Infusion # 255: Sep 27-Oct 11 2015

MUSIC • PEOPLE • LIFE

ON THE WHITE TRACK

SENSATION RETURNS WITH SANDER VAN DOORN, MARTIN SOLVEIG AND MORE! Miss Kittin, Lumi, Orbital, Foals, My Digital Enemy, The Spin, and lots more! infusionmag

infusionmagazine

infusionmagazine

TALAL BUDEBS Publisher

CHARL CHAKA

Managing Partner charlchaka@infusion.ae

ANDY BUCHAN

Editor andy@infusion.ae

VIP PATEL

Magazine / Sales Director vip@infusion.ae +971 050 169 8712

The weekly sit downs at Coma when the clubbers do their DC10 thing during the breakdown are quite something – a little slice of true underground in Dubai.

We’re looking forward to checking out The Garden, The Park and Square, 3 super-cool linked venues now fully open at the JW Marriott Marquis.

CHRIS RAYNER

Online Guru chris@infusion.ae

GUSTAVO CORDEIRO Design design@infusion.ae

CONTRIBUTORS:

Stephen Day, Tiffany Rayner, Rennan Cordeiro, Chris Rayner

INFUSION IS PUBLISHED BY

Milehigh Media, LLC PO Box 53443 – Dubai, UAE Tel/Fax: 04 368 8098

OUR PARTNERS

Al fresco clubbing is back (and don’t our FB feeds know it)!

GUEST LIST BLACK LIST Dancefloor beef: leave it at the door, or better yet, the gym (without a status or Instagram pic, please).

DJs that undercut on fees.

Respect your craft, and don’t try and rip others off in the process.

Controllers are fine for home.

Bring them into the club, and we will point and laugh, for a long time.

SAY WHAT? DANCEFLOOR DICTIONARY The pint of no return: Usually occurs around the 2-3 pint mark, when good intentions (ie going home) go out the window and you start ordering shots.

RUMOURS • Fleetwood Mac and Blur are all but confirmed for the F1 gigs this year.

• A new high end beach club is set to open in Jebel Ali soon.

• Orbital’s much antipicated Superheroes show has been pushed to later in the year.

1.10.2015

VADIM SVOBODA SHADI MEGALLAA

www.analogroom.com THE Q, HOLIDAY INN DUBAI-AL BARSHA

Ladies free till midnight - 35% off for cabin crew at the door

POP IS A PRODUCT REAL MUSIC IS ART. EXPERIENCE ANALOG ROOM. www.analogroom.com fb: www.facebook.com/analogroomdxbv RBMA: www.rbmaradio.com/lists/analog-room EVERY THURSDAY THE Q UNDERGROUND, HOLIDAY INN DUBAI-AL BARSHA

LOOKING

BACK

Retrospective on what’s been happening in our world.

• What We Did • Photo Gallery

Looking Back

What we did

RED BULL MUSIC ACADEMY & DUST FEAT. DAM FUNK @ MUSIC ROOM Upon arriving at the Music Room, Megadon Betamax was throwing down some old school hip hop and funk, including his own re-rub of Souleance ‘Chemise’, which really hit the spot. This seemed to ignite the crowd as shortly after, those hanging at the bar flooded the dancelfoor.

Changing the pace, local outfit Muhaisnah Four stepped up with a set full of euphoric break beat. Reminding me of UNKLE’s more melodic sound, their combination of live drums, distorted guitars and soaring synths was a great contrast to the DJ sets. Picking up where Mostyn left off, seasoned pro James Locksmith then opened with “SWV & Wu Tang Clan – Anything” and followed up with a well picked slew of electro gems and funk laden jams.

Kool and The Gang’s “Hollywood Swinging” announced Dam Funk’s arrival on stage. Dam more than excelled with a set full of charisma and swagger. Positioned on the very edge of the stage for a solo on his Roland shoulder synth, crowd interaction was at a maximum.

More goose bump moments came in the form of Dam crooning over “Rah Band – Message from the Stars”. This event more than lived up to its billing as a night for the heads: all the acts were on point and proved yet again that Dubai and its varied artists know how to throw a party.

Stu Todd

Looking Back

GAMES 15 @ DUBAI INTERNATIONAL MARINE CLUB Games 15 was the biggest yet, and it took place at the Dubai International Marine Club near Barasti. There were a lot of attractions this year, not only for games but wrestling fans, as the WWE Superstar Daniel Bryan took to the stage to sign autographs.

Busy from early each day, gamers tried out the new Xbox and Playstation games, with massive crowds and big lines snaking round the block for exclusive sneak-peeks at Call of Duty: Black Ops 3, Assassin’s Creed: Syndicate and The Division. And Street Fighter fans (surely everyone) got to check out the latest game, while the franchise’s latest character – the Middle Eastern Rashid – was unveiled on the world stage.

The 3 day event also saw $250,000 up for grabs at the ESL ESEA Pro League, with 8 of the world’s top team’s battling it out on Counter Strike.

Rennan Cordeiro

圀圀圀⸀䬀䤀一䬀夀䴀䄀䰀䤀一䬀䤀⸀䌀伀䴀

䬀䤀一䬀夀 䴀䄀䰀䤀一䬀䤀

圀䔀䐀一䔀匀䐀䄀夀ꀀ 㜀吀䠀 伀䌀吀伀䈀䔀刀 匀伀唀䰀 䄀嘀䔀一䜀䔀刀娀

吀伀䴀 䌀䠀唀䈀䈀 簀 䨀伀一 䈀䔀匀䄀一吀 簀 䰀䤀嘀䔀 匀䄀堀

䨀唀䴀䔀䤀刀䄀䠀 䈀䔀䄀䌀䠀 䠀伀吀䔀䰀Ⰰ 䐀唀䈀䄀䤀

䬀䤀一䬀夀 䴀䄀䰀䤀一䬀䤀

吀䠀唀刀匀䐀䄀夀ꀀ 㠀吀䠀 伀䌀吀伀䈀䔀刀 匀伀唀䰀 䄀嘀䔀一䜀䔀刀娀

䰀唀䌀夀 匀吀伀一䔀 簀 䨀伀一 䈀䔀匀䄀一吀

吀圀䔀䰀嘀䔀Ⰰ 䄀䰀伀䘀吀Ⰰ 䄀䈀唀 䐀䠀䄀䈀

Looking Back

C

MELTING POT @ BOX PARK Box Park is very un-Dubai, and we mean that in the best way possible. It’s a very cool collection of lorry containers that have been re-purposed as rows and rows of restaurants, cool and quirky shops and coffee shops/ice creameries. It could be on the streets of New York or London or Paris, that level of cool.

And one of the latest venues to launch there is the Melting Pot, a fondue-only restaurant that challenges the traditional perceptions.

