Expo 2020 Dubai is presenting a festive feast of homegrown and international live acts on 24 and 25 December at the Jubilee Stage and Dubai Millennium Amphitheatre.
On Christmas Eve, Grigoryan Chant will perform a standalone concert at Dubai Millennium Amphitheatre. The Dubai-based band – comprising members from Armenia, Cuba, Russia, South Africa and USA – will perform their signature jazz fusion music, with influences from jazz giants such as Kenny Garrett.
Also on 24 December at Dubai Millennium Amphitheatre, American musician Naia Izumi will entertain with his guitar-led world music, which blends jazz, blues and soul. The artist, who is excited to share his music “with new people in a new country”, hopes his performance will make the audience switch off and feel their worries slip away.
London Community Gospel Choir will perform on 24 and 25 December at Jubilee Park and Dubai Millennium Amphitheatre respectively. The band, made up of singers and musicians primarily from the Pentecostal and Evangelical church tradition, formed in 1982, playing their first concert in 1983 in Notting Hill, London, and next year look forward to celebrating 40 years of music making. Citing Expo 2020 Dubai as “an amazing global platform for artists to be seen and heard by visitors of many nationalities”, they aim to spread a message of tolerance and respect.
On Christmas Day Filipina singer and actress Lea Salonga, best known for her roles in musical theatre and supplying the singing voices of two Disney princesses, will bring a festive feeling to Jubilee Stage on 25 December with a mix of holiday favourites, pop, and musical theatre. Having missed the spirit of collaboration during COVID-19, Salonga is looking forward to returning to Dubai, which was the last city she played in before lockdown.
British singer, pianist and songwriter Joe Stilgoe will also be serenading the audience at Jubilee Park on 25 December. With his live shows known for virtuosic musicianship, theatricality, and improvisation, he has previously given private performances for Prince Charles at St James Palace. Visitors can look forward to a mix of his own songs along with music from some of his heroes including Nat King Cole, Cole Porter, Frank Sinatra.
Grigoryan Chant will perform from 2230 GST on 24 December at Dubai Millennium Amphitheatre; London Community Gospel Choir and Naia Izumi will perform from 1930 on 24 December at Dubai Millennium Amphitheatre; while Lea Salonga, Joe Stilgoe and London Community Gospel Choir will perform from 2100 GST on 25 December at Jubilee Park.
Entry is free for all Expo 2020 ticket holders, but concert-goers are advised to arrive early.
