Kasabian, Kool & the Gang and Robin Thicke will headline of the second annual Blended festival.
Jessie Ware, Nico & Vinz and Craig David will complete the line-up of the two-day event, taking place at Dubai Media City Amphitheatre on April 30 and May 1.
They might be known for stadium-sized bombast, but British rock behemoths Kasabian will adapt to Blended’s relaxed ethos by reworking familiar material for a special “with strings” concept set, performed alongside a live string quartet.
Following the release of last year's fifth album, 48:13, fans can expect a markedly different show from the group's regional debut at The Sevens Stadium in February 2012.
Joining them on Thursday's bill will be soulful British singer Jessie Ware, who arrives off the back of two successful albums, Devotion and Tough Love. She is also in the running to win Best British Female Solo Artist at the Brit Awards on February 25.
Opening on Thursday night will be perennial UAE favourite Craig David, performing a special "sundowner" acoustic set likely to showcase laid-back renditions of UK number ones 7 Days and Fill Me In.
On Friday night, things take a funky turn with headliners Kool & the Gang. The legendary funk/soul collective arrive in Dubai with five decades of musical heritage behind them, and a peerless back catalogue of floor-filling hits includes Celebration, Joanna, Fresh, Cherish and Jungle Boogie, the last of which was famously featured during the opening credits of Quentin Tarantino's film Pulp Fiction.
However founder Robert "Kool" Bell will have some contemporary competition on the night, with Robin Thicke – the voice of uber-hit Blurred Lines – also on the bill. That tune, written with Pharrell and TI, is the second-most downloaded song of all time, but it may be interesting to see how well his other material is known in Dubai.
Friday night will open with a set from Norwegian newcomers Nico & Vinz, known for their 2013 worldwide smash Am I Wrong.
Organisers have promised more artists will be announced to perform at the smaller Jazz@Pizza Express Garden.
In addition to the music, the event will again offer “upscale” food and beverage outlets, and pop-up shops as part of the The Promenade Boutique market concept.
Last year’s inaugural Blended festival brought Diana Krall, Elvis Costello, Joss Stone and Aloe Blacc to Dubai.
The 2015 edition will again be staged as a partnership between heavyweight promoters Done Events and Autism Rocks, the UAE charity behind Prince’s recent “secret” show at Pacha Ibiza Dubai.
Done Events, meanwhile, are celebrating after the recent success of the second RedFestDXB festival, which attracted more than 23,000 music fans to Media City over two days to hear the likes of Iggy Azalea, The Script and Bastille live.
• Blended, Thursday April 30 from 6pm, Friday May 1 from 4pm. Daily tickets, from Dh395, will go on sale at noon on February 23 from www.blended.ae, and Virgin Megastores.
rgarratt@thenational.ae
