Kings of Leon return to Abu Dhabi Grand Prix concerts after 17 years
Kings of Leon will return to the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix concert stage this December, joining Lewis Capaldi for the opening night of the after-race music programme.
The American band will perform at Etihad Live on Yas Island on Thursday, December 3, replacing Swedish singer Zara Larsson. Organiser Ethara confirmed that Larsson can no longer appear, without giving a reason for her withdrawal.
The announcement brings the group back to an event that marked an important first in their relationship with the region.
A return to where their Middle East story began
Kings of Leon made their Middle East concert debut at the inaugural Abu Dhabi Grand Prix in 2009. Their breakthrough album, Only by the Night, had arrived the previous year, bringing international hits including Sex on Fire and Use Somebody.
Seventeen years later, the band returns with a catalogue spanning ten studio albums and four Grammy Awards. Brothers Caleb, Nathan and Jared Followill, together with their cousin Matthew, have built a career that has taken them to headline stages at Glastonbury, Coachella and Reading and Leeds.
Their UAE history also includes a 2014 performance at Atlantis, The Palm in Dubai, during the Mechanical Bull era.
Capaldi brings his own recent connection to the capital, following a sold-out Saadiyat Nights concert in January.
New music ahead of the Yas Island show
The December performance follows the scheduled November 6 release of O My Beloved, Kings of Leon’s tenth studio album and their first produced entirely by the band.
The 13-track record explores family, gratitude and childhood memories, with a more acoustic-led direction introduced through the single My Whole World.
That shift began while frontman Caleb Followill was recovering from a broken foot and writing on an acoustic guitar. The Abu Dhabi date will give UAE audiences an opportunity to encounter this new chapter alongside the songs that established the band.
Four nights of music around the season finale
The opening double bill leads into Jennifer Lopez and Alex Warren on December 4, followed by Imagine Dragons on December 5. The Chainsmokers and The Script close the series on December 6.
The wider entertainment programme begins with Andrea Bocelli at Etihad Arena on December 2 and includes an official after-party featuring Anyma.
Access to the after-race concerts is exclusive to Abu Dhabi Grand Prix ticket holders.
