30 <strong>January</strong> <strong>2024</strong> www.magzoid.com
UAE QUOZ ARTS FEST 24 Quoz Arts Fest, <strong>the</strong> region’s highly anticipated arts and culture festival returns for its 11th edition on Saturday 27 and Sunday 28 <strong>January</strong> <strong>2024</strong> across Alserkal Avenue and Al Quoz <strong>Creative</strong> Zone, supported by Al Quoz <strong>Creative</strong> Zone, part of Dubai Culture and Arts Authority, as Strategic Partner. Known for br<strong>in</strong>g<strong>in</strong>g toge<strong>the</strong>r art, food, live music performances and cultural activations <strong>in</strong> a s<strong>in</strong>gle weekend, this upcom<strong>in</strong>g edition of Quoz Arts Fest features a dynamic and diverse programme of more than 200 live performances, art <strong>in</strong>stallations and cultural activations across Al Quoz. Follow<strong>in</strong>g 2023’s major headl<strong>in</strong>ers <strong>the</strong> - likes of Arab stars, Bu Kolthoum and Sa<strong>in</strong>t Levant - audiences can expect ano<strong>the</strong>r packed festival l<strong>in</strong>e-up, filled with not-tobe-missed acts <strong>in</strong> <strong>2024</strong>. Big Hass, a Dubaibased hip-hop DJ famous for his electric sets, will return to <strong>the</strong> festival as emcee and show-runner. Sudanese fusion artists MarSimba will be back with <strong>the</strong>ir mix of Sudanese l<strong>in</strong>go and African beats, along with Lebanese duo RUST, compris<strong>in</strong>g s<strong>in</strong>gers Hani Manna and Petra Hawi, known for <strong>the</strong>ir blend of traditional Arabic melodies and poetry with modern electronic beats. <strong>2024</strong>’s edition of <strong>the</strong> festival <strong>in</strong>vites visitors to take a fresh look at how <strong>the</strong>y experience <strong>the</strong>ir weekends. Quoz Arts Fest hopes to tap <strong>in</strong>to <strong>the</strong> <strong>in</strong>herent relativity of time with a unique and layered experience for every s<strong>in</strong>gle visitor by creat<strong>in</strong>g unexpected stories, produc<strong>in</strong>g different rhythms, and curat<strong>in</strong>g playful displays. Live performances at <strong>the</strong> weekend festival that promise to be crowd favourites <strong>in</strong>clude: UAE-based Stick No Bills with <strong>the</strong>ir 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 <strong>in</strong>stallation transform<strong>in</strong>g a car <strong>in</strong>to a sonic sculpture via spoken word specifically written <strong>in</strong> response to <strong>the</strong> Al Quoz neighbourhood and site where Alserkal Avenue is located. Am<strong>in</strong>a will take to <strong>the</strong> stage with her <strong>in</strong>timate folk and pop-<strong>in</strong>fused tunes, and <strong>the</strong> poetry and electronic music duo that form Chamæleon will perform spoken-word that explore <strong>the</strong> <strong>in</strong>tersection between <strong>the</strong> sociopolitical and <strong>the</strong> personal. Concrete, Alserkal Avenue’s multidiscipl<strong>in</strong>ary exhibitions and events space, will host an <strong>in</strong>teractive, ambient sound experience created by London-based Japanese artist Yuri Suzuki to challenge our very preconceptions of natural and artificial forms via an eclectic arrangement of pipes and horns. Music lovers can also look forward to <strong>the</strong> return of <strong>the</strong> popular Quoz Encore, which will showcase some of <strong>the</strong> country’s most promis<strong>in</strong>g homegrown emerg<strong>in</strong>g music acts. Musicians of all ages, genres, and language, are <strong>in</strong>vited to <strong>the</strong> platform’s Open Call for a chance to perform dur<strong>in</strong>g <strong>the</strong> weekend festival. To participate, share a 1-m<strong>in</strong>ute live performance video and bio through <strong>the</strong> form here: https://form.jotform. com/233332856589468. The deadl<strong>in</strong>e for submissions is 31 December 2023 and auditions will take place <strong>in</strong> <strong>January</strong>. Beyond <strong>the</strong> aforementioned creative concepts and live enterta<strong>in</strong>ment <strong>in</strong> Alserkal Avenue, Quoz Arts Fest also <strong>in</strong>cludes a series of collaborations, <strong>in</strong>stallations, and workshops with community concepts. Let’s not forget <strong>the</strong> mouth-water<strong>in</strong>g cul<strong>in</strong>ary options from some of UAE’s most popular <strong>in</strong>dependent d<strong>in</strong><strong>in</strong>g concepts available at <strong>the</strong> festival all weekend for visitor appetites. Full programme <strong>in</strong>formation is available at https://alserkal.onl<strong>in</strong>e/event/quoz-arts-fest Festival attendees can book <strong>the</strong>ir full weekend access pass for AED 63 on Plat<strong>in</strong>umlist at https://dubai.plat<strong>in</strong>umlist.net/ event-tickets/quoz-arts-fest. All proceeds from ticket sales are dedicated to <strong>the</strong> Quoz Arts Fest programme, support<strong>in</strong>g local and regional talent. Quoz Art Fest’s support<strong>in</strong>g partner is MINI AGMC, and e-commerce partner is Ounass. www.magzoid.com <strong>January</strong> <strong>2024</strong> 31