Quoz Arts Fest, the region’s highly anticipated arts and culture festival returns for its 11th edition on Saturday 27 and Sunday 28 January 2024 across Alserkal Avenue and Al Quoz Creative Zone, supported by Al Quoz Creative Zone, part of Dubai Culture and Arts Authority, as a Strategic Partner. Known for bringing together art, food, live music performances and cultural activations in a single weekend, this upcoming edition of Quoz Arts Fest features a dynamic and diverse programme of more than 200 live performances, art installations and cultural activations across Al Quoz.
Following 2023’s major headliners the – likes of Arab stars, Bu Kolthoum and Saint Levant -audiences can expect another packed festival line-up, filled with not-to-be-missed acts in 2024. Big Hass, a Dubai-based hip-hop DJ famous for his electric sets, will return to the festival as emcee and show-runner. Sudanese fusion artists MarSimba will be back with their mix of Sudanese lingo and African beats, along with Lebanese duo RUST, comprising singers Hani Manna and Petra Hawi, known for their blend of traditional Arabic melodies and poetry with modern electronic beats.
2024’s edition of the festival invites visitors to take a fresh look at how they experience their weekends. Quoz Arts Fest 2024 hopes to tap into the inherent relativity of time with a unique and layered experience for every single visitor by creating unexpected stories, producing different rhythms, and curating playful displays.
Live performances at the weekend festival that promise to be crowd favourites include UAE-based Stick No Bills with their South Asian music remixed as DJ sets along with custom visuals; A Bharatham performance, choreographed by millennial artist Usha Jey as a hybrid between hip-hop and Bharatanatyam; and, Tanzanian-born performance artist Dipesh Pandya’s live performance and installation transforming a car into a sonic sculpture via spoken word specifically written in response to the Al Quoz neighbourhood and site where Alserkal Avenue is located. Amina will take to the stage with her intimate folk and pop-infused tunes, and the poetry and electronic music duo that form Chamæleon will perform spoken word that explores the intersection between the sociopolitical and the personal.
Concrete, Alserkal Avenue’s multidisciplinary exhibitions and events space, will host an interactive, ambient sound experience created by London-based Japanese artist Yuri Suzuki challenges our very preconceptions of natural and artificial forms via an eclectic arrangement of pipes and horns.
Music lovers can also look forward to the return of the popular Quoz Encore, which will showcase some of the country’s most promising homegrown emerging music acts. Musicians of all ages, genres, and languages, are invited to the platform’s Open Call for a chance to perform during the weekend festival. To participate, share a 1-minute live performance video and bio through the form here:
https://form.jotform.com/233332856589468. The deadline for submissions is 31 December 2023 and auditions will take place in January.
Beyond the aforementioned creative concepts and live entertainment in Alserkal Avenue, Quoz Arts Fest also includes a series of collaborations, installations, and workshops with community concepts.
Let’s not forget the mouth-watering culinary options from some of UAE’s most popular independent dining concepts available at the festival all weekend for visitor appetites.
Full programme information is available at https://alserkal.online/event/quoz-arts-fest
Festival attendees can book their full weekend access pass for AED 63 on Platinumlist at https://dubai.platinumlist.net/event-tickets/quoz-arts-fest. All proceeds from ticket sales are dedicated to the Quoz Arts Fest programme, supporting local and regional talent.
Quoz Art Fest’s supporting partner is MINI AGMC, and its e-commerce partner is Ounass.