Full metal package

It’s always heartening to see a rock festival in the Middle East. Ludicrously decried for years as the music of demon-worshipping, virgin-sacrificing infidels seeking to usher in an era of, well, something bad, it seems that common sense and the prospect of making a lot of money has shifted opinion on loud guitars and flame-scorched logos. The fact that Dubai is now home to an annual celebration of metal, rock and various sub-genres in between is a sign of progress. And a great excuse to pour a ridiculous amount of beer down your throat, jump around a lot, and scream your lungs out without anyone being able to hear you. Now that’s therapy.

For 2009, the Dubai Desert Rock Festival is moving from Dubai Festival City to the spanking new Dubai Mall. Alongside established metal legends Motorhead – the band responsible for “Ace of Spades”, if you don’t know – is the local act Nervecell, who will be promoting their new album Preaching Venom.

“We are really excited to be invited once again to play the Desert Rock Festival,” they said, “as it has always proven to be a blast playing with such killer bands for our home crowd. This year’s Festival is going to be an absolute thrill to share the same stage with Motorhead as well as influential bands such as Opeth and Arch Enemy!”
Over 28,000 tickets were sold for last year’s event, and even without a confirmed Day 2 lineup yet for this year – see over for confirmations – the demand is already huge from metal fans across the Middle East.

Day 1
Motorhead (headline)
Arch Enemy
Opeth
Chimaira
August Burns Red
Nervecell (opening)

Day 2
To be confirmed

Dates: March 6-7th
Venue: Dubai Mall
Tickets: csmme.com
Price: from $90

Also keep an eye on:
Iron Maiden in concert
Where: Dubai Media City Amphitheatre
When: February, Friday 13th – of course!
How: aegliveme.com