Dubai: We're all trying to go local over global — be it eating locally-grown food or taking ‘staycations'. So why not do it musically too? Homegrown rock and metal bands are burning up stages all across the UAE and gaining a healthy fan base, with more and more local fans supporting their homegrown heroes as they go from unknowns to stars.
Starting today, we give you a chance to meet UAE-based musicians who are part of the movement and understand just how strong this burgeoning music scene is becoming, with the weekly web column titled Metal Detector.
New sound
Focusing exclusively on local rock and metal bands, readers will be introduced to new sounds and follow these musicians as they hit the road to fame — or bust.
One such band currently courting fame is Nikotin, a local hard rock band who opened for Canadian rockers Nickelback at their Dubai Bike week concert last month.
From the two thousand-strong crowd who turned up for the early set, it was clear that no-one was disappointed by them.
From men wearing rock T-shirts to women in abayas, everyone in the crowd was singing along, because more than anything else, the music seemed to unite people.
The bands themselves are a reflection of the UAE's multicultural make-up: most are of its members are made up of different nationalities with very different backgrounds, as in the case of Crow, which features members from South Africa, Syria and New Zealand.
Universal Rogue is another fledgling rock band who recently played to a full house at Metal Asylum at the Rockwell Café in Bur Dubai.
And, like other local bands, they are begging for fan support.
Michael Johns, their flamboyant guitarist told Gulf News: "It is great to see the music scene growing, but people should know that we need a lot of support from people — from expats and Emiratis as well. Because it is not easy trying to have a band and at the same time having full-time jobs and families. It would be good to see a lot more support."
