Vinyl Souk Mini Festival

We introduced a full spectrum of sounds at Manarat Al Saadiyat with community radio showcases from MiZa Radio, The Crate Radio, boxout.fm and Cheb Mimo (NTS Radio).

Vinyl Souk at Manarat Al Saadiyat (MAS)

Vinyl Souk at Shabab Laboratory

No Borders x Vinyl Souk

Instead of following trends, DJ Okapi has made it his mission to preserve and share a forgotten era of South African pop music, specifically the infectious sounds of synth-fuelled ‘80s ‘bubblegum’ disco and the house-driven kwaito grooves of the ‘90s. DJing since the early 2000s, Okapi started Afrosynth as a blog documenting his record collection. From 2016 to 2000 he ran a record store in downtown Johannesburg. Afrosynth now functions primarily as a reissue label, putting out classic South African sounds, as well as new jazz, via Rush Hour in Amsterdam. In the process he has helped bring artists like Ntombi Ndaba and Kamazu back to the international stage. Recently returned to Cape Town, the city of his birth, after more than a decade in Johannesburg, Okapi has shared his unique and soulful sound throughout Europe as well as Asia and Brazil. He has also compiled popular vinyl collections of South African music for Rush Hour, Soundway and Cultures of Soul.

DJ Okapi (Afrosynth Records)

Zag Erlat (My Analog Journal)

Juliana Arbol

Ray Mang is Laj is Raj Gupta. One of the premier disco producers since way back when and still clocking forwards in a future fashion with no sign of letting up. He landed his first 12” Number One in ’96 on Noid Recordings gaining widespread support in the clubs and on compilations. He has taken that wonky party sound and kept it moving on ever since. He also runs the label Mangled and has released across too many others to mention. He is prolific with the quality control on high.

Ray Mang

Natalie Shooter is a DJ, music researcher, journalist and editor based in London. Since 2010, she’s been a member of the Beirut Groove Collective, a vinyl DJ collective focused on underground clubbing music from the SWANA region and around the world. She has co-run the BGC’s cult clubnights for over a decade with her
partner Ernesto Chahoud, throwing parties in Beirut and London in grassroots venues. Known for her soulful touch with a focus on under-sung women artists, Natalie’s eclectic sets take in everything from Arabic funk and disco, Afro-soul, Lebanese Beat and Armenian Estraydin to ‘60s garage and psych, Soul, Rhythm & Blues and
Popcorn. She’s DJ’d across Europe and the SWANA region, playing at clubnights in Newcastle, Milan, London, Beijing, Amman and Dubai and at festivals such as Viennale and End of the Road. Natalie hosts a weekly radio show on London’s Do!! You!!!, as well as a monthly residency on Bethlehem-based Radio Alhara.

Natalie Shooter

199X is what multidisciplinary artist Jordan Cortez usually goes by as a beatmaker and selector.

His beats are usually a mélange of off-kilter wonky and instrumental hip-hop productions inspired from 80s street soul and r&b jams to ethnic and world rhythms that showcases his wide-range of sonic sampling propensity and instrumentation. He is known for releasing his beat tapes on actual cassettes through his label Analog Amigo Records along with the rest of his musical projects and of others. 

On the 16th, he will be performing his 2021 beat tape “Expat 2020” in full as part of celebrating its second year reissue now available on @analogamigorec

199X

YSE, rhymes with “Geese”, has been releasing tracks in one shape or form since 1998.

Music producer, crate digger, rare DJ but all-round music aficionado, originally from the UK's East Midlands but currently living in the Middle East.

YSE Saint Laur'Ant

Emerging from Beirut's dynamic electronic scene and putting his electrical engineering degree to good use, Serge has switched from laptop production to a full modular synthesizer set-up.

Serge is playing live on eurorack, sampling some live recordings and layering them with numerous processed oscillators along with Maudyf, a British multi-instrumentalist complimenting the sound with distorted guitars and balearic pads.

Serge Volant Feat. Maudyf

Abu Dhabi based beatsmith & producer, half aMazin aka NileRhythmik specializes in bringing organic boombap hiphop to the forefront.

Hailing from a more hardcore background of hiphop, he continues mesmerizing audiences with his keen ear for obscure samples, bending genres into raw, unadulterated organic hiphop magic.

Half Amazin

BCM aka 1/2 of For The Record SA is a serial record collector. Selecta style music player. Purveyor of various (black origin) sounds. 

