What’s On exclusively announces a new music festival in Dubai, Party In The Park Dubai, in Media City, headlined by Lily Allen. Ticket prices revealed.

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What’s On is delighted to announce a brand new music festival coming to Dubai this November – What’s On’s Party In The Park, headlined by Lily Allen, with more acts to be announced.

Set to become a regular fixture on the Dubai social calendar, What’s On’s Party In The Park at Dubai Media City Amphitheatre will take place on Friday, November 14. The party kicks off at 2pm and runs until midnight, promising to break the mould of the traditional gigs in the region and having more of European festival vibe, with several sounds stages. Guests can expect cool pop-up food stalls, activities and shows from extreme sports crews, street artists and more.

As well as the traditional performers, there will also be a Hype Arena, showcasing international guest DJs and the best local DJs in the region. All that, right in the heart of Dubai.

The centrepiece will, of course, be the What’s On main stage, headlined by Lily Allen.

When she first exploded onto the scene eight years ago with her single Smile – which held its spot at the top of the UK singles charts for two weeks – she brought a vibrant, witty-wordplay attitude to the music industry, not to mention a wacky wardrobe of prom dresses and trainers.

With the encouragement from her showbiz parents (her father, Keith Allen, is an actor; her mother, Alison, is a film producer), Allen was a refreshing change in the world of manufactured pop, where every new artist seemed as if they arrived on a conveyor belt.

And her initial success was just a taste of things to come when, at 21, she released her Grammy-nominated debut album Alright, Still in 2006. Her second major release, It’s Not Me, It’s You, came out three years later and created even bigger waves, debuting at No 1 on the UK, Australian and Canadian album chart. Leading single The Fear held the No 1 position on the UK singles chart for four consecutive weeks.

But in 2009, the provocative pop pixie dropped out of the music industry to concentrate on married life (to builder Sam Cooper) and motherhood (they have two daughters, Ethel Mary, two, and Marnie Rose, one). During these years, Lily kept her fans entertained, not with music, but with a lively presence on Twitter.

But last November Lily, still only 29, made a triumphant return with her conversation-starting album Sheezus. The first single, Hard Out Here, a twerk-in-your-face jibe at the objectification of women and music industry chauvinism as a whole, let the world know that the charismatic and outspoken singer was back and taking no prisoners.

The announcement of Party In The Park and Allen’s first visit to the region comes at a time when barely a week goes by without a leading act or show being announced.

Last month, Sandance and Sensation triumphantly announced stellar casts for their respective parties. At Atlantis The Palm on October 10, Rudimental, Empire Of The Sun, Clean Bandit, De La Soul, and Axwell and Ingrosso are all set to appear, and three weeks later, Martin Garrix will headline a record-breaking event at Meydan. Take That frontman Gary Barlow, meanwhile, also confirmed his first show in the region, on October 17, and, as we told you first, DJ Jazzy Jeff will revisit Barasti for Halloween, setting tongues wagging in the Emirate over a potential double-act with old pal Will Smith. There is also RedFestDXB, Jazz Festival, and details of the F1 Weekend line-up are expected imminently.

November 14
Dubai Media City Amphitheatre, Dubai Media City, Dubai, 2pm to midnight, Dhs295 adv early bird booking, Dhs350, Dhs650 brunch, Dhs1000 VIP