What’s On,with Hype, preview the Hype Music & Nightlife Awards 2015, celebrating the best bars in Dubai, best nightclubs, best DJs and more.


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What an astonishing 12 months! The UAE’s extraordinary music and nightlife scene continues to develop at a staggering rate of knots. While party people may have previously had one big event to flock to on any given weekend, now we’re completely spoiled for choice….

New venues, new bars, new club nights and new festivals have all been added to the mix since last year’s inaugural Hype Awards, making sure everyone in the sector stays on their A-game. And that makes for a vibrant playground for the region’s night owls.

Whether you favour massive concerts, dark rave dens, dancing al fresco or high-end clubbing, it’s all on offer here in the UAE. And while more and more international guests continue to visit, so too are more homegrown events nurturing local talent.

BE AT THE PARTY
– Visit hypeawards.ae to register for guestlist

The Hype Music & Nightlife Awards 2015 recognise the people and places that bring the region alive after dark; those who put their heart and soul into pushing the scene forward; those who’ve created amazing events and experiences – regardless of budget – in the past 12 months.

Across 21 categories, the Hype Awards cut through the usual corporate bull and scratch beneath the shiny veneer to give a true reflection of what’s really going on after dark.

If you were at last year’s Hype Awards ceremony, you’ll remember it (or maybe not). If you weren’t you’ll have heard about it. Once again, we’re ditching the usual stuffy black-tie affair for a (rather raucous) Hype Awards party at Eden Beach Club. Wednesday, April 22, is the date for your diary so be smart and book the next day off work or start conjuring up excuses for your boss.

In the meantime, here are the Hype Awards 2015 categories and all the very deserving nominees…

BEST CONCERT
The Who, F1 after-race concert at du Arena, Yas Island, Abu Dhabi
Ed Sheeran at DMC Amphitheatre, Dubai Media City
Drake at Dubai International Stadium, Dubai

Pictures of Drake live in Dubai (by Kristina Nabieva for What's On)

Sinead O’Conner at The Irish Village, Dubai
Pharrell, F1 after-race concert at du Arena, Yas Island, Abu Dhabi
Justin Timberlake at du Arena, Yas Island, Abu Dhabi
Michael Bublé at Dubai International Stadium, Dubai
Kings of Leon, Live @ Atlantis, The Palm, Jumeirah
Lionel Ritchie at DMC Amphitheatre, Dubai Media City
Lady Gaga at Meydan Racecourse, Dubai

BEST NEW BAR
Cielo Sky Lounge at Dubai Creek Golf & Yacht Club
Tribeca at JA Ocean View Hotel, Jumeirah Beach Residence
Penthouse 25 at JA Ocean View Hotel, Jumeirah Beach Residence
Level 43 Sky Lounge at Four Points by Sheraton, Sheikh Zayed Road
Cargo at Pier 7, Dubai Marina

Q43 Dubai

BEST BAR
Barasti at Le Méridien Mina Seyahi, Dubai Marina
Q43 at Media One Hotel, Dubai Media City
McGettigan’s at Bonnington Hotel, Jumeirah Lake Towers
Aquara Lounge at Dubai Marina Yacht Club, Dubai Marina
40 Kong at H Hotel, One Sheikh Zayed Road, Dubai

BEST LADIES’ NIGHT
The Girls Don’t Q at Q43, Media One Hotel, Dubai Media City
Aquara Lounge at Dubai Marina Yacht Club, Dubai Marina
Oeno at The Westin, Mina Seyahi Beach Resort, Jumeirah Beach Resort
High Societe at Societe, Marina Byblos Hotel, Dubai Marina
Honey Rocks The Boat, at Mahiki, Jumeirah Beach Hotel, Jumeirah

BEST LIVE VENUE
The Music Room at The Majestic Hotel, Bur Dubai
Jazz@PizzaExpress, Mövenpick Hotel, Jumeirah Lake Towers
McGettigan’s at Bonnington Hotel, Jumeirah Lake Towers
The Irish Village at DDF Tennis Stadium, Garhoud
Barasti at Le Méridien Mina Seyahi, Dubai Marina

The Irish Village - best outdoor bars in Dubai

BEST FESTIVAL
Sandance at Atlantis, The Palm Jumeirah
Creamfields at du Arena, Yas Island, Abu Dhabi
RedfestDXB at DMC Amphitheatre, Dubai Media City
Party In The Park at DMC Amphitheatre, Dubai Media City
Groove On The Grass at Emirates Golf Club, Dubai

Sandance

Piknic Electronik at Sports Village, Dubai Sports City
Masterjam at DMC Amphitheatre, Dubai Media City
Sensation Dubai at Meydan Racecourse, Dubai
Blended at DMC Amphitheatre, Dubai Media City
Mixtape Rewind at Emirates Golf Course, Dubai

