Size matters
London, New York and Ibiza had better watch out, says James Fryer, Dubai’s clubbing scene is muscling in on the international DJ action.
Dubai’s clubbing scene is going from strength to strength as it continues to attract the cream of the world’s DJ crop. The city’s finest clubbing joint has done it again with four breath taking acts lined up for the month of December. Marshall Jefferson, a man known as the “Godfather” of house, will be the first man to take to the decks at iBO with a December 1 set. Credited with introducing the now regularly incorporated piano to the sound of house music, some argue the Godfather’s early work laid the foundations for what we now recognise as deep house, garage and techno music.
After a full week of recovery, December 8 will see Darshan Jesrani take iBO by storm with a taste of the bygone glory days of the 1970s and 1980s boogie, old-school R&B, disco and house music. Orbital’s Phil Hartnoll is coming to town December 15 – fifteen years and six studio albums since Orbital’s first single brought UK show Top Of The Pops to a virtual standstill. The daddies of British electronic music played their last ever shows in July 2004, but luckily for us Phil has consequently had more time to play the DJ circuit. As if we hadn’t already been served up enough musical treats, come December 22 and Roni Size (pictured) will be taking centre stage featuring none other that Dynamite MC. Born and bred in the UK, Size is best known for his work with Reprazent, Krust, DJ Die and Suv. Winner of the Mercury Music Prize in 1996, Size’s discography highlights include New Forms in 1997, In The Mode in 2000 and this year’s Return To V.
- iBO club nights, Thursdays throughout December, behind Millennium Airport Hotel, Dubai. Tel: (04) 3985151.
Grant in the gardens
Preempt those Monday morning blues with a Sunday open-air movie rendezvous and enough refreshments to recharge you for the week. Curl up on a colourful beanbag, popcorn in hand, and watch the stars in the night sky and on the silver screen atop the Rooftop Gardens of Wafi City. Every Sunday is a movie theme night and what’s more, you can see two flicks for free – you only pay for your pizza, hotdogs, sandwiches and drinks (you don’t have order everything, unless you want to, of course). Pegged as ‘A Night to be ‘Grant’ed’, December 4 will see Hugh Grant fans everywhere flocking to catch another glimpse of romantic comedies 9 Months and Four Weddings And A Funeral. The following week is ‘Pappadums and Chutney’ night featuring crossover Indian films including East Is East and Gurinder Chadha’s 2002 smash hit Bend It Like Beckham, starring Parminder Nagra and Keira Knightly. December 18 will be reserved for fans of Vin Diesel, who can expect to be treated to action flick Triple X and sci-fi thriller Pitch Black. On December 25, Arnold Shwarzenegger will be back with Jingle All The Way, a less well-known1996 family film featuring a father trying to get that year’s hot toy just before Christmas Day. Pokemon, yo-yos and space hoppers – we’ve all been there.
- Movies Under The Stars, Sundays throughout December at 8pm and 10pm, Rooftop Gardens, Wafi City. Entry is free. Tel: (04) 3244100.