Sole DXB has found a home in the city of Dubai every year since 2011. What started off as a space for sneaker enthusiasts to gather, has since evolved into the regional platform it is today – blending music, art, fashion, and sports. The three-day festival is back for its 13th edition from December 12th to December 14th, with yet another diverse line up to look forward to, from local brands, insightful talks, hands-on workshops, and tournaments, to the joy of collective musical discovery. Here’s our guide to all-things music taking place this year at Dubai Design District (D3).
In typical Sole DXB fashion, this year’s edition will welcome an eclectic mix of genre pioneers spanning the realms of jazz, hip-hop, Afrobeats, amapiano, R&B, desert blues, and more.
With a stacked lineup across the weekend, Haitian Canadian producer and disc jockey KAYTRANADA sets the tone on December 12th, bringing his kaleidoscope grooves to the main stage. He’s joined by Californian modern funk torchbearer Dâm-Funk, whose synth-soaked swagger will surely keep funk enthusiasts satisfied.
Tinariwen, a regional addition to the headliner roster and one of the pioneers of desert blues – a mix of Tuareg musicians from the Sahara region of southern Algeria and northern Mali – will also perform on the opening night; you can find them on the second stage.
The second stage will also be home to performances by London-based tech house DJ and producer Bas Ibellini, house music powerhouse Kenny Dope, Dubai-based Vinyl Souk’s very own Jayesh, and Lebanese disc jockey Radyous.
On December 13th, South African pop sensation and member of Spotify’s 1 Billion Club, Tyla brings her popiano sound into the spotlight, fresh off her global takeover.
Powering through the night with some regional representation, our cover star Zeyne will take over the stage on December 13th with what is expected to be a heartfelt performance of her charged and wide-ranging debut Awda. UAE-based Somali rapper Freek and Egyptian trap up-and-comer Uglymoss add to the homegrown energy we’re looking forward to experiencing.
Then comes the genre chaos that Sole DXB is infamous for: American rapper Lil Yachty and his technicolour trap and eccentric persona, Nigerian-born, Ghana-based songwriter Tommy WA, who’s scheduled to bring around vivid storytelling and honeyed vocals, as well as emotive UK rapper Loyle Carner – bringing his lyrical diaries to the stage, and lastly, the ethereal jazz-soul collective Kokoroko, all taking over the second stage.
December 14th brings a smooth descending to the last night of the festival. Miguel, one of modern R&B’s most enticing velvet-voiced showmen, headlines the night with an evening set to bring a singalong or two. On the same day, Palestinian rap trailblazers Shabjdeed & Al Nather will take the stage with a grounding performance.
The French Haitian singer whose music reflects her global upbringing, Naïka, is bound to evoke the crowd with her catchy tunes, while Coventry artist, Pa Saileu – who has emerged as one of the most distinct voices in British music – is set to perform his unique blend of Gambian folk influences matched with British grit.
The programming is made complete by Dubai’s own new-soul and funk band, The Tasty Biscuits, Grammy Award-winning saxophonist Venna, Brooklyn emcee Masta Ace and Canadian beatsmith Marco Polo – the latter two bringing hip-hop bravado to those looking for rap bruisers.
What consistently stands out at Sole DXB is how naturally it builds community around regional creatives. Amid a difficult year, this edition leans even deeper into homegrown voices, letting the festival’s stages speak for the region’s breadth and resilience while simultaneously finding synergies between the local, regional, and global.
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