New Zealand band Six60 will perform at Expo Dubai 2020. Courtesy New Zealand at Expo 2020
New Zealand band Six60 will perform at Expo Dubai 2020. Courtesy New Zealand at Expo 2020
New Zealand band Six60 will perform at Expo Dubai 2020. Courtesy New Zealand at Expo 2020
New Zealand band Six60 will perform at Expo Dubai 2020. Courtesy New Zealand at Expo 2020

Expo 2020 Dubai: history-making band Six60 to perform at New Zealand's pavilion


Katy Gillett
  • English
  • Arabic

Six60, the first band in the world to play to a live stadium audience of thousands after the coronavirus pandemic began, will also perform at Expo 2020 Dubai, it has been announced.

The group will be part of the New Zealand pavilion's entertainment and culture programme for the major UAE event. They are the first in a line-up of national talent, which is yet to be revealed. This includes singers, dancers, artists and more.

We've never played anywhere in the Middle East and anytime you can bring your music to a new crowd it's exciting

Six60, which formed in 2008, is made up of drummer Eli Paewai, bassist Chris Mac, lead guitarist Ji Fraser, Marlon Gerbes on synths and singer Matiu Walters, who also plays guitar.

The award-winning band, whose single Don't Forget Your Roots has gone platinum four times, are New Zealand's highest-selling live group and known for their unique sound, which spans several genres including pop rock, reggae, soul and R'n'B.

In February, they played to about 23,000 people in Christchurch's Hagley Park, which was the biggest audience to attend a live concert in the world since the pandemic started.

They have yet to perform in Dubai, but it's something the band is now looking forward to.

"We've never played anywhere in the Middle East and anytime you can bring your music to a new crowd it's exciting," guitarist Fraser said. "We have incorporated some traditional Maori instruments and Te Reo Maori into some of our most recent recordings which will probably be very unique for international visitors."

Clayton Kimpton, New Zealand’s commissioner-general to Expo 2020 Dubai, added that the national pavilion's entertainment and cultural programme, which is curated by Parris Goebel, will include a diverse range of talent, with particular emphasis on those with Maori and Pasifika roots.

"We’re working with some very new, up-and-coming young talent right through to the established groups like Six60 and we know visitors will be thoroughly entertained.”

More about the line-up will be revealed in the run-up to the event.

After delays caused by the coronavirus pandemic, Expo 2020 Dubai will now take place from Friday, October 1 to Thursday, March 31, 2022.

Take a look through the gallery below to see more of the Expo 2020 Dubai pavilions:

Tonight's Chat on The National

Tonight's Chat is a series of online conversations on The National. The series features a diverse range of celebrities, politicians and business leaders from around the Arab world.

Tonight’s Chat host Ricardo Karam is a renowned author and broadcaster who has previously interviewed Bill Gates, Carlos Ghosn, Andre Agassi and the late Zaha Hadid, among others.

Intellectually curious and thought-provoking, Tonight’s Chat moves the conversation forward.

Facebook | Our website | Instagram

Volvo ES90 Specs

Engine: Electric single motor (96kW), twin motor (106kW) and twin motor performance (106kW)

Power: 333hp, 449hp, 680hp

Torque: 480Nm, 670Nm, 870Nm

On sale: Later in 2025 or early 2026, depending on region

Price: Exact regional pricing TBA

COMPANY%20PROFILE
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ECompany%20name%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20OneOrder%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarted%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20March%202022%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFounders%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Tamer%20Amer%20and%20Karim%20Maurice%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBased%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Cairo%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ENumber%20of%20staff%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E82%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestment%20stage%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Series%20A%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
If you go

The flights 

Emirates flies from Dubai to Funchal via Lisbon, with a connecting flight with Air Portugal. Economy class returns cost from Dh3,845 return including taxes.

The trip

The WalkMe app can be downloaded from the usual sources. If you don’t fancy doing the trip yourself, then Explore  offers an eight-day levada trails tour from Dh3,050, not including flights.

The hotel

There isn’t another hotel anywhere in Madeira that matches the history and luxury of the Belmond Reid's Palace in Funchal. Doubles from Dh1,400 per night including taxes.

 

 

While you're here
Our legal consultant

Name: Dr Hassan Mohsen Elhais

Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.

Abu Dhabi card

5pm: Handicap (TB) Dh100,000 2,400m

5.30pm: Wathba Stallions Cup Handicap (PA) Dh 70,000 2,200m

6pm: Abu Dhabi Fillies Classic Prestige (PA) Dh110,000 1,400m

6.30pm: Abu Dhabi Colts Classic Prestige (PA) Dh110,000 1,400m

7pm: Handicap (PA) Dh85,000 1,600m

7.30pm: Maiden (PA) Dh80,000 1,600m

The National selections:

5pm: Valcartier

5.30pm: AF Taraha

6pm: Dhafra

6.30pm: Maqam

7pm: AF Mekhbat

7.30pm: Ezz Al Rawasi  

Company%20Profile
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ECompany%20name%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20myZoi%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarted%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%202021%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFounders%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Syed%20Ali%2C%20Christian%20Buchholz%2C%20Shanawaz%20Rouf%2C%20Arsalan%20Siddiqui%2C%20Nabid%20Hassan%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBased%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20UAE%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ENumber%20of%20staff%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%2037%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestment%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Initial%20undisclosed%20funding%20from%20SC%20Ventures%3B%20second%20round%20of%20funding%20totalling%20%2414%20million%20from%20a%20consortium%20of%20SBI%2C%20a%20Japanese%20VC%20firm%2C%20and%20SC%20Venture%3C%2Fp%3E%0A