Music festivals, great gigs, free street parties, an Uber boat fiesta and more. Summer’s not quite here yet, and Dubai’s definitely taking advantage of the last few moments of good weather…

Thursday 28

1. Stomp to the sounds of Scotland’s most famous brothers

“And I will walk 500 miles…” Scottish band The Proclaimers don’t really need any introduction, and they’re playing at Irish Village tonight. The lads are known for the commitment they bring to each live show, so it should be a good one. Here they are on stage in 2015:

The Irish Village, Garhoud. Doors open 7pm, show starts 9pm. Dhs125. Tel: (04) 282 4750. Buy tickets here.

2. Visit Street Nights

The evenings are still nice and balmy, so stroll along JBR The Walk and visit Street Nights. The annual street culture festival means live music, market stalls and great street food (the crepes are worth talking about). The 10 day festival finishes this weekend: music wise, tonight you’ll hear Sotusura at 6pm, Ciasto at 7pm, Overboys All Stars at 8pm and All Funked Up at 9pm.  

JBR The Walk, 5pm to 10pm until Saturday. More info on Facebook.  

3. Go to Maifest

If brats and brew make up your dream meal, then definitely go to Maifest in the Grand Hyatt this weekend. With live German music from Die Kirchdorfer and traditional food like spargel and kalbsbratwurst being served up, it will most certainly be a jovial atmosphere. Admission is free, but make sure to book. The menu is normally a la carte, but on Saturday they’re doing a brunch for Dhs199 food only and Dhs269 with house beverages (12.30pm to 5pm).

Grand Hyatt Dubai, Oud Metha. From 7pm, Wednesday to Saturday (tent closed Sunday to Tuesday) until May 7, free entry. Tel: (04) 317 1234. More info on website.

4. Check out a new Caribbean night

N’Dulge is launching a Caribbean Riddimz night and it starts tonight. The sounds of the Caribbean are sultry, addictive and function like dancefloor magnets – head here and you’ll hear reggae, soca, calypso, dancehall, zouk, bachata and more.

Here’s a Soca tune to get the rhythm in your bones early…

N’Dulge, Atlantis The Palm. 9pm to 3am, free entry for ladies and couples until midnight, Dhs100 otherwise. Tel: (04) 426 1000. More info on Facebook.

Friday 29

5. Watch paddlers in action

Today and tomorrow a Dragon Boat Festival will be livening up the waterways in front of Dubai Marina Mall. It’s a lively sport to watch, so if you’re down that end of town why not go and cheer them on.

Dubai Marina Mall, Dubai Marina. 9am to 5pm today and Saturday. Free to spectate. More info at website.

6. Go to a Motown brunch

The new Vinyl Brunch at the lovely Cocktail Kitchen is all about old school music – think funk and motown – played on vinyl. Oh, and there’s food too, which is served a la carte (on an unlimited basis). You’ll sample things like seafood paella, beef carpaccio, leg of lamb and beetroot chips.

Armada Bluebay Hotel, Cluster P, Jumeirah Lakes Towers. 1pm to 4pm, every Friday until June 3, Dhs195 with soft drinks, Dhs345 with house drinks and an extra Dhs100 for bubbly. Tel: (056) 828 0727. More info on website. 

7. Check out a new electronic music festival

Rudimental and Disclosure, two effortlessly cool British DJ acts, are headlining the Love Music Your Way festival in Media City this weekend. You’ll also be able to see Manchester alt-pop act Bipolar Sunshine at the fest, as well as female MC Ms Dynamite. Should be a great day out.

Here’s Disclosure at the Sydney Opera House last month (although, their gig this weekend in Dubai is just a DJ set so might be slightly different):

And here’s a tune featuring the vulnerable and delightful vocals of Bipolar Sunshine:

Here’s a list of the timings the different acts will be playing: Rutherford 4pm, Somalie 4.45pm, Charl Chaka 5.15pm, Hollaphonic 5.45pm, Bipolar Sunshine 6.20pm, Jasmine Thompson 7pm, Ms. Dynamite 7.30pm, DJ Charlesy 8.15pm, Disclosure 9pm and Rudimental 10.15pm.

