Four decades after their heyday, Pink Floyd are enjoying something of a late-career resurgence. November saw the release of their first album in 20 years, The Endless River, met with strong reviews - and stronger sales.
While we’d love to be announcing that the classic UK rock band are coming to the UAE (hint, hint, Flash – how about the F1?), we can instead offer some consolation – a top UK tribute act bringing the sounds, and sights, of the Floyd to both Abu Dhabi and Dubai, on April 16 and 17.
Think Floyd will be performing a special show to mark the 40th anniversary of classic album Wish You Were Here. The set will feature that album performed in full – including the nine-part, 26-minute centrepiece Shine On You Crazy Diamond, which opens and closes the album, and the title track, reportedly one of the songs most played at funerals.
The gigs top a worrying abundance of tribute acts visiting the UAE in recent months.
In the first quarter of 2015 both Abu Dhabi and Dubai have seen visits from tribute bands celebrating Bon Jovi, The Killers and The Jam, while on March 27 the capital hosted five tribute acts on a single bill as part of The Concert That Never Happened.
There’s more fake fun this weekend, too, with Sex Pistols tribute The Pistols Experience gigging in both emirates.
Check next week’s Arts&Life for a full report on burgeoning tribute band scene.
• The Pistols Experience perform as part of the Great British Punk Rock n’ Roll Festival on Friday April 10 at The Music Room, Majestic Hotel Tower, Dubai, and on Saturday April 11 at PJ O’Reilly’s, Le Royal Méridien, Abu Dhabi. Both gigs Dh100.
• Think Floyd perform at the Abu Dhabi City Golf Club on Thursday April 16, and The Music Room, Dubai on Friday April 17. Both gigs Dh100.
