Still reeling from the mother of all hangovers from last weekend? Yeah, the three-day Festival Village during Singapore Cocktail Festival over at the Empress Lawn sure was a doozy. And so was the three-day celebration for Zouk, who just turned 27! Alas, while you’re still regretting your decisions of the weekend at the office, look ahead because Singapore isn’t slowing down anytime soon, what with her long list of even more live gigs, film screenings and parties—and you shouldn’t either.
Monday, May 7
Bruno Mars
CONCERT
Three years after playing to a sold-out crowd in Singapore, singing sensation Bruno Mars makes his return to Singapore for his lauded “24K Magic World Tour”. Tickets are sold out, but look around the web or the Facebook event page and you might strike gold. May 7
FILM
Catch one of Studio Ghibli’s most moving works, the 1997 Japanese animated fantasy film, Princess Mononoke. Set in the late Muromachi period of Japan, join the young prince Ashitaka as he embarks on a journey to locate the cure for Tatarigami’s curse. May 7
FOOD
From Chinese xiao long baos to Italian ravioli, dumplings are a universal food that can be found in most cultures. It isn’t surprising that the Polish have their own iterations of dumplings. While pierogis are usually more common, Poland is known for dozens of other dumplings, which is what the Polish Dumpling Festival at So Sofitel Singapore is all about. You can also enjoy a bunch of other traditional dishes, like the barley soup “Krupnik”, pork tenderloin with chanterelle mushroom sauce, and more. May 7-11
EXHIBITION
Chinese New Year may be long over, but this new exhibition looks at the Chinese zodiac through the eyes of European artists. The internationally renowned Mazel Galerie from Brussels has commissioned The Great Race, a new exhibition that takes source material from the traditional Chinese zodiac. Through Jun 30
Tuesday, May 8
Stereophonics
CONCERT
It’s evident that Stereophonics has loyal fans in Singapore. They made their debut at Fort Canning Park (with The Great Spy Experiment as the opening act), rocking out to a 5000-strong crowd. And then they came back to rock out the same venue again in 2010 (remember that slipper incident?) and once more at The Coliseum in 2013. Now they’re returning, stronger than ever. May 8
COMEDY
Catch everyone’s favorite drag queen comedian Kumar as he dishes out his usual antics, politically incorrect rants and Singapore issues-based jokes at Canvas. May 8
EXHIBITION
Singapore-based Taiwanese indie pop art illustrator and designer Billy Ma will be showcasing pieces from his Sexy Sin City series at casual French dining eatery Merci Marcel, as part of the restaurant’s first-ever art exhibition. Each piece presents an otherwise provocative history of familiar Singapore neighborhoods juxtaposed against seemingly unassuming and less charming modern structures. May 8-Jun 15
FILM
Among the hundreds of events scheduled for this year’s Singapore International Festival of the Arts (SIFA) is their film series Singular Screens, which will see one Asian premiere and 12 Singapore premieres curated by Asian Film Archives. Each of these films celebrate the independent voices around the world and the power of the individual, and professes a love for cinema, providing unique cinematic visuals and narratives. Through May 11
FILM
Your favorite outdoor cinema series, Peroni Sunset Cinema on Tanjong Beach returns for a second run. Most screenings are already sold out, but you can still get tickets for The Post, Darkest Hour and American Made. Through May 13
EXHIBITION
Peranakan Museum’s latest exhibition, Amek Gambar: Peranakans and Photography, delves into the Southeast Asian history of photography through the pictured lives of the Peranakan community in the region. Through Feb 3, 2019
Wednesday, May 9
Emo Night at Kilo Lounge. Photo credit: Emonightsg’s Facebook page
PARTY
Yes, most of us saw that article about Emo Night. Nonetheless, the raucous night returns unscathed and unapologetic to Kilo Lounge once again for your nostalgic indulgence of mid-week screaming, moshing and memory-pegged, tear-jerking songs of yesteryear. May 9
PARTY
It may be a Wednesday night, but Spanish DJ/record label owner/electronic music producer John Talabot is gonna be in town. Back after five years, he’ll be dishing out his special blend of house and electronic music at The Great Escape for Escape 56’s sixth pop-up party. May 9
THEATER
The beloved annual Shakespeare in the Park by the Singapore Repertory Theatre was put on hold last year, but it returns this month thanks to a crowdfunding campaign. They’ll be staging Julius Caesar in its well-loved setting of Fort Canning Park. Through May 27
EXHIBITION