Fondue brings to mind reems of rib-sticking cheese, but this worldwide chain has a very modern take on it. Set in a clean yellow and wood interior with sprawling windows (ideal for people watching or for checking out the Burj), you’re offered a 4 course take on fondue – starting with your choice of their cheese menu (we love any restaurant that has a cheese menu). After slathering our bread, veg and apple (it works, trust us) in our cheesy concoction, it’s time to move onto the salads, where the strawberry, almond and feta cheese was as tasty as it was intriguing.

The mains arrived, a selection of surf and turf (with some added chicken) that you cook very healthily to your own style in a choice of 4 broths, with 5 dips on the side as well as some potatoes and veg. That healthy cooking is all undone with dessert as the chocolate fondue arrived. We went for the caramel and candied nut chocolate, which came with banana, brownie and fruit to dip in. Take our pro tip though, and order a big spoon to mop up any remaining chocolate.

M

Y

CM

MY

CY

CMY

K

HALF-BAKED @ LEVEL 41

HOUSE OF AFRIKA FEAT. KINKY D @ DEK ON 8

NIGHT WARRIORS FEAT. EELKE KLEIJN @ SQUARE

NO.1 FRIDAYS FEAT. LETHAL BIZZLE @ N’DULGE

PLUS MINUS FEAT. LIVIO & ROBY + BILL PATRICK @ LEVEL 41

RED BULL MUSIC ACADEMY & DUST FEAT. DAM FUNK @ MUSIC ROOM

(HAMBURG / SYLT)

& M1 Residents 1st October / 5th November / 3rd December Media One brings in the start of the month with specialist house dj and owner of ‘Clubland Records’, Stefan Gruenwald.

Don't miss a beat this weekend just book a table, by calling 052 646 1764 Free entry for all BUT you have to be +21!

It’s time to get up on 8 before you get down

Media One Hotel, Dubai Media City, United Arab Emirates T: +971 4 427 1000 E: thedekon8@mediaonehotel.com W: www.mediaonehotel.com

LOOKING

FORWARD

Where we filter out the best things that are coming your way...

• Local News • Cover Story • Digital Enemy • Apache Indian • Groovefest • Kisstory • Miss Kittin • Lumi • Gig Guide

Looking Forward

Local News DXBEACH IS BACK

After a successful opening party at Zero Gravity earlier this year, DXBeach returns to the sand on Friday October 23 with another 15 hour session of music. Classical electro pop stars Clean Bandit headline fresh from winning a Grammy Award, while Idris Elba – in town shooting for the new Star Trek movie – is booked to DJ having impressed at Sandance the last time he played. The line up is rounded out with French DJ Klingande and his smash ‘Jubel’ while BBC Radio 1’s Mistajam is on hand alongside Dutch DJ Mike Mago. Doors open at midday with early bird tickets AED200 from dxbeach.ae.

ROCK THE CAPITAL Abu Dhabi have a few big weeks of rock coming their way, as Bon Jovi kick off the live season in the capital at the du Arena on Thursday October 1. A week later the Dave Matthews Band take over Yas Island. Bon Jovi are back after a 7 year hiatus from the capital, and have brought ‘Livin’ On A Prayer’ to more than 55 countries and 37 million fans. The Dave Matthews Band kick off their new tour on October 8, and it’s the first time the Away From The World soft rockers have played in the region. Tickets for both events are on sale now from ticketmaster.ae

ALL WHITE ON THE NIGHT White, one of the city’s leading clubs have gone big over the summer during their downtime and added in a one-of-akind light and sound display.

Alongside the addition of a Funktion One soundsystem, the club have added in a whole array of moving trusses as well as hiring the design company behind Eric Prydz’s concerts to create an immersive, hugely creative visuals. And, in something of a scoop for the region, they’ve signed up Bon Jovi’s lighting engineer Dave Berry who’s re-working the entire lighting system.

FELINE GOOD Zero Gravity all-star residents Krafty Kuts & A Skillz are back as monthly residents, and they’ve teamed up to bring down cult Australian band The Cat Empire to open up proceedings on Thursday October 1. The band blend funk, jazz, ska and rock influences, and are a favourite on the festival circuit down under, releasing 6 albums to date including Steal The Light which saw them embark on a 70 date tour across 4 continents. You can catch them all in action at Zero Gravity on Thurdsay October 1, tickets AED130 in advance.

October October 4-11-18-25 4-11-18-25thth

music music by by

KEZA KEZA supported supportedbyby

MICHKA MICHKA

050 991 0400 RESERVATIONS@CAVALLICLUBDUBAI.COM DRESS CODE: STRICTLY FABULOUS / NO EFFORT NO ENTRY

Looking Forward TIME, PLEASE! The city’s comedy scene is buzzing this month, with UAE regular Al Murray the first big name on the calendar. He’s taking his Pub Landlord show back to the city at the World Trade Centre on Friday October 2, serving up ‘pints of laughs’ as part of his world tour for One Pint, One Guvnor. Tickets start from AED300 from doneevents.com.

KINKY MALINKI BACK IN DXB Did you know that Kinky Malinki were the first international house brand to launch into Dubai years and years ago? Well, now the funky house night are back with a residency in conjunction with 360 and History Dubai, and have The Soul Avengerz on headline duties at 360 on Wednesday October 7 alongside Tom Chubb, Jon Besant and live sax.

AUGUST COMPANY After several aborted tries, Plus Minus finally have their man as David August is heading to Dubai to play at Level 41 on Friday October 2. The ‘Hamburg Is For Lovers’ star is one of the best melodic house and techno acts on the circuit (then again he is a classically trained pianist) and will be bringing his live show to the city for the first time. It all starts at 9pm, with advance tickets AED80 from Platinumlist.net.

PROUDLY HOSTING

THE VIP TABLE DECK

WWW.SENSATION.COM

n-100x150-lineup-WHITE.indd 1

20/09/

SANDER DANCE

Global dance event Sensation returns to Dubai for its 2nd year with Dutch DJ Sander Van Doorn the main headliner alongside Martin Solveig. We caught up with the Dusk To Doorn star to talk nerves, techno and why he’d be the striker for the Dutch DJ football team

SANDER VAN DOORN Welcome back to Dubai, this must be your biggest gig out here – do you still get nervous, what goes through your head before you get on stage in front of 15,000 people?

Haha, yes I’m still a little nervous before my sets, especially big gigs like this one! But that comes with a lot of happiness and adrenaline in my body. When I’m on stage the nervousness turned into positive energy!

What do the Sensation parties mean to you, what memories do you have of them?

It’s always a pleasure to play at a major event like Sensation and I’m a big fan of the incredible showcases.

The organization really know how to combine music and entertainment.

How has your sound changed over your career, and what’s in your sets at the moment?

Actually, my sound has not changed in the last few years. I’ve always stayed true to my sound. I’m working on tracks with more techno influences that appeal to the general public.

Techno always will have a special place in my heart and I love to combine a lot of influences in my sound.

