The Garden City prepares for a month-long musical celebration of music with the inaugural edition of the Al Ain Festival
Al Ain is known for a variety of things: stunning natural surroundings, historical forts and archaeological sites, and of course the lush greenery that has inspired its nickname as the Garden City. A thriving local music scene however is not something that immediately comes to mind when thinking of Abu Dhabi’s oasis city, but one man is keen to change that.
Martin Hill, an English expat who has lived in Al Ain for two years now, has a knack for orchestrating music festivals. When living in Oman in 2006, Hill founded the Sohar Music Festival, and it seems his passion to share music in the UAE is certainly being reciprocated.
Hosted throughout November, the Al Ain Music Festival will showcase community choirs, blues bands, orchestras and much more.
“Prior to my arrival in Al Ain I’d heard very promising reports of WOMAD’s events and classical music festivals being held in Al Jaheli Fort,” Hill says. “So I was looking forward to enjoying these events. After WOMAD decided to discontinue its concerts, and Al Ain’s series of classical music concerts came to an end, there was a vacuum that clearly had to be filled by someone!
“It is great that so many world-class performers are performing every month on Yas Island and the mega-concert venues in Dubai. However, there’s also a need for a platform to showcase the great plethora of locally based talent. Otherwise it dissipates!”
The festival and the interest it has already generated, however proves that the local music scene is growing. There are a handful of community choirs and music clubs in the city that are recruiting new members. Geraldine Kershaw, former director of the Al Ain Choral Society, adds, “I hope some of those Al Ain residents who come to the concerts will think about making music themselves. A community festival such as this one shows what’s possible. It should be an opportunity for people who are interested in perhaps playing an active role in music in Al Ain to meet some of the people who are already involved.”
On the mic
Bryan Dedman, of The Bryan Dedman Band and one of the Al Ain Music Festival’s star performers, chats about music in the city.
Where are you from and how long have you been in Al Ain?
I am from Houston, Texas. Born and raised, I am absolutely a Texas man. I have been in Al Ain for eight months and I love it here.
Tell us more about your band. How would you describe your style of music?
We are a very energetic blues band with a heavy guitar driven sound. We play blues standards like Muddy Waters, Howlin Wolf, John Lee Hooker, to Jimi Hendrix just to name a few. I am on guitar and vocals, Kamal Pillai on drums and Eliezar Ayson on bass.
What does the music scene in Al Ain need?
If Al Ain needs anything, it needs a strong music community. People should go out and support local music, and clubs need to hire local musicians/bands to make them available to the people. Local music is such an important thing to its city. I would love to see Al Ain become a hub for such talent.
We are looking forward to playing with other bands. Meeting as many musicians as possible. I know Al Ain has many great musicians, and that’s why what Martin Hill is doing with this festival is such a great thing.
Want more? Then check out: www.reverbnation.com/bryandedman
Check out the upcoming concerts happening this November:
Friday 22nd November – Young Musicians Evening
Hosted at the newly opened Brighton College Al Ain, highly talented young musicians will be supported by the Al Ain Chamber Orchestra. Doors open at 6pm.
Friday 29th November – Grand Finale
The Al Ain Chamber Orchestra along with musical instructors from the House of Arts will be performing solos and duets on a diverse range of instruments for a fantastic way to end the festival. Doors open at 7pm, the concert will take place at the Khalifa Auditorium, UAEU, near Tawam Hospital on Tawam Street, Al Ain.
