James Blake, Tems, and The Roots are all set to make their Dubai debuts.
Earlier this month, the team at Sole DXB promised more music than ever at this year’s edition, and it delivered — James Blake, Tems, and The Roots are all confirmed as headliners. Making their UAE debuts on the Main Stage, all three acts are Grammy Award winners and mark the first time that Sole DXB will feature live performances on the main stage on all three days. The 12th edition of the region’s leading contemporary culture festival will run from 13 to 15 December, returning once again to its home of Dubai Design District (d3).
Performing with his band, singer-songwriter James Blake will take the stage on 13 December, performing hits from his critically acclaimed albums, including Friends That Break Your Heart, which debuted at #4 on the UK charts. Producing music of multiple genres such as electronic, R&B, post-dubstep, pop and experimental, his influence on modern music cannot be overstated as he has helped shape the sound of some of the most influential albums of the past decade. From his contributions to Frank Ocean’s Blonde, Kendrick Lamar’s DAMN, and Beyoncé’s Lemonade to his genre-defying solo albums, Blake is an innovator who continually redefines contemporary music. He has also collaborated with Metro Boomin for the Spider-Verse soundtrack on tracks “Hummingbird” and “Nonviolent Communication” featuring A$AP Rocky & 21 Savage.
Rising global superstar Tems will make her Dubai debut at Sole DXB the following day, bringing her soulful blend of Afrobeats, R&B, and pop to the festival’s main stage. Since bursting onto the scene in 2018, the Nigerian-born artist has taken the music world by storm with hits like “Try Me” and “Free Mind” in addition to her powerful collaborations with artists like Wizkid and Drake. With a distinctive voice and an innate ability to captivate audiences, Tems is poised to deliver a show-stopping performance following the release of her debut album, Born in the Wild, earlier this year.
The Roots will close the festival on a high note, taking the Main Stage on Sunday, 15 December. Hailed as one of the greatest live bands in hip-hop history, it has racked up four Grammy Awards over the years — Best R&B Album for Wake Up!, Best Traditional R&B Vocal Performance for “Hang in There” with John Legend, and Best Group or Duo R&B Vocal Performance for “Shine” included. This, incidentally, brings the band’s Grammy nomination count to 12. You may recognise The Roots from The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, where it has long served as the official house band.
Elsewhere at Sole DXB, attendees can also look forward to a wide array of regional and international brands offering exclusive drops, interactive experiences, and creative activations across fashion, tech, accessories and more. Bonus: the event will run for longer hours this year; doors will open at 3pm and close at 2am, allowing festivalgoers to fully immerse in the experience.
You can also enjoy the return of Sole DXB Talks, Basketball, Skate and Breakdance showcases along with an expanded focus on the visual arts. In addition to the main festival, Sole DXB Off Circuit returns for its second year, extending the festival’s reach beyond the weekend. This year’s series of activations will include events throughout the city in the week leading up to Sole DXB, making the festival a ten-day cultural extravaganza unlike any other.
Starting at AED 445, a limited number of pre-sale tickets are now available at Platinumlist.
DSCVR: James Blake, Tems, and The Roots. Sole DXB. Dubai Design District, Dubai. @soledxb
