Australian singer/actress Kylie Minogue and Canadian rock band Nickelback have been confirmed as headline acts for two of this year’s three Yasalam after-race concerts.

Grammy Award-winning pop superstar Kylie will perform on the first night of the Yasalam after-race concerts (November 2), with Nickelback playing on the second night (November 3), event organisers Flash Entertainment said. 

Details of the Sunday finale concert, which in previous years has seen show-stopping performances by Aerosmith, Prince and Paul McCartney, will be released at Yasalam’s official website www.yasalam.ae through a ‘Guess Who’s Coming’ concert ticket promotion.

Yasalam is one of the most hotly anticipated festivals on the UAE’s entertainment calendar, returning to the city for a fourth year. This year it offers even more privileges for F1 ticket holders through the newY1 Access.

Y1 Access will provide all Formula 1 Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix ticket holders with a unique package of value-added benefits during the race weekend, as well as exclusive live concert ticket discounts running throughout the year, the statement said. 

Each day of the race, 2,000 Golden Circle upgrades for that night’s concert will be given away free at Yas Marina Circuit. In addition, the new ‘2 Friends Friday’ promotion means the first 15,000 domestic F1 ticket buyers receive a pair of complimentary invitations to see Kylie.

Throughout the rest of the year, F1 race ticket holders can look forward to a 20 per cent discount on select Flash events including SkyBar Abu Dhabi- the only official parties for the Yasalam after-race concerts (November 1 to 4) at the du Forum, Yas Island.

John Lickrish, the CEO of Flash Entertainment, said: “We’ve had some fantastic performances at Yasalam over the years, and we’re delighted that as the festival enters a fourth year we are welcoming Kylie Minogue and Nickelback to Abu Dhabi.”

“They are both huge acts, and continue to build on the festival’s commitment to providing world-class live events in and around the race weekend for residents and visitors to enjoy. We are also excited about Sunday of course, and promise fans it will finish off the weekend in style.”

Yas Marina Circuit CEO Richard Cregan, said: “A sharp increase in international ticket sales means that the circuit is on a fast-track to a fourth consecutive sellout. This year’s Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix promises to be the most exciting yet.”

“Just when you think you won’t be able to handle any more F1 excitement, our partners at Flash have secured an amazing musical lineup for the after-race concerts – this year is no different.  As soon as you step onto Yas Island during the weekend, you experience this special feeling.  This is one weekend you don’t want to miss.”

Kylie has sold more than 68 million records in a career spanning 25 years and covering more than 50 singles, from her first hit, a cover of “Locomotion” in 1987, through to classics such as “I Should Be So Lucky” and “Can’t Get You Out of My Head”.

Nickelback are one of the most popular and enduringly successful rock bands of all time, selling more than 50 million albums worldwide.  Best known for the chart-topping “How You Remind Me”, released in 2001, the band has stormed numerous Billboard charts and has garnered an armful of prestigious accolades including three American Music Awards, a People’s Choice Award and five Grammy Award nominations. 

In 2009, Billboard Magazine also named Nickelback “Top Group of the Decade.”  The band will play tracks from their extensive and storied catalogue, as well as their seventh album, “Here and Now”, released last year.

The first 150 people to submit their guesses online will each win Golden Circle wristbands to the Sunday night’s concert. Fans can also submit their guesses via Twitter, using the hashtag #yasalam.

Further details of the Yasalam programme, including Live Across the City, Live on the Corniche and Live on Yas Island, will be announced in September, the statement said. – TradeArabia News Service