Beyond the dunes

Music and laughter will be heard from beyond the dunes as two of South Africa's "Big 5" take to the stage in Dubai.

Renowned for being electric on stage together, Dozi and Pieter Smith say they are looking forward to arriving in the UAE and are promising a desert concert to remember.

Overnight

Taking place on Friday, the Beyond the Dunes desert camp welcomes people of all ages and nationalities to enjoy an overnight, musical extravaganza before the heat of summer returns.

International events director for Requin International, Gerry Lab, who is staging the event, said: "Following requests to bring a South African artist to Dubai after a massive response from a concert with Bok van Blerk, it confirmed the demand for more South African entertainment in the Middle East."

Although Lab admits the event is mainly targeted at the South African community he also believes people from all nationalities will enjoy the experience.

Dozi, (aka Henk Opperman), was born in 1966 and first performed in the South African Police band in 1990.

Speaking exclusively to tabloid! he told us how it all began.

Mixture

Owing everything he has achieved to his wonderful wife Muriel — without whom he says he'd be lost — he said: "In a third-rate backstreet bar in 1985 somewhere in South Africa I saw Mel Botes perform and decided this is what I really want to do.

"Now, years on, I play quite a cross-over type of music, best described as a mixture between folk and rock with a touch of rock 'n' roll," he said.

Pieter Smith was born in Potchefstroom in 1975 and has been performing in rock bands since 1993. A guitar music teacher until 2001 when he started performing full time, Smith's career went from strength to strength with more than 200 performances to his name.

And it all began as a small boy who stood next to his mother as she played the church organ. He said: "Music was part of my whole upbringing. I don't think I would be able to function properly without music in my life."

Q&A with Dozi

What is your inspiration when it comes to music?
Nature and the people's action around it.

If you couldn't be a musician, what would you be?
An artist.

What language do you prefer to perform in?
I perform in Zulu, English and Afrikaans. I cannot really place one above another.

How does the crowd reaction differ?
Zulu crowds are always dancing. The English love to sing along and the Afrikaans crowds sit and listen. I love it when the people get up and enjoy the show.

The Venue

The Beyond the Dunes desert camp has been designed to accommodate 2,000 people and is located just outside Dubai, approximately 38km from the Emirates/Hatta Road junction. Although the venue can only be accessed directly by 4x4 vehicles, a shuttle service will be provided to take people driving cars from a security-guarded car park to the camp, which is 900m from the main road, and back again the next morning. Designed in true Arabic style, the camp is surrounded by beautiful big dunes. Full catering and refreshment facilities are available including a cash bar and a variety of food stalls.

Intimate concert

Dozi and Pieter Smith will also perform an exclusive "intimate" concert on Saturday, March 29, in Mirdiff for only 150 guests. The evening will be an acoustic session titled Om die Kampvuur (around the camp fire) and will be a great opportunity to get up close and personal. This is an adult-only evening and there will be ample opportunity to get autographs and photographs. Tickets, priced Dh400, will be sold on a first-come-first-served basis. For more information, email southafricanevents@live.com

Directions to camp

Take the Hatta Road (E44). Follow E44 to the Al Lahbab roundabout. (The roundabout is approximately 30km from the Emirates Road/Hatta Road junction). Drive straight over roundabout. Beacon Road sign (Hatta 63km / Oman 72km).
Drive for 8km. Beacon building (old Emirates petrol station on left). Turn right at next turn — sign reads MARGAM (D40). 350 metres further on, you can park on the left.