It’s gonna be May. Sorry, we had to; we hope your month ahead looks grossly clear, because it’s about to be filled up in a flash. There’s the return of much-anticipated festivals to look forward to, whether your fancy lies with getting tipsy for three days straight (Singapore Cocktail Festival), or spending the weekend with international award-winning shows (Singapore International Festival of Arts). Our local theatre troupes are pulling out all the stops too, with Drama Box and Pangdemonium presenting original productions investigating patriarchy and female violence. And if you haven’t already snapped up tickets, make a date with the likes of Jason Mraz and Troye Sivan as they head down to our humble little island this month.
CONCERT
Florida-based alt rock band Mayday Parade first debuted A Lesson In Romantics in 2007, an album that later goes on to become a staple among alternative music fans and Warped Tour frequenters. Today, Mayday Parade still manages to stay relevant—a feat rarely accomplished by bands and singers across genres. Here’s a show not to be missed, especially for fans of mid-2000s pop-punk/alternative rock/emo music. Tickets from $79. More info here. May 1
MARKET
OG coffee people Nylon Coffee Roasters are celebrating seven great years of being in the buzzy Everton Park food enclave. They’re bringing their neighbours together for a Nylon Community Market where you can shop signature products, services and baked goods. All proceeds of the day will got o non-profit organisation charity: water. May 1
PARTY
Kampong Boogie returns to where it all started at Golden Mile Complex for a daytime rooftop disco. Get down to funk, soul, groove, hip-hop and more with regulars MC SWTLKR, DJ KFC, and other Golden Mile all-stars. May 1
THEATRE
Decipher the silent terrors of patriarchal violence in local theatre company Drama Box’s new experiential installation-performance FLOWERS, where you’re free to explore an actual terrace house in Chip Bee Gardens—the home of the production’s central patriarch. May 1-5
FILM
Nothing like catching an award-winning film with the sand between your toes and an ice-cold beer in hand. Peroni Sunset Cinema returns for its third edition with a bevy of newly minted Oscar winners—the likes of Green Book, Bohemian Rhapsody, and A Star Is Born. May 2-15
CONCERT
It seems like just yesterday that we met Troye Sivan on his very first fan-signing session here. Now quite the superstar, the “Dance to This” singer returns to our shores with his long-awaited, headlining Bloom Asia Tour in Singapore. Tickets from $98. May 3
FESTIVAL
Orchard Road is launching a new monthly pop-up concept celebrating the buskers of our famed shopping street. Night At Orchard will showcase the best talents across music, arts, and craftsmanship in an open-air event happening the first weekend of every month. Stop by the inaugural edition for smooth tunes and acoustic melodies. May 3-5
DRAG
The second edition of the ultimate face-off for all our amateur local queens, Drag Wars 2, is about to reach its finale, so make sure to head down to Monti @ 1-Pavilion to support your favourites as they sashay their way to victory. May 4
PARTY
Following a laundry list of worldwide festival appearances, London jazz keyboardist and record producer Kamaal Williams makes a pit stop over at Kilo Lounge for a night of bewitching percussive rhythms. May 4
PARTY
If conventional pop tunes aren’t your cup of tea, put on your boogie-shoes and head down to Intermission Bar at The Projector, for a night of beats inspired by African music and culture with Afrodisia Collective. Dance to the eclectic rhythms and ambrosial blends of melodic elucidations from DJ Rushmo, Sadat, Jasmyn and local veteran DJ Anand from 10.30pm till late. May 4
EXHIBITION
Singapore’s Golden Boy street artist Speak Cryptic is holding a solo exhibition at Gillman’s Chan + Hori Contemporary. Open My Heart, Ease My Task, Loosen the Knot on My Tongue takes reference from a prayer of Moses; on this the artist draws to present his collection of drawings, paintings, installations, public art and performance-based work. May 4-Jun 9
FOOD
