The Maplejacks

Meet the band: Sam Jones: Drums and Vocals; Dave Rowe: Bass and stunt vocals; Chad Sycamore: Guitar and Vocals; Drew Jones: Vocals, Guitar, Keyboard...and Kazoo

A Dubai-based quartet of internationally experienced players from the UK and New Zealand, The Maplejacks have earned a reputation as the Middle East's premier party band.

From their laidback, harmony-rich accoustic set for corporate events and weddings, to riotous party favourites at The Irish Village Dubai's New Year's Eve and Rugby Seven parties, The MJs have proved themeselves to be versatile and professional yet easy-going outfit.

Whether they're playing to 50 or to 5,000 people thier energy is infectious and 100% live - just the sound of four guys and no backing tapes!

The band has also been enjoying a regular Thursday night accoustic slot at The Irish Village in Garhoud since October.

Catch the MJs in a relaxed setting from 9:30pm, all the way to May 2012

Kara Gray

Guitarist/Vocalist from Wellington, New Zealand, has been working as a musician in Dubai for 3 years now. Kara plays a wide variety of cover music ranging from pop, rock, dance, rap, RnB and some more unusual covers aswell. Kara also plays the odd original track from time to time.  
 
Musical influences are varied but it leans towards bands like, the Police, Bob Marley, Kora (from New Zealand), James Brown, Wolf Mother.

Kara plays at the Irish Village every  Monday and Tuesday 9:00pm

Drew Jones

A professional musician in Dubai since 2003, and a resident solo singer at the Irish Village since 2005, Drew is also the founding member of the well-known band, The Maplejacks. Primarily a singer and acoustic guitarist, Drew has in recent years all but abandoned his karaoke-style backing tracks in favour of a loop pedal. “The looper allows me to record my guitar, voice or percussion live, then play over the top of it, creating the sense of a small band playing with just one guitar and one voice. It keeps the performance ‘real’ and audiences can see that I’m actually playing everything they hear.” His choice of repertoire has evolved from audience requests over the years, although he admits, “Why anyone would think to ask a man from Yorkshire to sing Celine Dion or Mariah Carey is still a mystery to me!”

“I love my job – playing music has taken me to every corner of the Middle East, back to the UK and most places in between, but the Irish Village will always feel like my ‘home’ gig,” he says.

Drew plays every Wednesday at 9:00pm.

 Caitlin Murphy

An Australian native, Caitlin thrives on all things performance-based and has a deep passion for the arts. Having spent the last 5 years living in the UK, Europe and the Middle East, it was on her travels that she truly discovered her love of singing; entertaining people with her guitar usually for fun and, occasionally, for food.

With an acting background from back home in Melbourne, she takes to the stage with consummate ease aided with nothing more than her trusty acoustic guitar and sultry voice.

A recent addition to the local live music scene, Caitlin has quickly made her mark with regular slots at the Irish Village, Music Room and The Fridge. One to watch.
 

Caitlin plays every Friday and Saturday at 9:30pm

SPORTS SHOWING AT THE IRISH VILLAGE

 FA Cup

English Premier League

International Rugby Union 

 Rugby Six Nations