< PreviousMust-book gigs 50 APRIL 2025 TIMEOUTDUBAI.COM ROCK ROCK ROCKMust-book gigs TIMEOUTDUBAI.COM APRIL 2025 51 There’s a show for every taste. Here’s what to get tickets for, right now. By Sian Traynor ON ON ON52 APRIL 2025 TIMEOUTDUBAI.COM L iving in Dubai we’re never short of live music to sing along to. With artists stopping by the UAE for their next tour date, there are always great concerts and gigs lined up. Whether you’re a lover of pop, rock, country, reggae, hip-hop or anything in between, there’s bound to be something for you. Don’t worry about keeping track – we’ve done that for you. All you need to do is buy your tickets. April April 12: ANTS takeover Ushuaïa Ushuaïa Dubai Harbour Experience has announced a huge line-up of Ibiza regulars as stars from global underground party brand ANTS will takeover the open-air club on Saturday April 12. Ibiza icon Marco Carola will headline the evening and bring his brand Napolitano techno to the Harbour venue. The Italian DJ boasts countless headline performances at clubs and festivals in Miami, New York, London and beyond, so get your dancing shoes on. O From Dhs200. Sat Apr 12, from 6pm. Ushuaïa Dubai Harbour Experience, Dubai Harbour, dubai.platinumlist.net. April 12: The Script Irish rockers The Script are set to headline an epic night of belated St Patrick’s Day festivities in Dubai. Best known for The Man Who Can’t Be Moved, the band will perform at McGettigan’s Late Late Paddy’s Party at Dubai Media City Ampitheatre. The Script will arrive in Dubai fresh off a world tour where they’ve supported pop legend P!nk and sold-out shows in their own right. O From Dhs249. Sat Apr 12, noon-midnight. Dubai Media City Amphitheatre, Dubai Media City, platinumlist.net. April 19: Hiphop Tamizha Hiphop Tamizha, the Indian musical duo that brought us Vaadi Pulla Vaadi is coming to Etisalat Academy and you can get tickets now. The duo is made up of Rangadhithya ‘Adhi’ Ramachandran Venkatapathy, the public face of the group, and R. Jeeva. One of the pioneers of Tamil hip-hop music in India, we can hope they’ll be playing their chart-topping hits like Meesaya Murukku, Theemai Dhaan Vellum and Single Pasanga in Dubai. If you’re missing Chennai (capital city of Tamil Nadu), this concert (and the crowd) will definitely take you there. O From Dhs211. Sat Apr 19, from 5pm. Etisalat Academy, Al Muhaisnah, platinumlist.net. Peggy GouMust-book gigs TIMEOUTDUBAI.COM APRIL 2025 53 April 27: Michael Learns To Rock Legendary Danish band Michael Learns To Rock is heading to Dubai for the first time, so it’s time to get your tickets. It’s part of the band’s Take Us To Your Heart global tour. Known for melodic pop-rock, the trio have particularly found fame and popularity in Asia with audiences in India, South Korea, Thailand, Indonesia, Singapore, the Philippines, Malaysia and beyond. O From Dhs199. Sun Apr 27, from 7.30pm. Coca-Cola Arena, City Walk, coca-cola-arena.com (800 22 33 88). May May 2: Angham Egyptian pop icon Angham returns to Dubai in May to play at the city’s massive Coca- Cola Arena. Known to have an incredible voice, get ready for goosebumps and experience the magic of her soul-stirring performance with timeless hits like Sidi Wesalak, Kol Ma N’arrab and Omry Maa’ak. It’s set to be a top performance. O From Dhs150. Fri May 2, from 9pm. Coca Cola Arena, City Walk. coca-cola-arena.com (800 22 33 88). May 3: Peggy Gou This is one big-ticket event that you’re not going to want to miss. Peggy Gou will take centre stage once more at the Soho Garden Festival on Saturday May 3. The South Korean singer and DJ is one of the biggest names in the global dance music scene and will bring her back catalogue of hits to Expo City Dubai. With hits like (It Goes Like) Nanana, It Makes You Forget and Starry Night up her sleeve, it’s set to be an incredible night of live music. O From Dhs150. Sat May 3, 8pm. Soho Garden Festival at Expo City Dubai, platinumlist.net. May 18: BINI Filipino sensation, BINI are performing at Dubai’s Coca-Cola Arena as one of the first stops on their BINIverse world tour 2025. The Script “They arrive in Dubai fresh off a world tour”Road trip to the capital May 27: Guns N’ Roses Get ready to welcome some *serious rock* royalty because Guns N’ Roses, the legendary LA-based band, have announced a colossal 2025 European and Middle East tour – and yes, the UAE is on the map. The rock titans will bring their massive tunes to the Etihad Arena, Yas Island in Abu Dhabi on Tuesday May 27 as part of a 24-date global adventure. The epic event is more than just a concert; it’s a rock ’n’ roll spectacle. The special guests are pretty incredible too – including Public Enemy and Rival Sons. Get ready to rock. O From Dhs295. Tue May 27, 8pm. Etihad Arena, Yas Island, Abu Dhabi, livenation.me, gunsnroses.com.Must-book