Shangri-La Hotel is holding their inaugural Gastrofest, a one-day only event of culinary delights bringing together some of the island’s most-loved F&B concepts. Feast from a sumptuous spread from the likes of TONO Cevicheria, Meat Smith, Coconut Club and Springleaf Prata, along with the hotel’s own restaurants The Line and Waterfall Ristorante Italiano. Don’t forget to stop by the Gin Garden for drinks from East Imperial and Drinksfellas. May 5
EXHIBITION
One of Singapore’s smallest minority communities is finally having their moment in the spotlight at Chetti Melaka of the Straits: Rediscovering Peranakan Indian Communities. Come hear the lesser-known stories of the Chetti Melaka, also known as Peranakan Indians—descendants of early South Indian migrants who to Singapore in the 15th and 16th centuries, and married local Chinese or Malay women. Through May 5
FESTIVAL
Perk up, fans of flora. An offshoot of the annual Singapore Garden Festival returns, bringing with it the debut of an all-new Horticulture Show. The new segment seeks to provide a platform for locals to grow (pun intended) their love for greening, nurture an interest in horticulture, and simply soak in the beautiful displays, all from the comfort of Jurong Lake Gardens. Through May 5
DRINK
Taste tipples from London’s Quaglino’s, as the upmarket European restaurant-bar crosses the continent for a pop-up bar takeover at The Other Room. The team will showcase two cocktails devised by Bar Manager Marco Sangion and Head Mixologist Federico Pasian, from Quaglino’s exclusive cocktail menus, ‘Science of Sustainability’ and ‘All Time Classics’. May 8
DRINK
In the lead-up to Singapore Cocktail Festival, Nutmeg & Clove is celebrating their 5th anniversary with a series of guest bartender shifts, traversing Bangkok (Ann Pinsuda of The Bamboo Bar) to Australia (Matt Linktaker of Melbourne’s famed Black Pearl). Get chummy with Nutmeg & Clove’s former bar managers too, who will be returning from their respective bars for a joint homecoming shift on opening night. May 8-18
PARTY
This Is The ‘90s takes over Cherry Discotheque for a night of your favourite ‘90s bangers—from Backstreet Boys to Britney, TLC to Tupac and Biggie—accompanied by stirring visuals from classic ‘90s Hollywood flicks. May 10
WELLNESS/FESTIVAL
Get your life together and your chakras in place at the Love & Light Festival, back for a second run. Sit down with renowned “light workers” and exhibitors to shed light on your path ahead, or go browsing at the marketplace for some new crystals and art pieces. May 10-12
DRINK/FESTIVAL
The long-awaited Singapore Cocktail Festival 2019 is finally back, with a bumper line-up of boozy fun for all cocktail lovers. Over at the Festival Village, explore pop-ups and a food street, and taste from headlining bartenders from the World’s 50 Best Bars list, who’ll be serving signature drinks for just $12. You’ll want to sign up for the all-new Bar Tours too—a guided four-bar hop highlighting the best of the spirits scene here. May 10-18
FILM/FESTIVAL
Film frenzy begins this weekend, with the return of the European Union Film Festival. Take your pick of 27 films from across Europe; whether it’s high-energy action flicks, musical comedies or even disaster movies, you’re bound to find something to watch. May 10-19
THEATRE
The next Pangdemonium production dives straight into the complexities surrounding #MeToo. Written by local playwright Ken Kwek, This Is What Happens to Pretty Girls finds its weight in real accounts from over 100 women and men Kwek interviewed. Read our interview with him here. May 10-26
DRAG
It’s another colourful, over-the-top affair at RIOT! hosted by national treasure Becca D’ Bus. Support our local drag royalty as they sing, strut, and bring the house (Hard Rock Singapore) down; then stay for the afterparty Queer-aoke by Baby Boy. May 11
CONCERT
Singapore just can’t get enough of Jason Mraz, can we? Having performed here recently in Oct 2018, the American singer-songwriter will be stepping onto our sunny island once again with his Good Vibes Tour. May 11
CONCERT
