The Night Shift

Chinua Hawk opened up our week with an amazing performance of his original music. 

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I  caught up with singer-songwriter Gina Larner who is opening up for James Blunt in his upcoming tour in Dubai. We talked about her early years in music, her inspiration, and the artists that she has opened for. 

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The Gipsy Kings and Tonino Baliardo were in the studio this evening. They gave us a taste of what we can expect from their show in Dubai Opera, and it was sensational!

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Singer-songwriter Lasa Ona unveils her debut single Oomlalaon the show which is inspired by the city of Dubai. 

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Mark chats with British stand up comedian Julian Deane who is currently in Dubai for the Part of The Problem tour by The Laughter Factory. He shared how he started his comedy career, his podcast, and his upcoming project.

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Aarav Raj, also known as Losts Official unveils his latest track, I'll Be There. Despite his musical name, Aarav proves he's anything but lost when it comes to delivering captivating music.

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We are taking a look at the latest sensation sweeping the music world: Taylor Swift's ground breaking album, The Tortured Poets Department. 

Our panelists - drummer Eddie Parsons, vocalists Louise Shufflebotham and Emily Peacock - bring their insights and thoughts in the album's production and her storytelling.

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Mark is joined by Massive Music, geniuses behind TikTok's iconic sonic logo and the creators of music for some of the world's most popular brands. 

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We shined the spotlight to the incredible musical journey of singer-songwriter Ryan Keen. From sharing stages with stars like Ed Sheeran and Leona Lewis to performing his own originals, Ryan's talent shines bright in this must-listen podcast.

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Filipino Canadian comedian Ron Josol is taking the stage in The Laughter Factory's 'Part of The Problem' tour. With wit and humor, Ron blends both Filipino and Canadian cultures seamlessly into his skits offering a hilarious take on the complexities of both worlds.

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Out Bollywood guru Sneha Mae is back to tell us what to watch and what to skip in the world of Bollywood cinema and online streaming.

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Vinyl Souk turns one and to celebrate the milestone, founder Jayesh Veralkar announced what we can expect from the celebration. We also chat about the timeless allure of vinyl and people rediscovering the beauty of vinyl listening. 

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We shone the spotlight on the talented students of GEMS Wellington, who fused music and compassion in their remarkable song The Climb. Listen to their live performance of this uplifting anthem dedicated to helping those in need. 

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It's all about office politics and drama in the upcoming theatre production of Dubai Drama Group called BULL, in a new location at The Fridge. The cast of this high energy and intense theatre play under the direction of Kirin Hilliar joined me and we talked about the parallels between the production and the real life workplace experiences. 

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In this week's new album review, we delve into Lany's mesmerizing album, "A Beautiful Blur." I am joined by our panel of experts: drummer Eddie Parsons, session guitarist Ross Swanson, and vocal coach Bridgette Angelique. Together we dissected and gave our thoughts on each track. 

Despite the album name, it was definitely a clear beauty. 

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We welcomed back in the studio singer-songwriter Millie Page and her brand new single Come Closer, which is an absolute must listen!

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Patrick Albrecht and Sadiq Saboowala are back in the studio ahead of their performance at The Junction for the comedy play The Ice Hole: A Cardboard Comedy.

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Lady J and her band are back to give us a tease of what we can expect from her country music performance at TODA this weekend.

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This week on Thursday Classics, Kel Jenkins and I we looked back at the incredible music of the British pop band Madness.

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It's Monday night live music with the incredible talent of Zakk Zoot.  

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The recent gig of the Filipino music icons Sarah Geronimo and Bamboo at the Coca Cola Arena was a massive success. I caught up with Shelley Frost, the founder of The Fridge - the creative force behind the sensational concert, as she shared insights how the concert was put together.

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Singer-songwriter and producer Vishaal Ghanesh unveiled his new song Prettiest Place in the World on the show, and it was undeniably beautiful.

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We are shining the spotlight to singer-songwriter Alen Hit and he unveiled his single Remember Me on the show. 

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This week, we indulged in the new album of American singer-songwriter Kacey Musgraves with her latest album Deeper Wells, and this is one is a must listen. 

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From discovering how football's loss became the world's music gain to embarking on a world tour, and pushing boundaries in his upcoming fourth studio album, join me as I chat with British singer-songwriter Tom Grennan about his skyrocketing success. 

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This week on Thursday Classics, Kel and I delved into the many hits of the famous 80's duo Hall & Oats. 

