The Chainsmokers to rock Doha

DOHA: Around 5,000 fans of Grammy award-winning The Chainsmokers are expected to throng Doha Exhibition and Convention Centre on Thursday, January 25 for the their first Middle East concert, which is a major highlight of Shop Qatar 2018’s International Week.

“We are expecting up to 5,000 attendees. Tickets are selling out fast and with seven more days to go before the concert, our event will be sold out soon,” local organising company, The Social Studio (TSS), told The Peninsula yesterday.

Since The Chainsmokers’ breakthrough in 2014, the duo have spent 61 weeks in the top 10 of the Billboard Hot 100 chart, and won their first Grammy award for Best Dance Recording for ‘Don’t Let Me Down’ in 2017. The duo’s blend of dance, pop, hip-hop and indie music have also led them to win two American Music Awards, four Billboard Music Awards, and five iHeart Radio Music Awards.

They have some of the most viewed YouTube videos generating billions of views. Their lyric video ‘Closer’ has nearly two billion views since it was posted nearly six months ago.

“We are so pumped to come! This is actually a show we have been dying for. When we got the email about it, it was a no brainer,” the music duo said about their upcoming concert in Qatar.

This concert comes second in a series of performances organised by TSS and supported by Qatar Tourism Authority (QTA) as part of its commitment towards supporting Qatari businesses. Last week, TSS hosted Lebanese pop artists Joseph Attieh and Yara’s concert which saw more than 1300 fans.

“Music is an ever-growing platform that helps people come together and due to its omnipresence in our daily lives, music becomes woven into the fabric of our society. We are happy to be given the support of the public sector represented by QTA to elevate the music experience in Qatar and be able to introduce such a prominent and versatile music duo such as The Chainsmokers, moreover by hosting them for the first time in the Middle East. We think that it is time to give the music fans an unforgettable journey,” said Hamzeh Zahr, Managing Director of TSS.

Mashal Shahbik, Director of Festivals and Tourism Events at QTA, said: “We are delighted to continue our collaboration with The Social Studio, a local company which has been helping to expand the repertoire of live entertainment events held in Qatar. We are committed to working with our partners in the private sectors to cater to audiences of different backgrounds, and ensure residents and visitors can enjoy their favourite kind of entertainment in safe environments that respect Qatar’s culture and heritage.”

The Chainsmokers’ concert is coming fuelled with unique and engaging experiences such as glow-in-the-dark face paint, a personalised engraving station, an Instagram-friendly Photobooth and food along with special offers in neighbouring hotels.
Tickets are still available at Virgin Megastore branches in Qatar and online, and are priced QR275 (General Admission), QR550 (Premium) and QR990 (VIP).

The International Week will also feature the International Fashion Show on Wednesday which will see the participation of over 12 designers from countries such as Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Monaco, Mexico, Spain, Pakistan and Morocco. Some of the celebrity designers which will headline the show are Fouad Sarkis, Maria B, Alejandro Resta, Imran Rajput and Thaher Baqer.

Spanish fashion designer Alejandro Resta and famous celebrity makeup artist Joyce Bonelli will conduct masterclasses at The Ritz-Carlton Doha on Sunday and on January 27 respectively.

There will also be a host of pop-up shops at participating malls demonstrating Malaysian kite making, Russian doll making, basket weaving, and Russian ribbon embroidery, in addition to mall shows such as ‘Fashion Through History at Lagoona Mall and Filipino parade at Gulf Mall.