Dubbed the “Taiwanese Prince of Love Songs”, singer-cum-actor Jeff Chang is taking over the Singapore Indoor Stadium with nostalgic mandopop hits such as “Gone Too Far” and “Don’t Tell Him”, as part of his Continuum World Tour. May 11
FESTIVAL
Over 90 brands from Singapore’s sustainable community and dining scene are gathering at the return of Suntec’s Farm-to-People Festival, Sprout. Take part in the all-new cooking masterclasses and workshops, or just stock up with organic honey, teas and the like for your kitchen. May 11-12
DRAG
RuPaul’s Drag Race superstar and all-round comedy queen Katya takes her affable personality and Russian hooker persona to Singapore for one night only. We reckon you’ll come for the laughs, and stay for the sweetheart she truly is. May 12
EXHIBITION
In celebration of their 25th anniversary, Opera Gallery Singapore presents American Icons, where you’ll get to see the works of seminal contemporary American artists Andy Warhol, Jean-Michel Basquiat, Keith Haring and more, all curated neatly in one space. Through May 12
DRINK
1855 The Bottle Shop’s Wine & Whisky Week returns for its first 2019 edition, this time with an experiential “Breathe: Garden of Aromas” theme. Have fun and interact with the space while doing your usual bottle bargain hunting and tastings. Through May 12
FOOD
The annual World Gourmet Summit returns, this time, spotlighting the evergreen theme of sustainability for its 23rd running. Keep a lookout for masterchef dining experiences, special celebratory menus at participating restaurants, and the produce-forward Gastro-Market taking over the Chijmes Lawn once again. Through May 12
FOOD/FESTIVAL
An entire festival dedicated to God’s beautiful eggplant-based creation? Yes please. The quirky Singapore Hummus Festival by Beirut Grill is back for a third edition with a new menu of creamy flavours to complement their signature kebabs and wines. May 12-19
FOOD
Lime treats more than just the taste buds when you dine in this Mother’s Day with highlights like Roasted Beef Tomahawk, Caramelised Foie Gras served with Cherry Morello and Ginger Crumble and Baked Half Shell Oyster with Sweet and Sour Hollandaise Sauce that’s sure to set the celebratory mood and a complimentary Double-boiled Bird’s Nest Soup for every deserving mum. May 12-13
THEATRE
The Necessary Stage brings back power duo Haresh Sharma and Alvin Tan for a new and original, Bicentennial-themed play Civilised. With a cast of recognisable local favourites, excavate the historic shackles of our colonial past—which somehow haven’t managed to stay there. May 15
CONCERT
Thai-born, New Zealand-raised singer-cutie Phum Viphurit returns to Singapore for his Esplanade Concert Hall debut, where he’ll be performing the latest tracks off his upcoming new album, along with favourites like “Lover Boy” that first catapulted him onto everyone’s radar. May 15
CONCERT
As one of the fastest-rising acts on the scene, it’s no wonder tickets to Lauv’s upcoming concert sold out in a flash, and deservedly so. From being the opening act for Ed Sheeran to selling out not one, but two nights of his own solo show here, the pop visionary is certainly one to watch. May 15-16
EXHIBITION
Held poignantly at CBD gallery Hatch Art Project, I Would Prefer Not To Do Anything is a look at deep-rooted fatigue in today’s society. See artist Iqi Qoror’s surrealist works curated to give an intimate look into our universal state of burnout, worsened by an overwhelming culture or need to constantly project positivity. Through May 16
FESTIVAL
The Royal Thai Embassy’s annual Thai Festival returns to Orchard Road, with enough food, fruits, and fashion from the Land of Smiles to send you on a Bangkok binge for the next year. May 16-19
ART/FESTIVAL 
The island’s leading premiere arts festival is back and, in its 42 year, going strong as ever. The Singapore International Festival of Arts comes chock full of genre-blending performances and experimental shows from the world’s most renowned arts practitioners (think composer Ryuchi Sakamoto and theatremaker Tadashi Suzuki). Need to decompress after all the sensorial stimulation you’ll be experiencing? Head straight to the Festival House after for post-show drinks with the cast and creative team. May 16-Jun 2
