Sundowner Sessions is back. The team who transformed the Al Dana Terrace at the Sharq Village into the city’s top Friday night destination have moved onto a new venue and are once again planning some very special treats for the Doha party people.
Pure Rooftop in the Sky, on the roof of the Double Tree by Hilton hotel, has been selected as one of the top new venues in the city with spectacular views of the bay and city. Exquisitely fitted out this will serve as the new home for the Sundowners crew every Friday.
Join us this coming Friday as we present very special guest Charl Chaka (House of Afrika) alongside your Sundowners resident DJs Carl Roberts, Eric M and Vicky Vanna.
"By playing records in the right way the average DJ has a tremendous power to affect people's states of mind. A truly great DJ, just for a moment, can make a whole room fall in love. Because, you see, DJing is not just about choosing a few tunes. It's about generating shared moods; it's about understanding the feelings of a group of people and directing them to a better place. In the hands of a master, records become the tools for rituals of spiritual communion that for many people are the most powerful events in their lives."
Source: Last Night A DJ Saved My Life written by Bill Brewster
With music in his blood and funk in his soul, Charl’s raw energy & talent has taken him from top London clubs to festivals in South Africa, DJ residencies in Dubai to guest slots in Ibiza, Miami, London & back…
As a DJ, there is no questioning Charl’s ability behind the decks. In 2006 he won the Technics International DJ Challenge, been voted #4 in the DJ Mag Middle East Poll of 2010, nominated for Best Local DJ by Ahlan Magazine in 2011 & Winner of ‘Best Local DJ’ in the TimeOut Nightlife Awards of 2012 and been nominated for ‘Best Local DJ’ in Ahlan, What’s on & Timeout Nightlife Awards in 2013.
Charl is one of the original pioneers of the Dubai music industry and is currently the Head Honcho of Dubai’s leading Nightlife & Music platform, Infusion Magazine. He is the brainchild behind the award winning ‘Nasimi Beach Full Moon’ Parties, the event that has been pinned by TimeOut as “the event that changed the Dubai scene, to winning the TimeOut Nightlife Award for ‘Best Overall Event’ in 2010. Not surprisingly he’s been featured in the Ahlan Top 100 in Dubai in 2008, a Puma ambassador, sponsored by Beats by Dre and Pioneer.
A crowd pleasing DJ, Charl plays from the heart. His versatility has lead him to play warm ups for the biggest DJ’s and held his own at peak time slots! He is at ease playing in front of 15 000 people at Sandance or rock small intimate crowds at 360.
One of the highlights of Charl’s career came in 2007, when he mixed a compilation CD for San Francisco based house heavyweights OM Records. OM:Dubai features 2 CD’s with world renowned DJ Andy Caldwell heading up CD 1 and our man from Dubai hosting CD 2. OM:Dubai is still a worldwide success selling over 8,000 copies worldwide and reached #6 on the iTunes most downloadable dance album charts! Charl’s interpretation of the Om sound in Dubai won him a wealth of critical acclaims…
“Its Charl’s mix, however, that wins top prize. Jacked to the max, this carries enough boompty-boomp to make Derrick Carter blush. It serves as a reminder that not all house has to be electronic or techno flavoured and that sometimes all you need is a classic walking bassline and a heavy kickdrum to get your groove on.” iDJ
“I was completely and utterly blown away by this mix. I’ve never heard such a funky, driving mix………into the most danceable mix I’ve ever heard on the Om label” DJForums.com
“With all due respect to Andy Caldwell, who's done some amazing work throughout his career, this collection should have solely consisted of Chaka's set, as it's not only much stronger and flows much better, but because he represents the Dubai massive scene” Machinegunfunk.com
Most recently you can catch his latest mix compilation courtesy of Heads&Tails Music on Beatport.
Charl has soared effortlessly into the international dance music scene, having shared the spotlight with legendary heavyweights such as Armand van Helden, Fatboy Slim, Derrick Carter, Kenny Dope, Todd Terry, Pete Tong and underground legends Mark Farina, DJ Heather, DJ Sneak & Dennis Ferrer. Not one to be pigeonholed however, Charl has been trusted with the duty of opening for Jamiroquai, ?uestluv, Giles Peterson and JazzaNova, proving his versatility and capability to entertain wherever he plays…
He’s been the man called upon for key gigs in the UAE, having played at the Abu Dhabi F1 Fan Zone party to 15 000 people, Creamfields Mainstage 2010, UFC After-party at Yas Island, rocking Sandance at Nasimi Beach, shared the stage with Faithless, as well as a residency at the fashionable Bubble Lounge @ the world famous Dubai World Cup. His vast knowledge and love of music has even seen him drop some energetic Drum and Bass, warming up for the likes of DJ Hype, Roni Size & DJ Marky & LTJ Bukem to name but a few.
