What: Dubai International Jazz Festival

When: February 18–27

Jazz is a super cool form of music, so it seems a shade incongruous that one of the world’s most brash cities is hosting a festival devoted to it.

But just like the city itself: if you build it, they will come — and the festival features some top jazz names on the line-up. Though why James Blunt is on the bill remains a mystery.

See www.dubaijazzfest.com