Always one of the more interesting indie bands, Franz Ferdinand went through a bit of a mid-career trough; but the January 2025 release of their sixth album, The Human Fear, was a return to form (with a new drummer and [... more]
"Not just a concert, it’s a soulful celebration of joy, light, and togetherness" says the blurb. We're not sure how much reimagining has gone on to deliver "the spirit of Christmas like never before", but the lineup is pretty good [... more]
A journey in 360° space through the worlds created by Hayao Miyazaki & Joe Hisaishi with the Armenian pianist Gayane Aslanyan. "In 60 minutes, she will transport you to a realm of wonder and fantasy where imagination knows no bounds [... more]
The Arts Center's mini-Womad for artists who mix modern/Western ideas with traditional/regional styles returns with three good-looking acts (each of whom will play for about an hour, which makes the door price a bit of a bargain). Yasmine Hamdan (above) [... more]
The Ukrainian pianist and composer (multiple awards, six studio albums, performances around the world) is back at the Fridge with a new show: working between two grand pianos, he performs pieces that explore the wonder of childhood and the vast [... more]
The third Mini Festival promises to transform 25hours Hotel One Central into a vibrant hub for alternative music, creativity, and community – six rooms, live bands, DJs and vinyl selectors, workshops and talks, film screenings, a record fair, and a [... more]
Open-air Khaleeji jazz from Boom.Diwan, led by Grammy-nominated guitarist and ethnomusicologist Ghazi Al Mulaifi. Blending Gulf traditions with live improvisation, Boom.Diwan brings a contemporary edge to regional music; for this performance they are joined by the Abu Dhabi Folklore & [... more]
Joseph is Joseph Terterian, purveyor of 'popera' – classics delivered with his operatically powerful voice; Le Petit Orchestre is just what is says, a variable-sized but always compact band of strings, drums, double bass and backing vocals. They really are [... more]
For this Easter Performance the excellent Klimit Quartet is joined by soprano Caterina Di Tonno and mezzo-soprano Rosa Bove for a classic of sacred Baroque music, Giovanni Battista Pergolesi’s Stabat Mater. The programme includes "a selection of Easter arias and [... more]
A lecture-performance with the Firdaus Orchestra that breaks down the music to reveal the hidden stories and craftsmanship behind the Bohemian composer's symphonic poem, a work which aims to evoke the flow of the Vltava River – in German, the [... more]
"A live transmission from Dubai’s alternative underground ... a night dedicated to alternative, rock and experimental sounds shaping a new wave of music and culture in Dubai", taking over Rooted's Warehouse 34 for one night only. Past Alterna.tiv gigs have [... more]
The latest in an excellent ongoing series on artistic practice, sustainability, and the practicalities of a creative life. Drawing from the panellist's individual experiences, the discussion will explore collaboration, visibility, creative development, navigating local and international scenes, and the opportunities [... more]
Beyond trade routes and history books lies a deeper current: shared rhythms, spiritual traditions, and cultural echoes that have travelled for centuries across deserts and oceans alike. Mandé Maqamāt invites audiences into a world where the Gulf meets the vast [... more]
Two examples of the next wave of UAE artistry in one evening of deeply personal, genre-blurring performances. Fatima, better known as FAFA, is an artist from Abu Dhabi with roots in both the UAE and Honduras; through sonic storytelling that blends [... more]
Does exactly what it says in the title – Dubai Singers are rehearsing selected choruses and solos from the Messiah and are inviting anyone to come and join in (for the choruses, at least). Rehearsals take place at Christ Church, [... more]
Join a room full of people from different backgrounds and different age groups to learn, rehearse and perform Toto's anthemic Africa in a single day – no auditions, no commitments: just a great song, and the chance to meet and [... more]
Iconic rock anthems delivered with raw energy and emotional intensity by powerhouse vocalist Rina Olis and her band – with the backdrop of ToDA’s immersive 360o background visuals.
British pianist Ryan Gibb with "an intimate evening of iconic movie love songs, bringing Hollywood's most memorable soundtracks to life through voice and piano” and ToDA’s dramatic 360o background visuals.
Classical strings meet the rhythms of Latin America – tango, bossa nova, Cuban and Spanish-inspired favourites – with the backdrop of ToDA’s immersive 360o background visuals.
Soul, R&B and jazz classics, reimagined by multi-instrumentalist AJAY and his band, supported by ToDA’s immersive 360o visuals.
“A journey of ancient tradition and modern innovation” delivered by oud maestro and composer Hooman Shirali, tabla master Sandu, and Kadir on saxophone – with the backdrop of ToDA’s immersive 360o background visuals.
Back by popular demand, this theatrical, humorous, and wildly romantic tango concert stars powerhouse vocalist LaRudche with live piano and violin accompaniment, plus dancers who blur the lines between elegance and fire – with the backdrop of ToDA’s immersive 360o [... more]
The saz is the long-necked fretted lute at the heart of many Middle Eastern and Anatolian folk traditions; this storytelling concert, with a band led by saz virtuoso and composer Hoshang Habash, takes the audience through the cultures and traditions [... more]
A "carefully curated" selection of iconic songs that draws inspiration from more than 14 legendary artists to take you on a musical journey across Lebanese, Egyptian, Khaliji, Syrian, and Iraqi classics.
A terrific start to the new season at The Arts Center – a high-octane double bill featuring two bands, both making their Gulf debuts, who really know how to deliver. The Dirty Dozen Brass Band (above) is the pioneering group [... more]
Sharjah Art Foundation’s Music and Sound Club is a series of fortnightly hands-on workshops and meetup sessions form anyone interested in music and sonic arts. In this first workshop on Tape Loop Manipulation, participants woll learn how to open, splice [... more]
“A journey of ancient tradition and modern innovation” Spirit of the East is a contemporary musical collaboration built around the original compositions of oud maestro and composer Hooman Shirali, bringing together the colors of Eastern music with contemporary sounds, improvisation, [... more]
Sharjah Art Foundation’s Music and Sound Club is a series of fortnightly hands-on workshops and meetup sessions form anyone interested in music and sonic arts. This second workshop is a two-parter – on 4 and 18 October – that introduces [... more]
Sharjah Art Foundation’s Music and Sound Club is a series of fortnightly hands-on workshops and meetup sessions form anyone interested in music and sonic arts. Bridging the analogue and the digital, this session encourages you to craft hybrid musical works [... more]
It’s 20 years since Back to Black was released, so there’s a reasonable hook for this performance by “the original musicians who performed alongside Amy on stages around the world and helped shape her distinctive sound both live and in [... more]
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