Human Version is an introspective exhibition filled with photographic and videographic works designed to explore the nascent relationship between humans and robots. Held at Alliance Francaise de Singapour’s La Galerie, the all-encompassing exhibition will give you a rare insight into research labs often kept away from the public eye. Through Jun 2
Thursday, May 10
EUFF – The Divine Order. Photo credit: Zodiac Pictures
FILM
The long-running European Union Film Festival (EUFF) is back for its 28th run, returning once again to their newfound home from last year, National Gallery Singapore. The festival presents more than 20 gripping, provocative and hilarious films from across the Europe. Check out our picks here. May 10-20
TALK
Remember that third language you picked up in university but slowly forgot because you didn’t have anyone to practise it with? If you still have it in you, join in the Singapor BlaBla Language Exchange where you can join various language groups to improve your skills. May 10
MUSICAL
Watch Elle Woods teach her friends to bend and snap in Legally Blonde—The Musical at the Mastercard Theatres at Marina Bay Sands. This multiple Tony award-nominated musical, which first premiered on Broadway in 2007, remains just as fab under the creative team that brought us Big League’s My Fair Lady—director Jeffery Moss and Tony-nominated choreographer Bob Richard. May 10-20
THEATER
UK-based theater company Secret Theatre Project has arrived in Singapore, bringing to locals their unique style of interactive theater. The experience essentially takes audience members on a high-budget theatrical production that can include anything from deciding a central character’s fate to journeying through a full-blown haunted house adventure. Through Jun 10
FOOD
Goodwood Park Hotel’s annual durian festival returns with all-time favorites like durian puffs, crepes, strudels, ice cream and more. Through Jul 22
Friday, May 11
Vini Vici
PARTY
It’s going to be a huge night at Zouk when Israeli duo Vini Vici drops by. Established in 2013, these producers are one of the biggest acts of psytrance, and have already received approving nods from biggies like Armin van Buuren and Infected Mushroom. May 11
TOUR
It’s one thing to take a walk through hell at Haw Par Villa during the day, and a whole other experience if you go at night. The twilight tour of Haw Par Villa is back—check out the infamous 10 Courts of Hell, King of Ghosts, the upcoming Hell’s Museum and the Aw family memorials. May 11
PARTY
You can’t really put a finger down on Hodge‘s music because it’s always evolving. To say that it’s techno would be pigeonholing his work. This Bristol artist takes it upon himself to create a sound that’s so unique to him by blending the bass weight of dubstep and bringing other electronic genres together seamlessly. He’ll be making his Singapore debut at Headquarters. May 11
MARKET
A new month calls for a new Katong Square market, which, with its vinyl records and vintage goods, touts itself as Singapore’s only true blue vintage flea market. Resident booths include familiar names like The Retro Factory, Memory Lane and The Great Vinyl Exchange—where you can pick up anything from retro haute couture to Art Deco pieces. This month, shop alongside live entertainment by local band Street Crickets, the market’s line-up of old-school DJs, and a magician. May 11-13
MARKET
If you’re in the area, pop by Tanjong Pagar Centre to pick up hand-sewn pouches, accessories and other trinkets from local handicraft entrepreneur Ohhgranny at the Andes Festival Market. May 11-17
DRINK
The Festival Village may be over but you can still enjoy the rest of Singapore Cocktail Festival’s fringe events around the city, which include cocktail bar tours, exciting parties, workshops, great drink promos and more. Through May 13
EXHIBITION
You’d think a traveling exhibition from the London Natural History Museum would be hard to top, but ArtScience Museum’s current shtick traces 40 years of street art, from its controversial beginnings as expressions of counterculture, to its current standing as a major pillar of contemporary art. Art from the Streets features the works of the world’s top street artists, such as Banksy, Shepard Fairey and more. Through Jun 3
MARKET
The Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts (NAFA) turns 80 this year. And to celebrate, they’re throwing an eight-week arts festival to showcase the school’s diverse talents. As part of the festival, a series of festival markets will take place each weekend, featuring craft-makers and jewellers, local fashion labels, original artworks and vintage collectibles. You can even be part of the excitement and book a booth here. Through Jun 3