BEST BEACH VENUE
Eden Beach Club at Rixos Hotel, The Palm Jumeirah
Blue Marlin at Ghantoot Al Jazira Island Hotel, Dubai
Barasti at Le Méridien Mina Seyahi, Dubai Marina
Nasimi Beach at Atlantis, The Palm, Jumeirah
Zero Gravity at Skydive Dubai Drop Zone

Eden Beach Club, Rixos The Palm

BEST TERRACE
Cielo Sky Lounge at Dubai Creek Golf & Yacht Club
Pacha Rooftop at Souk Madinat Jumeirah
Pure Sky Lounge at The Hilton JBR
Dek On 8 at Media One Hotel, Dubai Media City
40 Kong at H Hotel, One Sheikh Zayed Road, Dubai

BEST NEW CLUB
Pacha at Souk Madinat Jumeirah
The Basement at Boutique 7 Hotel, Tecom
Provocateur at Four Seasons Resort, Dubai
O2 Nightclub at Sofitel The Palm, Jumeirah
C Club Dubai at Grand Millennium Hotel, Tecom

Pacha Ibiza Dubai, Souk Madinat

BEST CLUB
White Dubai at Meydan Racecourse Grandstand Rooftop
360° at Jumeirah Beach Hotel, Jumeirah
Mahiki at Jumeirah Beach Hotel, Jumeirah
People By Crystal at Raffles Hotel, Wafi
Cirque Le Soir at The Fairmont Hotel, DIFC

BEST URBAN NIGHT
URBN Saturdays at WHITE, Dubai, Meyden
Diamond Wednesdays at XL Dubai, The Habtoor Grand
Hip Hop Chic Mondays at Cirque Le Soir, The Fairmont Hotel, DIFC
411 Nights at People By Crystal, Raffles Hotel, Wafi
J’Adore at Atelier M, Pier 7, Dubai Marina

White Dubai at Meydan Racecourse

BEST OF THE REST
Lo-Fi District at Casa Latina, Ibis Hotel, Barsha
Deep Crates Cartel at various venues, Dubai
Sunny Vibe Up at Dusk Terrace, Radisson Blu, Dubai Media City
Dust at various venues, Dubai
Bad House Party at Casa Latina, Ibis Hotel, Barsha

BEST BASS NIGHT
GlobalFunk at various venues, Dubai
Superheroes at Dek On 8, Media One Hotel, Dubai Media City
Warehouse Dubai at Level 41, Media One Hotel, Dubai Media City
Bassworx at Casa Latina, Ibis Hotel, Barsha
Garage Nation at Level 41, Media One Hotel, Dubai Media City

Underground clubbing in Dubai: Globalfunk

BEST HOUSE/TECHNO NIGHT
Secret Circle at The Basement, Boutique 7 Hotel, Tecom
Audio Tonic at 360°, Jumeirah Beach Hotel
Analog Room at The Q Underground, Holiday Inn, Al Barsha
Deep Like Thursdayz at JW Marriott Marquis, Business Bay
Shibuya at The Basement, Boutique 7 Hotel, Tecom

BEST INTERNATIONAL SET
Theo Parrish at Analog Room, The Q Underground, Holiday Inn, Al Barsha (27.11.14)
Yousef at Shibuya, The Basement, Boutique 7 Hotel, Tecom (22.01.15)
Groove Armada at Zero Gravity, Skydive Dubai Drop Zone (31.12.14)
Martinez Brothers at Blue Marlin, Ghantoot Al Jazira Island Hotel, Dubai (02.05.14)
Mr Scruff at Zero Gravity, Skydive Dubai Drop Zone (27.02.15)

BEST LOCAL BAND/ACT
Hollaphonic
Juliana Down
The Boxtones
Malikah
Hamdan Al Abri

Hollaphonic

BEST LOCAL RECORD LABEL
Audio Tonic Records
Universal MENA
Infusion
Gold Drama Recordings
Bootleg Social Records

OUTSTANDING CONTRIBUTION
Greg Dufton & Tim Derry
Charl Chaka
James De Valera (Break DJ Lobito)
Pierre Ravan
Dany Neville

Pierre Ravan

BEST PRODUCER
Schooly Smokingroove
Hollaphonic Raxon
Conan Liquid Subandrio
Andy Buchan Pierre Ravan
Deep Hertz Sam Farsio

BEST BREAKTHROUGH DJ
Michka Sam Farsio
Kasparov Haidz
DJ Drinky

BEST DJ
Kay Tek Jixo & Danz
Raxon Break DJ Lobito
Somalie Smokingroove
Dany Neville Rone Jaxx
Mike Bufton Frederick Stone

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