Jamie Woon, January 15
We’ve had it on good authority that a Dubai concert from inventive, electronic and R&B-influenced UK singer-songwriter Jamie Woon is about to be announced for January 15. Expect rafts of new material: He has just released his first new LP in five years, the well-received Making Time.
Simple Minds, January 28
Vintage Scottish dad-rockers Simple Minds perform at Dubai Tennis Stadium. Expect hits including Don't You (Forget About Me). Tickets are Dh225 from platinumlist.net
RedFestDXB, February 11-12
The teen-tastic festival returns to Dubai Media City Amphitheatre for a third year with a bumper bill, from February 11-12. On the bill are Steve Aoki (pictured), Rita Ora and The Vamps on day one, and Adam Lambert, Fifth Harmony and Eva Simons on day two, among others. No word on adult-friendly sister festival Blended yet.
Tickets from Dh400 daily, visit redfestdxb.com
DJ Hardwell, February 19
The young Dutchman will host a monster rave at Meydan as part of his continuing I Am Hardwell – United We Are tour.
Tickets from Dh295 at platinumlist.net
Dubai Jazz Festival, February 24-26
Now in its record-breaking 14th year, the festival returns to Dubai Media City Amphitheatre for another round of (not especially jazzy) headliners. February 24 will bring American rock band Toto plus kooky YouTube cover sensations Postmodern Jukebox. February 25 will see Sting return for a second year running, to feature alongside smooth jazzer Chris Botti (pictured), while support comes from David Gray. Things close on February 26 with Latin-rock legends Santana, plus lively percussion ensemble La Bomba de Tiempo.
See ticketmaster.ae
Abu Dhabi Festival, April 3-30
The concert programme kicks off in earnest with French opera soprano Natalie Dessay (pictured), alongside her husband Laurent Naouri, on April 10. Other highlights include Chinese piano superstar Lang Lang on April 14, two concerts from the Orchestre de Paris on April 15 and 17, and two shows from ballet star Carlos Acosta on April 25 and 26.
All concerts are at Emirates Palace. Ticket prices vary; early bird tickets are now on sale from timeouttickets.com
Tom Jones, April 15
The legendary Welsh crooner returns to the capital with a show at Yas Island’s du Forum. Look forward to all the standards and newer cuts from 2015’s Long Lost Suitcase.
Tickets from Dh350 at ticketmaster.ae
The NYUAD Arts Center, until April 16
The inaugural season returns after the winter break with Balkan brass ensemble Fanfare Ciocarlia (pictured), who arrive on February 28 in the middle of 20th-anniversary celebrations.
Meanwhile, funk legends and former James Brown band members Pee Wee Ellis and Fred Wesley team up for a show titled Funk: Evolution of a Revolution on April 16.
Visit nyuad-artscenter.org for details and to register for free tickets.
Abu Dhabi Classics, until May 16
The season continues with a whopping nine more concerts before the summer lull, starting with Spain’s leading Sinfónica de Galicia at Emirates Palace on January 13, and wrapping with an intimate reading of Schubert’s celebrated Winter Journey song cycle, performed by German baritone Matthias Goerne (pictured), at Manarat Al Saadiyat on May 16.
For tickets and the full programme, visit abudhabiclassics.ae
