The headline act has been announced for the opening night of next year's Emirates Airline Dubai Jazz Festival, the 13th edition of the UAE's longest-running live music event. After two previous sold-out shows in the UAE, platinum-selling singer-songwriter James Blunt will take to the stage on February 25, along with award-winning musician Christina Perri, who will make her Middle East debut. About 30,000 fans are expected to attend the three-day festival at the Dubai Media City Amphitheatre. There will also be food and drink and arts and crafts on show. Tickets start at Dh295 from www.ticketmaster.ae or 800-TM-UAE. – The National staff
Two new stars going head-to-head in True Detective season two
Colin Farrell and Vince Vaughn have been confirmed as the stars of the second season of HBO's hit crime drama True Detective. The eight-episode series will begin filming in California this autumn. Farrell will play a compromised detective who is divided between his loyalty to his bosses in a corrupt police department and a mobster with a hold over him. Vaughn co-stars as a criminal whose move into legitimate business is disrupted by a murder. The critically acclaimed first season of the show starred Matthew McConaughey and Woody Harrelson but the second will tell a new story with different characters. – AP
Music charity to honour legendary singer Bob Dylan as Person of the Year
Bob Dylan has been named as the 2015 MusiCares Person of the Year. The 10-time Grammy-winning singer-songwriter will be honoured during the foundation's 25th anniversary tribute on February 6 in Los Angeles, two days before the Grammys. Norah Jones, Neil Young, Willie Nelson, Crosby, Stills and Nash, Eddie Vedder, John Mellencamp, Los Lobos and Jack White are among the musicians already signed up to salute Dylan with cover versions of his songs during the annual event in aid of the Recording Academy's charitable foundation. Dylan, 73, helped define rock 'n' roll with songs such as Like a Rolling Stone and The Times They Are A-Changin. – AP
