The free ‘Magic of Motown Festival’ event at Yas Marina, Yas Island, Abu Dhabi which was sponsored by du, as part of ‘du Live!’ proved to be a spectacular success last night as fans celebrated all things Motown with live music, entertainment and prizes for the best dressed who showed a ‘flare’ for 60s fashion.

Held as part of the Yas Island Show Weekends 2011 ahead of the Stevie Wonder concert, the event saw party goers dance their way well into the night as lovers of Motown warmed up for the arrival of the music legend who is playing for the first time ever in the Gulf.

With Motown fans taking to the Singstar stage to belt out a whole host of classics from Motown stars including Stevie Wonder, Diana Ross, Marvin Gaye and Gladys Knight, Motown cover band Hitsville and the live DJ kept the era-defying tunes coming, as dancers and roller-skating waitresses turned Yas Marina into a little slice of Detroit, USA where the legendary Motown sound was born.

The event, courtesy of FLASH Entertainment, set the scene perfectly for Stevie Wonder’s hugely anticipated gig tonight (March 18) at the Yas Arena, Yas Island, Abu Dhabi. Fans later headed to Allure which kept the event going on, to enjoy the old school flavor of the 60s and 70s at the ultra hip hangouts.

Abu Dhabi resident Kelly Alexander from Canada said “I love it, it’s the best night of the year…FLASH should make more events like this.”

The event also included competitions between fans judged based on the best dressed who showed a real ‘flare’ for 60s fashion, best performance and best dance. Kelly Alexander, won the ‘best female’ title with prizes including a one hour ‘AA rose renew facial’ at the Spa at Radisson Blu hotel, Yas Island, lunch for two at the Yotto Japanese restaurant, a AED 300 food voucher at Stars N Bars and a couples entry into Allure night club. Chris Depper won the ‘Best male’ title, with prizes including one night stay with breakfast for two at Radisson Blu Hotel, Yas Island, a AED 300 food voucher at Stars N Bars, two tickets to Ferrari World and dinner for two at Cipriani.

It was also a superb night for a group from the UK who call themselves ‘The London Dizzle Team’. They impressed the audience and judges with their dancing performance and won the ‘best group’ title along with prizes including four Golden Circle tickets to the Stevie wonder concert tonight, eight passes to Ferrari World and a AED 500 food voucher at Stars N Bars.

Matt King, from The London Dizzle Team, said: ‘‘This is our first time in Abu Dhabi. We had an amazing experience, the Magic of Motown Festival has been absolutely incredible. The shows, the organising, the dancing and the event in general was really good. We had a great time, the music was incredible and the people were so friendly and overall it was a very positive experience.”

Only Grandstand tickets to see Stevie Wonder concert tonight are still available for AED 350. And with every Yas Island Show Weekend 2011 concert ticket purchased, gig-goers can enjoy a 20 per cent discount on an entry pass to Ferrari World on weekdays (10 per cent on weekends) when used within seven days of the concert, with Golden Circle Ticket holders also receiving 20 per cent off on dinner at Cipriani and Yotto and a 30 per cent discount on entry to Allure.

FLASH Entertainment would like to remind fans that it operates a strict no re-admittance policy to tonight’s Stevie Wonder concert. Guests that exit the concert will not be granted access back into the venue. FLASH also advises fans that there will be a ‘no camera’ policy in place for the Stevie Wonder concert and request that ticket holders leave their cameras at home.

There will be a free shuttle bus service that will be operating on the 18th with shuttles running every 20 minutes beginning at 6:30pm until 1:30am from the Yas Plaza Hotels to Yas Arena and back again.

This event was sponsored by du, the main sponsor of Flash events.  It is part of the du Live! Initiative, which brings the best of live music to the UAE, including the first-ever du World Music Festival held recently. 

du offers its mobile customers a chance to win tickets by SMS-ing “dulive” to 1234. More information on du Live! is available on www.du.ae/dulive

Yas Island Show Weekends is proudly supported by Aldar, Ferrari World, Yas Links Abu Dhabi, Yas Hotel, Radisson Blu Hotel, Yas Island Rotana, Yas Marina Circuit, Park Inn Abu Dhabi, Staybridge suites and Crowne Plaza Hotel.