The annual Quoz Arts Fest is set to sweep over Alserkal Avenue and transform it into a buzzing hub of creative events this month. The two-day outdoor cultural festival is happening on January 27 and 28, making it a weekend of debunking Dubai’s “lack of culture”. This 11th edition is set to be 48 hours of non-stop live music and performances by 250 acts, an array of workshops, eyeball-grabbing creative installations and over 50 food kiosks and stalls.
Quoz Arts Fest – live musical and dance performances
This is one of the hottest arts and culture festivals on Dubai’s social calendar for good reason – it’s your gateway to encounter up-and-coming regional musical talents while also rediscovering beloved artists who are fixtures of Dubai’s arts scene. Live performances on the main stage will cover a variety of genres – Stick No Bills has planned DJ sets that chart the evolution of music in South Asia.
Dancer and choreographer Usha Jey will mesmerise audiences with a blend of hip-hop and Bharatnatyam, while Sudanese singer-songwriter duo MarSimba will have you on your feet with rhythmic African beats. Med school graduate-turned-Arabic trap king The Synaptic’s verses will hype up the crowds. Find full line-up here.
Workshops and installations
Quoz Arts Fest has also carved out a niche for itself when it comes to out-of-the-box workshops – there’s a pop-up DJ school conducted by Original Mix DJs to try your hand at ‘scratching’ records. Equally phenomenal are the installations at this cultural event. Especially, a performance art show called Let The Record Show will turn a car into a sonic sculpture in tandem with a spoken word performance.
That’s some Transformer-esque hocus-pocus we can’t wait to see. Crowd-favourite muralist eL Seed’s famous artworks will be on display; this will also be your chance to catch the Disappearing Art Show by Gulf Photo Plus and film screenings by Cinema Akil.
Shopping and food at Quoz Arts Fest
Once you’ve taken the edge off your cultural cravings, head for one of the many food stalls for your fill of some of Dubai’s coolest food outlets and pop-ups. Mattar’s handcrafted smoked meats, Balkan bites from 21 Grams, Nightjar’s artisanal coffees, Filipino Street Food from Kooya and healthy wraps and sourdough loaves from Wandr, a brand-new slow food movement food truck are just some of the big hitters on the endless drool-worthy list. All-day markets such as the Reel Palestine Souk, Kave Market of Misfits and QAF Retail Lane are your window to shop for ugly veggies, pre-loved clothing, vintage finds and souvenirs.
Tickets to Quoz Arts Fest start from AED 63 and can be purchased here. From 8am to 11:30pm.