DUBAI: We might not get to experience the thrill of physically attending an in-real-life show while we’re all social distancing, but radio personality Hassane Dennaoui — more commonly known as Big Hass — has curated the next best thing: A live online concert featuring performances from rising Saudi female artists.

Following on the success of “The Beat DXB Lockdown,” an online music festival that took place last week, Dennaoui has announced another virtual musical event, “The Beat DXB Lockdown: Saudi Femmes.” Set to take place on Wednesday, the online event aims to spotlight the lesser-known, growing female music scene in the Kingdom while simultaneously empowering and celebrating the creativity and talent of the Saudi artists who make it up.







Big Hass photographed by Omar Tartoob



“We are living in unprecedented times: We are all confined at home, so why not take advantage of this situation and turn it into something positive, inspiring and beneficial for the independent music scene,” said Dennaoui to Arab News. “My heart beats Saudi Arabia, so I never skip a chance to support the hip-hop scene, or in this case, Saudi female artists.”

In partnership with wristwatch label Baby-G, the virtual showcase will feature performances from 13 artists including tamtam, a Riyadh-born Los Angeles-based singer who has gained a cult following for her socially conscious music, R&B singer Roya and Jeddah-based Sarah Chafei, among others. Opera musician Sawsan Al-Bahiti, soul singer Lady Lou and Jeddah-based vocalist Amal will also be participating in the digital concert.

“I have been fascinated since the beginning of social distancing by how much people have come together through music,” stated Al-Bahiti. “The performances that take place live on social media have made the world one big audience. These online shows have allowed viewers to feel closer to the artist and helped the artist reach their fans in a very heartwarming way.”

Each singer will go live from her own Instagram account while the full lineup can be viewed live online at www.thebeatdxb.com.