gigs TIMEOUTDUBAI.COM APRIL 2025 55 The record-breaking Filipina girl group are fresh off the release of their highly anticipated single, Blink Twice. Tickets are live, but there are only standing tickets left available, so get yours soon to make sure you don’t miss out. O From Dhs195. Sun May 18, 8.30pm. Coca Cola Arena, City Walk, binidxb.com (800 22 33 88). May 30: KYGO KYGO is coming back to Dubai for one night only, and you don’t want to miss out on your spot in the crowd. The Norwegian DJ and producer is set to host a huge gig. Part of the KYGO World Tour Part 2, expect an evening of tropical house beats mixed in with the classics (yes you’ll get to sing along to Firestone). Performing with special guest Victoria Nadine, fans will also hear some of the producer’s iconic songs, from Stole the Show to Stargazing. O From Dhs395. Fri May 30, 8pm. Coca-Cola Arena, coca-cola-arena.com (800 223388). October October 18: Ilaiyaraaja One of India’s most celebrated musicians is coming to Dubai later this year so mark the date in your calendar. Composer, conductor, arranger, lyricist and singer Ilaiyaraaja will perform a special show at Dubai Opera on Saturday October 18. Nicknamed Isaignani, which is Tamil for musical genius, the maestro is a globally acclaimed musician best known for his contribution to Indian cinema. Having composed more than 8,500 songs and scored music for 1,418 feature films in various languages including Tamil, Telugu, Malaylam, Kannada and Hindi, it’s fair to say he’s left a huge mark on Indian culture. And as if that wasn’t enough, he’s written the lyrics for more than 1,500 songs and sung on over half of that number. O From Dhs495. Sat Oct 18, 8pm. Dubai Opera, Downtown Dubai, dubaiopera.com (04 440 8888). October 31: David Gray Ready to belt out Babylon? One of the most iconic names in British music is coming to Dubai as part of his latest tour. David Gray will perform for the first time at the Coca- Cola Arena in Dubai as part of his Past and Present world tour. Known for his distinctive voice, heartfelt lyrics and timeless hits such as Babylon, Sail Away and This Year’s Love the show will deliver a dose of nostalgia. O From Dhs395. Fri Oct 31, 8pm. Coca-Cola Arena, City Walk, coca-cola-arena.com (800 33 22 88). Guns N’ Roses56 APRIL 2025 TIMEOUTDUBAI.COM Snow PatrolMust-book gigs TIMEOUTDUBAI.COM APRIL 2025 57 Unmissable UAE Festivals April 18-20: Club Social This is going to be huge, so get your way down to Abu Dhabi, stat. Club Social Festival is coming back with a bang in 2025 and the line-up is looking *chef’s kiss*. In its fourth edition, the festival is bringing three nights of great music to Etihad Park on Yas Island. Headliners for the big festival include the likes of Usher, Snow Patrol, Raye, London Grammar and The Kooks. It’s going to be huge, don’t miss out. O From Dhs295. Fri Apr 18-Sun Apr 20. Yas Island, Abu Dhabi, clubsocial.ae. April 19: Summer in Nashville Ready to line dance your way around Media City? Summer in Nashville is the ideal festival for lovers of all things country music. Expect awesome live music, line dancing, axe throwing and more. Think yourself a bit of a wannabe cowboy? Take a spin on the mechanical bull and show your sticking power. Start putting on those cowboy boots. O Prices TBC. Sat Apr 19, Dubai Media City Amphitheatre, summerinnashville.com . April 20: Pub in the Park It’s time for a day out in the sping sun. The fun outdoor festival will return this year, with even more incredible acts, top chefs and pop-ups to keep you occupied all day long. Whether you’re getting stuck into some good-old pub grub as you while away an afternoon in the April sun, or dancing the night away at the front of the stage, this open-air day out in Dubai Media City is a must-attend event. Top names on the line-up so far include The Hoosiers and Example, as well as a great selection of cover bands. You’re sure to find plenty to sing along to here. O From Dhs50. Sun Apr 20, from 2pm. Dubai Media City Amphitheatre, Dubai Media City, dubai.platinumlist.net. April 23-27: Bred Abu Dhabi If you love hip-hop, you want to add this huge five-day music festival to your calendar and pronto. BRED Abu Dhabi, presented by Hypebeast, promises an epic music line-up, dance battles, streetwear drops and incredible food across the globe. It’s going to be absolutely massive as international artists Nas and PARTYNEXTDOOR will take to the stage at Yas Marina, performing their extensive back catalogue as well as treating fans to their newest hits. A definite reason to plan a trip to the UAE capital, why not make a few nights of it? O From Dhs75 (day passes, headline acts are extra charge). Wed Apr 23-Sun Apr 27. Yas Marina Circuit, Yas Island, Abu Dhabi, ticketmaster.ae, bredabudhabi.com. April 25: