The Dubai Jazz Festival has saved its biggest announcement for last, with the addition of the pop-music icon Sting as the headliner for next year’s event.
The former The Police frontman and acclaimed solo artist will take the stage at Dubai Media City Amphitheatre on February 26, the second night of the three-day festival, and will be supported by the American violinist Lindsey Stirling.
The announcement completes the full line-up of the festival, with James Blunt and Christina Perry opening the event on February 26, and the R&B crooner John Legend and Esperanza Spalding rounding it off on February 27.
Sting, 63, is returning to the UAE having conquered du Arena in March last year with a sublime greatest-hits concert celebrating 25 years as a solo artist.
His new tour could include a number of new tunes from his latest album, The Last Ship, which was released last September.
The nautical-themed concept album is inspired by the folk songs sung by British dockworkers in the 1980s. A stage musical based on it opened during the summer in Chicago before moving to Broadway.
The album features guest stars such as AC/DC singer Brian Johnson (only in the deluxe edition), as well as the actor and singer Jimmy Nail, and Becky Unthank.
Either way, the new songs will be delicately spaced around Sting's more than two dozen hits as a solo star and with The Police, including Message in a Bottle, Englishman in New York and Every Breath You Take.
• The Dubai Jazz Festival 2015 runs from February 25 to 27. Tickets, from Dh395, are available at www.ticketmaster.ae. Visit www.dubaijazzfest.com for more details
sasaeed@thenational.ae