Connector of people. Born on the Cape Flats of South Africa, during the apartheid struggle. For BCM, music has and will always be the medium for the message.

Producer, DJ, remixer, label boss, taste-maker. Jamie Odell wears many hats and wears them well.

Under his Jimpster alias, he has become one the most revered deep house artists operating on the scene today. His esteemed labels Freerange and Delusions Of Grandeur continue to help break incredible new music and equally impressive acts such as Detroit Swindle, Tornado Wallace and Session Victim. From his UK base, Jimpster has inadvertently become a standard-bearer and custodian of the authentic house sound, and carries this flag to the four corners of the world.

As he puts it himself, “The mission is clear: to try to inject warmth, depth, soul, sincerity and attitude to both my productions and my DJ sets. This is what sets the major players apart from the pretenders. That challenge is what keeps me focused and inspired 30 years on and I'm sure it will keep me on my toes for many years to come."

Jimpster

Mohamed Ali is the founder of @baitelfen - a voluntary initiative that's dedicated to build a bridge between culture and art by providing a collaborative space for artists to produce inspiring works from the essence of Eastern cultures.  

Mohamed is a Sharjah bred audiophile at heart, bringing soul and world music in his selections.

Mohammed Ali

Karim Atari is a Palestinian musician raised in Dubai, exploring sonic realms through modular synthesis and guitar. Influenced by punk, techno, and ambient genres, Karim crafts captivating soundscapes marked by chaotic rhythms and rich timbres. His music transcends boundaries, offering listeners an immersive journey through unique sonic territories. With each composition, Karim channels his creativity and passion for experimentation, delivering a unique musical experience that captivates listeners and invites them to explore new sonic dimensions.

Karim Atari

Grew up in Aberdeen, Scotland in a music loving family. Acid House happened in the late 80’s, changing me & my close friend’s life forever and that was the beginning of the love affair with the music. 
I loved all the music at the outset, but I very quickly developed a leaning towards the more hip-hop influenced tracks that got sped up and became Breakbeat & Hardcore, laying the foundations going forward for Jungle Techno, Ragga Jungle and Drum & Bass. 

Bought my 1st set of decks at 16, and I was part of a small but lively scene in Aberdeen, spearheaded by local collective Jungle Nation, who put on epic nights throughout the 90’s & 00’s where we warmed up for the likes of Goldie, Fabio & Grooverider and LTJ Bukem amongst others. Now 49 I have never stopped loving the music, and I am now passing the torch to my little in house Junglist daughter Maisie.

Murray

Kira, also known as Mira made her debut gig as a vinyl selector at Souk Sessions.

Kira has an eclectic taste, collecting and playing a diverse array of music genres and vibes. From the avant-garde realms of experimental and ambient sounds to the rich, soulful tones of jazz,
Kira’s sets are a sonic journey. Her deep appreciation for music’s transformative power is evident in every performance, where she seamlessly blends different styles to create unique auditory experiences.

Kira aka Mira brings an unparalleled energy and creativity to the decks, captivating audiences with her dynamic and versatile soundscapes.

Kira aka Mira

Pawel Blot - vinyl warrior and collector, a true eclectic DJ, for the past 15 years member of the Dutch Intergalactic FM scene, promoting quality electronic dance music. In 2021, Pawel relocated back to Poland where he co-founded Italo Kochando, a DJ collective responsible for recurring cosmic/disco events all over Poland. His sets bring a fresh and modern perspective to synthesizer inspired italo disco music as well as 80s/90s esthetics mixed with nostalgic electro, funk and dark-wave.

Pawel Blot

Artem has a vast experience. He spent 2 and a half years as a Spotify editor . 8 years as music and program director of Moscow dance & electronic FM radio - Megapolis 89.5 FM. Around 10+ years DJing and hosting a weekly radio show. Currently he is working on A&R, managing an artist, and compiling playlists for diverse companies. He has an extensive vinyl collection 900+ mainly old-school/ house classics / deep / acid / early techno / US garage / jungle / liquid funk / broken beat / hip-hop / UK garage / grime / UK hardcore / breakbeat / nu-soul / r'n'b and disco.

Ravecrawlers

Artifiact Sun is one of the various musical expressions of Emirati musician, selector, and curious listener Mariam Al Askari.  

Souk Sessions curated by Nightjar at Vinyl Souk Mini Festival

Leon's set is made of chuggy early '90s balerica shuffled in between a mini-set of Andy Weatherall Productions, flowing into deep atmospheric house made for sunrises.

