Multi-platinum selling artist gets 12th Yasalam After-Race Concerts off to electrifying start as Abu Dhabi’s favourite music festival makes welcome return with full capacity.
Global superstar Khalid got the 12th edition of the Yasalam After-Race Concerts off to a sensational start on Thursday night at Etihad Park, Yas Island, entertaining thousands of concertgoers with a hit-heavy set to celebrate the start of the eagerly anticipated FORMULA 1 ETIHAD AIRWAYS ABU DHABI GRAND PRIX 2021 weekend.
With motor racing and music fans relishing the return of live events by flocking to Abu Dhabi’s favourite music festival, Khalid burst out all the famous hits ‘Better’, ‘Talk’ and ‘Young Dumb & Broke’ as the audience celebrated the first major live music event at Etihad Park since the start of the pandemic – a landmark moment in Abu Dhabi’s reopening and recovery.
Bounding on to the famed Yasalam After-Race Concerts stage, the 23-year-old RnB star greeted the crowd with a “What’s Up Y’All”, before busting out some nimble dance moves, which brought even more cheers from the crowd.
Opening with ‘8teen’, before smiling his way through ‘Winter’, Khalid fed off the energy of the crowd, who showed off their own moves when ‘Better’ and ‘Right Back’ were delivered with class halfway through the packed setlist. The stunning performance was brought to a fitting end with the classic ‘Young, Dumb & Broke’ and ‘Saturday Nights’.
Earlier, soulful Lebanese singer Michele, a locally based artist on Flash Entertainment’s Regional Artist Spotlight (RAS) platform, opened proceedings to cheers from a crowd clearly excited to be back in this electric environment. She was followed by Iraqi RnB star Shebani, a fellow RAS talent, before headline act Khalid took the night to another level.
With Race weekend having clicked into gear, the Yasalam After-Race Concerts will be taken in another captivating direction on Friday evening when British Grime star Stormzy takes centre stage with the promise of hits including ‘Shut Up’ and ‘Vossi Bop’, before Scottishsinger-songwriter Lewis Capaldi brings his unique style to the festival on Saturday. With the 2021 Formula One season set for one of the most thrilling finales ever at the FORMULA 1 ETIHAD AIRWAYS ABU DHABI GRAND PRIX, American rock legends Foo Fighters will close an emphatic weekend on Sunday.
The electric lineup is exclusive to #AbuDhabiGP ticket holders only. Race ticket holders can take their weekend up a gear by purchasing ‘Golden Circle’ upgrades for the Yasalam After-Race Concerts. The upgrade packages offer the best views at du Arena, prices start from AED 195.
