Looking back a few months ago, it seemed as though nothing could make it up to all the disappointed UAE trance fans for not being able to witness Tiësto live in concert in Abu Dhabi.Last October, the superstar Dutch DJ, musician and record producer, was supposed to perform in the Abu Dhabi Hall of the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Center (ADNEC) as part of his Kaleidoscope World Tour. However, the show was cancelled at the last minute due to a serious technical problem with the venue, leaving ticket holders heartbroken, as many had come in from outside Abu Dhabi and the country with hotels booked for the weekend. The organizers and the region’s premier live events company, FLASH Entertainment, refunded everyone’s tickets and reassured fans that they would bring Tiësto back soon. The company was true to their word as they collaborated with Tiësto regarding tour rescheduling and chose another venue before announcing Tiësto’s comeback for February.Fast-forward to last Thursday, and one thing was for sure: disappointment was the last thing on anyone’s mind. Five thousand UAE party people danced the night away to an incredible three-hour show by the “World’s Number One DJ” at the FLASH Forum in Yas Island, as part of the Yas Island Show Weekends 2011.The concert
The February 17 event was a huge success, which was apparent from the crowd’s number and reaction. DJ Genie and DJ Stacktraxxx opened the show and hyped up the crowd of 5,000 fans who chanted Tiësto’s name to come on stage.Recently voted the “Greatest DJ of all Time” by Mixmag, Tiësto dazzled the crowd by playing hits from his current hit album, “Kaleidoscope,” as well as hits from his back catalogue of over a decade’s worth of dance tracks.It was definitely a night to remember and the perfect official opening party for the hottest new party spot on Yas Island. House music, mixed with some indie, rock, electro, trance and hard techno was accompanied by a state-of-the-art-laser, light and video show. And, with Tiësto ending the show, it was the perfect ending to an incredible night. Fans couldn’t agree more.“Tiësto ’s stop in Abu Dhabi was a wise choice for this year’s tour and that was evident in the great numbers that turned out Thursday night,” said 25-year-old Dubai resident, Anthony Mesmar.“There is no better way to celebrate the joy of trance, house and techno than with Tiësto,” said 22-year-old Dubai resident, Vasileios Papadopoulos. “I believe he showed very inspiring music in his Kaleidoscope album. And, when he played his old hit tracks, it put an amazing vibe in the crowd. Hearing them sing along with the songs was just unbelievable!”
Initial Fear
Even though it was a sold-out show, some fans admitted that before getting to the event, they feared that it was going to be cancelled.“Even though we didn’t let the cancellation of the ADNEC gig affect us coming to Abu Dhabi to see Tiësto, we were scared that the event would be cancelled again. With hotel rooms booked for the weekend, it would have been a disappointment,” explained Papadopoulos who drove to Abu Dhabi with his friends to see Tiësto play.
The Venue
The FLASH Forum venue pleased the majority of fans. However, many agreed that the concert should have been held in a bigger venue.“The venue was pretty cool; but, they need to install some kind of ventilation to get rid of all the smoke,” said 27-year-old Dubai resident, Hadi Farra.“The FLASH Forum was a good choice, as it is out of the city and doesn’t disturb anyone in the area. Plus, there are good hotels and infrastructure to host such an event. However, the venue was a little too small for my taste, and it was too crowded. It would have been better to have a more spacious tent or to have the concert in an outdoor area instead,” said Mesmar.“The event was well organized and the strict age policy was followed well. It’s great to see an Arab country take interest in this type of music,” said Papadopoulos. “FLASH Entertainment has been showing signs of improvement in their organization, although they still lack proper time scheduling, as was the case with the Creamfields event earlier. Nonetheless, I would like to congratulate them on this event, as it was very successful.”
The Yas Island Show Weekends
The Yas Island Show Weekends 2011 program incorporates four weekends of stunning entertainment that has been attracting visitors from across the region and beyond to experience internationally acclaimed artists.Since the program’s launch in October 2010, it has been a huge success and has included international acts by the Jonas Brothers, Nelly Furtado, NBA Jamfest, Creamfields Abu Dhabi, featuring David Guetta and Dizzee Rascal, and legendary rockers, Guns N’ Roses.This year, the program kicked off on February 11 with an outstanding performance by Eric Clapton to a crowd that totaled 15,000 at the Yas Arena, followed by the hugely successful Tiësto concert. Upcoming performances include award-winning U.S. rock band, Thirty Seconds to Mars, on March 11 at the FLASH Forum, preceded by the Yas Rock Factory battle of the bands competition on March 10. The program will conclude with the legendary, multi-Grammy-winning Stevie Wonder, who will be bringing his soulful hits to the Yas Arena on March 18, accompanied by a super-funky Motown-themed festival. In addition to these headline concerts, the Yas Island Show Weekends also offer themed free parties, events and activities all weekend long, designed for all ages, backgrounds and tastes.Yas Island has been shaping up as one of the UAE’s most exciting leisure destinations, offering visitors much to see and do including: Ferrari World, the Yas Marina Circuit and Yas Links Golf Course. It is conveniently located at 15 minutes from Abu Dhabi and just five minutes from Abu Dhabi International Airport – Arabnews
