David J Pichilingi's Blog #10

DAY 1, Dubai Sound City

United Kingdom | by David J Pichilingi | 06 November 2009

DAY 1 - Dubai Sound City

As the sun blazed down on The Irish Village, Dubai, and the crowd heated up in more ways than one, the inaugural Dubai Sound City was opened yesterday by deserved  ‘Road to Sound City’ winners Sho. Followed neatly by local band Tim Hassall and August Company, it was the faultless start to a perfect day.

After a short break for prayer times, Sound City favourites Bicycle Thieves pulled in a steady crowd generating many a whisper of  ‘these guys are going to be big’, followed swiftly by fellow Scousers Sound Of Guns who one audience member summed up perfectly with the phrase ‘These guys were born to play on that stage-they are a festival headlining band already’.

Meanwhile across the city, Music industry heavyweights were discussing the merits of mailing lists and the Middle East’s potential in the musical rights market. For detailed conference updates visit http://newsblog.thecmuwebsite.com/

Back to the main stage, Irish Rockers Aslan, did what they do best and drew in what could only be the majority of Dubai’s Irish population.

In the mean time, Dubai Sound City’s under 21 arena at Festival City was playing host to some of the most talked about new music artists from all over the world on the fabulous floating stage.

Then the main stage mic was handed back to the Scousers with The Farm openly admitting it was the first time they hadn’t drunk alcohol on stage! And it certainly wasn’t a hindrance! After a set that generated obvious bouts of reminiscing and recognition of the classics in the crowd, the crash barriers were well and truly holding their own when Sunderland’s finest fun purveyors The Futureheads took to the stage.

Closing on the classic ‘Hounds Of Love’ to an echoed response of the lyrics, there were only positive comments airborne about the band.

As the crowd grabbed another beer and took their places, Manchester’s finest Doves gave the other northerners a run for their money by their heart on their sleeve and pouring out their soul.

Backstage there was not a band in their dressing room as the VIP area became clogged with memories of Doves as far back as ‘Sub-Sub’.

Then thoughts went even further back, when Sheffield’s electronic pioneers The Human League burst onto the main stage with a setlist that would not be out of place in a top ten list of the greatest electro pop songs ever. With all the superlatives imaginable being banded around the site Dubai Sound City had well  and truly arrived.

But this wasn’t the end. This is Dubai and contrary to popular belief these guys now how to party and they do it well.

With The Whip playing a storming set to a full house in Chi, followed by the ever effervescent Layo & Bushwacka!, Alpha was packed out for the inimitable live show of Foreign Beggars.

With Day Two swiftly approaching all eyes are on Happy Mondays, Ocean Colour Scene, and over 30 of other acts to deliver what we know they are both more than capable of.

Check back for more updates tomorrow and keep checking back on www.dubaisoundcity.com for photos appearing shortly!

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