All things analog aside, a new band will debut at the beloved monthly music event.
If there’s one event responsible for the vinyl revival across the UAE, it’s Vinyl Souk, and it’s gearing up to host Volume 15 as we speak. Taking place at 25hours Hotel Dubai One Central on Saturday, 27 July, it will be held at Room 3 of Monkey Bar, with doors opening at 5pm. The monthly event, anchored in analog culture, will once again bring with it a marketplace for gear and music — we’re told that pop-ups by Metal East Records Store, Qualia Audio, The Source Distro, IndieKids, Retro House, Cavo, and Analog The Room are on the roster.
The highlight of Volume 15 of Vinyl Souk will undoubtedly be the UAE debut of Roland Ragi of Back from the Crate fame. The renowned Lebanese DJ and crate digger founded the collective in 2021 as a platform to showcase and celebrate his vast record collection. Quickly evolving, it now hosts talks, parties and pop-up record stores as well as a repository of both obscure and mainstream records from across the region. His unique sets aside, the upcoming event will feature performances by a whole host of local talents (pop artist Moe Enka and electronic music DJ Miriam Sablouni a.k.a. Kira included). You can RSVP now for free entry.
The festivities will continue into the night thanks to the Vinyl Souk afterparty, held in collaboration with The Temple. Led by Dubai-based drummer and percussionist Ratish Chadha, the visionary underground collective aims to provide people with experiences through music that you wouldn’t expect to find anywhere else in the region — a community of world-class musicians constantly pushing boundaries through improvisation and bringing together people truly inspired by culture and, most importantly, live music. The debut of Chadha’s eponymous band, Radish Cheddar Experience, is also in the works and will showcase a new line-up of musicians: Rami Lakkis on bass, Nikolai Mishchenko on keys, Dayan Martin on saxophone, and vocal talents Abri and Yvonne Park. The afterparty will kick off at 10pm.
Vinyl Souk has long been celebrated for its role in nurturing a dynamic community of music enthusiasts and providing a platform for both emerging and established regional artists. It also offers a unique blend of music discovery, record shopping, immersive workshops, and engaging film screenings. A favourite among music lovers and vinyl collectors alike, it continues to fuel the experiential music community in Dubai and beyond; the event made its first appearance in Abu Dhabi earlier this year.
DSCVR: Vinyl Souk Volume 15. 25hours Hotel One Central, Downtown Dubai, Dubai. @vinylsoukdxb @25hourshoteldubai
