With the first ever Dubai Sound City now a not so distant, fond memory, Liverpool’s Sound of Guns can reflect on a surreal experience in the Middle East where shows were fitted around prayer time and there was a fear of leaving the hotel room.

“Weird... that’s the only way to describe it,” said frontman Andy Metcalfe. “It’s like a Middle Eastern Disney Land.”

The Liverpool five-piece were invited to play at Dubai Sound City after playing at the original Liverpool version last year. They played alongside fellow Scousers, The Zutons, at St George’s Hall and it’s that show where they think they persuaded the organisers to invite them.

The band received an email before flying out to Dubai reminding them of the ‘correct’ way to behave whilst in a country that is known for its strict cultural protocol.

“It said we couldn’t drink alcohol in a public place, no swearing, don’t say anything religious and don’t say anything political. Basically, they should have just said don’t be Andy Metcalfe,” said the frontman.

Guitarist Nathan Crowley added: “Me and our manager, Paul, were scared to leave the hotel room. It got to the point where the maids were knocking and we just answered with our heads around the door and said ‘we’re fine’ and then closed the door... we basically bedded in like John and Yoko.”

In truth, the band admit that it was nowhere near as strict as most would have us believe, however nothing could interfere with prayer time. “The set could never get in the way so if a band were halfway through their set, they just had to stop, “ explained drummer, Si Finley. “It happened to Ocean Colour Scene, they got three songs in and then had to stop for 25 minutes.”

Dubai is well known for its ever changing and modern landscape. They have no problem in creating land for buildings to grow from and it was no different for the main stage at the festival.

“Where the main stage was used to be a lake and they’d filled it in with concrete, put a wooden floor on and built a stage. On the first day there we saw six ducks just walking around looking confused,” laughed Nathan.

The festival had a strong Liverpool contingent with Echo and the Bunnymen set to play (they cancelled due to sickness) and members from The Farm flying out. This, Andy explained, made waiting at baggage claim feel like standing in Bold Street.

Andy: “It was mad, we were walking through Dubai airport and I turned around and there was Peter Hooton from The Farm. It didn’t actually feel like we were miles away from Liverpool."

Other acts on the line up included; The Wombats, Happy Mondays, The Futureheads and Human League.