The time is here! Yasalam 2014 is taking over the capital and we’ve caught Formula 1 fever

Doing what it does best, Abu Dhabi is about to flick the switch on something big. Being the largest city-wide festival by any Formula 1 host city, Yasalam – which means ‘wow’ in Arabic – is an unbelievable mix of music, sport, art and culture, designed for one purpose: total entertainment.

Let’s go to the beach

Yasalam will have hotspots across the capital where you’ll be able to partake of a plethora of the festival’s events. The Urban Art Zone along with the F1 FanZone will keep Corniche dwellers pumped throughout race weekend until 23rd November.

The F1 FanZone is bound to get race fans’ engines revved up, as the West Plaza on the Corniche is buzzing with entertainment. Those who attend will be able to experience an F1 simulator game, competitions, food stalls, live music and more.

Cars not really your cup of tea?  Why not try out the Urban Art Zone? A selection of community workshops and live art stations will allow visitors to flex their artistic flair. Old shipping containers will get a fresh transformation from graffiti artists, and you can even learn how to upcycle and refurbish furniture and prepare it for the more needy in the community of Abu Dhabi.

Let’s go to Yas

Celebrating the collaboration of Emirati culture and the heritage of the Formula 1 race, the open-air Pit Stop Plaza will make its debut this year at Yas Plaza – the home of the island’s hotels.

Visitors will be able to pose with replica racecars and explore a Walk of Fame comprising six years of Yasalam photos.

Activities like calligraphy, henna tattoos, food tasting, falconry and fashion will give Pit Stop patrons an insight into the unique Emirati culture. Dads will be queuing up to relive their youth at the impressive Scalextric track. Competitions like races around a replica Formula 1 track on a Byky and the chance to try your hand at scaling a palm tree promise to make Yas Plaza a unique part of Yasalam.

Yas Plaza will be open on 20th November at noon to 6pm; 21st and 22nd November from 1pm to 7pm; and 23rd November from noon to 6pm.

Over at the newly opened Yas Mall, a host of international celebrities will drop by Yasalam Live to give interviews and performances. The visiting artists will be at the mega mall from 3pm to 6pm from 20th to 23rd November.

Let’s bop at the beach

With your toes in the sand and your hands in the air, it’s time for Beats on the Beach. An eclectic mix of artists will be here ready to rock you all weekend long.

Thursday 20th November will see performances from Filipina songstress Charice. Made famous by her YouTube videos that impressed talk-show host Ellen DeGeneres – and that cameo on Glee – Charice is now on her world tour and making a special stop right here in the capital.

Three 6 Mafia’s Juicy J will also take the stage, bringing his heavy beats to get the city bouncing.

Winner of Star Academy Arab World Shatha Hassoun – known as the ‘daughter of Mesopotamia’ – will be in town to entertain her Abu Dhabi fans.

Straight from Dubai, Two Tone is bringing his wave of hip hop to the Corniche beach. He’s crafted his skills on the streets of the Netherlands, so get ready for some serious lyrics!

Hard rock band Nikotin will switch the mosh-fuse with their modern yet alternative sound. And after supporting acts like Nickleback and Maximo Park, these boys know how to put on a good show.

Finally the stunning voice of Abu Dhabi-based singer Jae Franklin will woo crowds live on stage. Preparing to release her fourth album, the petite singer will perform hit tracks from all her albums.

It’s no doubt that being inspired by the likes of Elvis, Prince and Michael Jackson has fuelled a real talent in American Jason Derulo, who will be performing his hit tracks on Friday 21st November – including his 5m selling single ‘Talk Dirty’.

Along with Derulo, the LA singer, songwriter and producer Miguel will be live. He recently supported Alicia Keys on her Set the World on Fire Tour.

Ruweida Al Mahrouqi will be returning home to perform for fans, along with Hard Kaur, the Brit singer who has recently taken Asia by storm.

Wrapping up the celebrations on Friday is top local rock/pop group The Boxtones.

The festivities continue on Saturday 22nd as Rita Ora, the young British ‘How We Do’ singer now taking the US by storm, takes the stage to perform some of her top tracks including along with Sabine, the “best rising star” according to Universal Studios.

Tinashe, powered by her RnB and hip hop attitude, will also be entertaining the masses on the final day, along with Lebanese legend Ragheb Alama, Dubai-based duo Juliana Down and the alternative rock band Kicksound.

To find out more about Yasalam’s jam-packed schedule of activities taking place across the city and Yas Island, visit: www.yasalam.ae

Five minutes with Charice

She has over 13 million views on YouTube, she was the first Asian solo singer to ever land in the Top 10 of the Billboard 200 albums chart, and she had a notable cameo on popular TV series Glee. And now the 22-year-old Filipina songstress Charice Pempengco is making her Abu Dhabi debut at Beats on the Beach…

Welcome to Abu Dhabi. What are you most looking forward to about performing here?

I have been to this kind of event before in Singapore a few years ago and it was crazy, so I really want to see what the Abu Dhabi audience will be like.

What can audiences expect?

I am bringing my band, so it’s going to be powerful. There are going to be covers and original songs, and of course there will be a lot of dancing.

