More global celebrities join Saudi Arabia's Winter at Tantora

Multi-award winning singer songwriter Craig David will perform at the upcoming season of Winter at Tantora, supporting legendary singer Lionel Richie in AlUla, Saudi Arabia on February 28, 2020.

In addition, operatic pop group Il Divo and British funk and jazz group Jamiroquai will also join the festival’s list of world-renowned instrumentalists, classical musicians and pop-stars, adding dynamic and diverse notes to the festival programme.

The latest announcement comes as AlUla, home to 200,000 years of history and Saudi Arabia’s first UNESCO Heritage Site, Hegra, is counting down the days to the Winter at Tantora Festival, scheduled to take place from December 19 to March 7, 2020.

The festival is already playing host to the music of Omar Khairat (December 27), Beethoven (January 3), Andrea Bocelli (January 31), Yanni (February 7), Enrique Iglesias (February 21) and Lionel Richie (February 28).

Craig David, the British-born Grammy winner, who burst onto the music scene in the early 2000s with runaway hits “7 Days”, “Walking Away” and “Fill Me In”, will make his Winter at Tantora debut on February 28, supporting the legendary Lionel Richie. Craig said: “I’m very excited to be performing in AlUla and take my music to a festival that brings together talent and voices from around the world.”

Il Divo, the international quartet who will take the stage on January 17 as part of their “Timeless” tour, has become household names around the globe thanks to an eclectic mix of classical music and pop songs. Their hits have helped the group achieve record sales of over 30 million, 50 number one singles, 160 gold and platinum records in more than 33 countries, and six sold-out world tours.

On their AlUla performance, the group said: “Being a multi-national group, and as such bringing different cultures together in music and harmony has always been an essential part of Il Divo’s career. That after 15 years our journey now brings us to AlUla, steeped in Saudi Arabian history, is an honour and a pleasure. We will be performing our songs with all the love and passion we’re known for and make this an unforgettable evening for the audience, as well as for ourselves.”

Over its 25-year career, the multi-award-winning group Jamiroquai, has created a much-revered jazz-funk sound that has inspired a legion of artists including Tyler, the Creator, Pharrell Williams and Calvin Harris. On January 24th, the group is expected to play an evergreen set with generation-defining anthems such as “Cosmic Girl”, “Virtual Insanity” and “Canned Heat”.

The festival will also feature the multi-media theatrical production Jameel Buthainah (February 14), a Caracalla dance inspired by the glory and history of AlUla. The festival will be one of the first times visitors will get to experience and explore the region and learn about its 200,000 years of history, ahead of its public opening in October 2020. Tickets are currently available for purchase on experiencealula.com.

The array of activities and excursions also include the AlUla Balloon Festival, vintage aircraft flights, vintage car experiences and the Fursan Endurance Race, the second largest endurance horse race in the world. The festival will also be adding events centred on sports and athletics as well as fashion, arts and cuisine to its line-up.

The festival is now more accessible to international arts, culture and travel lovers thanks to the recently announced Saudi Tourist Visa programme, which allows travellers to obtain one-year, multiple-entry visas to spend up to 90 days in the country.

Visitors from 49 countries and regions will be able to apply for the visa online (visitsaudi.com) or on arrival into Saudi Arabia through electronic kiosks or at immigration counters. Other visitors will be able to apply for the visas at the Saudi consulate in their home country.

The festival packages also allow guests to discover the millennia-old region in line with their time and budgetary requirements through experiential itineraries spanning a day or a weekend. The weekend and one-day itineraries on offer will feature three packages – Gold, Platinum and Diamond - for different budgets, covering accommodation, transport, cultural and adventure excursions as well as attendance at the headline performances.

Weekend guests can also bolt-on themed experiences in line with their interests, such as AlUla from Above (adventure), Authentic AlUla (culture) and Gastronomy (cuisine). – TradeArabia News Service