People like Paul Van Dyk are firm believers that music can help change the world, it can play a part in politics – do you agree, and what do you hope the crowd comes away with after a Sander Van Doorn gig?

I don’t believe in the politics part but I do believe that music is a really special, unique thing that can connect people.

It’s the best feeling ever for a DJ if you can leave a message to the crowd where no words are needed. I mean, you know what they say: music speaks louder than words! Right?

Dance music has got increasingly commercial and increasingly widespread across the world – have you embraced that growth and change?

The EDM scene comes with a lot of negativity, but that’s not my point of view. I think when a DJ chooses for a sound it’s because he or she love that at the moment.

In my opinion it’s really important to not have just one style, I’m always trying to mix different genres.

How hard do you have to work to stay at the top of your game, to stay popular and relevant in today’s dance music culture?

For me it’s important to always develop myself like exploring new influences to get inspired. I’m lucky I have a great team behind me who help me whenever they can. Without them I wouldn’t be able to manage it all at once.

And who are your DJ heroes, and what was it like meeting them for the first time?

I don’t really get star struck because after all this time in the game you’re sort of used to having other artists or celebrities at events, eventually you realize that they’re normal people like you and me. My heroes would be the guys that have paved the way for a lot of artists nowadays, dudes like Tiësto, Laidback

Luke and such have had such a huge impact on the scene.

If there was a Dutch DJ football team, who would be the lead striker and where would you play?

I would want to be a striker! I think it’s the most fun to be part of the attack. After all, it’s scoring goals that matter at the end.

I think Martin Garrix would make for a good striker as well; he’s young so he’s still in great health.

Also, Laidback Luke is really good at Kung Fu, so he’s sporty, he might be the right man for the job as well.

And what can we expect from your Dubai show? And who else are you looking forward to catching?

Haha, that will be a little surprise, but you can expect some brand new music in my Sensation set. That’s all I can tell you now.

Friday October 30, Meydan, 6pm-3am, tickets from AED425 from Platinumlist.net Full line up: Sander Van Doorn, Martin Solveig, Mr. White, East & Young , Quintino, Yves V + MC Gee

Digital love UK house/electro duo My Digital Enemy talk about their dirty past as Sunset Strippers, getting bigged up

by Pete Tong and Annie Mac and why they write music for clubs‌

Aurora feat. My Digital Enemy, Zero Gravity, Friday October 9, free before 10pm, ladies free until midnight, AED100.

You've had a very, very productive last few years – what do you put your success down to? And how do you gauge your success?

Our success has come from our productions and the support they have been getting from the likes of Pete Tong, Annie Mac and Radio 1. We never really gauge our own success and are just happy to be working in the music industry and getting our music heard by people all around the world.

You've both been in the music industry for a long time, and hit the big time when you had tracks in the Top 5 in 2005 – what name was that under, and what did you learn from that brush with fame?

Oh dear! We don’t talk about that, lol! That was under the name 'Sunset Strippers,’ it was very, very commercial. We learnt that when you are doing well in the music industry you need to be pushing even harder to get to that next level! If you sit back and relax, thinking you have made it will slowly slip away from you!

What's the biggest/ most expensive thing you've bought since breaking through?

That would have to be our studio that’s where all the money goes!

Festival season is coming to a close – do you prefer

getting back into clubs for the winter season?

Some of our favourite and biggest gigs have been at festivals around the world but when it comes down to it we write our music for the clubs! It’s so much better being up close and intimate with our fans.

You've had a lot of success re-updating classics like 'On A Ragga Tip' - what's coming up next?

We have lots of new tracks in the pipeline but no bootlegs set for release. I’m sure we will be mashing up a classic in 2016 for sure! It’s good playing updated classic tracks as it can engage the old skool clubbers but also educates the newcomers.

You must have met a lot of heroes and idols during your career – who's impressed you the most?

I would have to say Mark Knight as we grew up listening and playing all his stuff. We admire what he has done with Toolroom Records. It really is a global business with club nights all around the world and a roster of artists that always deliver.

We have played alongside Mark many times now and also have many of our biggest tracks signed to Toolroom, which is a great feeling!

And what should fans expect from your gig out here?

Big Basslines, pianos and all out good house music direct from the UK.

Boom-shack-a-lack!

One of the driving forces behind the Asian urban scene, and a man who blended reggae, Indian and English influences to his music, Apache Indian has been at the forefront of his scene for over two decades. Ahead of his return to play the Music Room, we caught up with him to talk Dumb & Dumber, helping the community and why he’s now in charge of his business You have some excellent lyrics, and have spoken about several socially conscious topics – how political are you now?

The anger and drive hasn't dimmed over the years at all. I'm still very passionate about social issues and wanting to see real change.

I recently set up a Music Academy called AIM (Apache Indian Music Academy) in my home town of Handsworth in Birmingham which I run on a voluntary basis to help young people in my community.

We recorded a song called 'Election Crisis' which was released to coincide with the General Election we had in the UK earlier this year.

How much did you affect the music industry when you started as an Asian artist?

I didn't grow up seeing any Asian artists in the mainstream pop charts so it was great to be in the National Charts in the UK with my style and sound of music. My music is a unique blend of Indian and reggae sounds and language which hadn't been done before. This literally created a new genre which you see today known as Asian Urban Music which is so popular across the world today.

And how balanced and fair is the music industry now?

The music industry changed when the internet was introduced to the world. It's not fair that up and coming artists have to invest so much time and money and give their music away for free just to get heard. We need more of a balance where we can help support new artists with radio play at a local level etc. The talent is out there but real support isn't.

If you could give one piece of advice to yourself starting out, what would it be?

A lot happen for me very quickly in my career. I wish I took more time learning about the actual business side of things. Record labels, agents, managers, lawyers, royalities and publishing etc. I learnt the hard way but still survived where many have failed. Learn about the biz you are in, it's not just about the talent!

Which track are you most proud of making?

I'm proud of the first song that I wrote, 'Movie Over India' which started off my music career. 'Arranged Marriage' was another song that made me proud as it was my first chart hit in the UK and won the Ivor Nervello Award for Best Contemporary Song alongside Take That and M People. 'Boomshacklack' has been featured in 8 Hollywood Movies including Dumb & Dumber 1 and 2 as well as Scooby Doo 2! How can I not be proud of that!

And what can we expect from your show in Dubai?

I'm very excited about performing in Dubai. The fans can expect a great show where I will be singing all the hit songs over the past 25 years. If you would like to hear a fusion of some bhangra and reggae sounds you won't be disappointed. I am also bringing a young artist with me from my academy by the name Kay Vado who is a very talented singer and rapper.

Apache Indian, Thursday October 8, The Music Room 9pm-3am, AED100.

