Summer festivals have never really been in a thing in the UAE for obvious reasons. However, if ever a festival was perfect for a scorching Dubai summer, WATERBOMB is it. Starring some of the biggest names in K-pop as well as a packed roster of international acts, the unique water-based concept saw water cannon-wielding artists and super soaker-equipped audience members beat the heat by drenching each other throughout the weekend.
Launched in 2015 in Seoul, South Korea, WATERBOMB took place for the first time ever outside East Asia on 7 and 8 June at Dubai Festival City Waterfront. Tasked with bringing the festival to life was A LOUD MINORITY (ALM), which leveraged its extensive experience in the region to take on a wide-ranging scope including sitewide operations, technical production and stage management. “This was the first time that we have taken on the operational role, and it was a massive step,” reflected ALM’s Co-Founder and Director, Karl Jenkins, describing what he jokingly referred to as a ‘watershed’ moment for the company. “We’ve grown into that operational role, and we did a great job in bringing on the right partners to bring together a sitewide production.”
Those partners included Aggreko, Fruition Event Services, Byrne Equipment Rental, Pitchblack, Clair Global, Flair Event Services, Gallowglass Health and Safety, and Showforce, while Be. Experiental took on the front of house operations and promotional side of the project. “We had just eight weeks to turn this project around, which meant that it was important that we could work with vendors who we know and trust,” Jenkins stated. “We onboarded all the suppliers quickly, ensuring that we got the best result and also the best deal for our client.”
Photos: WATERBOMB
