The early part of this year is shaping up to be a big one for music fans. With concerts by veterans Black Sabbath and the Rolling Stones already locked in, yesterday saw confirmation of the news that American pop sensation Justin Timberlake has included Abu Dhabi on his 2014 world tour. The heartthrob will play Yas Island's du Arena on May 23.
Timberlake, whose The 20/20 Experience was the best-selling album in the US last year, is expected to create plenty of heat on stage only weeks before the summer weather becomes altogether too stifling for outdoor events. Parents of young Timberlake fans may well be pleased to note that the concert will be on a Friday evening, meaning that a late-night concert shouldn’t interfere with the school week.
Even so, it must be hoped that organisers can avoid a repeat of the events in Dubai last May, when Justin Bieber kept fans waiting for two hours, two nights in row. As, indeed, Madonna did at her concerts in Abu Dhabi the previous year. She was 90 minutes late on stage, leaving many fans hot under the collar, figuratively and literally. Promoters please note: the best way to win over your audience is not just to book the biggest acts but also to ensure they arrive on stage at the advertised time.
