May is the month of music in the UAE as a string of big names bring their live acts to our back yard. Step outside in the next few weeks and chances are you’ll hear the thud of a bass drum, the twang of a guitar or the zheedong of a synthesizer (we’re not sure how you spell the noise a synthesizer makes but we reckon that’s pretty close).

For the rockers out there, Kings Of Leon and Black Sabbath are going to be top of your list. For the dancers among you, Pet Shop Boys, Fatboy Slim and Hollaphonic will get you going at Sandance, while Justin Timberlake shows us why he’s the most electrifying pop star in the world. Indie kids will enjoy Scouting For Girls, Arrested Development and Crowded House frontman Neil Finn. And for fans of cheesy pop, Boyzone are in town with their catalogue of hits and slick dance routines. Throw in gigs from The Christians, Blow Monkeys, and Mary Black and you begin to see why the UAE is turning the volume up to 11 in May.

Another big name in Dubai this month is the comedian John Bishop. We have the incredible story of this Liverpool talent, whose divorce led to a lucrative career in stand-up comedy, as well as TV shows, book deals and national hero status.

Ahead of the Dubai Duty Free Darts Masters, we spoke to the world darts number one Michael van Gerwen who explained why he doesn’t try and aim the dart before letting go.

As the temperature rises, you’ll want to keep close to the water. That’s why we’ve compiled a guide to Dubai’s best beach clubs. In our Active section, we’ve given you an exclusive tour of Bounce, a trampoline club that’s soon to open in Al Quoz. We also have the lowdown on two forms of fitness we’re pretty sure you’ve never heard of: outrigger canoeing and bujinkan.

For theatre buffs, don’t miss our previews of two great pieces of American theatre: Glengarry Glen Ross and The Crucible, plus a charming British story, Hetty Feather.

When it comes to food, we’ve kept it casual this month. We have three new lunch spots to try, one in JLT, one in The Dubai Mall and one in Festival City. Fancy a takeaway? Chop Suey is a cute new Jumeirah place that does Chinese food in those cool white cartons you used to see in American TV shows. Nearby at Citywalk outdoor mall is a weird and wonderful new burger joint named – erm – Burger Joint. If you want to take your dinner up a notch, check out what we thought about Soul, a New York-style brasserie on JBR; the new classy Lebanese place Nay, or the latest opening of restaurant powerhouse Zuma in Abu Dhabi. Lastly, take a look at our handy chart that breaks down ten new brunches in Dubai.

If you fancy doing some shopping but don’t want to trawl the mall, read our guide to souks, the atmospheric markets where you can find anything from fish to fashion, and from pepper to perfume.