UPTOWN ABU DHABI

Abu Dhabi is getting in on the festival act this season, as Green Grooves is bringing over global pop producer and one of the biggest DJs on the planet Mark Ronson on Thursday October 22 alongside established UK star Labrinth. Ahead of the 10,000 capacity event, we dug a little deeper into Mark Ronson and Labrinth to bring you the essentials‌

MARK RONSON: NEED TO KNOW

u Unless you’ve been hibernating under a sand dune for the last year, you’ll know all about ‘Uptown Funk’ and its globe-conquering march to the top of pretty much every chart.

‘Uptown Funk’ wasn’t as easy to make as it sounds on record, however – it took 82 attempts until the final take was nailed, with the stress and pressure causing Ronson to be physically sick afterwards. u Before that, he’s probably best known as one of the driving forces in Amy Winehouse’s life, as he produced her Grammy award winning album ‘Back To Black.’ He’s also coproduced Adele’s huge album 19. u And before that, he was the man who brought the funk back into favour thanks to his Version album that covered tracks from The Smiths, Kaiser Chiefs, Radiohead and more in a classic Motown style. It went big, and helped push Amy Winehouse – who guested on ‘Valerie’ – further into the limelight. u He’s no stranger to the UAE, having recently played the opening of DXBeach and before that twice to sold out club shows at the now defunct Trilogy. u He’s not just an in-demand on the festival and club circuit – he was one of the DJs at Tom Cruise’s wedding (yup, he played the Top Gun theme tune). u Famously, he has rock star heritage – his step-father is Mick Jones from Foreigner, while he’s also related to the Odeon Cinema founder Gerald Ronson.

u Say what you like about Simon Cowell, most do. But the man knows what works in the music industry, which is why the world sat up and took notice when he signed Labrinth to his Syco roster, the first non-talent show signing he’d made in 6 years. u He was instantly rewarded when Labrinth’s collab with Tinie Tempah on ‘Pass Out’ hit the Number 1 spot, leading to several more successful joint ventures with Tinie. u He released his first solo single ‘Let The Sun Shine’ five years ago, and his debut album in 2012, which featured ‘Earthquake’ one of his biggest tracks to date that hit the Number 2 slot. u Labrinth – or Timothy McKenzie to the tax man – then hit the top spot with his 2012 single ‘Beneath Your Beautiful’ which featured Emeli Sande.

LABRINTH: NEED TO KNOW

u He’s currently hard at work on his long-awaited second album.

Originally due for release in March this year, Take Me To The Truth is now slated to come out this October, meaning he’ll likely be bringing hot new music with him to Abu Dhabi.

Green Grooves feat. Mark Ronson & Labrinth, Thursday October 22, Abu Dhabi Golf Club, 7.30pm, Early bird tickets AED200 from ticketmaster.ae

KISSTORY in Numbers The biggest Kisstory yet takes place on Friday October 9 at Nasimi, with 3 huge American R&B acts, 2 of the biggest UK Garage names and 1 of the biggest house hits of the 90s. With that in mind, we thought we’d find out some other interesting numbers about the up-coming event

12 International flights – 8 from the UK, 4 from USA. One word: airmiles. We think they might need to charter their own plane for the next event!

12

Performers on the night including the main RnB headliners No Diggity’s Eric, RL from Next, Wingo from Jagged Edge.

3000

Capacity at Nasimi. The club has undergone a summer makeover, with an added Funktion 1 soundsystem, while they’re bringing in a light and lazer show just for this event.

2

Kisstory events in Dubai to date, including this. The 3rd is already being planned, with a huge USA artist already in talks.

10

Hours of music, starting from 5pm. The USA R&B headliners are on at 10.30, so don’t be late.

15 Years that Matt Tully, behind Platinum Events, has been promoting events.

80,000 Fans that UK Garage duo Luck & Neat played to recently when they performed a surprise set alongside Olly Murs at V Festival.

150AED Cost of advance tickets from Platinumlist.net, VIP tickets are 200AED giving priority entrance, queue jump and VIP area.

Plus, Face card holders get 30% off tickets.

No.1 The chart position of Baby D’s ‘Let Me Be Your Fantasy’ which took over the UK charts in 1994.

2 The position that ‘Re-Rewind’ hit the charts in the late 90s, a collaboration with Craig David and Artful Dodger.

Kisstory, Friday October 9, Nasimi The Atlantis, 5pm-3am, AED150 advance from Platinumlist.net

THE LAST TIME MISS KITTIN

We caught up with the French house star Miss Kittin behind big hits like ‘Frank Sinatra’ and ‘Silver Screen Shower Scene’ ahead of her Fridy October 2 date at Blue Marlin Ibiza UAE

The last time I came to Dubai I thought…

It’s like I imagined it and nothing like it at the same time.

The track I'm most proud of making is…

Of course ‘Frank Sinatra’ because it’s an accident, a joke, the dream of every musician I suppose to write something that stays in history when you least expect it, or more, when you never expected anything.

The track I wish I'd made is…

Depeche Mode, ‘Enjoy the Silence.’

Over the years, my sound has…

Always been a reflection of who I was in the moment I made it.

My biggest fan is…

Walter from Zurich.

My Mum thinks my music is…

Very me.

The best club I've played this year was…

Nitsa in Barcelona.

One thing no one knows about me is…

I never wear mascara.

The most expensive thing I've bought is…My flat.

My biggest vice is…

Smoking tiny French cigarettes.

The last time I cried was…

At my birthday.

The last book I read was…

Sandy Johnson - The book of Elders.

My show in Dubai will be…

Full of joy.

Miss Kittin @ Blue Marlin Ibiza UAE, Friday October 2

LUMINOUS Cult Beirut band Lumi are back after a long hiatus and play live music hot spot The Other Side on October 9. We caught up with Marc and Mayaline to talk electro, Beirut and signing to EMI… Welcome back to the city, we remember your first 2 gigs here very well – good memories of your time in Dubai?

Thank you! Yes, we have nice memories of our early shows in Dubai that coincide with the peak of our early career; the energy came from both side, we were young and eager, the audience was enthusiastic. Also a bad memory: we had to cancel a show in Dubai in 2006 because the Israelis destroyed Beirut’s airport.

You had a lot of momentum behind you, with releases on EMI/Virgin – did you feel like you were starting to make it as a band?

We had great moments and great opportunities like recording in Düsseldorf with Andy Thomas from Mouse on Mars, touring around the world, playing in Sonar, but we suffered from the EMI breakdown, we were stuck in this huge bureaucracy, and we didn't feel like pushing was the thing to do. Turned out that our break was a great thing!

The band have taken a long break since then, can you tell us what happened?

Well life happened, for several reasons, a professional and personal break was in order. We each left Beirut for some time; during that time reforming the band wasn't on our mind and we met again in Beirut quite naturally, unexpectedly and we thought, ‘well let's see what could come out of this today’.

You had a very strong electro sound when you first broke through, has your sound changed since?

It has... but we'd rather let you discover it in a few weeks!

