ABU DHABI // The music of the Middle East mixed with the best of rock and reggae as Grand Prix fans danced last night away. On Yas Island, a Mozart requiem played as the revivalist roots-rockers Kings Of Leon walked onto the Ferrari World stage following the Formula One qualifying session. The Tennessee foursome - the Followill brothers Caleb (vocals and guitar), Nathan (drums) and Jared (bass), plus cousin Matthew (guitar) - opened with their anthem, Crawl.
"This is our last concert for a long time," Caleb told the crowd. "So we're going to play some old stuff and new stuff. That's not going to be a problem, is it?" The audience was eager to hear songs from last year's album Only By the Night, but was also pleased when older songs, such as Molly's Chambers, were given an airing. Donna Vernon, 45, a British track marshal and fan of the band, said: "They're making rock music like nobody else right now."
Corresponding events at the FanZone on the Corniche saw appearances by the legendary reggae band The Wailers, the Egyptian singer Mohammed Hamaki, and Dahab, an Egyptian band.
Two traditional Emirati bands, Liwa and al Kunud, also performed, and are due back on stage today.
The American rock band Aerosmith will play at Ferrari World tonight to wrap up the Grand Prix weekend.
mkwong@thenational.ae