Dubai Media City Ampitheatre. 4pm to 1am, Dhs399 to Dhs999. Tel: (04) 818 9003. More info and tickets on website. 

8. See a legendary DJ and producer in action

After 25-years-and-counting of pumping out acid house, DJ Sasha is still going strong – his latest album Scene Delete is very cinematic. In the words of our sister mag Hype, Sasha is “re-balanced, refreshed and re-invigorated and back on top form”.

Eden Beach Club, Rixos The Palm, Dubai, free after sunset. 10am to 11pm. More info on Facebook.  

9. Take advantage of a weekend happy hour

At a brunch in Business Bay? Well there’s a new post-meal deal for you. From 5pm to 7pm everyday – yes, on weekends too, pool bar Swim & Tonic serves their drinks at two for the price of one. (They say their sangria is a bit of a drinks menu highlight, so that could be a good place to start.)

Swim & Tonic, Steigenberger Hotel, Business Bay, happy hour 5pm to 7pm daily (open 5pm to 1am daily). Tel: (04) 369 0000. More info on website.  

10. Listen to four sisters who can seriously sing

Girl band 4th impact made a bit of a splash during their X Factor UK audition:

Filipina powerhouses Celina, 19, Mylene, 23, Irene, 25, and Almira, 27, are all from Manila, and they have some seriously impressive voices and are performing in Dubai tonight.

Al Nasr Leisureland, Oud Metha. 7pm, Dhs100 to Dhs200. Buy tickets here. More info on website. 

Saturday 30

11. Take the little ones to yoga

Tree pose for toddlers? This weekend at KidZania in Dubai Mall you’ll find a baby yoga class, with special workshops in asanas designed for kids (and their attention spans). There are three classes: one for mums and babies, another for two to five year olds, as well as one for those who are five and above. The yoga experts are from Piloga Studio, and we can vouch for their yogis.

KidZania, The Dubai Mall, Downtown Dubai. 12pm and 5pm Friday and Saturday (this weekend only), classes are free when you’ve purchased a KidZania ticket (Dhs48 to Dhs140). More info and bookings here. 

12. Lounge in a newly-fancy cinema

Novo Cinemas in Ibn Battuta Mall have had a bit of a refurbishment and as of this weekend have two new ‘seven star’ cinema screens (because in Dubai five stars just isn’t enough). The VIP cinemas include butler service, iPad ordering, a VIP lounge and valet parking.

Ibn Battuta Mall, various times. More info and bookings here. 

13. Bag a bargain

This weekend all Debenhams stores in the Middle East are hosting a ‘festival weekend’, which means in store giveaways (if you find a golden hanger), face painting for kids, snacks and – most importantly – 50 per cent off most footwear, knitwear (not really needed right now), dresses and bed linen. So if you need new sheets, get down there.

Various locations, including Dubai Mall and Mall of the Emirates, Thursday, Friday and Saturday. See website for more info. 

14. Go to an Uber yacht party (just make sure to book on Thursday)

This Saturday, Uber Yacht is taking to the Arabian Gulf. It’s basically a yacht party that you book via the Uber app (yes, as in the taxi service favoured by Lexus drivers). How does it work? Well, between 12pm to 4pm on Thursday open the Uber app, move the slider to UberYACHT, book your space for Dhs300 – with unlimited food and drinks included – and you’ll get an email confirming your spot and with promo codes for a free Uber ride to the yacht. The party takes place from 2pm to 6pm, sets sail from Marine Pier 7 in Dubai Marina and will star music from Nikki Beach’s DJs. If it’s a quiet scenic yacht trip your after, this probably isn’t for you. It’ll be a party afternoon for sure.

Marine Pier 7, 2pm to 6pm (arrive by 1.15pm), Dhs300. More info at get.uber.com.

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