Five questions about... Desert Rhythm Festival 2008
What is Desert Rhythm Festival?
Desert Rhythm is an annual festival that takes place between the months of October and November. The first event was in 2006. In 2007, it expanded from one to two days and welcomed the likes of Kanye West, Joss Stone and Mika to the UAE. This year's event takes place today from 2pm.
Who's performing this year?
British singer Paul Weller, reggae outfit The Wailers Band, girl group Vix and The Kix, and local stars Juliana Down. Meanwhile, the winners of last month's Back 2 School Festival music and dance competitions, Gandhi's Cookbook, The Double You's and CIS Style will also perform.
Who's Paul Weller?
Paul Weller is more of a national icon in the UK than an international one. The 50-year-old singer/songwriter is credited with creating two of Britain's biggest bands in the 1970s and 1980s, The Jam and The Style Council, respectively.
He must be worth millions. Is that true?
It has been reported Weller is worth £165 million (Dh999m), a figure the singer denies. In an interview with NME magazine, he said: "Noel Gallagher [from Oasis] called me up when he read that and said, 'You've been holding out on me – lend us a tenner'."
Who are the other main acts?
The Wailers Band was the backing band for Bob Marley & The Wailers from 1974 until Marley's death in 1981. Vix and the Kix is fronted by Vickie Perks, of late 1980s girl group Fuzzbox. After being out of the limelight, she has returned with Vix and The Kix, a girl-group that alternates between punk-inspired pop to emotive ballads.
- Tickets start from Dh250, and are available at the door. For more information, visit www.desertrhythmfestival.com.
THE NUMBER
160,000: Number of people in New York state who may lose their jobs following the crisis on Wall Street and a country-wide recession that is expected to strike hard in the US state.
VERBATIM
"On Tuesday, you can put an end to the politics that would divide a nation just to win an election; that tries to pit region against region, city against town and Republican against Democrat"
- US Presidential candidate Barack Obama, as he campaigns ahead of elections on November 4
Desert Rhythm is an annual festival that takes place between the months of October and November. The first event was in 2006. In 2007, it expanded from one to two days and welcomed the likes of Kanye West, Joss Stone and Mika to the UAE. This year's event takes place today from 2pm.
Who's performing this year?
British singer Paul Weller, reggae outfit The Wailers Band, girl group Vix and The Kix, and local stars Juliana Down. Meanwhile, the winners of last month's Back 2 School Festival music and dance competitions, Gandhi's Cookbook, The Double You's and CIS Style will also perform.
Who's Paul Weller?
Paul Weller is more of a national icon in the UK than an international one. The 50-year-old singer/songwriter is credited with creating two of Britain's biggest bands in the 1970s and 1980s, The Jam and The Style Council, respectively.
He must be worth millions. Is that true?
It has been reported Weller is worth £165 million (Dh999m), a figure the singer denies. In an interview with NME magazine, he said: "Noel Gallagher [from Oasis] called me up when he read that and said, 'You've been holding out on me – lend us a tenner'."
Who are the other main acts?
The Wailers Band was the backing band for Bob Marley & The Wailers from 1974 until Marley's death in 1981. Vix and the Kix is fronted by Vickie Perks, of late 1980s girl group Fuzzbox. After being out of the limelight, she has returned with Vix and The Kix, a girl-group that alternates between punk-inspired pop to emotive ballads.
- Tickets start from Dh250, and are available at the door. For more information, visit www.desertrhythmfestival.com.
THE NUMBER
160,000: Number of people in New York state who may lose their jobs following the crisis on Wall Street and a country-wide recession that is expected to strike hard in the US state.
VERBATIM
"On Tuesday, you can put an end to the politics that would divide a nation just to win an election; that tries to pit region against region, city against town and Republican against Democrat"
- US Presidential candidate Barack Obama, as he campaigns ahead of elections on November 4
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