Nathan Sykes, best known as one-fifth of boyband The Wanted, will perform at next month’s Dubai Jazz Festival.
Soulful singer-songwriter Raul Midón and R&B act The Rad Trads have also been added to complete the festival line-up, as organisers announce the three opening acts who will perform at the event, which takes place February 22-24.
Sykes, who launched a solo career in July 2015 after The Wanted went on hiatus, will perform on the closing night, supporting Enrique Iglesias.
A day earlier Raul Midón will warm-up for Mariah Carey. Described by The New York Times as a “one-man band who turns a guitar into an orchestra and his voice into a chorus,” the groove-centric singer can imitate a trumpet with his vocal chords, and plays percussion with his guitar – without the use of a loop pedal.
Midón has recorded alongside legends including Stevie Wonder and Herbie Hancock, while in his early career as a session pro Midón backed stars including Shakira, Jose Feliciano – and Enrique’s father Julio Iglesias.
Opening night will feature – surprise – a touch of jazz, or at least R&B, from The Rad Trads, an NYC club quartet who have opened for blues legends Charles Bradley, Taj Mahal and Buddy Guy. They will open for Tom Jones on February 22.
All opening acts perform a one-hour set at 8.30pm. For tickets and more see www.dubaijazzfest.com.
