XP Music Futures, the leading platform for music innovation in the MENA region, is thrilled to reveal its highly anticipated program of Nite showcases for this year’s festival. Featuring an eclectic mix of jazz, blues, metal, hip-hop, rock, afro-beats, house, techno and their subgenres, just to name a few from around the globe, the Nite program is set to deliver an unforgettable after-dark experience in Riyadh. With a lineup that balances global headliners and groundbreaking regional talent, XP Music Futures 2024 promises to be a cultural landmark in Saudi Arabia’s growing music ecosystem.
The Nite program features collectives and headliners across a range of genres, highlighting both rising and established artists from the Middle East and Africa as well as international and diaspora artists from further afield. Each collective has been selected for its unique sound and influence within its genre, adding a rich diversity to XP Music Futures’ lineup.
Bringing deep electronic vibes to the night, Saudi-based Avantgarde X collective features Italian house giants Data Memory Access, which consists of Giammarco Orsini and Jacopo Latini. Known for their stylistic grooves and melodies, Giammarco and Jacopo are set to take attendees on a journey of their signature sounds.
Representing the vibrant regional electronic scene, Mahool will showcase the eclectic sounds of SCRIPT, Rolbac, Sokkary and Haffs. These artists are known for their signature sounds, blending deep house, melodic house, and atmospheric electronica that capture the unique sounds of the region.
This year, we’re back with our trusted collaborators & partners, The Music Commission, who are taking things to the next level with their very own MC stage, showcasing a wide array of genres, including but not limited to hip-hop, house, metal, soul and afro-beats, from the likes of Tunisian hybrid-live act Frigya, Jeddah-based metal band Wasted Land, Algerian desert blues musician Ken Assouf, Jeddah-based Canadian EDM spinner DJ VIVA and Mali born Netherlands-based delta blues artist DJam! to give a few highlights.
MDLBEAST Records are showcasing the wide array of musicians rising from within the region, with a vibrant lineup that includes Jordanian superstar Zeyne, Egyptian singer Bayou who’s known for his smooth raps, and rising Egyptian artist Nour. A celebration of the eccentric talent from around the MENA region, an essence in the mission of XP Nite.
Heavy Arabia is bringing the hardcore energy to XP this year with Brazilian metal guitarist Kiko Loureiro, best know for his time with metal giants Angra and Megadeath, as well as Finnish melodic death metal icons Wolfheart. Aimed at metal enthusiasts, this showcase will embody the essence of noise and distortion, making waves with powerful performances and robust sounds that celebrate international metal culture.
For the hypnotic enthusiasts and melodic admirers, Melotech is providing the tech-house and melodic techno goodness in the shape of American DJ/producer James Wyler and local icon, DJ-violinist Kayan. Meanwhile, Saudi-based party series Lymm is joining forces with Barcelona’s BREATHDEEP to present a carefully curated house lineup with record collector and underground enthusiast Tristan da Cunha, eclectic selector Monile, and local icons Majid and Gooner.
Gabu continues the electronic chain with a deep and groove-heavy curation that sees everybody’s favorite producer Brawther, Berlin-based DJ/producer Carlo and Saudi’s legendary DJ and producer Baloo, alongside rising spinner Dorar, taking over XP Nite.
Egypt’s famed Cairo Jazz Club are showcasing their hit concept, Disco-Tech, a disco and funk-inspired house direction, headlined by Paris-based producer and founder of record label Happiness Therapy, Crowd Control.
One of the standout moments of this year’s nite program will be Brij Ent., presenting exclusive performances by hip-hop giants Bas & Don Cannon. As a celebrated producer, label owner, and XP speaker, Don Cannon will deliver a performance that pulls from over two decades in the music industry, meanwhile Sudanese-American multi-talent Bas will present his soulful raps and punchy lyrics.
This year, Mistika presents Marra Indie pays homage to the Arab indie scene, featuring Jordanian composer and singer Aziz Maraka, Egyptian experimental producer Molotof, and genre-fluid funk-heavy duo, Tootard. MENA-pushing, women-owned music hubs MJLS and NOORstudios join forces to offer a massive lineup with talents from across the entire MENA region, with rising Saudi rapper Asayel, Jordanian producer and MC artist Big Murk and Egyptian rapper Taffy.
Mutli-genre creative platform, The Fridge Entertainment, gathers a roster of diverse live acts from around the region, with the stylistic afro-khaleeji fusions of Bahraini band Majaz, Egyptian multi-instrumentalist and composer Nancy Mounir alongside Tunisian hip-hop and R&B-tinged singer KOAST. Riyadh’s very own Desert Sound offers an energy-fueled playground, with the thumping techno-instrumentation blends of Berlin’s GHEIST with rhythmic-aficionado, local hero Biirdperson.
House-pushing Lebanese label Feedasoul Records presents a fully-fledged Lebanese showcase with selectors PATCH, KLO, LEDWARF and LYSS. On the other side of the electronic spectrum, Hence showcases SWANA electro, amapiano, and trap with award-winning selector and co-founder of South Asia’s first online community radio, boxout FM, DJ MoCity, regional star DJ JAADU and multi-genre selectress LANA.
Representing the infectious sound of West African music, this year XP presents: Nigeria as a part of XP Nite’s yearly country-focused showcase, in collaboration with Warner, XP presents Nigerian superstar singer Joeboy alongside afropop singers Kold AF and Nigerian afropop and reggae singer and producer, Wizard Chan.
Nigerian collective Hipex l’Art represents the infectious rhythms of West African music that has become a global phenomenon. Featuring performances from Afrobeats stars such as Tobi Peter and Ratigan Era, as well as Tega Ethan and Assa The Pretty. Known for their high-energy stage presence, they will bring the irresistible sounds of Nigeria’s thriving music scene to XP Music Futures, blending African and global influences.
But that’s not all. XP Nite also offers a massive curation of standalone regional stars performing all their hits and unreleased gems with Tunisian multi-lingual talent Emel Mathlouthi, mind-expanding Tuareg guitar legend Bombino, mesmerizing sonic explorers AWARË, soulful London-based Somali artist Facesoul and multi-genre fusion band MaMoGi, lead by extraordinary bass virtuoso Mohini Dey, alongside Billboard Arabia presenting Egyptian hip-hop star Marwan Moussa.
Global Headliners and Unmissable Nights’ XP Nite showcases are designed to immerse attendees in music’s many dimensions, fostering an environment where diverse genres coexist and thrive. The 2024 program is curated to give audiences a taste of musical innovation and cross-cultural connections, with world-class performances that highlight the growing influence of the Saudi music scene on a global scale.
XP Music Futures returns to Riyadh in less than one month on the 5th, 6th & 7th of December in Jax Diriyah.
For all updates on XP Tickets, please register with us here.