CALLING all music enthusiasts; mark your calendars and start rallying friends!

Live & Loud KL 07 is bringing you a 10-day music festival showcasing more than fifty international, regional and local artistes - all chart-toppers and icons of their genres.

Some of the music world's biggest names like pop legends Whitney Houston (left), Dionne Warwick and James Ingram, R&B veterans Kool and the Gang, Shaggy and American Idol star Elliot Yamin will be performing full sets of their latest and classic hits. A host of local performers such as Adibah Noor, Jaclyn Victor, Hannah Tan, Zainal Abidin and Fish Leong will also be featured.

Every day a different tune

The massive showcase kicks off on Nov 23 till Dec 2, each day offering a different genre, a different theme and different tune to dance along to.

The highlights of the festival are the two main events - Turn on the Pop and the World Music, Heritage and Culture Night.

Turn on the Pop, on Saturday Dec 1, is one of Live and Loud's most highly anticipated events. The nine-hour music marathon will feature stars like Whitney Houston, Elliott Yamin, Shaggy, Project Pop, James Taylor Quartet along with local and regional Joe Flizzow, Anuar Zain, One Buck Short, Dina, Hannah Tan, Sufiah Noor and Jaclyn Victor.

On Sunday Dec 2, Bukit Kiara Equestrian Park will be transformed into a celebration of music and culture with the World Music, Heritage and Culture Night. The line-up includes Zainal Abidin, Akademi Fantasia Talents, Malaysia Troupe, Japan Troupe, China Troupe, Cambodia Troupe and New Zealand Troupe. Offering this as a family event, organisers are inviting children to the world music night, free of charge!

Themed nights

Leading up to the two main events, several thematic events will be held across Kuala Lumpur.

The first themed showcase, held on Sunday Nov 25, is Chinese All Stars featuring stars like Zhang Hui Mei (A-Mei), Michael Wong, Fish Leong, Victor Wong, Andrew Tan, Zhang Zhen Yue, Claire Kuo and Vincy Chan.

Live & Loud KL is going retro on Tuesday Nov 27 with the Best of 80s. Kool and the Gang, James Ingram and Hazami are set to take audiences back to the disco era.

On Wednesday Nov 28, the festival spotlight shines on R&B music, giving centre stage to artistes like KCI & JoJo, Mint Condition, Lil' G of Silk, Taufik Batisah, Mark Douglas, Anuar Zain, Camelia, Jaclyn Victor, Azan (Ruffedge), Lah (VE), Nikki and Mode.

But if you're in a mood for a more laid-back acoustic experience, don't miss the Acoustic night with British sensation James Morrison, Rick Price and Dayang Nurfaizah

In a more intimate performance, five-time Grammy Award winner Dionne Warwick ( right ) will be singing some of her classic hits at an exclusive corporate dinner at Shangri-La Hotel, Kuala Lumpur on Monday Nov 26.

More than music

But wait, Live & Loud KL 07 isn't just about music.

It will also feature exhibits, seminars and workshops on the art and commerce of the music world. Look out for Live & Loud KL's information kiosk, Music Cube and Visuals, located at various Klang Valley locations.

Raw On Stage, at every performance venue, will give underground artists a chance to showcase their work and hopefully, launch their careers. Festival go-ers get to check out the best, undiscovered talents in the performing world.

The KL party circuit will also be abuzz with Live & Loud fever as guest DJs take the party into clubs with electronica tunes.

Labelled the largest, longest-running and most sensational music festival in Asia, this event might just be a yearly musical treat.

Not a bad final to our Visit Malaysia Year, eh?