Beirut seems to have a thriving live music scene, with lots of good bands (most of which have played at The Other Side) - what makes the city work for musicians?

LUMI Beirut is an inspiring city in its very own way, it’s inhabited by a youth that has a lot to say, a lot express, surely a lot to refute?

The richness of Beirut is in its contradictions, it’s a schizophrenic city where many different opposing elements exist and coexist but no one understands how the system works, so each individual creates its own image of the city that gives him the ability to function.

In a sense creation is part of the essence of existence in Beirut.

Which other Beirut bands are you proud of at the moment?

It’s still a small scene and for me it's just always cool to see fellow friends and musicians doing cool things like Zeid Hamdan, Fadi Tabbal, The incompetents, Scrambled eggs.

How does the live band set up work, who stands where and plays what?

Mayaline: guitar and vocals.

Marc: Synthesizers, bass, drum machines.

Everything is played live, with no computer or pre-recorded tracks, there are only two of us on stage and we want the music to be dense and rich so

that’s the big challenge. But it's totally worth it, this is how our new collaboration came to us, we wanted to do everything on the spot, just the two of us, push the limits, be in a more intimate and authentic process, do everything we can to put each track at its right place. This kind of approach makes it an ongoing process where there's always room for new openings, surprises and improvement.

The Other Side feat. Lumi, Friday October 9, AndLounge, Address Dubai Marina, 9pm-late Tickets AED75 in advance from Platinumlist.net AED100 on the door.

MAKING WAVES

Ahoy shipmates, there’s a new boat party in town brought to you by Creamfields regular Natalie Brogan. We caught up with her ahead of the October 2 launch to chat desert island discs and more…

Shipwrecked, Friday October 2, 1-5pm, Dubai Marina, AED400 including drinks and food, shipwreckedparties@gmail.com

Boat parties in the UAE seem like the best party, sun, sea and tunes – why aren't there more do you think?

We noticed the gap and that’s why we'll be holding one every month, the first Friday of each month.

Who would you most like to get shipwrecked with? And least?

Erick Morillo would be my first choice, he's always partying on yachts and being my favourite DJ I reckon we would have a great time. Least would be Paris Hilton for obvious DJ reasons and then she could never touch a pair of decks again!

3 records to take to a desert island?

- Massive Attack, Teardrop - Morcheeba, The Sea - Zero 7, Destiny What's your best Robinson Crusoe/Bear Gryhlls skill if you did get shipwrecked?

My tap dancing skills are on fire!

Where is the boat sailing to, do you have an itinerary?

We start at Marina Mall then past Barasti to the Palm with an amazing view of the marina skyline and Burj Al Arab, we won’t be sailing much - we don't want any sea sickness!

And what's the music policy, how will you stand out from the competition?

The boat is mainly house music.

I'll be kicking things off with nu disco tunes as we set sail, Salvatore Peppino will be playing his trademark soul/funk classics, I'll take over with funky house classics then Michael Dunne will be ending with Deep Tech so we are catering for all lovers of house music.

You're asking people to dress up if they fancy with prizes for the best, will the worst be asked to walk the plank?

Haha, no, but if Paris Hilton turns up she's going overboard.

Have you got an after party lined up?

We've teamed up with Story Rooftop in Knowledge Village.

They have a package set for Shipwrecked customers to enjoy unlimited drinks from 6-9pm for only AED199! We're also welcoming anyone who wants to join us after 6 too.

And what made you make the move from DJ to promoter?

To be honest I've always thought about it and been told I should but it was my partner Michael who gave me the push to actually go for it, he's already run events in the UK and with me about to hit 6 years in the UAE we just decided it was a good time to start. Boat parties are always fun and there is certainly a gap and demand for them so it’s exciting times!

ON THE RADAR OCTOBER 16 SOUTH AFRICAN BRAAI Emirates Golf Club

OCTOBER 29 PRIME CIRCLE Level 41

OCTOBER 22 MARK RONSON Abu Dhabi Golf Course

OCTOBER 29 SUPERHEROES FEAT. ROSKA Dek on 8

DUBAI COMEDY FESTIVAL FEAT. DAVE CHAPPELLE

OCTOBER 22-23 Skydive Dubai

OCTOBER 30 SENSATION Meydan

OCTOBER 23 SKREAM Blue Marlin Ibiza UAE

OCTOBER 30 KARMON Eden Beach Club

For a full list of what’s on, please head to infusion.ae

OCTOBER 30 TAKE THAT Media City Amphitheatre

NOVEMBER 27 JAMIE JONES Blue Marlin Ibiza UAE

NOVEMBER 5 TEXAS Dubai Tennis Stadium

DECEMBER 25 BUTCH Eden Beach Club

PARTY IN THE PARK FEAT. STEREOPHONICS

NOVEMBER 13

Media City Amphitheatre

DECEMBER 31 DAVID MORALES Q43

NOVEMBER 13 DJ TENNIS Level 41

DECEMBER 31 PETE TONG & DUKE DUMONT Zero Gravity

We’ve re-worked our listings – one-off events will appear in the magazine, for everything else please check infusion.ae for our day-to-day listings.

For inclusion, email andy@infusion.ae Pick up a copy from our Infusion Magazine stands at these locations and more across the city Every A+E outlet, Every MMI outlet, Double Decker, Media One, Zero Gravity, 360 club, Casa Latina, Barasti, Pure Sky Lounge, Beatz and Cuts, McGettigans JLT/DWC, Music Room, Nasimi, Story Rooftop, El Fuego, Y Not Lounge, Bliss Lounge, Zinc, Pulse, Cinnamon Raddison, La Terrasse, Fashion Lounge, OcactI, The Scene

CINNAMON TUESDAY 29 Night Warriors feat.

Hollen, Square

Italian house DJ Hollen headlines, with Frederick Stone making his Square debut at the popular mid-week night.

10pm-3am, free.

THURSDAY OCTOBER 1 Analog Room feat. Vadim Svoboda, Q Underground

More underground house and techno magic from the Analog Room team, with Shadi Megallaa on support duties. 10pm-3am.

INFUSION PICK! Bad House Party, Casa Latina Indie and punk from the alternative night, with 10 DJs on rotation celebrating the night’s 2nd birthday.

9pm-2.45am, free entry.

Bakermat, XL

Deep house and big house hitters from the ‘Teach Me’ producer. 10pm-3am.

ABU DHABI Bon Jovi, du Arena, Yas Island Soft rockers Bon Jovi bring their lighters-in-the-air sound to Abu Dhabi, for the launch of their world tour. 7pm-late, tickets from AED395.

Deep Like feat. Olderic, GQ Bar

Deep, bassline friendly house music from Olderic.

10pm-3am, AED100.

Sunstroke feat. Groove Assassins, 360

Funky house and vocals from the UK headliners, with Sunstroke resident Jack Woodcock on support. 6pm-3am.

