In today’s fast-paced and ever-evolving musical landscape, “out with the old and in with the new” seems to be a way of life.
But in their latest effort to offer us a chance to witness well-loved and novel acts alike, organisers of the Emirates Airlines Dubai Jazz Festival have announced exclusively to tabloid! that James Blunt will make his return to the 13th edition of the event, with first-timer Christina Perri in tow.
“[Blunt] always has a sell-out venue when we bring him,” Anthony Younes, co-founder of the festival and CEO of organisers Chill Out Productions, told tabloid! of the third-time performer. “[Perri] has lots of airplay in Dubai, so that’s why we chose her. She fits the opening night with James Blunt — it’s a kind of romantic night, so I think they fit with each other.”
Perri, 28, first plucked at people’s heartstrings in 2010, rising to fame with her sorrowful ballad, Jar of Hearts, off her debut album, Lovestrong. Hailing from Philadelphia, the singer-songwriter’s voice carried a relatable note as she sang about a love that wasn’t enough to last, and the debut single peaked at No. 4 on Billboard’s Adult Top 40 chart. A year later, Perri recorded the co-written cinematic hit A Thousand Years for The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn (Part 1), which went quadruple platinum with its US release. Most recently, she took over the airwaves with her Top 40 tune Human off her 2014 sophomore album, Head or Heart.
Meanwhile, Blunt — now a trouper in the soft rock scene with five Grammy nominations and a decade of music-making tucked firmly beneath his belt — first burst onto the scene in 2005. The British singer-songwriter garnered near-instant attention with his two Top 10 hits, You’re Beautiful and Goodbye My Lover, off his debut No. 1 album (in the UK), Back to Bedlam. His haunting, wispy vocals and piano-ridden melodies were distinguishing assets, sensitive yet dark in approach. Since then, Blunt has released three other studio albums and the same number of live records.
The two artists will headline the first night of the three-day festival, which will run from February 25-27.
CH-CH-CHANGES
Fans who attended the 2014 edition of Jazz Festival with Olly Murs, Colbie Collait, Jamie Cullum and Santana are in for a new and improved experience next year. The format of the event, according to Younes, will see several changes, starting with its return to its old stomping grounds — Dubai Media City.
“For nine years, we had the jazz festival at Dubai Media City, and then we moved to Festival City,” said Younes. “I don’t want to call it complaints, but a lot of people kept on asking us, ‘Why don’t you go back to Media City? It’s closer to us.’ Actually, now, it’s in the middle of a huge residential area.”
In another change of format, the headliners on the main stage will no longer go on at the same time as jazz artists on a smaller stage, which had caused conflict this year. Younes called this past experience a “test” that will not happen again.
“We’re going back to the old format, which is three consecutive days, instead of splitting it over two weekends. So, we’re going to have three full days — each night, we’ll feature two main acts,” he added.
“We are planning something different this year. We might be doing multiple stages across the city, instead of having it in one place. We’re going to have at least 30, 40 different shows going on around the city, in clubs, in restaurants, in open [air] venues.”
New initiative
Younes said the tentative new addition will likely be called Jazz in the City, rather than Jazz Garden. Organisers are working with Dubai Tourism on making the initiative a reality, and are hopeful that other governmental entities will also support it. These extra events are set to be free-of-charge.
In a nod to the re-invented event, Younes said, the freshly-minted festival slogan will be, ‘A new take on music, art and lifestyle’.
Looking back on over a decade of the event (Jazz Fest had its first hoorah in 2003), he shared that his biggest moment was courtesy veteran jazz rocker Carlos Santana.
“One of my favourite shows ever,” said Younes. “He has always been my favourite artist, and producing him — producing Santana at the Jazz Festival — was my ultimate highlight.
“I still like a lot of artists from the past years. I like, for example, Jason Mraz, I like David Gray, I like Alison Moyet, I like Jools Holland — I like a lot of the artists that came to the Jazz Festival — but the highlight has always been Santana.”
Does that mean fest-goers can expect someone of the same stature to come around next year?
“Yes,” said Younes. “We’re working, actually, on two — not one.”