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We had the cast of TORN which is written and directed by Alex Broun and co-directed and produced by Eliane Germanos with Zara Stars Production. We talked about the play and their interesting stage set up.

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Brian Aylward is in Dubai as part of the The Sticky Social Glue Tour of The Laughter Factory. We talked about his comedy career which entailed a lot of travelling.

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Beyoncé went country music in her latest album Cowboy Carter. Whether you're a Beyoncé fan or just curious about the buzz, you will enjoy this podcast.

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Shanice is back with her band Heart and Soul featuring Junior Brown, Wally and Joshua. 

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I caught up with British comedian Jack Skipper who is currently doing his Sticky Social Glue tour with The Laughter Factory. We talked about his comedy career and his huge social media presence.

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We're taking a look at what's happening in the comedy scene in Dubai with Sahar Ali and Moncef, including the upcoming all-female comedy show She Said What?

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This week on Thursday classics we took a deep dive to the musical legacy of The Four Seasons. 

Join me and super guitarist Kel Jenkins as we explore their genre-defining hits and share fascinating insights about the band, making this podcast a must listen.

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Opera singer Joseph Terterian along with his le Petit Orchestre treated us with incredible music ahead of their performance at Theatre of Digital Arts. 

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Mark Lloyd is joined in the studio by a trio of esteemed musicians Eddie Parsons, Louise Shufflebottom and Bridgette Angelique to review Justin Timberlake's sixth studio album Everything I Thought It Was.

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The grade 10 student Suhana Batchu from GEMS International School - AL Khail has designed a piano for visually impaired individuals creating an avenue for them to express themselves through music. Suhana shared her insights about this project and her plans for the future. 

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Janelle Thomas, aka Lady J and her band gave us a taste of their upcoming show Country Roadsat the Theatre of Digital Arts.

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Ramadan Nights is an annual event happening at Jameel Arts Centre with activities such as workshops and film screenings. Ruba Al-Sweel, the communications Manager at Jameel Arts tells us more about it. 

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Noha and Rula of the all-female comedy line-up She Said Whatjoined me on the show as we talk about their upcoming comedy gig, and find out exactly what she said.

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Often referred to as the invisible man in the music industry, Rod Temperton is one of the most prolific songwriters in the 70s and 80s, with songs such as "Give Me The Night" by George Benson, and Michael Jackson's classics "Thriller", "Off The Wall", and "Rock with You", music will not be the same without this man.

Join me and Kel Jenkins as we explore the genius behind these timeless tracks and the indelible mark that Templeton left on the music industry. 

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Singer-songwriter Allen Ling joined me in the studio ahead of his performance at Courtyard by Marriott this week. He is in Dubai as part of his Asian tour, and we talked all about his passion for music. 

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Ariana Grande shines brighter as ever in her latest album Eternal Sunshine. 

Join me Mark Lloyd, drummer extraordinaire Eddie Parsons, vocalist Louise Shufflebotham, and vocal coach Bridgette Angelique, alongside our special guest Miklos Malek, who worked with Ariana on her pervious hits, as we deep dive into this sensational album.  

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The all girl-band Dolls House filled the studio with their vibrant beat and incredible energy!

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Vish is back in the studio to unveil his incredible his new single Caged

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We are tapping our feet away to the live music of the Bavarian Camels!

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We are exploring the ninth studio album of Norah Jones, Visions.

With renowned music producer Miklos Malek joining the panel, along with drummer extraordinaire Eddie Parsons and vocalist Louise Shufflebotham, we are delving deep into Norah's evolution of musical vision. Will this parallel the monumental success of her first album, Come Away with Me? Listen to the podcast to find out.

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Apocalyptica is bringing their unique blend of classical and metal music to Dubai this year. Perttu Kivilaakso, one of the four band members, joined me on this podcast and he shared the band's fascinating journey of playing metal music through the symphonies of cello. 

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We are shining the spotlight on band that's making waves in the UK music scene, Everything Everything. Joining me is Michael Spearman, the drummer of the band, who shares insights into their beginning, their latest music, and his interesting connection to Dubai Eye 103.8. 

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Theatre by QE2 is hosting their first ever theatre camp this spring called The Circus, where kids aged 6-12 can unleash their creativity, whether acting, singing, or dancing. Lucinda Homer Bell, who spearheads the activities, shared all the information we must know.

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Join me as I celebrate with the brightest stars of the 2024 Short and Sweet Theatre Festival winners. 