FRIDAY 2 Al Murray, World Trade Centre

The Pub Landlord brings his One Pint, One Guvnor new tour to the region for one night only.

7pm-late tickets AED300 via doneevents.com

Audio tonic feat.

Rodriguez Jnr, 360

The grand opening of the rooftop, with a live house set from Rodriguez Jnr and live support from DXB deep house stars Arcade 82.

4pm-3am, free entry.

INFUSION PICK The Cat Empire, Krafty Kuts & A Skillz, Zero Gravity Live funk, ska and soul from the much-hyped Australian outfit, with breakbeat warriors Krafty Kuts and A Skillz on deck duty. 6pm-late, AED130 advance.

Aurora feat. Chicane, Zero Gravity

Sunset specialists Chicane are back for their monthly residency, with Alex Adair their guest star.

6pm-3am, free before 10pm, ladies free until midnight, AED100.

INFUSION PICK! Defected in the House, Pacha Simon Dunmore, Shovell and Rae deliver tried and tested classics – and a few soon-tobe-classics – from the huge Defected back catalogue. 8pm, ladies free, men AED100.

INFUSION PICK! Plus Minus feat. David August, Level 41 The long-awaited debut of Diynamic’s house wonder kid, as the ‘Hamburg Is For Lovers’ plays a much anticipated live set. 9pm-3am, advance tickets AED80.

House of Afrika feat. DJ Cristos, Dek on 8

Afro tribal house from the guest DJ, with Charl Chaka and Craig De Sousa on support.

6pm-3am, free entry.

Pink Elephant Pool Party, Centro Barsha

House music from Pacha resident Stu Laurie and Ghadz, with on site BBQ. Midday-8pm, free entry.

INFUSION PICK! Miss Kittin & Nick Curly, Blue Marlin Ibiza UAE House and tech-house from the ‘Silver Screen Shower Scene’ star, with techno from Nick Curly. 11am-11pm.

Shipwrecked, Dubai Marina

The newest boat party in town, with Natalie Brogan and Michael Dunne dropping deep, funky and tech-house tunes. 1-5pm, AED400 including food and drink, shipwreckedparties@ gmail.com

WEDNESDAY 7 History feat. The Soul Avengerz, 360

History, in conjunction with Kinky Malinki, bring out funky house stars The Soul Avengerz for a night of soulful house action. 8pm-late.

THURSDAY 8

ABU DHABI Dave Matthews Band, du Arena Yas Island The much-loved American soft rockers make their Middle East debut. 6pm-late, tickets from AED295.

INFUSION PICK! Mark Fanciulli, Square Nic’s younger brother plays deep, driving tech house for the popular Downtown club.

10pm-3am, AED100.

Analog Room feat. Anton Zap, Q Underground

House and techno from the popular weekly party, with Siamak Amidi supporting Anton Zap.10pm-3am, AED100.

Apache Indian, Music Room

The ‘Boomshackalack’ star brings his hybrid bhangra and reggae sound back to the Music Room for a live show.

8pm-3am, AED100.

Middle East Games Convention, World Trade Centre Gaming activities, eSports tournaments, table top gaming, cosplay and more at the returning convention. 10am10pm, repeated Friday.

INFUSION PICK! Velocity feat. Redlight, Zero Gravity Bass house and big beats from Redlight with support from resident Andrew Hartley. 6pm3am, free until 10pm, ladies free until midnight, AED100.

Aurora feat. My Digital Enemy, Zero Gravity

House, bass and electro from the UK duo who recently remixed ‘On A Ragga Tip’. 6pm-3am, free until 10pm, ladies free until midnight, AED100.

FRIDAY 9 Audio tonic feat. Andre Hommen, 360

Audio tonic’s cool bookings continue, with Culprit LA signing Hommen headlining this deep house night, with Russ Cooper and Rod Lee Winters on support.

4pm-3am, free.

Cause We Love Music feat.

ATFC, Bliss Lounge Funky house from the veteran DJ as CWLM re-launches after a summer break. 4pm, free.

House of Afrika feat.

Leighton Moody, Dek on 8 Leighton Moody is the international guest, with strong support at this weekly Afrotribal-deep house night from Charl Chaka and Craig De Sousa. 6pm-3am, free.

INFUSION PICK! Kisstory, Nasimi RnB stars Jagged Edge, Blackstreet and Next are joined by garage acts Artful Dodger and Luck & Neat for the second Kisstory in the city. 5pm-3am, advance tickets AED150.

INFUSION PICK! Relief, Q Underground A charity event featuring underground stars Shadi Megallaa, Makrodot and Siamik Amidi. 10pm-late, AED100 (all proceeds to charity).

Steve Bug & Hector, Blue Marlin Ibiza UAE Wonky techno goodness from Steve Bug, with solid 4 to the floor beats from the fast-rising Hector. 11am-late.

INFUSION PICK! The Other Side feat.

Lumi, AndLounge Cult Beirut electro-rock band Lumi return to the city after a long break. 9pm-3am, AED75 advance, AED100 on the door.

LOCATION. LOCATION. LOCATION. With 15 great locations we’ve got Dubai covered.

AL THANYA

COMMUNITY 04 885 4550 04 380 7655 GREEN ............................................................................................................................

............................................................................................................................

AL WASL 04 394 0351 ............................................................................................................................

IBN BATTUTA MALL 04 368 5626 ............................................................................................................................

BUR DUBAI

04 335 1722 04 393 4361 KARAMA ............................................................................................................................

DEIRA

OF THE EMIRATES 04 341 0371 04 294 0390 MALL ............................................................................................................................

............................................................................................................................ ............................................................................................................................

04 447 4900 dnata BUSINESS BAY 04 321 4805 MOTOR CITY ............................................................................................................................ ............................................................................................................................

DUBAI FESTIVAL CITY

ZAYED ROAD 04 321 1223 04 232 5522 SHEIKH ............................................................................................................................

............................................................................................................................

04 352 3091 DSO COMMUNITY CENTRE 04 326 4583 TRADE CENTRE ROAD ............................................................................................................................ ............................................................................................................................

DSO CEDRE

04 326 1103

For directions please call the shop or visit Find our shops on our website.

mmidubai.com

/mmidubai

@mmi_dubai

MMIDubai

LOOK AND

LISTEN

Music be the food of love, so read on...

• Music News • Albuns • Ahmed Romel • DJ Booth • Music matters

Look and Listen

Music News...

SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE

Got your eyes on a new set of speakers, but don’t have the money saved up?

Those nice people at DJ Corner have come up with a solution, with their rent to own loyalty scheme.

As you rent speakers for your events, you’ll get given loyalty points, and once you reach set landmarks you’ll be entitled to take home a brand new set of speakers. That simple! For more info, head to djcorner.ae

THE OTHER SIDE LINE UP

Now into their fourth month, live music night The Other Side are a permanent fixture on the scene, and have released their October and November line up at the Address Marina’s AndLounge. Beirut indie-electro rockers Lumi (pictured) headline on October 9, before the sultry jazz sounds of Miss Baby Sol on October 23, with reggae/dub/tropical pop outfit Hollie Cook headlining on Nov 6 and folk/ indie band Postcards on Nov 20.

