It's the real cheap deal

Hats off to the organisers of tonight's Stereo by Nokia event. Despite the credit crunch, various promoters continue to set inflated prices for their gigs. So imagine our surprise when we found out that tonight's offering features seven acts for a mere Dh175.

And we're not just talking local acts. Chi's three areas will be offering a bit of everything – from indie to hip-hop. The Charlatans headline Chi's Garden, accompanied by appearances from former Libertines and Dirty Pretty Things star Carl Barat and Dubai's DJing duo, Mark Evans and Matt Ross, aka Step On. Local bands The Meerkats and Beat Antenna kick off the night.

Meanwhile, hip-hop's finest, DJ Yoda, and mash-up maestro Dan Greenpeace will take to Chi Red and Chi Club.

We spoke to The Charlatans' Tim Burgess, Barat and Step On's Evans ahead of the event.

Stereo by Nokia. Chi @ The Lodge, Dubai. Tickets cost Dh175. Call: 04 337 9470


The Charlatans

This will be your first performance in Dubai. Ever been here before?

Tim Burgess: None of us have, so I am looking forward to it.

Did you expect to have fans in the Middle East?

It was a surprise to be asked to play in Dubai; but I have always been surprised by how far our music has travelled. I guess if we are asked to come then there must be fans?

What can we expect from the gig?

I don't really know… Hot fun and sweet smiles.

Your previous album, You Cross My Path, was released the same time last year. Are you working on new material?

We are concentrating on touring at the moment. I think we did three albums close together and our former record company, Universal, released a greatest hits and a not-so-great collection of songs, so there seems to me like there is enough Charlatans material out there at the moment. The world needs to catch up.

You're doing a lot of festivals this year; any that you're particularly looking forward to?

The Isle of Wight fest.

You're also mentoring finalists of Road to V, a competition offering a new artist to play at this year's V Festival. How did that come about?

The Road to V is our drummer Jon's thing. But we are all participating in a big TV moment.

Looking at the business side, you quit Beggars Banquet in 1997, because the band received little income. How has it changed since you moved to a bigger label?

That's right. We were all skint even though we had three number one records. None of us had a place to live. The ironic thing is when we signed on with Universal, our accountant ran off with the money and we later found out he also hadn't paid our taxes properly. Since 1997 we have been skint, so it's business as usual. I hear bands only actually make money when they split up.

Do you think the record industry's been hit by the financial crisis?

I think the record industry will flourish during the credit crisis and will grow the longer Barack Obama is the American president. When George Bush was president, art went out the window.

You've previously offered music for free, but what is your take on illegal downloading?

We released You Cross My Path for free… which was extreme anarchy.

The founders of the Pirate Bay were recently sentenced to a year in prison and fined over $1 million. Harsh?

Too harsh. You should be put in prison for stealing – not for sharing.

What's after Dubai?

I want to write a book, and do a solo/collaboration record.

If you had to perform five Charlatan songs for ever, what would they be?

Sproston Green, Mis-takes, Weirdo, Bird and Telling Stories.


Carl Barat

What can we expect from your set tonight?

It will be exciting. Old, new and a bit of jiggery pokery. Whatever takes my fancy on the night basically.

What are your top five tunes at the moment?

I'll Be Satisfied by Jackie Wilson; The Beat That My Heart Skipped by Dan Le Sac vs Scroobius Pip; Jerusalem by Kieran Leonard; Alone Again by Love; Too Young To Love by The Big Pink.

What else are you up to at the moment?

I'm writing for my solo album and for a film.

So you're getting into acting? You recently appeared in an episode of Svengali, didn't you?

That wasn't really acting as I played myself; although I would love to act one day when I can commit to doing it well. Svengali is going to make a fine film.

Do you only want to act in British productions or is Hollywood an option?

I don't mind as long as I like the part.

Is there a dream role?

I would love to have been in a British film written and directed by Shane Meadows called Dead Man Shoes but I missed the boat.

Earlier this month, Pete Doherty said you were offered "ridiculous" amou-nts of money to play at festivals like The Libertines this summer. Is this true?

I believe there was some truth in it, but I don't think it will happen this year.

Would you ever form another band not related to either The Libertines or Dirty Pretty Things?

It's not something I'm desperate to go back to and have grown somewhat jaded by band hierarchies; but never say never.

Who's your favourite of the two Step On DJs who share stage with you tonight?

Mark.

Step On

There's no denying Step On is one of Dubai's favourite indie acts, having already supported the likes of Razorlight and Get Cape. Wear Cape. Fly. But this is probably the duo's biggest gig to date, and here's what one-half of the team, Mark Evans, (pictured left) had to tell us.

Just who is Step On?

Step On is me, Mark Evans and partner (in music alone) Matt Ross. We are the brains/fools behind Dubai's only weekly indie night.

How long have you been DJing?

I've been DJing for years, since I was at university; although I used to play more along the broken beat and rare groove lines back then. Rossy's a relative newbie; he's been playing for a year-and-a-half, ever since we recruited him to the Step On ranks.

Excited about tonight?

It's going to be great. You would not believe the amount of work that goes into making something like this happen. A lot of people have put in some serious effort.

Who are you looking most forward to seeing?

I am lucky enough to have seen everyone before, apart from Carl, so I'm really looking forward to his set. Rossy's a huge Charlatans fan, so he's double excited about seeing them.

Feeling threatened by Barat's DJ set?

Ha ha. No, we're going to show him how to have it, Dubai style. Plus if anything starts, Rossy will give him a kicking.

What are Step On's top five tunes at the moment?

That changes on a daily basis. How about I give you five bands? We're loving Phoenix; the Doves' new album is great. Rossy loves his Rage Against The Machine, while I've got an alarming soft spot for Lily Allen. Step On's regulars would disown us if we didn't mention Kings Of Leon.

Name your five most embarrassing records.

Embarrassing? Do you know who we are? I'm a total and utter music snob and could put a considerable argument for every album in my collection. There's everything in there from indie classics to Japanese jazz. Rossy's a Manc who's spent time in Canada; his collection's very off-the-wall, to say the least, and usually involves some angst-ridden guitar player.

Who are your favourite local DJs?

I really like DJ Solo – I love the rare groove stuff he plays, and he occasionally spins off vinyls too, which is very impressive for Dubai. And it would be remiss of us not to mention Rude Larry – as he is our flatmate – who spins a cheeky drum 'n' bass set. Nice work, Larrold.

As for Rossy? Yeah, he'd probably say it was me.

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