In this city, it pays to plan ahead. You know how it is—you want to be a good friend, so you over-commit, and suddenly your weekends are block booked months in advance. If it’s not a wedding in Bali, it’s a quick jaunt to Bangkok, and before you know it, it’s Christmas already and you’ve barely spent a weekend here in months. It doesn’t help that there are now so many events happening here, so filtering through the noise gets harder with each passing week. What’s truly worth sticking around for? F1, obviously. But here’s the best of what else is coming in the next few months.
1. Baybeats 2011 **FREE**The premier showcase for upcoming indie bands from Singapore and the region, this year’s musical jamboree promises a three-day fest of alt rock, folk, punk, post-rock and metal. Held all around the Esplanade, this one is not just for hipsters in skinny jeans. (Though there’ll be plenty of them around to laugh at.) “This is a festival for the young, young-at-heart and just about anyone who wants to know more about the Asian alternative music scene,” says Esplanade’s Programming Officer Ye JunMin.In any case, no-one’s ever too old to show their support for local musicians, and this is a great chance to check out upcoming bands like Cheating Sons, Seyra, Arajua and The Rejeks, who made the cut at the Baybeat auditions earlier in the year. “It’s a fantastic opportunity for established and new local talents to showcase their musical art,” adds Cheating Son’s bassist Don Loh. “Besides, the line-up of both local and foreign bands serves to remind us to keep stepping up our game.” Other highlights include the Pinoy apocalyptic rock outfit Moscow Olympics (and it’s hard to argue with ambition like that) and Indonesia’s Bangkutaman.Baybeats 2011 is from August 19-21.Log on to www.baybeats.com for the full line-up and updates.
2. Voyage Night Festival 2011 **FREE**Where to start with the Voyage Night Festival? Taking over the Bras Basah civic district for two weekends back to back, it offers a smorgasbord of art, music, installations, performance, dance and film. Ignore the talk of “interdisciplinary displays” and “multi platform showcases” and just enjoy the creativity on show in, out and around the National Museum. This third edition will celebrate the historical culture and roots of the area (and it sure beats a walking tour). By invoking the memories of explorers, traders, immigrants and pilgrims, curator Goh Ching Lee (previously with the Singapore Arts Festival) hopes to “inject energy and movement into Singapore’s nocturnal rhythm.” A kind of cultural Viagra, then.Not to be missed: The interactive light installations “Nightlights” (look out for the works “Lyrical Perspective’”and “Parking Mad” in particular, which feature 1024 Architecture and French artist Benedetto Buffalino), an outdoor performance by Belgian group Theatre TOL that celebrates an intercultural wedding and sound exhibition “Ulysses Syndrome” by Soundwalk, who retraces and recorded the route of Homer’s Odyssey on an old sailboat along the Greek and Corsican coastlines. Oh, and the shows are all free—so there’s really no excuse not to go.Voyage Night Festival is on from August 26-27 and September 2-3.3. The Substation’s 21st AnniversaryOur experimental indie institution is all grown up. Host to many landmark events over the years (if you missed The Stoned Revivals’ farewell gig held in late June this year, shame on you), the brainchild of late, legendary local playwright Kuo Pau Kun represents the very best of alternative Singapore. To commemorate their 21st birthday, they’ve lined up SeptFest, the inaugural edition of what they plan to be an annual event right through until they turn 25. To kick things off, there’s a line-up of edgy performances, including the not-to-be-missed premiere of Kuo Pau Kun’s homage Dance, Tree. Dance, a multi-disciplinary performance that incorporates elements of dance, theater, sound and film. Visual artist Bruce Quek will also unveil his specially commissioned work “The Hall of Mirrors”, an installation that mirrors an echo-chamber.The Substation’s 21st Anniversary runs from September 2-30.Log on to www.substation.org for full line-up.4. 24th Singapore International Film FestivalNever mind that the line-up remains unconfirmed as of press time, we’re excited to see the return of this particular shindig, after going AWOL last year. There’s been some internal reshuffling of sponsors and festival directors, and there’s a real sense of expectation after the lackluster response to ScreenSingapore earlier this year. Rumor has it that the usual eclectic screening schedule will be supplemented by newly introduced fringe activities, including a symposium by Lucasfilm Animation, and a weekend film-themed carnival for all the family. True Blood fans (is there anyone who isn’t?), are likely in for a treat, too.Sep 15-25. Shaw Lido, 350 Orchard Rd., 6732-4124. Various venues and times.Log onto www.filmfest.org.sg for further updates.5. AvalonIf there’s a club that you’d need to see and be seen in this year, this is surely it. Singapore’s biggest club yet at 17,000 sq. ft. is finally opening in one of Marina Bay Sands’ Crystal Pavillions. Hollywood-based club sensation Avalon, brainchild of party visionary Steve Adelman, promises an endless onslaught of big name DJs, musical acts and surprise celebrity appearances, that may well reset the bar when it comes to nightlife in this city. Just check out the line-up when it officially launches on Sep 16: Massive Attack, The Chemical Brothers, Kruder & Dorfmeister, Benny Benassi, Sander Van Doorn, M.A.N.D.Y, Boy George, Sander Kleinenberg, Simian Mobile Disco, The Toxic Avenger—if there’s one thing we’re worried about, it’s simply being too tired to make it to every event.