SCOT ROCKERS TEXAS RETURN

Sharleen Spiteri and the Texas crew are back in Dubai on Thursday November 5 at the Dubai Tennis Stadium. The Scottish band were one of the stand out live acts in Dubai last year, and will be bringing tracks like ‘Black Eyed Boy’ and ‘I Don’t Want a Lover’ with them, having sold 38 million records.

Tickets are AED195 from Platinumlist.net.

Look and Listen

Album Reviews

TOUCH OF CLASS – INDIAN SUMMER

House | soundcloud.com/touch-of-class-records



Sometimes, any ‘concept’ will do for a record label, they’ll pin any tag on a collection of tracks just to get them out there. But this collection from New York/Berlin/San Fran label Touch of Class makes perfect sense.

Inspired by the idea of an Indian summer, when you cling to the last warm vestiges of outdoor clubbing and long hazy nights, the 12 track selection is spot on.

Released as 12 individual tracks and a DJ mix, it gets off to a strong start with Berkson & What’s ‘The Force’ opening up with jazzy/fuzzy nu-disco feel before handing over to the Pet Shop Boys indebted ‘Eyeballing’ from Mavidip and Steinlausky. Ataxia and Shiny Objects up the tempo with some driving, pad-heavy house, before the album finds its central groove with Tone of Arc, Finley and Pattern Drama & Leonard Withers, delivering floaty, dreamy and deep house cuts that sound like your last Ibiza sunset. Like we said, this concept has been nailed.

FOALS – WHAT WENT DOWN Indie | Foals.co.uk



With Foals set to take a lengthy break after their last album Holy Fire, this album is something of a surprise gift.

Their fourth album continues their pop trajectory, smoothing out the jerky indie-electro funk from Antidotes and Total Life Forever.

Then again, James Ford on production duties (Arctic Monkeys and Mumford & Sons), that was always likely to be the case.

Opener ‘What Went Down’ is the album at its most rocky, as 4 minutes of rock and roll crescendo erupt into a glorious, thrashing mess of synths and guitars. ‘Mountain At My Gates’ and ‘Birch Tree’ are mellifluous follow ups, sounding not a million miles away from Coldplay at their X&Y peak. For anyone appalled at that comparison, the UK five piece now have rock/riff heavy numbers like ‘Snake Oil’ and ‘Night Swimmers’ in their new arsenal, making this a rounded, highly polished and highly professional album. Some will mourn the missing ramshackle element of their early work, but most will consider this a big step forward.

GETTING TO KNOW...

Ahmed Romel We caught up with one of Dubai's most popular producers you've never heard of - Ahmed Romel - after a rare DJ gig, at the Luminosity Beach Festival in The Netherlands.

He's worked with five other artists on a track before, but the next one will be even more chaotic "This time it's nine artists ... each one has his own style, from progressive to psy-trance to house even! But we can manage."

Despite performing at Future Sound of Egypt festivals in front of 5000 people, he's never aimed to play in front of huge crowds. "Music is my hobby - I wasn't planning to be a DJ, because I love producing more. It's more creative for me, more challenging."

But a loyal crowd beats a big crowd, every time "I've never had fun (at) any gig in my life, except this one. The people here are amazing - they come here for the music only."

He's had 15 seconds of internet fame with a viral video "(There's) this Iraqi kid... lots of videos of him dancing. I remember seeing (him) with another music track...so maybe I can fit one of my remixes on it. People from Australia contacted me from a TV channel there and wanted to host him! But I told them I don't know him... the people who've viewed this video, it's probably more than have listened to my music!"

On social media - "Nowadays it's the only way to promote yourself. Other than radio shows and gigs, the best way now is social media. People don't care about websites now."

He tries to stay out of the music industry politics, but he'll never ghost produce either "If I wanted... to do it for the money, I'd produce commercial from the beginning. But some people, you can't blame them honestly... it's from where they get (their) money."

If he could say one thing to his fans... "Thank you for supporting me everyone. I love you all!"

DJ BOOTH: ED WISE We’re back in Abu Dhabi this issue to catch up with Saied El Hakim AKA Ed Wise, who can be found playing at some of the capital’s best pool and boat parties

One thing you might not know about me is… I am also a private Chef.

My worst ever job was… Cleaning nightclubs and bars after closing. Awful stuff.

My favorite ever record is… Goncalo - Mental Help, I also just discovered Discopolis by Dawid Webb, a very interesting track.

DJing is much like… Cooking. It’s all about taste, fresh ingredients and a couple of surprises here and there!

Dubai’s clubbing scene is… Always evolving, there are always new nights, new events and new music, which is always very exciting.

I’m really proud of… Working alongside Moe Turk.

I can’t live without… Good music and good food.

My biggest DJ achievement to date is… Organizing and playing Abu Dhabi’s hottest pool parties and working with some of the best local and international DJs on some amazing deep tech tracks.

What is your guiltiest pleasure? Working on a new mix at 3 in the morning when everyone is asleep, there’s something special about that.

If you could DJ in any decade which would it be... The 90s, a great era for all music.

If I could go back-to-back with any other DJ it would be... Steve Lawler, James Zabiela, Patrick Podage & Gocalo.

I’m not a politician but… I think people should focus more on the similarities we have than the differences, that usually works! And a good meal and a nice beat can solve a lot! soundcloud.com/ed_wise

Look and Listen

MUSIC THAT MATTERS ALTITUDE – LEVITATE Gorgeous, melody heavy slice of dreamy Drum and Bass from Dubai’s Altitude, out now on Warm Communications. soundcloud.com/warm-communications/sets/ altitude-warmdig006-out-sept

KAY-TEK – TUBE & BERGER WARM UP Deep, well mixed 2 hour live set from Square, featuring plenty of box-fresh deep house and tech house cuts. Free download. soundcloud.com/kay-tek/kay-tek-at-squaredxbwarmup-tube-berger-11915

SMOKINGROOVE – ANONYMOUS The ‘groove brothers ode to internet hackers over the world is a squelchy, acid-rising slice of tech-house goodness. And, it’s a free download as well. soundcloud.com/smokingroove/smokingroovewe-are-anonymous

Send tracks/edits/remixes to: andy@infusion.ae

264 CRU PRESENTS THE COMEDOWN – NAB

Chilled, alternative beats and pieces for the after hours and following day, with this selection featuring funk, hip hop, latin and recent DXB guests Alsarah and the Nubatones. mixcloud.com/the264cru/the-comedown-004nab/

