Sole DXB 2024: A Deep Dive into the Music Lineup Featuring Lola Young, Nia Archives, and Fatoumata Diawara

Sole DXB, the highly anticipated festival celebrating fashion, art, and street culture, is set to electrify Dubai from December 11 to 13 at The Square in Nad Al Sheba. This year's event marks a move from its previous location in the Dubai Design District and promises three days packed with live concerts and DJ sets. Among the exciting acts announced are British singer Lola Young, the innovative electronic music duo Overmono, and the acclaimed Malian musician Fatoumata Diawara.

Friday, December 11

Overmono (Main Stage): The British duo, comprised of brothers Tom and Ed Russell, will bring their signature blend of UK garage, breakbeats, and techno to Dubai. Known for incorporating soulful vocal samples, Overmono gained significant recognition with their 2023 debut album Good Lies, featuring the hit single 'Is U'. They are set to impress with material from their new album, Pure Devotion, released in August, which includes tracks like 'Lockup' and 'Even Angels Ghost'.

Saturday, December 12

Lola Young (Main Stage): The British singer-songwriter is making waves following the international success of her hit song 'Messy', from her critically acclaimed 2024 album This Wasn't Meant for You Anyway. Young's distinctive smoky vocals effortlessly navigate between soul, rock, and R&B, with other standout tracks including 'One Thing' and 'Spiders'.

Nia Archives (Main Stage): This British DJ, producer, and singer is renowned for her dynamic fusion of rapid jungle breakbeats and heavy basslines, all complemented by her own melodic vocals. Her 2024 debut album Silence Is Loud garnered a Mercury Prize nomination, and her latest release, Emotional Junglist (July), features collaborations with Jorja Smith on 'Get Me Down' and Sampha on 'Tender'.

Matthew Herbert (Stage 2): With over three decades in the music industry, the British producer is celebrated for his experimental approach, crafting music from unconventional sources such as household objects, animal samples, and sounds from food production. His diverse work spans house, jazz, and avant-garde compositions. His most recent project, theukhasmorefoodbanksthanbranchesofmcdonalds.com, released this month, ingeniously uses recordings of food and household items to highlight issues of poverty in Britain.

Sunday, December 13

Hajaj (Main Stage): The Saudi singer-songwriter will perform his unique brand of English-language alternative R&B and soul, characterized by relaxed grooves and intimate vocals. Having lived across Jeddah, Switzerland, the US, and Spain, Hajaj has cultivated a dedicated regional following with his indie-pop sensibilities, evident in his 2021 EP Last Call for Coco, featuring tracks like 'Love to Last' and 'Place to Call Home'.

Fatoumata Diawara (Stage 2): The Malian singer is a celebrated figure in the UAE music scene, known for her captivating and energetic performances that showcase West African blues and percussion. Her 2018 album Fenfo received two Grammy nominations, and her most recent solo album, Massa (June), delves into themes of family history and her Malian heritage.

Peter Cat Recording Co (Stage 2): Hailing from New Delhi, this band masterfully blends psychedelic rock, disco, jazz, and cabaret, all anchored by Suryakant Sawhney's deep, resonant vocals. Their discography includes the 2019 album Bismillah and their latest release, Beta (2024), featuring tracks such as 'People Never Change' and 'Suddenly'.

Gia Fu (Stage 2): The Hong Kong DJ is a specialist in salsa and Afro-Caribbean music, drawing inspiration from vinyl records from the 1960s and 1970s. Her passion for Latin music, initially sparked by breakdancing, led to the creation of Canton Mambo, a project exploring the musical connections between Chinese and Caribbean cultures. She also collaborated with salsa musician Angel Melendez and Big Band Maquina on a recording project in 2021.

Maii and Zeid (Stage 2): This Egyptian singer (Maii Waleed) and Lebanese producer (Zeid Hamdan) create a distinctive sound by pairing Arabic vocals with guitar and electronica. Hamdan, a pioneer of the Lebanese duo Soap Kills in the 1990s, began his collaboration with Waleed after meeting her in Alexandria. Their early album Moga (2013) defined their dream-pop style, with recent works including 'Fashi' (2025) and 'Manhoos' (2026).

Sole DXB runs from December 11 to 13 at The Square, Nad Al Sheba, Dubai, with doors opening from 4pm to 2:30am. Three-day tickets are available starting from Dh495.