Swiss-Belgian and Congolese singer-songwriter Imelda Gabs brings her Piano & Soul Night to GABA in Dubai Marina, turning a regular midweek evening into an intimate concert experience. On Wednesday 26 November 2025, she is scheduled to perform from 20:00 onwards at the Marina Promenade venue, with doors typically opening a little earlier for guests to settle in. Her background spans classical training, jazz roots and contemporary pop production, and she has appeared at major stages including the Montreux Jazz Festival, which gives this small-room show extra weight. You can expect her to move gracefully between piano ballads, groove-driven originals and reworked favourites, always with a strong melodic line and clear storytelling. The setting in a compact bar rather than a big theatre means the evening feels more like a close-up session than a distant arena show. For many Dubai music fans, this Wednesday performance offers a rare chance to hear Imelda Gabs’ piano-driven set at arm’s length in a focused 20:00 start slot at GABA (suitable for couples and solo listeners, not family-style).
Artist background and live performance style
Imelda Gabs has built her reputation by blending soul, jazz, pop and alternative influences into a single, cohesive sound rather than jumping between genres. She often pairs rich, left-hand piano voicings with airy vocal lines, so even quieter songs feel harmonically full in a small venue. Because she writes and produces her own material, the live arrangements typically stay close to her recorded vision while still leaving space for improvisation. Listeners who enjoy artists like Lianne La Havas or modern neo-soul performers will recognise the mix of introspective lyrics and groove-led sections. In a room the size of GABA, that approach usually translates into a set that alternates between pin-drop silence and relaxed, head-nodding moments. If you value songwriter-led performances with strong piano work rather than big staging and effects, this night lines up neatly with your taste (suitable for couples, friends and solo music enthusiasts who enjoy attentive listening).
GABA Dubai Marina setting and concept
GABA sits on the M level of Marina Promenade in Dubai Marina, operating as a Japanese-inspired tea house by day and a moodier listening bar by night. During daylight hours, a tea sommelier focuses on detailed brewing across a large selection of blends, which sets the tone for careful, craft-driven service. As evening arrives, the room shifts into a low-lit bar with a strong focus on sound, giving piano-based acts like Imelda Gabs the right balance of intimacy and atmosphere. Seating usually mixes bar stools, small tables and a few more relaxed spots, so you should expect close proximity to other guests rather than a wide-open floor. The Marina skyline outside and the water nearby add to the sense that you are in a tucked-away spot within a busy district. Because of its bar identity, GABA is best treated as an adult-oriented venue rather than a family lounge, even though the overall mood stays calm and listening-focused (suitable for couples, small groups and solo visitors).
Date, time and concert structure
This Piano & Soul Night with Imelda Gabs is part of a small series of performances at GABA, with dates listed for Wednesday 12 November 2025, Wednesday 26 November 2025 and Wednesday 17 December 2025. For the 26 November show, the official listings indicate a 20:00 start time, often described as “8 PM onwards,” which suggests that her first set begins around that hour and may run into a second set later in the evening. Because the space is intimate, there is no large foyer or elaborate pre-show ritual, yet arriving early still makes a difference to seat choice and settling in. It is sensible to plan your arrival around 19:15–19:30, which leaves room for check-in, ordering your first drink and adjusting to the lighting and sound. You can reasonably expect the live music portion of the evening to continue for around two to three hours including breaks, though the bar environment keeps the end time flexible. Treat the 20:00 start on Wednesday 26 November 2025 as fixed, then build a relaxed evening timetable around it so you do not miss the opening pieces (suitable for after-work plans, couples’ nights and solo music outings).
Tickets, pricing packages and what is included
GABA markets Imelda Gabs’ Piano & Soul Nights as a ticketed experience rather than casual walk-in bar entertainment, and recent promotional posts outline two main packages. A non-alcoholic option sits at around AED 325, while a package that includes alcoholic beverages is advertised at about AED 475, with both described as part of an “exclusive” experience. These figures should be treated as approximate, because venues sometimes adjust package contents and pricing as dates draw nearer. In practice, your spend covers reserved entry for the night and a curated selection of drinks aligned with the bar’s Japanese-influenced, craft-focused approach; some activations may add food elements or special pairings depending on the exact promotion running that week. It is wise to confirm the current inclusions when you book, especially if you have dietary or alcohol preferences. Budget approximately AED 325 to AED 475 per person for the Imelda Gabs packages at GABA on Wednesday 26 November 2025, and consider anything beyond that as additional discretionary spending on extras (suitable for couples and small groups planning a special midweek evening).
