Flo Rida to show in Dubai on New Year’s Eve
Flo Rida is coming to Dubai for the countdown to New Year's Day. The rapper is headlining XL Beach Club's New Year's Eve bash alongside DJ Yves La Rock. You would be forgiven for thinking the Wild Ones rapper is the in-house music act for the Dubai Marina club. Flo Rida has regularly partied at XL Beach Club on his previous visits and also performed at the club's opening night in March last year. The event is destined to become a sell-out, with the cabana seats snapped up already. With Sheikh Zayed Road and Dubai Marina closed during New Year festivities, revellers are being encouraged to arrange their transportation for the event. In short, get there early or you will miss out. Tickets cost from Dh395 and are available from www.timeoutickets.com. – The National staff
Jason Mraz headlines Myanmar concert
The American singer Jason Mraz became the first international artist in decades to perform in Myanmar, with a concert to raise awareness of human trafficking. The Sunday show was held before a crowd of 50,000 people in Yangon, the country's biggest city. Local artists, including a hip-hop singer, also played at the event organised by the anti-trafficking media group MTV Exit. Mraz called his appearance a "tremendous honour". "I think the country is, at this time, downloading lots of new information from all around the world," he said. "I've always wanted my music to be here, for hope and celebration, peace, love and happiness. And so I'm delighted that my music can be a part of this big download that Myanmar is experiencing right now." – AP
Hobbit makes box-office history on opening weekend
The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey has earned a worldwide estimated total of US$223 million (Dh818m) on its opening weekend, including a record-breaking $15.1m from IMAX theatres around the world, according to New Line Cinema, which said it was the biggest opening for any Lord of the Rings film. It is also the biggest December opening in the history of motion pictures. – AFP
Springsteen and Gaga join the Rolling Stones
Bruce Springsteen, Lady Gaga, The Black Keys and John Mayer were among the guest acts jamming with the Rolling Stones on Saturday in New York, winding down a concert series celebrating the band's 50th anniversary. But the night's most special guest was Mick Taylor, the former Stones guitarist who was part of some of their biggest moments from 1969 to 1975. He rejoined his band mates onstage for a performance of Midnight Rambler. By the end of the evening, it seemed clear that the question was not whether the Stones would return again, but when. Mick Jagger teased: "This is the last show of our anniversary tour and we hope to see you all again soon." – AP
SNL breaks tradition for a special tribute
Saturday Night Live made a rare departure from its usual comedic opening to pay tribute to the children and adults killed at a Connecticut elementary school. Not known for treating anything seriously, the show made an -exception during the first moments of its Saturday show. Rather than the usual comedic sketch, a children's choir appeared on camera and sang Silent Night. Later, the choir returned to join the show's musical guest Paul McCartney in a rendition of Wonderful Christmas Time. The special Christmas show featured appearances by Alec Baldwin, Samuel L Jackson, Tom Hanks, Kristen Wiig, Jimmy Fallon and Tina Fey. The guest host was Martin Short. – AP