OFFLIMITS OFFLIMITS Festival is shaping up to be a landmark event for Abu Dhabi’s music scene. Known for blending multiple genres and pushing boundaries, the festival is already causing a stir with some huge names set to perform. Ed Sheeran will be taking the stage with his catalogue of chart-toppers, while Kaiser Chiefs, with their infectious Britpop anthems, will keep the crowd on their toes. American pop- rock band OneRepublic have also been announced for the event, so it’s sure to be popping night out. O From Dhs495. Sat April 26, from 3pm. Etihad Park, Yas Island, Abu Dhabi, offlimitsfestival.com. May 9: Zamna If you’re an electronic music-lover, mark your calendars for Friday May 9, aka the launch of Zamna Dubai. Starting in Tulum, Mexico, the jungle festival has now travelled and taken over stages across the world, with Ushuaïa Dubai Harbour Experience next on the list. Announcing its latest event, the venue is yet to confirm the line-up, but said you can expect tribal beats, underground techno and loads more. O From Dhs175. Fri May 9, 6pm-3am. Dubai Harbour, ushuaiadubai.com. May 17: elrow elrow Dubai, a house and techno phenomenon, is returning for a massive third edition on Saturday May 17 and you’re not going to want to miss it. Event organisers have promised a night of world-class DJs and live acts in among the glorious chaos of a carnival atmosphere. You can expect zany visuals, larger-than-life BRED Abu Dhbai58 APRIL 2025 TIMEOUTDUBAI.COM performers, bombastic sound and loads of bright lights. Expect performances from Tini Gessler, Bora Uzer, Ilario Alicante, Patrick Topping and Stasi Stanlin, with more to be announced. Stick close to timeoutdubai. com for all the latest details. O From Dhs200. Sat May 17. Expo City Dubai, elrowdubai.com. November: UNTOLD Dubai Dubai’s biggest music festival is making a comeback in November. Promising more than 100 artists between Thursday November 6 and Sunday November 9, the festival moves from its old home at Expo City to Dubai Parks and Resorts this year. We can expect some of the world’s biggest names to be announced for the 2025 line-up from the worlds of pop, EDM, K-pop and more. Last year’s event saw 185,000 music fans descend on Expo City but festival organisers promise this year’s edition will be even ‘bigger, better and stronger’ than last year. We can’t wait. O Prices TBC. Thu Nov 6-Sun Nov 9. Dubai Parks and Resorts, Sheikh Zayed Road, untold.ae. November 28-30: Emirates Dubai 7s Known for being one of the biggest sports events in the city, Emirates Dubai 7s is also known for its international music performances. With the likes of Kylie Minogue, Becky Hill and Craig David having previously performed at the event, you can expect big things for 2025. As well as world-class performances, you can also expect must-see sports tournaments across five sports and heaps of pop-ups and food stands. There’s also a huge kids’ zone and plenty of entertainment with the whole gang in mind, so mark it in the family diary now. O Tickets TBC. Fri Nov 28-Sun Nov 30. The Sevens Stadium, Al Ain Road, emiratesdubai7s.com. elrow UNTOLD DubaiMust-book gigs TIMEOUTDUBAI.COM APRIL 2025 59 Three to try Live music bars Fibber Magee’s This legend of an Irish watering hole can be found tucked away just behind Sheikh Zayed Road and it’s a laid-back spot attracting a loyal crowd of regulars. Serving proper Irish grub, pints of the black stuff and boasting a friendly atmosphere, it’s especially fun on its frequent Irish trad music nights, where you’ll get to toe-tap along to Irish folk music and soak in the Emerald Isle vibes. O Saeed Tower One, Sheikh Zayed Road, fibbersdubai.com (04 332 2400). Jass Lounge Jass Lounge is ideal for cosy, late-night vibes, with a top line- up of smooth jazz acts taking to the stage. With moody lighting, furnishings in navy and gold and only a handful of tables, it’s a prime spot for music-lovers and night owls. Focusing on quality music in an intimate atmosphere, Jass Lounge also prides itself on its creative mixed drinks list. Carrie Gibson’s Nuvo Soul is a regular on the line-up so listen to some soulful tunes. O Gate Village 2, DIFC, jasslounge.ae (050 912 4242). Lock, Stock & Barrel, JBR Looking for loud? Lock, Stock & Barrel doesn’t do anything by halves and that’s especially true when it comes to its live performances. Time Out Dubai’s Best Live Music Bar, this huge, cavernous space is ideal for an absolutely rocking party, and when its roster of top acts take to the stage there’s not a smidgen of room on the dance floor. Hosting bands throughout the week (including at brunch and during the Sunday roast) and having held a battle of the bands in the past, you know LSB takes its live music very seriously. O Rixos Premium JBR, The Walk, JBR, lsbdubai.com (04 423 8307).Next >