Chart-topping Brit brings another dimension to #AbuDhabiGP weekend.
Grime music sensation Stormzy delivered a towering performance in front of a euphoric crowd on day two of the 12th Yasalam After-Race Concert series at Etihad Park, on Yas Island, upping the tempo ahead of a thrilling race weekend at the FORMULA 1 ETIHAD AIRWAYS ABU DHABI GRAND PRIX.
Accompanied only by his DJ, DJ TiiNY, the mutli-platinum selling artist lit up an expectant crowd with an opening salvo of ‘Big Michael’, ‘Audacity’ and ‘Cold’, and kept a packed Etihad Park transfixed throughout a triumphant set that showcased his incredible stage presence, clever wordplay, sharp wit and thought-provoking lyrics.
“Let’s dance, have fun and make lots of memories we can all take away and keep forever,” Stormzy told an ecstatic Yasalam After-Race Concerts crowd as he revealed it was his first visit to Abu Dhabi to huge cheers from the devoted audience.
One of the UK’s most inspiring and influential cultural figures, Stormzy was clearly moved by the atmosphere and the dedication of the audience as he put his heart and soul into the performance, regularly engaging with the crowd as he delivered a string of critically acclaimed tracks from chart-topping albums ‘Gang Signs & Prayer’ and ‘Heavy is the Head’, including hard-hitting cuts ‘Rucksack’, ‘Wiley Flow’ and ‘Own It’.
Modern rap classics including ‘Shut Up’, ‘Big For Your Boots’ and ‘Vossi Bop’, delivered in true Stormzy style, took the decibel levels up even further in a sensational finale as the fun-loving freestyler showcased the skills that brought a first-ever headlining slot for a British rapper at the world-famous Glastonbury festival.
Earlier in the evening, two artists from Flash Entertainment’s Regional Artist Spotlight (RAS) proved there is no shortage of rap talent in the region. UAE-based Somali rapper Freek and Syrian crossover rapper and singer Moh Flow impressed with warm-up sets which got the huge crowd into the groove ahead of Stormzy’s headlining performance.
With Race weekend now well and truly in gear, the Yasalam After-Race Concerts singer-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 Etihad Park, prices start from AED 195.
