When the 2009 Formula 1 Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix at Yas Marina Circuit asked Beyoncé, the Kings of Leon and Aerosmith to play at its first ever live event, the mega stars immediately contacted Rock-It Cargo to make the logistics happen.
All three groups were on tour in various corners of the world when word came that the United Arab Emirates would be the next stop. Rock-It’s touring specialists orchestrated the complex arrangements.
Beyoncé performed on the opening night as part of the festivities organized to welcome the arrival of Formula 1 auto racing to Yas Island. The 25 square kilometer island complex, located between the capitol of Abu Dhabi and sister city Dubai, includes Ferrari World, luxury hotels, a shopping mall, marina and water park. Rock-It’s Kevin Roach arranged an air charter of the performer’s equipment from China to the Emirates, then on to Russia, Egypt and the U.K. for the rest of the tour. The performance marked Beyoncé’s first trip to the Middle East.
Alan Durrant and Todd Haney have handled the Kings of Leon account for Rock-It since 2003. When they were told the Grammy award-winning band out of Nashville had just booked the Abu Dhabi date for the end of their extensive world tour, they made sure their trucks departed Mexico for Houston in time to fly out on a scheduled Emirates Airlines flight. The 12,000 kilo shipment arrived without incident in Abu Dhabi after a stop in Dubai.
Aerosmith closed the venue’s opening celebration after the final Formula 1 race of the year. The mesmerized crowd of 48,000 expected nothing less than magic from the “Bad Boys of Boston.” Rock-It’s Ed Butler arranged shipment of the band’s gear from Hawaii to the Abu Dhabi venue and was on hand after the concert to supervise the loading, return shipment and U.S. customs clearance when the groups' equipment returned home.
The dust, heat and half finished Ferrari World, scheduled for completion in 2010, provided some challenges on what was otherwise another day at the “office” for Roach, Durrant, Haney and Butler. Rock-It’s worldwide network of agents provides the infrastructure that allows the last minute logistics to flow smoothly. “The Middle East is fast becoming the next destination for the live performances and Rock-It made a big presence working with Flash Productions the local event producer.” says Butler.
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