Elvis Costello and Diana Krall are headlining a new eclectic music festival in Dubai. The married couple will perform separately as part of the two-day Blended event, held at Dubai Media City Amphitheatre on May 1 and 2. Both will perform on May 2, while the British soul singer Joss Stone and the Australian roots artist Xavier Rudd will headline on May 1. Tickets begin from Dh350 and are on sale today from Virgin Megastores. – The National staff
Clooney attends White House screening of his latest film
The US president Barack Obama hosted a screening of The Monuments Men at the White House yesterday. Its stars George Clooney, Matt Damon and Bill Murray attended the private showing. They were joined by Harry Ettlinger, a member of the original group the movie is based on. The movie tells the story of a Second World War platoon that was tasked with rescuing art and cultural artefacts seized by the Nazis in Germany and occupied Europe. – AP
Bolly stars prepare for IIFA awards in US
A host of A-list celebrities including Madhuri Dixit, Bipasha Basu, Kareena Kapoor, Saif Ali Khan and Anil Kapoor attended the 15th International Indian Film Academy (IIFA) awards press conference in Mumbai yesterday. This year, the awards will be handed out in a glittering ceremony in Florida. The American consul general in Mumbai, Peter Haas, was also present. The IIFA will be held from April 23 to 26. – The National staff
Denzel Washington ready for more stage roles
Denzel Washington, who is set to play Walter Lee Younger in Lorraine Hansberry's classic play A Raisin in the Sun, is lately finding more time for theatre. "Up until nine years ago, I hadn't been here in 15 years, from 1990 until 2005. Basically, that was because of raising my kids, my wife and I," he told reporters. "Once they got old enough, I could start coming back. I've been back three times in nine years. And I'll be back again, hopefully." Washington last appeared on Broadway in the 2010 revival of August Wilson's Fences, where he picked up a Best Actor Tony. – AP
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