“Avalon’s one-of-a-kind space combined with our 20-plus years of experience providing nightlife at its highest level, should at least entice people to give us a try,” says Adelman, with a pinch of modesty (after all, the original Hollywood location has hosted Oscars and Grammys after-parties, as well as the MTV Music Awards). “We welcome anyone who appreciates our offering, which will be multi dimensional and will include three separate areas—a bit of something for everyone.”Designed by revered New York-based design duo Roman and Williams, the feel of the club is slinky and exclusive, boasting warm, sensual colors, custom furniture in wood and leather interlocks, state-of-the-art sound system and a jaw-dropping exterior, shaped like a giant 3D diamante dome. A killer combo of pure style and musical substance—what more could you ask for?Avalon launches on September 16, followed by a crazy line-up the week after including the return of dance music festival Avalon at Large on Sep 21-23.Log on to http://avalon.sg to book your tickets and for more updates.6. dan:s FestivalConnecting the dots between contemporary hip hop and West Papuan tribesmen (no, really), is this festival celebrating all things dance. Besides traditional favorites like the flamenco flaunting of the Ballet Nacional de Espana, the contemporary performances in Hofesh Shetcher’s Political Mother and 6,000 miles away with acclaimed French ballerina Slyvie Guillem are bound to impress, even if you know next to nothing about dance.October 7-15. Esplanade, 1 Esplanade Dr., 6828-8377. $15-120 from Sistic.Log on to www.dansfestival.com for the full line-up.7. Singapore Writers Festival (SWF)The 20th edition of SWF returns with the theme “Transaction” as it delves into how pivotal commercial exchanges are in our daily lives—from our individual purchase and consumption of goods and services, to the business of the global economy. Fortunately, they’ve got some solid names in store to enlighten us as to what that really means.While the full line-up is yet confirmed, luminaries including popular economist Steven Levitt (of Freakonomics fame), as well as novelists Vikas Swarup, Manu Joseph and Chen Guanzhong.Frankly, SWF plays second fiddle to the much more widely known Ubud Writers and Readers Festival down in Bali (5-9 October, if you fancy it), but this might yet be the year that it comes into its own. And for local author Dave Chua, it should be celebrated anyway, since it manages to avoid the “high art and stoic nature of most literary festivals.”No less than 100 talks and seminars are scheduled across the city from SMU to SAM, SOTA to The Arts House—so be prepared to do some running around if you want to catch them all.October 22-30. Various venues.Log on to www.singaporewritersfestival.com for more information and ticketing info.8. The NationalUndoubtedly the biggest disappointment of this year’s Mosaic Music Festival was the last minute cancellation of Ohio-born, Brooklyn-based band The National. (To be fair, they were due to play Japan around the time of the earthquake, so at least they had a good excuse.) Come Nov 6, disappointed fans will get their chance to watch their long awaited debut. Frontman Matt Berninger sings like a man possessed (we should know, we saw him steal Morrissey’s thunder at London’s Wireless Festival a few years back), and if “Fake Empire” doesn’t send a tingle down your spine, there’s something wrong with you. Our advice: Use the next few months to learn the songs off their most recent album High Violet by heart.The National is set to play on November 6 at the Esplanade Concert Hall.
9. Affordable Art Fair 2011After a successful first edition last year here, with sales totalling over $1.75 million (and much fun along the way—we’ll be back for sure), the Affordable Art Fair (AAF) returns Nov 18 with an even more coveted selection, including prints by acclaimed Japanese icon Takashi Murakami (You heard it here first). “This year, we are looking to offer visitors different types of art such as media art in the form of lightbox installations, in addition to the traditional canvas or paper types of works as well as prints,” says marketing manager Alan Koh. ‘It’s important that we continue to keep that element of surprise.”And if you’re a supporter of local talent, check out a specially-curated section featuring upcoming young Singaporean artists. Sales of artworks aside, there will also be free talks by leading art experts from Sotheby’s Institute of Art, as well as workshops about various art techniques. If it all gets too much, you can chill out at the café or wine bar which will be located within the complex, offering you the perfect spot to sit and contemplate that eternal question: But is it art?Affordable Art Fair 2011 runs from November 18 and 20. www.affordableartfair.sg
10. Richard IIIWe love to champion local arts, but we’re big fans of international collaborations, too. The Singapore Repertory Theatre (SRT) will be playing host to Richard III, the final play of The Bridge Project, a three-year collaboration between New York’s BAM (Brooklyn Academy of Music), London’s The Old Vic and UK-based indie production house Neal Street Productions. With Hollywood A-Lister Kevin Spacey of American Beauty fame playing the colorful tyrant and Sam Mendes (who directed Spacey in that film) behind the curtains, you can be assured of something saucy. Critics—both local and international—have been raving about the production. “It’s just one of the best theater productions I have ever seen,” says Charlotte Nors, the SRT’s Executive Director who caught the show in London. “It all comes together —great set, evocative score, standout performances and a compelling story.”Richard III is from November 17-26 at Esplanade Theatre.
