi DJ BRQ, Vinyl Mode, Hi-Fi, Akladios, Chiati, and Tala Mortada, keeping it going over the two days.
The Main Stage is where things got really interesting. When I finally caught Turkish artist Mahmut Orhan around half past two in the morning, it felt like the night had barely started. The Main Stage lineup over the two days was solid.
From Palestinian-Jordanian singing sensation Zeyne and Saudi duo DISH DASH to UK favourites London Grammar, and South African Music Producer SHIMZA, the main stage continuously presented its audience with regional and international talents, each bringing something different to AlUla’s starry night and surreal vibe.
I got to chat with two artists about their thoughts on the region’s music scene.
Thorben Diekmann, one half of the Syrian-German duo Shkoon, told me he’s surprised by how fast things are developing in the region. When I asked about the trend of mixing Arab melodies with electronic music, he said, “I can’t tell you exactly why this is happening. But I know there’s a huge Arab diaspora all over the world, and with the western world romanticising cultural sounds, we’re seeing that energy flood into the mainstream.”
Tala Mortada runs her own platform, Factory People, creating opportunities for artists in Dubai and Beirut. As an artist herself, AZIMUTH gave her a fresh new audience. She was happy to see international and regional artists sharing the same stage. She also pointed out that more women are stepping up as artists.
“I think women are naturally putting their talent out there,” she said. “The space has become much safer over the years. The biggest challenge is still knowing who the promoter is and what kind of environment they create for artists trying to make their way through a competitive scene.”
When I asked what she’d like to see more of, her answer was simple: “More curiosity. There’s a lack of it, with people listening to music on TikTok instead of experiencing it live. Live acts can inspire an entire generation to get into production. It’s a higher form of art, and I hope more young people get to witness that.”
AZIMUTH has, for five years running, been a cultural event where international talent meets Saudi creativity in one of the world’s most striking locations. The landscape is enough to take your breath away, but with the music, the flavours of culture, entertainment, the experience was out-worldly.
With big-name headliners, regional talent, cool installations, and a chic crowd, organisers believe that AZIMUTH is growing year on year.
Bahrain Confidential’s Deepika Rao was invited to attend the two-day AZIMUTH Festival as part of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s tourism initiative – AlUla Moments.
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