With big names such as Santana and Zakir Hussain performing during the Dubai Shopping Festival, Dubai has indeed put its best foot forward.
For tourists, there's no better time to visit Dubai than during the Dubai Shopping Festival, and for residents there's no better place than Dubai when all the action is happening right here in their backyard.
Agreed, a chunk of the DSF activities is about satisfying the acquisitive syndrome, but there's another half that will be a delight for all the music connoiseurs. Here is a look at the highlights at various venues across the city.
Santana clause
As of today, we are 8 days into the 32-day extravaganza, but it is February 15 that will spell paradise for music lovers. Touted as DSF 2008's trump card in entertainment, Carlos Santana will be performing for the first time in the Middle East.
A new outdoor venue, alongside Dubai Creek at the Dubai Festival City, has been chosen to showcase the talents of this nimble-fingered artiste who has sold more than 90 million records.
Two's a crowd?
Apart from this concert, February 1 is another day that must be jotted down in your must-attend DSF calender. This day is a bit dicey for music lovers. There are two very interesting events happening on the same day and choosing one of them may seem tricky. On one hand we have Amr Diab, the Arabic singing sensation, who is all set to perform at Megabowl in Area A at Dubai's Zabeel Park.
On the other hand there's a fusion concert titled Nirvana with percussionist maestro Ustad Zakir Hussain. The show will have several other renowned artistes such as Vinnie Colaiuta (lead drummer for Sting), Bela Fleck (one of the leading Banjo players), Edgar Meyer, V. (a noted bassist); SelvaGanesh (ace Kanjira player), Niladari Kumar (sitar virtuoso), and Taufiq Qureshi (percussionist) matching beats.
If you decide to stick with Amr Diab, get ready to hear him belt his hit songs including Nour El Ein and Leily Nahari. If you choose Nirvana, then get set to be transported to the ultimate level of bliss with Western artistes and Eastern artistes joining to kick up a storm.
Three to tango
The string of concerts slated for DSF does not end here. For all those who love upbeat Bollywood numbers, there is Shaan, Sunidhi Chauhan and Sukhwinder Singh at the Tennis Stadium on February 17. When it comes to energy and talent, there is no competing with these three singers.
Shaan, who had a fantastic 2007 with his hit number Chaand Sifarish, will regale you with a string of Bollywood melodies. Meanwhile, Sunidhi Chauhan has a voice that has been tailored for stage shows.
From Beedi Jalaile (Omkara) to Dhoom Machala, the girl is known to be a firebrand on stage. If that's not enough, their hit duet Twenty Four Seven I Think Of You will draw you to the concert. Joining them is Sukhwinder Singh. His latest hit Chak De India will do a lot to stir up the patriotic fervour in the expat community in Dubai.
Jazzing up DSF
Another extravaganza that will go well beyond DSF is the SkyWards Dubai International Jazz Festival which will bring together world class artistes of all genres.
The jazz fest, touted as a DSF event, has an impressive line-up of artistes. Confirmed acts include Jesse Cook, David Gray and Robin Gibb (of Bee Gees fame).
Cook, the virtuoso guitarist has blended African Percussion, Cajun accordion, Classical Cello and pop vocals with his own rumba flamenco style to create some thrilling hybrid songs. Meanwhile Gray, one of the UK's most popular artistes, is all set to enthral with his emotional power-ballads.
For updates and contact details on events log on to www.mydsf.com
AT A GLANCE
- Feb 1 - Nirvana Fusion Concert (Dubai Tennis Stadium)
- Feb 1 - Amr Diab (Zabeel Park)
- Feb 15 - Carlos Santana (Dubai Festival City)
- Feb 17 - Shaan, Sunidhi & Sukhwinder (Tennis Stadium Centre Court)
- March 1 - Dubai International Jazz Fest (Dubai Media City/Dubai Radisson/Dubai Festival City)
