Biker boys

It's a bike show after all. So who better than the mega-successful Canadian rock band Nickelback to headline the event? Accompanied by the truly weathered rock band Status Quo to keep the engines revving all night long, the live entertainment at the Dubai Bike Show this weekend (February 5 and 6) might just shine brighter than all the Harleys and Hayabusas.

Fresh on the tails of their Dark Horse European tour, Canadian rockers Nickelback will kickstart the Gulf Bike Festival after-party on February 5 at Dubai Festival City with an array of their hardest hits.

Expect plenty of head-banging and mosh-pit moments over the strains of This Is How You Remind Me, Never Again, If Today Was Your Last Day and Gotta Be Somebody. The Grammy award-winning band that has sold over 30 million records worldwide, is expected to rock the city for two hours non-stop. If reviews of their Dark Horse tour are anything to go by, the band loves indulging in pyrotechnics while belting out their hits.

The grand finale of the event will be veteran British icons Status Quo bringing the house down with tunes such as You're In The Army Now and Rockin' All Over The World. Watching the band live, one understands why their fame has lasted over 40 years. Original members Francis Rossi and Rick Parfait balance each other vocally and musically as though they were born to jam together.

Complementing their partnership is Rhino Edward on bass, Matthew Letley on drums and Andrew Baun on the keyboard. Together, their sound is awe-inspiring and anthemic.

It's fist pounding, foot-stamping stuff that makes for the perfect ending to a biker festival. And aside from the main stage, the Piazza will have a smaller stage where talented new bands from the Middle East will be playing during the course of the festival.

Headlining the local acts is Nikotin, a five-member rock act based in Dubai. The boys have already opened for Ramzi at LiveNations' UndeRage, and played at the F1 FanZone in Abu Dhabi, the Dubai Sound City festival and a gig at Emirates Class 1 Powerboat Grand Prix.

Alongside Nikotin, listen out for Flip Side with their unique blend of jazz, rock and blues, Swedish guitarist Jonas Desai, Dubai-based rockers Universal Rogue, rock ‘n' rollers Beat Antenna, and Dubai's homegrown celebs Sandwash playing their extraordinary blend of what they call groovecore: groovy rock characterised by vintage guitar riffs, modern dynamics and soaring singalong choruses.

The event, which will be running over three days from February 4 to 6, is the largest dedicated bike and off-road exhibition in the Middle East.

Along with the bike exhibition, the event will also feature a Rage Extreme Zone (a skate/BMX park), an in-show bike park, a Super Motto Circuit where riders will race and an FMX stunt area, plus the annual custom bike competition.

Concert details

When February 4 to 6

Where Dubai Festival City

How Gold pass cost Dh630 (three-day access and front pit standing for both concerts); Silver pass Dh465 (three-day access and regular standing for both concerts); Dh460 (front pit standing for Nickelback only); Dh295 (regular standing for Nickelback only); Dh130 (regular standing for Status Quo only). Log on towww.boxofficeme.com