Rejoice, it’s a short week, which means you have more time to celebrate the end of April and usher in May with a bang. It’s never too late to plan the week—or the month for that matter—especially when there are exhibitions to visit, parties to be at and films to watch.
Monday, Apr 30
Fall Out Boy
CONCERT
Emo and punk fans—whether in the past or secretly now—rejoiced last November when American rock band Fall Out Boy announced via Twitter that they’d be stopping by Singapore for the Asian leg of The Mania Tour this year. Now they have a total of seven records to boot, proving that they’re not about to just fizzle out and die like other similar bands of that era, despite going on hiatus in 2010. Apr 30
PARTY
Ready to get your sweat drippin’ on the the dancefloor? Baby Boy, a queer night for lovers of R&B and Hip Hop from the ’90s to present day (and brought to you by the same people behind Mismatch), returns for its third installment; this time at Canvas Singapore. Work that booty to the sounds of everything from Aaliyah to Ashanti, Brandy to Beyonce, Mary J Blige to M.I.A., Missy Elliott to Mariah Carey… you get the drill. Apr 30
PARTY
Prepare for another night of Transfix at Capital as Norwegian trance producer and DJ Orjan Nilsen takes over the deck this Labour Day eve. Apr 30
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 1
FKJ / Bondax
CONCERT
Local promoters Moonbeats Asia is throwing a massive All Play, No Work party this Labour Day with a double-bill line-up featuring French multi-instrumentalist and singer FKJ and English electronic music duo Bondax. May 1
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 1
EXHIBITION
Singapore artist Brian Gothong Tan’s “Lost Cinema” is an exploration of Asian filmography. He deconstructs tropes often found in this genre, with a focus on three iconic films that will help answer questions like, “How does our perception of a film change when live performances by the actors are introduced?” and “How does the mood or narrative change when colour and sound are removed from a film?” Through May 6
FILM
And among the hundreds of events scheduled for this year’s SIFA is the pinnacle performing arts festival’s 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
Wednesday, May 2
Peroni Sunset Cinema
FILM
Your favorite outdoor cinema series, Peroni Sunset Cinema on Tanjong Beach returns for a second run, presenting blockbusters like Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri, The Shape of Water and more. May 2-13
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. May 2-27
FILM
The sixth edition of the Singapore Chinese Film Festival, a joint program organized by Singapore Film Society (SFS) and Centre for Chinese Studies, Singapore University of Social Sciences (CCS@SUSS), returns with a whopping 58 films in total across four main segments: Chinese Panorama (narrative feature films), Documentary Vision (documentaries), Chinese Shorts Showcase (short films) and a Tribute to Leslie Cheung (four films to pay homage to the man himself). Through May 6
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 3
Harry Styles
CONCERT
At his debut sold-out show last year, Harry Styles worked the crowd like a natural rock star in his floral get-up. Together with his four-piece band, Styles performed songs from his self-titled debut solo album, along with covers of rock anthems and of course, his renditions of two One Direction hits. “Due to overwhelming demand”, he’s added 56 more shows to his sold-out world tour, including one to Singapore with Warpaint. May 3
PARTY
Zouk is turning 27 this year. They’re celebrating it with a three-day weekend bender of sorts, with guest DJs Marshmello, Ben Nicky and Zouk residents helming the decks. May 3-5
THEATER
After sold-out success in London, Los Angeles, New York and Hong Kong, UK-based theater company Secret Theatre Project is finally coming to 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. May 3-Jun 10
FESTIVAL
The Singapore International Festival of Arts (SIFA) is back and this 2018 edition marks the changing of the guard at the helm as Singapore Repertory Theatre director Gaurav Kripalani takes over the festival. He’s promised to make this a more accessible festival this year. Expect more than 100 events spread over three weeks by performers from 15 countries at 13 venues. Through May 12
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 4
Singapore Cocktail Festival
DRINK
Prepare for a boozy 10 days at this year’s upsized Singapore Cocktail Festival. Expect the same cocktail bar tours, exciting parties, workshops, great drink promos and more, as well as the weekend-long Festival Village. May 4-13
PARTY
The best of Singaporean and Parisian nightlife come together for one night as Sofitel Singapore City Centre brings its signature party series, La Nuit (literally meaning “the night”), to Singapore for the very first time, as part of the on-going Voilah! French Festival Singapore. The night promises a multi-sensory experience with experimental cocktails, a virtual stage, collaborative beats between French DJ Stephane Pompougnac and Singapore’s own DJ Kaylova and more to keep you revelling all night. May 4
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 4
PARTY
Boogie down to the tunes of German DJ-producer Tensnake at Kilo, as he dishes out his brand of soulful and deep house music. May 4
CONCERT
Much can change in the course of a year. When Dua Lipa first came to Singapore for her Asia debut last May, her star was still faintly on the rise. Signed with Warner Bros Records since 2015, she presented an intimate acoustic showcase of early hits. This year, a newly inducted member of the teen pop star hall of fame, the award-winning artist is blessing us all—by returning to our shores for a full solo concert. May 4
PARTY
Singapore’s coolest parking lot bar, The Great Escape, will be popping off with a delicious cauldron of classic funk, soul groove, jazz, afro, hip-hop, house and disco music, freshly prepared and dished out by the likes of MC SWTLKR and DJs Kenneth Francis, Ramesh, Jean-Baptiste and more at this edition of Kampong Boogie. May 4
PARTY
Let Adrian Wee and Cats On Crack whip you into shape with their regime of house, indie disco and electronica at Modern Love, happening at Tuff Club. May 4
FESTIVAL
May the Fourth be with you. We’re just less than a month away from the release of the second Star Wars anthology film, Solo: A Star Wars Story. To tide you over the excruciating wait, celebrate Star Wars Day at the F1 Pit Building. May 4-5
MARKET
The weekend lifestyle market over at One KM Mall in Tanjong Pagar has been running since March, but the May edition is a special pre-Hari Raya festive market. Look forward to stall owners selling organic vegetables and foods, clothing, handmade accessories, gadgets and gifts, as ewll as modest wear and Muslim fashion this month. May 4-6
EXHIBITION
Singapore artist Brian Gothong Tan’s “Lost Cinema” is an exploration of Asian filmography. He deconstructs tropes often found in this genre, with a focus on three iconic films that will help answer questions like, “How does our perception of a film change when live performances by the actors are introduced?” and “How does the mood or narrative change when colour and sound are removed from a film?” Through May 6
EXHIBITION
You’d think a traveling exhibition from the London Natural History Museum would be hard to top, but ArtScience Museum’s upcoming shtick will trace 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 will feature 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