Food, drinks and evening flow at the bar
Because GABA’s daytime identity revolves around precise tea service, its evening bar programme usually follows the same attention to detail with cocktails and non-alcoholic creations. During a Piano & Soul Night, staff tend to keep service quiet and efficient so the focus remains on the performance rather than constant movement around the room. Many guests arrive slightly early, order their first drink and small plates, and then settle in for the first song rather than treating the show as background noise. As the evening unfolds, you may see the room gradually shift from low-key listening to more animated conversation between sets, before falling quiet again when Imelda returns to the keyboard. The overall rhythm feels closer to a classic jazz club format than a loud, standing-room gig. If you enjoy venues where food and drink support the performance instead of overpowering it, GABA’s approach during Imelda Gabs’ sets will likely feel well balanced and comfortable (suitable for couples, colleagues and solo guests).
Getting to GABA and parking tips in Dubai Marina
GABA’s address is listed as M level, Marina Promenade, Dubai Marina, Dubai, United Arab Emirates, with reservations commonly handled via the bookings line on +971 55 397 6973. By public transport, you can take the Dubai Metro Red Line to DMCC or Sobha Realty station, then either walk or switch to the Dubai Tram and get off near Jumeirah Beach Residence stops before cutting back toward the Marina Promenade. Taxis and ride-hailing apps also know Dubai Marina well, yet traffic between 18:30 and 20:00 often builds around the main entry roads and underpasses, especially on Wednesdays as residents slide into weekend mode. Parking directly under Marina Promenade or in surrounding towers exists but is limited, and many of the closest spaces are reserved for residents or early arrivals. As a result, you should view public transport or taxi drop-off as your default plan and only drive if you are comfortable navigating evening congestion and structured parking. Because parking capacity around Marina Promenade can tighten quickly before 20:00, treat Metro plus tram or taxis as the first choice for reaching GABA on concert night (suitable for couples, solo visitors and small groups).
Arrivals from Abu Dhabi, Sharjah and other Emirates
If you are travelling from Abu Dhabi, the usual approach is to follow E11 toward Dubai Marina, leaving the motorway near the Marina/JBR exits and threading into the local road network. In typical weekday evening traffic, you should allow at least 90 minutes of drive time plus a buffer, which makes a 16:30–17:00 departure realistic if you want to arrive at GABA between 19:00 and 19:30. From Sharjah or Ajman, congestion at the Dubai border can be heavier, so many guests prefer to park near a Red Line Metro station outside the central zones and then continue by train and tram toward Dubai Marina. This “park and ride” strategy often proves less stressful than driving directly into the Marina’s multi-layered road grid at 19:30. After the performance, you may find it easier to spend a short time on the waterfront or in a nearby café before heading back, which allows the most intense outbound traffic to ease. Regional visitors who build in extra time, consider car-plus-Metro combinations and aim to reach the Marina before 18:30 usually experience the evening as a relaxed cultural trip rather than a last-minute dash (suitable for couples, small groups and solo travellers from other Emirates).
Who will enjoy this Piano & Soul night most
Imelda Gabs’ GABA show works especially well for listeners who like genre-blurring sets that still centre on clear melodies and piano craft. Couples can treat the evening as a dressed-up date night without the stiffness of a full theatre concert, while groups of friends may appreciate the balance between attentive listening and space for conversation between songs. Solo guests often feel comfortable too, because seating and bar service are structured for individual visitors as much as for groups, and the focus on music helps reduce any sense of standing out. The bar setting and pricing mean this is not aimed at casual drop-ins or noisy party crowds; instead, it attracts a mix of music-focused residents, curious visitors and hospitality professionals on their night off. Although policies can vary by night, the tone and environment effectively position the show as an adults-only experience. If you are over 21 and looking for a musically rich, conversationally friendly night built around a live piano-and-voice performance rather than a club set, this GABA appearance by Imelda Gabs will likely match your expectations closely (suitable for couples and solo listeners, not family-friendly).
Weather outlook, dress code and closing advice
Late November weather in Dubai should support a comfortable evening in Dubai Marina: forecasts for Wednesday 26 November 2025 suggest hazy sunshine during the day with a high around 30°C and an evening low near 20°C, while Friday 28 November and Saturday 29 November continue with bright conditions and similar temperatures. Because you will move between warm outdoor spaces and air-conditioned indoor areas, light, breathable fabrics paired with a light jacket or shawl make sense. Smart-casual outfits, closed shoes or dressy sandals and a slightly elevated look fit the GABA aesthetic and also keep you covered if you continue the night at another nearby venue. Traffic around Dubai Marina usually peaks between 18:30 and 20:30 on Wednesdays and again just after main events finish, so early arrival and a flexible plan for your return help keep the evening smooth. Ticket and package prices for Piano & Soul Nights are always subject to minor adjustments, so any figures given here should be treated as “approximately” rather than rigid tariffs. Make your reservation before it is too late, and as nightlife coverage from the team behind www.few.ae often notes, a little extra attention to timing, transport and dress can turn a midweek Imelda Gabs performance at GABA into one of your most memorable Dubai Marina nights this season (suitable for couples, solo visitors and small groups).
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