Are you a Formula 1 fan?

I am! I like the atmosphere and the thrill of the race. In Singapore the race was literally next to my hotel so I was able to see everything. When they told me that they wanted me again, but this time in Abu Dhabi, I just knew it was going to be awesome. Abu Dhabi looks like a portrait every time I see pictures of it so I’m excited to see it in person. There are also a lot of my fans – ‘Chasters’ – there getting ready!

Tell us about your experience on Glee. 

Well, at first I was shaking. I mean, it was Glee! It was my first time to be in a TV series in the US and of course I did not want to mess everything up!

The whole cast was so nice to me, but Cory Monteith (Finn Hudson) and Naya Rivera (Santana Lopez) made me feel really special. On the first day of shooting, Naya said to me: “I did a little research on you, I know that you play guitar…” and I was so flattered that someone took the time to do research on me! And Cory – I looked like a midget next to him – was like a big brother on set, always checking if I was okay. It was truly a great experience.

What inspires you most in your career?

When I was young I always wanted everyone to feel my music. But now I am even more inspired and determined to make good music that everyone can relate to. Today, you listen to songs on the radio that are meaningless. I want to reignite that passion for music so that everyone knows what great music is. That is my goal today: people will recognise me not because I make songs that are repetitive and catchy, but because they go straight to the heart.

After-race parties

Don’t have race day tickets? Don’t sweat it. There are still plenty of ways to celebrate the epic race weekend at these stylish parties

O1NE Yas Island

After the party it’s the after-party! Billed as the top after-party destination during Yasalam, O1NE Yas Island will play host to some of the top names in showbiz all weekend.

Headlining the night on 20th November – and no doubt wiggling all night long – is chart-topping RnB artist Jason Derulo. The trance legend himself, Armin Van Buuren, will be joining the after-race party straight from his after-race concert on 21st November. The ‘Buy You a Drank’ singer and Grammy-award winner T-Pain will take over on 22nd November before internationally-acclaimed house DJ and producer Solomun closes the weekend in style on the 23rd.

O1NE resident DJs DJette, CJ, Anthony Bassoulou and Jad Jazzy Jay will complete the line-up making for an epic after-party party. Over 21s only. General Admission tickets for AED 300 at www.ticketmaster.ae.

Doors open at 11pm.

For more information, call: 052 788 8111

Project Etoiles

Etoiles temporarily moves from its Emirates Palace home to du Forum, Yas Island this weekend for Project Etoiles where the likes of Conor Maynard, Rita Ora and Miguel will take over the mammoth indoor venue for three nights.

The Neptunes’ Chad Hugo and Daniel Biltimore, Tinashe, Sidney Samson and MSSL CMMND will join the headliners for three nights of unforgettable live performances in a chilled out venue.

Doors open at 11pm with performances starting at midnight. Strictly over 21s.General Admission tickets start at AED 350 up to AED 10,000 for a table of 20.

For more information or the event schedule, visit: www.projectetoiles.com

PEOPLE by The Sea

Yas Beach will come alive with top international DJs for the race weekend. The Crystal Group is bringing electronic, dance and techno artists for a three-day party on the sand from 21st to 23rd November.

Headlining PEOPLE by The Sea are German electronic producer and resident Ibiza DJ Timo Maas; house and techno DJ and production duo Audio Jack electronic DJ and Producer Mark Fanciulli; British DJ Danny Howells; and Mexican born electronic producer Betoko.

The event’s undercard includes Kaytek, Trix, Diamond Setter, Yuri and Tony H.

Doors open at 10am. Entrance fee is AED 100 per person.

For more information or to book a table, call: 050 287 8703

Podium Lounge

What better way to celebrate the thrills of Formula 1 than on the rooftop of the only hotel in the world that straddles a Formula 1 racetrack? Podium Lounge – the Formula 1 circuit’s official party brand – takes over Yas Viceroy Abu Dhabi for four days of live music from international artists and appearances from celebrity guests.

Last year, Podium Lounge Abu Dhabi made its debut, playing host to Sebastian Vettel and the Red Bull Racing team as they celebrated Vettel’s fourth consecutive championship win. And this year guest list is looking equally as exciting.

The Opening Night party on Thursday 20th November will see Smokingroove and Patrick Oliver spinning the decks at the poolside venue. British electronica DJ Sister Bliss takes over on Friday before Grammy award-winning duo Dirty Vegas take the spotlight on Saturday.

After the main race on Sunday, Podium Lounge guests will be feeling the love as the multi award-winning English quartet Rudimental headlines the final night.

Aside from the star performances, a slew of celebrities are expected including Guest Host Freddie Hunt, son of Formula 1 racing legend James Hunt, and 1997 Formula 1 World Champion Jacques Villenueve.

There will also be a silent auction of authentic and rare Formula 1 memorabilia include a signed photo of Sir Jackie Stewart and a Formula 1 race helmet signed by all the 2013 season drivers.

General Admission passes start from AED 350 for Thursday to AED 850 on Sunday. VIP tables are also available.

For more information, call: 055 309 5495