Leon Surynt

Brett Solomon, renowned as Mr. Fresh, commands a vibrant and diverse career in the music industry that spans over two decades. His journey is a testament to his profound passion for music, showcasing expertise as a DJ, producer, turntablist, and avid record collector.

His sets, characterized by a seamless fusion of house, funk, soul, reggae, jazz and hip-hop elements, have become synonymous with electrifying energy and musical innovation.

Mr Fresh

Tarik Omar is a musician, producer, curator and DJ. His DJ sets are
known for effortlessly floating between house, funk, disco, techno, all while diving into african boogie and rare brazillian synth jams. He uses his live sets to explore processes, technology, and workflows to create extemporaneous music.

Tarik Omar

zenim at Stage Two, Sole

essarai at Stage Two, Sole

Bu Fari (MiZa Radio) Showcase @ Manarat Al Saadiyat

Cheb Mimo @ Manarat Al Saadiyat

DJ MoCity (boxout.fm) Showcase at Manarat Al Saadiyat

Salah Sadeq (The Crate Radio) Showcase @ Manarat Al Saadiyat

Rudoh @jugaar.recs 

A driving force in Pakistan’s electronic music scene, Rudoh wears many hats — producer, DJ, and audio engineer. Starting out inspired by LA’s beat scene, he co-founded Forever South, Pakistan’s first electronic label and events platform, and helped shape studios like Aleph and Box in a Box into creative hubs for new sounds.

Now based in Dubai, Rudoh continues to refine his breaks- and electro-driven sound through Jugaar Records, his latest project with Sameer Arshad — a cross-border label rooted in South Asian ingenuity and collaboration.

Rudoh Ambient Set @ Souk Sessions

Born in East London and based between Mumbai & Goa, DJ Uri has been rocking turntables since ’87 — blending Hip-Hop foundations with genre-bending sets that fuse vinyl, finger drumming & loop stations into one seamless flow.

He’s shared stages with the likes of Stretch & Bobito, Diplo, Flying Lotus, DJ Shortkut, Lefto, Foreign Beggars, Mark Ronson & Natasha Diggs. and recently selected to perform at the 40th DMC World DJ Championships in Tokyo. Now heading DMC India, Uri’s mission is to elevate turntablism across the Indian subcontinent — catch him in Dubai before he heads home.

DJ Uri @ Souk Sessions

Little Hats is a ball of energy behind the booth — a community organiser and long-standing member of the Sisu Crew. She’s spent years shaping dancefloors and creative spaces. We’re thrilled to welcome her to Vinyl Souk this Saturday for an eclectic, feel-good set swaying from italo to disco to breaks. 

Little Hats @ Souk Sessions

Joel Sakkari, aka Sakré, is a Bengaluru-based producer, composer, and multi-instrumentalist shaping India’s retrofuturist sound. His lo-fi, sample-forward beats rework South Indian film melodies, city ambience, and analog imperfections into textured electronic landscapes — nostalgic yet futuristic, intimate yet cinematic.

Sakre (Live) from Souk Sessions with No Borders

Frinda Di Lanco (Berlin): A DJ, record collector, and one half of Avec Plaisir Records, Frinda Di Lanco has become a distinctive voice in the underground. As a selector, radio host, and label co-runner, she’s known for her deep digging sensibility and her ability to stitch together rare finds, subtle rhythms, and emotional depth into warm, transportive club experiences.

Frinda Di Lanco - Souk Sessions with No Borders

Mera Bhai is a London-based producer, DJ, and multi-instrumentalist whose sound reflects a life lived across continents. A founding member of psych band Flamingods and an early member of Daytimers collective, his sound infuses UK club culture with Carnatic traditions, Brazilian funk, disco and soul. His genre-fluid, globally rooted approach defines him as one of the scene’s sharpest tastemakers.

Mera Bhai - Souk Sessions with No Borders

Tacit (aka Aaron Kim)- Cellist/Sound designer/ Electronic musician.
Born and raised in Aachen, Germany. Tacit consistently delivers mind bending electronic live performances. Having been classically trained from the age of 10, he builds his live sets on a strong classical/Jazz foundation, incorporating hard beats, industrial sounds. Living in Dubai, UAE, and resident-artist at Analog Room.

TACIT at Down to Earth (Live Modular Set)

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