RedfestDXB has announced new timings for its closing day. It will be held on Saturday, after severe winds forced organisers to postpone the original date.
To cater to young fans with Sunday school commitments the festival will run from 2pm to 8pm.
Fans and ticket holders are urged to follow the event social media channels for further updates on ticket refunds, updated performance times and opening times.
When it comes to the major performances, UK singer Calum Scott will hit the stage at 3pm, followed an hour later by Swedish pop star Tove Lo.
US R& B crooner Mike Posner will play at 5pm, before arguably the event’s biggest draw card, the pop princess Demi Lovato, who will play the festival’s concluding set at 6pm.
The severe weather wasn’t enough to dampen an entertaining first night at the Dubai Media City Amphitheatre on February 2.
Sean Paul gets busy in the wet
Headliners Sean Paul and G-Eazy did most of the heavy lifting; their respective hour long sets was marked by steady rain and increasingly ominous winds.
A seasoned pro, Paul hung in with the crowd and performed most of his set soaked at the tip of the T-stage.
“How are you guys doing” Paul asked the wet crowd. “We are not going to let the rain stop us, we came here to party.”
The 44-year-old dance-hall star kept the crowd moving with a highly energised performance packed with nearly two decades worth of hits.
Drafted last month, alongside G-Eazy, to replace original headliner, the troubled R& B star Chris Brown, the Dubai visit marked the second time Paul played the UAE in the space of three months.
While his RedfestDxb set list was similar to his Beats on the Beach performance in the Abu Dhabi Corniche in November, this time around Paul brought his full band to the emirate. (He was backed by a DJ and two dancers at the show in the capital.
The result was another set that was joyous enough to almost forget that he was here not long ago.
From the propulsive riddim of Get Busy to last year’s ecstatic club anthem Cheap Thrills (with Sia), Paul’s golden and punchy vocals has often proved to be the key ingredient to sent a song to the top of the charts.
Eazy work for Oakland rapper
While G-Eazy’s set was definitely a fans-only affair, the Oakland rapper did a solid job to keep the crowd engagement.
Donned in a leather jacket, black jeans and with his hair slicked back, the 27 year old looked like a lanky version of The Fonze as he barrelled through a boisterous yet introspective track that included the bouncy You Got Me and the claustrophobic I Mean It.
One of the biggest crowd reaction of the night was reserved for his 2016 cross over hit Me, Myself and I.
The evocative yet smouldering delivery Eazy, not to mention the heart rending chorus by Bebe Rexha, shows why the track rated as one the best hip-hop singles of the decade.
Daya is definitely one to watch
Earlier in the evening saw strong sets by 18 year-old US singer Daya and Aussie pop duo The Veronicas.
The former showed why she is viewed as one of pop music’s bright new hopes.
Dressed in denim a jacket and mesh top, Daya’s grungy look was apt, as she is essentially a rock singer performing pop songs.
It kind of works; there are enough cracks and lack of polish to her voice that keeps the sunny hit, Hideaway, and the perky Cool from being too saccharine.
The Veronicas opened the night with a charming set full of their trademark pop rock sound
The vivacious twins kept it fun and light; Lisa and Jess Origliasso were all smiles and banter with highlights being The Strokes-esque Hook Me Up and the pinky Take Me on The Floor.
Organisers Arabian Radio Network and Done Events were forced to postpone the February 3 performances due to the adverse weather condition.
“Virgin Radio RedFestDXB, being held at Dubai Media City Amphitheatre has been moved to tomorrow, Saturday, February 4th as a precautionary measure to protect fans from the high winds being experienced at the venue,” said the statement by the organisers.
“The primary focus of the organising team is to ensure the safety of all spectators, who are being strongly warned not to come to the venue today,”
Ticket prices start at Dh395 from ticketmasteruae.ae and Virgin Megastores. For details go to redfestdxb.com
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