• Dave Kotinsky / Getty Images for iHeart
    Dave Kotinsky / Getty Images for iHeart
  • Gareth Cattermole / Getty Images
    Gareth Cattermole / Getty Images
  • Christopher Polk / Getty Images for People’s Choice Awards
    Christopher Polk / Getty Images for People’s Choice Awards
  • Paras Griffin / Getty Images for iHeart / AFP
    Paras Griffin / Getty Images for iHeart / AFP
  • Tasos Katopodis / Getty Images for iHeart / AFP
    Tasos Katopodis / Getty Images for iHeart / AFP
  • Amy Leang / The National
    Amy Leang / The National
  • Frederick M Brown / Getty Images / AFP
    Frederick M Brown / Getty Images / AFP

RedFestDXB 2017: The biggest acts and when to catch them


  • English
  • Arabic

A lowdown of what’s on hand at this year’s RedFestDXB.

Thursday

The Veronicas

The Aussie pop twins are back with the luscious new single In My Blood. Expect plenty of energy as they deliver their infectious hits You Ruin Me and Cruel

• 6.40pm

Thursday

Daya

Soulful American singer Daya, who released last year's debut album just weeks before her 18th birthday, is a ferocious talent who scored a recent Grammy nomination as the voice of The Chainsmokers's smash hit, Don't Let Me Down.

• 7.30pm

Thursday

Sean Paul

Fresh from a headline slot at Abu Dhabi's Beats on the Beach in November, perennial UAE favourite Sean Paul returns to top the opening-night bill. With 15 years in the game, and hits with Beyoncé (Baby Boy), Rihanna (Break it Off), Sia (Cheap Thrills) and, most recently, Clean Bandit (Rockabye), the Jamaican hitmaker had plenty to share.

• 8.30pm

Thursday

G-Eazy

Making his UAE debut after years in the underground, ­California-born rapper G-Eazy burst into the public consciousness with 2015's multi-platinum smash Me, Myself & I, a duet with Bebe Rexha.

• 9.30pm

Friday

Alessia Cara

A childhood YouTube sensation, Cara hit the big time when she signed to the iconic Def Jam Records for 2015's debut album Know-It-All, which was propelled by single Here, as well as last year's follow-up smashes Wild Things and Scars to Your Beautiful.

• 6.30pm

Friday

Tove Lo

A welcome sense of reflection and perspective will come from unlikely Swedish star Tove Lo, dubbed the "saddest girl in Sweden", who balances intimate autobiographical lyrics with irresistible melodic ear worms. Recent set lists suggest we can expect a closing crescendo of breakout hit Habits (Stay High).

• 7.40pm

Friday

Mike Posner

As well as writing hit tracks for Justin Bieber (Boyfriend) and Maroon 5 (Sugar), Mike Posner has made a name for himself as a solo artists with the smash hit I Took a Pill in Ibiza and Cooler Than Me.

• 8.40pm

Friday

Demi Lovato

Body-NoIndent: Former child-star Demi Lovato is taking this year off from work – but even the relentless media glare could not put the pop princess off the chance to headline RedFest's second day. Expect hits including Made in the USA, Let It Go and Heart Attack to battle the sound of hyperventilating teenagers.

• 9.40pm

Trump v Khan

2016: Feud begins after Khan criticised Trump’s proposed Muslim travel ban to US

2017: Trump criticises Khan’s ‘no reason to be alarmed’ response to London Bridge terror attacks

2019: Trump calls Khan a “stone cold loser” before first state visit

2019: Trump tweets about “Khan’s Londonistan”, calling him “a national disgrace”

2022:  Khan’s office attributes rise in Islamophobic abuse against the major to hostility stoked during Trump’s presidency

July 2025 During a golfing trip to Scotland, Trump calls Khan “a nasty person”

Sept 2025 Trump blames Khan for London’s “stabbings and the dirt and the filth”.

Dec 2025 Trump suggests migrants got Khan elected, calls him a “horrible, vicious, disgusting mayor”