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Kings of Leon replace Zara Larsson at Abu Dhabi Grand Prix concerts

Kings of Leon will co-headline the opening night of the Abu Dhabi F1 after-race concerts on 3 December with Lewis Capaldi, replacing Zara Larsson, who can no longer perform. No reason was given for her withdrawal.

2 outlets · 0L · 2C · 0R First reported Account updated
Image: The National
Image: Gulf News

1 / 2

The story, neutrally told

Centre · 2Kings of Leon will play the opening night of the Abu Dhabi Formula One Grand Prix after-race concerts on Thursday, December 3, replacing Swedish singer Zara Larsson. Centre · 2The American band will share the bill with Scottish singer-songwriter Lewis Capaldi at Etihad Live on Yas Island; the announcement was made on Wednesday, October 28. Centre · 2Organiser Ethara confirmed that Larsson, who was announced in February, is no longer able to perform, and no reason has been given for her withdrawal.

Centre · 1Ethara's Chief Portfolio & Strategy Officer David Powell called Kings of Leon "one of the biggest names in rock music" and said that performing alongside Capaldi "makes for a strong opening" to the concerts. Centre · 1This is a return for the band, who made their Middle East concert debut at the inaugural Abu Dhabi Grand Prix in 2009 and played Atlantis, The Palm in Dubai in 2014. Centre · 2The show comes shortly after the scheduled November 6 release of their tenth studio album, O My Beloved, which is self-produced; The National reports it is their first entirely self-produced record, with a more acoustic-led sound, reportedly after frontman Caleb Followill broke his foot last year.

Centre · 2Gulf News says the band have sold more than 20 million albums and nearly 40 million singles, and have four Grammy Awards, two BRIT Awards and three NME Awards; The National adds they formed in Nashville in 1999 and won Record of the Year for Use Somebody in 2010. Centre · 2The rest of the line-up: Jennifer Lopez and Alex Warren on December 4, Imagine Dragons on December 5, and The Chainsmokers and The Script on race day, December 6, with Andrea Bocelli opening the wider programme on December 2. Centre · 2Access to the after-race concerts is through Abu Dhabi Grand Prix ticket packages; the race weekend runs December 3 to 6 at Yas Marina Circuit, and last year's event drew a record 339,000 attendees according to Gulf News.

Every sentence links to the reporting it rests on. The pill in front of each says where its sources sit: Left, Centre or Right when one side supplies at least half of them, Mixed when they are evenly split. The number is how many outlets it cites.

Left0 outlets

No left outlet in our sources has covered this story yet.

Centre2 outlets

Framing
Both UAE outlets present the swap as a positive line-up announcement, leading with the replacement and the full four-night bill.
Emphasis
The National adds history of the band's earlier UAE shows and album background; Gulf News stresses career achievements and an Ethara executive quote.
Leaves out or plays down
Neither explains why Larsson withdrew; Gulf News does not mention the band's earlier Abu Dhabi appearance in 2009.
Charged language
“Rock heavyweights”“a major draw”
For example
“For rock fans, however, the replacement is a major draw.” — Gulf News
“The occasion marks Kings of Leon's return to the Abu Dhabi F1 concerts” — The National

Right0 outlets

No right outlet in our sources has covered this story yet.

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