ONLY AN EVENT as big as the Grand Prix in Abu Dhabi would merit an entertainment line-up so massive that it would draw the crème-de-la-crème of the music world, all scheduled to put on the biggest performances the capital has ever hosted. A full line-up of top entertainers are embarking on the Abu Dhabi Corniche as part of the ‘Beats on the Beach’ concert series, taking place to commemorate the arrival of the Formula 1 in the capital.

Beats on the Beach sees five nights of local, regional and international talent performing an eclectic mix of music live on the beach, as well as US music mogul, Timbaland. But the real show stealer promises to be Beyonce Knowles,  set to make her solo debut in the UAE. We give you a breakdown of the week with a guide to the free concerts that will be open to the general public, as well as the coveted after-race performances that promise to rock out the newly developed Yas Island.

Wednesday, October 28

Music Hall (from 7:30pm) — Cabaret-style music hall theatre with a mix of local and foreign acts, jazz, pop, belcanto and stand-up comedy from the acclaimed venue of the same name in Beirut. The one-of-a-kind nightclub venue will be transferred for one-night-only under the stars on the Corniche.

Thursday October 29

Soul II Soul (performing from 8:30pm) – Soul II Soul is the British double award-winning Grammy act that emerged from London at the end of the 1980s, and are famously known for the hits Keep on Movin’ and Back to Life. These songs set the tone for early 1990 mainstream dance in the UK. Founded by Jazzie B and featuring a changing roster of other musicians — notably Nellee Hooper, Simon Law, Philip ‘Daddae’ Harvey and Caron Wheeler — Soul II Soul’s experiments in music-making of their own resulted in the dub plate Fairplay and secured them international recognition.

Hussein Al Jasmi (performing from 10:15pm) – An Emirati singer well known for his beautiful voice and romantic song selection. Under the management of Rotana Records, Hussein Al Jasmi is now flying high to conquer the Arab music world.

Friday October 30

Abri (performing from 9pm) — Described as ‘the best original band Dubai has ever seen’ (Time Out), Abri has recently been nominated for the MTV European Music Awards 2008. Their powerful blend of soul, jazz and R&B is sure to keep the crowds entertained.

Ragheb Alama (performing from 10pm) – Born in 1962, this Lebanese singer is often known as the superstar and has distinguished himself in singing from an early age. In April 2009, for the first time in the Arab world, Ragheb Alama achieved the platinum award from Virgin Megastore in Dubai for the highest sales of albums.

Timbaland (performing from 11:45pm) – Super producer Timbaland has stamped his incredible imprint on the music scene since the mid-1990s. His productions have helped create career-defining hits for artists such as Missy Elliott, Destiny’s Child, Ludacris, Snoop Dogg and Jay-Z, among many others. He has also established himself as a leading DJ in his own right and will be sure to be one of the more memorable acts of the week.

Saturday October 31

Dahab (performing from 7:20pm) — An acoustic trio that was created in 2004, their music can be defined as ‘acoustic ethnic rock with a 70’s influence’. Dahab is actually a small Bedouin village in Sinai about 100km north of Sharm El Sheikh, and is renowned as a place where musicians and artists go to create and improvise.

Mohamed Hamaki (performing from 8:30pm) – The famous Egyptian singer achieved major success through his first song entitled Al Helw Yehib El Heneya in 1996. Since then he has continued to release hit albums and singles widely known across the Middle East.

The Wailers (performing from 10:15pm) – Together with Bob Marley, The Wailers have sold in excess of 250 million albums worldwide. In England alone, they’ve notched up over twenty chart hits, including seven Top 10 entries. Outside of their groundbreaking work with Marley, The Wailers have also played or performed with international acts like Sting, The Fugees, Stevie Wonder, Carlos Santana and Alpha Blondy, as well as reggae legends such as Peter Tosh, Bunny Wailer and Burning Spear. As the greatest living exponents of Jamaica’s reggae tradition, The Wailers have completed innumerable tours, playing to an estimated 24 million people across the globe.

kadry@khaleejtimes.com