Vinyl Souk— the UAE’s leading platform promoting alternative music, vinyl culture, and creative arts— is gearing up to host the third edition of its namesake festival on Feb. 1 at the 25hours Hotel One Central. Turning the lodging into a multipurpose playground, the day-long gathering will offer live music, talks, vinyl digging opportunities, and more, all folded into an immersive program designed to spotlight the Gulf’s growing alternative scenes and the cultures orbiting around them.
Split into six spaces, the festival will operate on different terrains starting from Souk Sessions at Nomad Day Bar if you’re after with vinyl-led sets; Cinema Akil, where the focus shifts to learning with a DJ workshop, a talk on independent labels, and AI; Monkey Bar which will host Jugaar Records’ experimental electronic showcase, while the Terrace keeps things warm and upbeat with Feedasoul Records’ house- and groove-driven performance. The Jameson Connects Green Sofa Stage brings live-music to the front before Kitsch Radio’s Sonido Tropical closes the night in the Secret Garden with cumbia, chicha, tropical bass, and Latin-inspired rhythms.
What’s more, a marketplace will also round out the experience, bringing together record vendors, gear specialists, and creative brands, along with kids’ workshops and hands-on activities, making the Mini Festival as much a community hub as it is a celebration of regional sound.
“We wanted to create a festival that feels intimate yet expansive— where audiences can move between stages, genres, and ideas, and experience music in a more meaningful way. From live bands and DJs to film, workshops, and visual art, the Mini Festival is designed as a platform for discovery, dialogue, and connection,“ Jayesh Veralkar, Vinyl Souk co-founder said.
Early bird tickets are already up for grabs and can be purchased on Vinyl Souk’s official website.
Keep scrolling for a full break-down of the line-up:
DU$T (BH)
DMC Middle East Showcase & Workshop (AE)
Elijah Semine (AE)
Esther Eden (AE)
Hassan Abou Alam (EG)
JAZ – Feedasoul Records (AE)
Karen Sakr (LB)
Kinda El Atrach (AE)
Kitsch Radio presents Sonido Tropical (AE)
Koba Maru – Feedasoul Records (LB)
MemoryAll (AE)
Mixtape – Film Premiere (BH)
PATCH – Feedasoul Records (AE)
Postcards (LB)
Prasanth – Dapostar (AE)
Rudoh – Jugaar Records (AE)