If you love music, you definitely know that concerts and music festivals are the ultimate things that you must experience. It is such a surreal feeling to see your favourite artists/bands perform live and sing their amazing songs in your presence. More than the artist, I am always curious of how wonderful they would sound and connect to you like they're just singing your favourite songs for you. Back home, I had watched few concerts but sometimes better production and venue makes a lot of difference which I experienced in Dubai or Abu Dhabi plus there are free concerts here with international artists. If you're lucky, it might be one of your favourite artists.
Here are some of the concerts I have been to as well as my favourites so far. I am #sorrynotsorry for the photos since you know the rules in these events and sometimes, you get carried away that you forget to capture the best moments.
F1 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix is the biggest event in the city that happens every year. Alongside, there is Yasalam Beats on the Beach which is a free international music festival. I am just proud and glad that they always dedicate one night for the Filipino community by bringing a big Filipino artist. Gary V, Vina Morales, Charice, Bamboo, and Yeng Constantino were the ones I have watched for the past four years. In 2015, Bamboo made everyone proud with his energetic presence and great voice. But the big catch in this free event is that they always have international artists on their line-up such as Ludacris, Rita Ora, Jason Derulo, Big Sean, Sean Paul and Tove Lo. Amazeballs, right?
In 2015, I had the chance to experience the F1 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix and for the three days event, there is an after-race concert every night which is normally the biggest names in the music industry around the world. Fortunately, Florence + the Machine was one of the artists that year and damn, she was amazing. She sang and danced on bare foot and treated the stage like her playground. It was fun watching her and you can not help but dance along especially when she sang Dog Days Are Over. My favourite songs from her are Sweet Nothing and Shake It Out.
I love Ellie Goulding! Way before when her debut album, Lights, was released up to now. Her wonderful voice can range from a lullaby to an upbeat. Since then, I have always been dreaming of watching her perform live and it came true when she was one of the headliners in Dubai Music Week 2015. For some people who are not aware of her anxieties and panic attacks, you would find it weird why she's not interacting that much to her audience and notice her awkward presence on stage. But I guess, she overcomes it especially if she's singing her heart out since she can easily infect the crowd with her energy and upbeat moves. Among my favourite songs of hers are Burn, Anything Could Happen, On My Mind, Explosions, Figure 8, Army, and her BBC cover of Justin Timberlake's Mirrors. I swear it's the best cover ever! Do check it out! I just love her and will never get enough of her!
Avicci is one of the best EDM artists in my opinion but sadly, he retired touring last year due to health issues but fortunately, I had the chance to watch his farewell tour in Dubai. It was actually a long set for almost 3 hours and it was non-stop dancing. You could tell when we had sore body the next day. That was like a crazy cardio if you were to ask me. lol. Anyhow, the thing with his music is that it is heartfelt. I love EDM and would always justify it with the fact that it is actually an upbeat music where its lyrics always make sense. It's like dancing your feelings away.
I have a wide range appreciation to almost all genres. From rock, hip hop, reggae, EDM, mainstream, pop to classic. Hence, this classical concert in Emirates Palace featuring a Grammy award winning artist- Stephan Moccio with brilliant vocalists and orchestra. Stephan Moccio actually co-wrote The Weekend's Earned it and Miley Cyrus' Wrecking Ball which made the concert interesting since it showed how classics meets pop. Stephan was actually very interactive with the audience and like telling everyone a story about the song he's about to play on his grand piano.
This is another free event featuring Jess Glynne and Calum Scott in Meet D3. I love Jess Glynne and I have always been wanting to watch her live since I have always seen her concerts on youtube and it was so groovy. I surely had so much fun that night and it was not that packed which got me closer to the stage. I guess if I was not dancing along to her songs, you'll catch me staring in awe at her. I swear she's just damn good and all of her songs. My favourites are Don't Be So Hard On Yourself and Hold My Hand.
Before knowing the artist, I already fell in love with his version of Dancing On My Own when I heard it on the radio. Then I researched the song and have known him. Little do I know that in a brief time of adoring his voice, I would get the chance to watch him live singing that song soulfully. Yes, it was such a heartfelt performance and I have influenced my friends that night to love him and they totally dig him after.
Eversince my friends introduced me to Creamfields in 2013, I just can't get enough of this dance festival. Much more when the headliner that year was Calvin Harris who blew me away with his hits that time such as We Found Love, Feel So Close, and Sweet Nothing. Amazing is not enough to describe the experience when he played that night. In 2014, Hardwell and Afrojack were the headliners. Afrojack is also my favourite artist. When he played Ten Feet Tall that night, I swear I could touch the sky with so much happiness. It was for me one of the best I have ever heard. I have taken a clip of the whole thing as you can see in the video below and it just felt so surreal especially with the strobing lights effect. Unfortunately, Creamfields Abu Dhabi discontinued in 2015 but I am still hoping that they will come back in the city.
And to top it all, the best I have ever been so far is A Head Full of Dreams Concert of Coldplay in New Year's Eve 2016. It was announced on short notice which made all of the people crazy in the city. I mean, who would have thought and it fell on New Year's Eve. What a better way to start a year. This was a sold-out event and so, the venue was packed but nonetheless, we still had the best time that night. It was a roller coaster of emotions. I cried a few times especially to my favourite songs Yellow and The Scientist and of course to everyone's favourite, Fix You. Then you would jump and dance along in Every Teardrop Is A Waterfall, Viva La Vida, and Up and Up where they showered the venue with confetti and giant balloons. Everyone raved about this tour even recently in the Philippines and it is surely, something you would never forget. I just can't express how lucky I was to finally watch this awesome band play since they have been my favourite God knows when and to see them live, was just priceless.
Here is a compilation of some of the videos taken from Afrojack's set in CreamfieldsAD 2014 and A Head Full of Dreams Tour: Coldplay in Abu Dhabi NYE'16.
Love and Peace.
Loca