After eight weeks of sensational theatre, the famous 10-minute theatre festival has culminated. Theatre director Gautam Goenka along with the best director, best actor, best actress, and the people's choice, bring you behind the scenes of their creativity and talent.

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Sit back and relax as we shine the spotlight to Laaawwd's latest single, Cabin Crew. 

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Inas Halal, the founder of Drum Corps joined me to talk about two special workshops that are happening this weekend from the Drum Corps. She also shared what inspired her to start the organization. 

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Shaaista Khan and Osman Osman the are the masterminds of Blu Blood, one of the leaders in the entertainment industry in Dubai. They shared their insights on how they opened up the entertainment industry in Dubai during the pandemic, as well as announce the upcoming Boyz II Men concert that they're bringing in Dubai. 

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We are shining the spotlight Marwan Hawaa, who has been playing incredible music in the city for 22 years, and he performed his version of Eric Clapton's Layla.

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We're taking a look at Jacob Collier's 4th studio album DJESSE Vol 4, which offers a rich blend of genres, musical experimentation and intricacies as well as collaborations with big names such as Brandi Carlisle, Tori Kelly, Michael McDonald, John Meyer, and so many more. 

While the panel is impressed by his musical brilliance and the album's musicality, they may have reservations. 

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We're shining the spotlight to Myrillion, the dynamic duo of Leonne Murphy and David Saunders. Their latest single La Petite Mort is a rich production featuring Leone's heavenly vocals. 

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Intriguing name for a show and I can assure you that its anything but. In fact, it's very interesting and witty.

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Join me as I get to know the artist behind the vibrant Taking L's collection that is being exhibited right now at Mestaria Gallery. 

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We shine the spotlight to three incredible comedians in Dubai - Sunny, Denise and Moncef, and they shared some insight on how they made their way into comedy. 

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We immersed ourselves with the timeless melodies and heartfelt lyrics of Carole King, one of the greatest female singer-songwriters of all time, with a career spanning six decades. 

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We talked theatre with the cast of the original horror comedy play 'Spirits' which will be shown at the Theatre of Digital Arts.

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The stars of the West End Show 'The Rat Pack - Swingin' at the Sands' will be entertaining Dubai with their fabulous vocals and stylish choreography. 

Lucy Magee, Glen Macnamara, and Jim Whitley shared insights about what we can expect from the show. 

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We stepped into the enchanting world of magic with Drummond Money-Coutts aka DMC, one of world's finest magician and mentalist, as he talked about his early fascination with magic, his Netflix series Death by Magic, and his vision to inspire a new generation of young illusionists in the region.

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There's no stopping for Rod Stewart, at 79, he released his new swing album Swing Fever in collaboration with Jools Holland and the Rhythm & Blues Orchestra. 

"You can't go wrong with a big band" - award winning vocalist Louise Shufflebotham 

"It's a lot of fun!" - drummer extraordinaire Eddie Marc Parsons

Join us as we dive into the captivating rhythm of swing music. 

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Celebrates Dutch violinist Andre Rieu is bringing the magic of the Johan Strauss Orchestra to Abu Dhabi. Listen to the podcast as Andre Rieu shares insights into his early musical influences, the soul of his violin, and the performances that defines his illustrious career. 

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After eight weeks of captivating performances, we've reached the finals. The Short + Sweet Festival will be concluding at the end of the week. Join me as I sit down with some of the directors and actors who have earned their places in the finals. 

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Probably one of Lexie's best song, 30 and Alone has the most heartfelt lyrics and raw emotions brought to life in her live performance. 

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It's all about the King of Reggae in this podcast as I am joined by the man who is filling in the shoes of Bob Marley in this year's Trib Fest.

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Comedians Shaddy, Adam and Abdullah got us laughing as we look at the comedy happenings in Dubai

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We welcomed back the Emirati trio Metarust. Known for their charm and electrifying performances, Metarust is gearing up for this year's Metal Fest which is happening at The Fridge. Tune in to hear about their journey, and a peak of what they'll be performing at the music fest. 

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Mark Lloyd sat down with renowned Cuban pianist Marcos Madrigal to talk about his journey to classical music and his forthcoming show at Dubai Opera.

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Mark Lloyd is joined by musician Aram Kalousdian as they chat about this weekend's drum clinic with the incredible Benny Greb at the Hard Rock Cafe Dubai.

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Multi-hyphenated musician, producer, event organiser DJ Timmo Higgs discusses the use of AI in creative arts and in music  as well as the benefits of collaborations.

