The words “family” and “rave” don’t normally go together, but that concept will be tested with the inaugural Housphere festival.
Running at the Address Montgomerie Golf Course in Dubai on March 22, the 10-hour party aims to please everyone from music fans to families.
When it comes to the beats, there will be a string of DJs performing before the headline act, the Romanian pop star Inna takes the stage to close the festival.
So who is Inna?
She is a bit of a big deal in eastern Europe and a bona fide superstar back home.
Born Elena Apostoleanul, she first entered the local music scene in 2008 as pop-rocker Alessandra. With the tunes failing to garner public enthusiasm, she went back to the drawing board and reinvented herself later that year as Inna.
She struck gold with her debut single Hot which topped the Romanian charts as well landing a solid position at the US Billboard Hot Dance Airplay chart.
She followed it up with a number of hits including the East European chart toppers Sun is Up and More Than Friends, the latter being a collaboration with Puerto Rican reggaeton star Daddy Yankee.
While her attempts at US crossover has not bared any fruit as of yet, she remains a force in Romania as one of the country's highest paid entertainers. Intriguingly, her next album — to be released in May — hints at another reinvention with all the tracks to be sung in Spanish. Let’s hope we can get a taste of this new Latin and Romanian pop blend when she arrives in Dubai.
Fun for families
There will be plenty to do and see at Housphere for the family. There will be a Lego station, trampolines, face painting, arts and crafts stalls, in addition to fire-performers and bubble-dancers roaming around the field.
When it comes to the grub, there will be a bunch of food trucks at the venue serving festival treats from popcorn to nachos and burgers.
The details
Housephere runs on March 22. Tickets range from Dh250 for general admission to Dh800 for a VIP pass that gives you lounge access, finger food and a selection of beverages. Children under the age of 10 will have free entry.
