Santana return to perform at Dubai Jazz Festival 2016

Rock royalty Santana will perform at the closing night of next year’s Dubai Jazz Festival.

The Latin-tinged legends — lead by eponymous six-string virtuoso Carlos Santana — will play at Dubai Media City Amphitheatre on February 26.

The gig will mark the historic act’s second slot at the festival in three years, after thrilling fans with a sell-out show at the 2014 edition, hosted at Dubai Festival City.

Keeping the Latin flavours alive, the evening’s opening act will be Argentinian percussion ensemble La Bomba de Tiempo.

As previously announced, the three-day Jazz Fest will open on February 24 with a concert from American pop-rock group Toto. Support will come on the first night from kooky YouTube hits Postmodern Jukebox, who are famous for performing pop tunes in a swing-jazz style.

The line-up for the second night, February 25, is yet to be revealed.

Santana are one of the world's most successful rock acts, clocking album sales of more than 90 million. Formed in 1967 by the Mexican guitarist of the same name, they found fame after a notorious set at 1969's Woodstock festival. Combining traditional Latin rhythms with lengthy rock guitar solos, Santana scored early hits with tunes such as Evil Ways and Black Magic Woman.

The band found a new audience after reinventing themselves on 1999s Supernatural, which combined their now-patented Latin rock sound with guest appearances from contemporary pop stars including Wyclef Jean and Dave Mathews, and legends such as Eric Clapton. The album sold 15 million copies and won a total of eight Grammy Awards, including Album of the Year.

Anthony Younes, CEO and founder of Jazz Festival promoters Chillout Productions, said: “It’s an immense honour to have Santana on the Jazz Festival bill to grace the stage once more this coming February.

“We are thrilled that Dubai was one of the cities selected for his world tour next year.”

• Tickets are on sale now from Dh395. See www.dubaijazzfest.com

rgarratt@thenational.ae