Two notable Dubai talents have teamed up to form dance duo Hollaphonic, and are already causing quite a buzz on the local scene.

DJ Greg Stainer – known for his long-standing residency at Zinc, as well as his Radio One show – and MC Olly Wood (who has 29,000 Twitter followers) have teamed up to form a group that record label EMI Music Arabia is touting as ‘the first ever dance music duo to be signed to a major record label in the Middle East’. Debut single ‘I Don’t Want It To End’ is already picking up airplay – expect to read more here soon.

One of Dubai’s hottest beach venues has launched a cool new regular event. Rixos The Palm’s White X Beach Lounge will be ushering in sunset on Saturdays from 5pm with its new D Chill desi beach-party concept, then streaming through until 3am. Upcoming guests include Indian Ocean on Saturday January 26, Jal the Band on February 2 and Bandish on February 9. The venue will also be going head to head with another of Dubai’s best beach bars on Thursday January 31 when it hosts huge Swiss house name DJ Antoine. Also on The Palm, Nasimi Beach will be hosting Brit progressive housename John Digweed.

Indie fans, meanwhile, have cause for upset. The team behind award-winning alternative night Loaded have announced they’ll be taking a break ‘for a few months’, knocking a notable monthly night off our calendars. However, to keep guitar fans ticking over they’ll be releasing some fresh mixes over the hiatus – hear the first at soundcloud.com/loaded-just-good-music. Some relief, at least.

That’s all for this week, party people – it’s time to get out there and play.