Although Charl has been DJing since the age of 18, his real recognition came back in 1999 when he won a DJ competition at London club Heaven. He was immediately offered a residency, playing alongside Jason Moore (The End) and Nicky Holloway (Pacha/INCredible Records) on a weekly basis. (www.heaven-london.com)
“He calmly got behind the decks when his set was called and the moment he did, the party started. He demonstrated professionalism, confidence and just locked into a groove and held it throughout his set” (Jason Moore-www.urbantorque.co.uk)
Gaining the ultimate DJ recognition, Charl entered and came runner-up in the iDJ magazine DJ competition of June 2001. “This is so darned funky, so well thought out and such an understated mix that we just had to give him the props he’s due” (iDJ Magazine 2001)
Charl worked closely with mentor Jason Moore at Heaven and gained invaluable experience. He went on to run a promote large scale events & productions and was a permanent fixture at every house club and major event in South Africa. It was no surprise when his Cape Town residency at Deluxe was voted South Africa’s number 1 nightclub in 2003 in GQ magazine!
It was in 2004 that Charl’s ambition and eagerness for a challenge found him landing in Dubai, UAE, where he currently still resides and reigns supreme. With the promise of a DJ residency at Dubai’s trendiest new bar Lotus One, Charl could exhibit his full deck ability to the ever growing Dubai crowd.
It was here that Charl championed a distinct Chicago Deep House sound & to this day is credited as being the 1st DJ to introduce this sound to Dubai. Spinning at a multitude of gigs across the UAE, Charl is now a household name and one of Dubai’s best-loved resident DJ’s. Highlights include headlining the beach parties at Life’s a Breezer at Jumeriah Beach Club, spinning for OM Records @ Lotus One and super clubs Trilogy, raving sets at the Heineken Thirst competition 3 years in a row, as well as numerous sets at the former alternative club iBO & held a residency @ the infamous Deep Nights on Trilogy Rooftop alongside the world’s biggest DJs. He has even hosted his weekly Friday night Radio Show ‘Rhythm Factory’ on Radio 1, Middle East, rocking his trademark sound alongside partner in crime Smokingroove!
With bookings across the UAE and remaining the jock called upon in Dubai for quality house sets, there is no telling where this deck maestro might end up next.
One thing is for sure, this multi-talented music maestro has a deck for a heart and passion in his soul, and he’ll generously share that with those lucky enough to hear him spin…
Carl Roberts is well known to the Sundowners faithful having started the events back in 2011. He started playing back in the 90s and has more than 20 years experience delighting dancefloors and over the past 5 years has been part of the growing Doha scene having played at practically every major event in the city and beyond.
Vicky Vanna is an exciting female DJ from Australia, who has performed in Australia, London, Ibiza and at roof top lounges in New York City. She has also produced several tracks and is a versatile DJ guaranteed to rock the crowd.
Out of Southern Africa comes Eric McCallaghan, a producer and song writer with an innate talent to mix international sounds into one glorious magical wonder. Through his Beats Me Records label he has tracks released on more than a million printed CDs through 100 compilations, 20 singles, 5 albums, 20 12inch vinyls and more than 200 tracks licensed to international companies.
Sundowner Sessions has retained the key aspects that have made it the ultimate open air sunset and Friday night experience. A relaxed atmosphere, casual dress code, Happy (4) Hour(s) from 4 – 8 and no entrance fees for the rooftop in the early evening. It is where you are warmly invited to enjoy the Arabian sunset accompanied by the hottest soundtrack offset by icy cold drinks and is the perfect antidote to the Doha week.
Its the only known cure for that Friday feeling !!!
NO ENTRY FEES; NO ATTITUDES
30% discount to all airline staff, hoteliers and teachers with valid ID.
Access to mixed groups and couples.
Casual dress code (smart shorts allowed / no flip flops or open sandals)
Right of Admission Reserved (R.O.A.R.) - Management reserves the right to deny access to anyone at their own discretion.
ID to be presented at the door !!!
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