On the weekend of the 7th of May 2022, over 2000 people flocked to the niche electro-music festival, “Freaks Of Nature,” in the capital city of Saudi Arabia, Riyadh. The 2-day music festival was put on by Saudi creative agency Disrupt, and hosted more than just music. Visitors experienced not only music across two main stages, but an art exhibition, an entertainment village with clothing and food pop-ups, and a camping experience.
Situated in the west of Riyadh, Ammariyah was the spot to be seen at as tickets were not exactly cheap.
On the festival’s website, revelers purchased one day tickets for SR700 ($187) and the “party weekend package” for SR1,200 ($320), which included access to all areas of the festival and its entertainment zones. The camping experience also granted people access to a pre-pitched tent at the “Freakville” camping zone.
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Disrupt representatives explained that, “the aim of the festival was to promote new artists, empower talented creatives and change the creative culture across the country.”
A number of artists flew in just to perform at the electronic music fest, including the likes of English four-deck DJ James Hype, the “mashup-king” WeDamnz from the Netherlands and a lineup of local artists, complete with visuals and ostentatious costumes.
Chief Disruption Officer at Disrupt Group, Yazeed Al-Hashim, said in a statement, “This was an epic festival. It was great to see so many creative people coming together to experience all types of music, the art exhibition and the pop-ups we had on offer. This shows what is possible for music and entertainment in Saudi as it continues to grow and evolve into a thriving industry where talent gets the chance to shine.”
He also added, “Everyone brought their very best and put on an amazing show for the audience on both nights. I would also like to thank James Hype and WeDamnz for coming over, and MDL Beast for their continued support. We are all looking forward to the next event.”
The event didn’t go without a glitch, as the first day of the festival experienced a power outage for three hours – but organizers were well prepared as their powered their back up generators that “pulled the crowd to the dance floor.”
The festival also showcased local artists who came together for a live wall painting. These included Big50, who created a huge mural during the festival, and art installations by Euphoria and Riyadh String Art.
