ALULA — Award-winning English funk and acid jazz band Jamiroquai will perform this weekend, during the second season of the Winter at Tantora Festival.

The event is organized by the Royal Commission for AlUla (RCU), in a city characterized by its unique location, scenic landscapes and historical and cultural significance.

Jamiroquai will perform a selection of their greatest hits that helped define music in the nineties and beyond. The group is delighted on their participation in the Winter at Tantora Festival.

The singer, songwriter and lead vocalist of Jamiroquai, Jay Kay, said: "We were delighted to be invited to this ancient and unique city and are eager to learn more about its culture and history.

“We also can’t wait to see how our funky sounds work in what looks like a truly one of a kind venue, the magical, mirrored Maraya Concert Hall. It is a privilege to be able to play around the world and look forward to bringing the party to AlUla.”

Jamiroquai was formed in 1992, with singer-songwriter Jay Kay as the lead vocalist. The band became known for a great number of hits like Canned Heat, Virtual Insanity, which won the award for Video of the Year at the 1997 MTV Video Music Awards, and Deeper Underground, which ranked No. 1 in the United Kingdom.

All eight of their albums were in the UK's top ten charts with three of them reaching the top spot. During their career, Jamiroquai have sold more than 26 million albums worldwide.

Their third album, Traveling Without Moving (1996), became the Guinness Book of Records best-selling funk album in history.

The band also won the Ivor Novello Award for Outstanding Song Collection from the British Academy of Songwriters, Composers and Authors (BASCA), in addition to a Grammy Award, MTV Video Music Award and two Billboard Music Awards. The band received 16 nominations for the BRIT Awards.

Cradled by the picturesque nature of AlUla, the wonderful funk and jazz infused performance will take place at Maraya Concert Hall; the largest mirror constructed theater in the world.

It represents a modern architectural masterpiece and can accommodate five hundred guests and is fitted with a high quality sound system. The festival also houses many other diverse activities including the local markets, winter garden, farms and the old town.

Over the course of 12 weeks, the festival will present a slew of activities that merge Eastern and Western culture, embodying AlUla's heritage as a meeting point for different civilizations from around the world throughout history.

Winter at Tantora Festival offers a wide range of diverse experiences that cater to all tastes from all walks of life. The festival is taking place every weekend starting Dec. 19 and running until the March 7.

Guests this year will also have the unique opportunity to visit the historical heritage sites before they close to the public until October 2020. They will also be able to attend musical and artistic performances by some of the most respected artists in the Arab, and international, world. — SG