Look and Listen MR MR – LIVE @ 360 Audio tonic’s main man Mr Mr drops a 3 hour live recorded set that moves from groovy deep house movers and shakers to meatier, tech-heavy house hitters. Free download. soundcloud.com/audiotonic/mr_ mr_360_040915_live_mix

FUENTE – PRIMERO EP The Superheroes resident drops an impressive debut EP that spans garage, house, bass with some jazz and funk fusion thrown in for good measure. Hard to pigeon hole, but the production is super crisp and funky. soundcloud.com/fuentebeats23/sets/primero-ep

RED DUB, SAM FARSIO & HOOLZ – ATLAS

Twinkling, pad heavy slice of house music from the Deep Like resident DJs, out now on Crossfrontier Audio. soundcloud.com/samfarsio/reddub-sam-farsiohoolz-atlas-original-mix

OLIVIER GARTH – NIGHT CALLER Dubai newcomer Garth releases Night Caller, a full album on Menomale Records, full of deep, atmospheric, bass-friendly tracks. soundcloud.com/oliviergarth/move-the-blackdoor-night-caller-album-original-mix

LOOKING

CLOSER Opinions, thoughts and gibberish...

• Weird News • Eat sleep rave repeat • Movie Preview • The Spin

Looking Closer

Weird News HEADLINE OF THE WEEK:

MAN DOWNS 35 VIAGRA ‘FOR A LAUGH’ AND GETS FIVE-DAY ERECTION THE NEED FOR SPEED

Two enterprising 5 year olds busted out of their nursery, tunneled under the perimeter and wondered into a Jaguar dealership a mile away, telling the stunned assistant that they wanted to buy a sports car. Their would be auto adventure stopped there, however, as the duo admitted they had no money. We’ll have a Lambo if anyone’s child is reading this…

AND PIGS MIGHT FLY The United Church of Bacon’s membership has tripled in the last few months after offering meat lovers free weddings, funerals and baptisms. The church, obviously based in America, and with a motto of ‘Because Bacon is real,’ was founded in Las Vegas in 2010 has a list of 9 commandments, including be skeptical, normalize religion, normalize atheists and praise bacon.

OCT OBE R 1 5

Eat Sleep Rave Repeat

THE ACT Don't be late for a very important date!

Our resident foodie disappears down the rabbit-hole at The Act for their mid-week show, Alice‌

Dining in the UAE delivers many culinary experiences, from simple street food to world class fine dining, each with their own take on decor and delivery. New eateries pop up every hour, or so it seems, and with all this choice it takes something truly special to get me back to a venue we’ve already covered.

The last time I headed to the 43rd floor of The Shangri-La Hotel on SZR to eat at The Act it was a fun and flavorsome time, Peruvian cuisine with flair and a dinner show that offered far more than I had expected. This time however I was not prepared for what lay ahead. Rather than stick to a formula, The Act have constantly tried to reinvent itself to stay one step ahead of the competition, building new menus and shows but this time they’ve really hit on something new to the region.

Only running Tuesday and Wednesday night is Alice, not just food and some fun, but a beautifully constructed, highly imaginative and most importantly shared immersive experience.

I think this is one of the hardest reviews I’ve ever had to write as I don't want to spoil it too much, but from the second we arrived to the time we left we felt totally engulfed in a magical land. The welcome drinks in the lobby set the tone (don't be afraid to engage the playing cards) before we moved onto the meadow, where we were offered never-ending

canapĂŠs and cocktails including soft beef kebabs that melted in my mouth, crunchy crab pastries, spicy seafood ceviche, short rib and corn chip buns alongside bottomless vodka and rum cocktails.

We followed Alice into the main room and the real fun began, with the front of house enjoying it just as much as the tables.

The mains arrived: a delicate mushroom ravioli, pan fried sea bass, vegetable gratin and gooey cheese bread balls that were incredibly good.

As we ate, the madness continued and we are treated to some amazing acts that continued the story. Some of it was breathtaking and as we came near the end, everything you thought you knew was yet again turned on its head with the song that never ends (you had/have to be there). Finally it was tea party time and a shared desert that was an inspired choice (no spoilers, sorry!) and was perfectly fitting for the occasion.

I think I’ve said too much already so I will leave you with this: it's not about the food or the drink (which is plentiful) or about the show, it's about everything together plus the audience. If everyone enters with an open mind and gets involved then I promise you will have one of the best nights you've had in this city for a very long time.

Alice @ The Act, every Tuesday and Wednesday from 8.30pm.

MOVIE SICARIO

Excellent, star-studded film in which an idealistic FBI agent is enlisted by an elected government task force to aid in the escalating war against drugs at the border area between the U.S. and Mexico.

Classification: 18 Director: Taylor Sheridan Starring: Emily Brunt, Josh Brolin and Benicio Del Toro

THE PROGRAM An Irish sports journalist becomes convinced that Lance Armstrong’s performances during the Tour de France victories are fueled by banned substances. With this conviction, he starts hunting for evidence that will expose Armstrong.

Classification: 12A Director: Stephen Fears Starring: Lee Pace, Jesse Plemons, Ben Foster and Dustin Hoffman

PREVIEWS LEGEND Tom Hardy stars as both Kray brothers in this dramatic re-telling of their life in organised crime during the 60s in the East End of London.

Classification: 15 Director: Bryan Helgeland Starring: Tom Hardy, Emily Browning and Taron Egerton

EVEREST

Based on a true story, Everest recounts in 3D and IMAX one of the most deadly days in mountain climbing history as two teams battle to the top and back again during a once-in-alifetime storm.

Classification: PG 13 Director: Baltasar Kormakur Starring: Jake Gyllenhall, Jason Clarke, Josh Brolin and Thomas M Wright

DISCLAIMER: Film release schedules are subject to change, please check reelcinemas.ae, novocinemas.com and voxcinemas.com for full schedules.

THE SPIN OCTOBER 2015

PAGE 217

ISSUE 27

TECHNO DJ OUTCAST AFTER WEARING WHITE T-SHIRT TO TECHNO NIGHT One unwitting techno DJ in Dubai has been outcast from the techno clique in the city after turning up to hear the latest underground DJ wearing a white t-shirt.

Unaware of the strict black t-shirt and black jeans dress code, Mr W. Annabe said he tried to get in on several DJ selfies last weekend, but every time he was shunned.

‘Then it became obvious as I looked around – everyone was wearing the regulation black t-shirts, with ornamental necklaces hanging outside.

And I had on a white t-shirt, I couldn’t believe I’d been so stupid!’

Mr Annabe was now gone back to shuffling and deep house.

‘I never threw away my deep v-neck t-shirts, so I’m growing out my man bun again and will get in the with the deep house crew again.’

Clubber admitted to hospital with severe dehydration after refusing to pour his own glass at VIP club in Dubai

*These stories are not true, this is not a real newspaper. This is a parody/fiction/satire/joke. The Spin is not intended, in any way whatsoever, to be taken as factual.