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Katy Ellis will step into the spotlight at the upcoming Trib Fest at the Sevens Stadium, to pay homage to the music of the reigning queen of pop, Taylor Swift. Katy shares how she started paying tribute to Taylor's music and how she gets into character. 

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The first female Emirati film maker Nayla Al Khaja talks about her latest film Three. 

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We explored JLo's ninth studio album This Is Me... Now on this week's new album review, and we didn't just love her then, we love her now more than ever. 

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The popular 10-minute theatre play is almost coming to an end. We welcome to the studio the participants who have made it to the semi-finals of this year's Short and Sweet Theatre Festival.

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We are shining the spotlight to the incredible talent of Alina Alidodova, who captured hearts in her recent appearance in X -Factor Arabia. 

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The gladiators of giggles Ismail Ismail and Roxy are with me tonight for a good laugh, as we looked at the comedy happenings around town. 

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We welcome back to our studio the one and only Seek Knowledge Acquire Large Entrepreneurial Skills, better known as Skales, the Nigerian rap sensation who is currently on tour in the region. Skales talked about his latest single, shared his journey into music, and gave us an insight on the making of his biggest hit Shake Body.

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Our fiery Bollywood movie critic returns with her unfiltered take on Ranbir Kapoor's latest film, Animal. Tune in to hear Sneha's unapologetic insights and discover if Animal lives up to the hype.

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We had the sensational Emily Linge, this Valentines day captivating hearts with her original music and rendition of The Bangles' Eternal Flame.

We were also joined in the studio by a good friend of mine, Ovidio de Ferrari, a true master of the piano and a distinguished composer. Ovidio will be taking audiences on a musical voyage at the prestigious See Institute with Emily as his guest performer.

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The Rolling Clones are stepping stepping into the shoes of rock legends, The Rolling Stones, and they will br bringing their timeless hits to life with uncanny precision and energy.

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Join me as I get to know the Irish comedian Conor Drum who is one of the headliners of the upcoming Irrelevant But Hilarious Tour. 

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Join me as I get to know the British comedian Naomi Cooper who is one of the headliners of the upcoming Irrelevant But Hilarious Tour. 

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South African singer-songwriter Charlie Meier unveiled his brand new song Thinking of You. 

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Just two days before his electrifying Superbowl halftime show, Usher dropped his newest album, Coming Home. Join us as we dissect the tracks, explore the melodies and the smooth grooves, and determine if this album is making its way home with us. 

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It's the sixth week of the Short and Sweet festival. We had some of the actors of this week's production including the well-respected and beloved director Sarah Potter, and they all gave us an insight about their respective plays. 

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We had an incredible live music in the studio with Bibo and friends who performed a medley of Sam Smith.

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Comedians Sunny, Sahar, and Valentina talk all things comedy in town.

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Trib Fest is back for the second edition on February 24 with plenty of tribute acts including Neil Diamond, and on this podcast I get to know the man who will be filling in the shoes of Neil Diamond, Michael Clews. 

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We are talking about the legacy of arguably pop's greatest songwriter, Burt Bacharach - who wrote over 500 songs including Arthur's Theme by Christopher Cross, Do You Know The Way To San Jose by Dionne Warwick, Close To You by Carpenters and so many more. 

We looked back at his incredible song writing career, from chart topping hits to his award winning classics, we uncover the stories behind it as we listen to those timeless melodies. 

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Listen to this podcast as I take on the acting challenge with the Dubai Drama Group. 

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We are shining the spotlight on the amazing talent of the singer-songwriter Elisa Astrid, who unveiled her latest single Grave. 

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It's an all female panel tonight with Emily Peacock, Louise Shufllebotham and Lisa Goldin as we took a look at Beverly Knight's ninth studio album The Fifth Chapter. 

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The Fillers are The Killers in the upcoming tribute music festival  TribFest at The Sevens Stadium. 

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Home grown metal band Triton is back in the studio to unveil their latest single Tunnel of Madness.

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It's the fifth week of the Short and Sweet festival, 10-minute theatre play for professional and amateur actors, directors and writers whether monologues, ensemble pieces, mime, or musicals. We had some of the cast of this week's production and they gave us an insight about their respective plays. 

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The celebration of tribute music is back for the second edition and its bigger and better with lots of acts lined up such as Elton John, Bob Marley, The Rolling Stones, Ed Sheeran, The Killers, and so much more. It's a family affair. 

Rob Duce from Outside The Box Events gave us all the details of the the upcoming Trib Fest happening at The Sevens Stadium. 

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