FILM
Running as part of SIFA, Singular Screens curated by the Asian Film Archive brings together a stellar line-up of international and local cinema that could certainly rival the programme at the Singapore International Film Festival. Catch Asian flicks like Singapore’s own Demons, or more popular foreign favourites like Too Late To Die Young, from the producers of Call Me By Your Name. May 16-Jun 2
SPORT
Get ready for a seat-gripping, teeth-gritting weekend as world-class fight club ONE Championship returns to grace us with ONE: ENTER THE DRAGON at the Singapore Indoor Stadium. Be awed by the martial arts spectacle of skill, talent and wit, and expect the unexpected as newly crowned ONE Lightweight World Champion Shinya “Tobikan Judan” Aoki of Japan defends his title against rising star Christian “The Warrior” Lee. And the excitement does not end there. Witness the debut battle of Sage Northcutt for ONE against Cosmo Alexandre. May 17
PARTY
Zouk Singapore turns 28, which is kind of insane to think about, but a great excuse for a(nother) party. The weekend-long Art of Clubbing commemorates all the things that make Zouk great; kicking off with an all-star line-up featuring Swedish trio BROHUG, and closing with a total Zouk classic: Mambo Jambo (duh). May 17-19
PARTY
The inaugural Joo Chiat Festival celebrates the Eastside district’s 60th anniversary, with a music festival by the sea, fringe activities, and food and drink stalls. Happening at Siglap Outfall, East Coast Park, the bash will be headlined by live performances from local musicians including Ffion and M1ldl1fe. Westsiders, stay away if you don’t want to be bombarded by snooty Eastside contempt. May 18
QUIZ
Homegrown LGBTQ+ platform and app Prout is holding their first-ever Queer Trivia Night in conjunction with Two Queens Asia. Sign up as a group of 4 to 6 and put your trivia knowledge to the test; the winning team walks away with $200 worth of treatments from professional sugaring studio Sugared. And don’t worry, the trivia isn’t all queer-related; allies welcome too. May 23
FILM
Go Back To The Future with the ‘80s sci-fi classic at The Hive Singapore’s next rooftop cinema session of Open Air Film Club. Admission is free with any purchase of a popcorn combo. May 24
ARTS/FESTIVAL
Esplanade’s quirky arts festival Flipside returns, with participatory theatre, puppetry, and even gravity-defying circus arts, to challenge and “flip” preconceived notions of the arts in light-hearted and unexpected ways. May 24-Jun 2
TECH
Calling all in need of new gadgets! Singapore’s longest running IT and consumer electronics show is back. The PC Show 2019 returns to MBS Expo & Convention Centre with a bevy of the latest and greatest in the industry; act now or forever regret. May 30-Jun 2
EXHIBITION
Not your average gallery showcase, Rewild Our Planet is a social augmented reality experience held at ArtScience Museum that uses technology to bring to life planet Earth’s many beautiful landscapes. Go on a journey that’s out of this world, and arrive (hopefully) with a greater inward appreciation for our bountiful world. Through Jun 2
THEATRE
The longest running show in Broadway history, Andrew Lloyd Weber’s The Phantom of the Opera, is back in Singapore. If you missed it the last time it was here in 2013, the musical masterpiece makes its long-awaited return to the Sands Theatre. Through Jun 8
FOOD
Gemmill Lane’s secret supper series, the Jeremmy & Friends Supper Special at Le Binchotan, is back to satiate your late-night munchies, starting with a bang thanks to a collab with microbrewery Level33. Fill up on elevated comfort favourites and mark your calendars for more guest chef collabs happening on certain weekends. Through Jun 29
FOOD
There never needs to be a reason to gorge on durian, but Goodwood Park Hotel gives a mighty good one every year regardless. Come celebrate their annual Durian Fiesta, this time with six new exquisite D24 durian desserts, four perennial favourites, and a majestic appearance from the Mao Shan Wang in the form of a cheesecake. Through Jul 14
EXHIBITION
Food packaging—beautifully crafted plastic wraps, carton boxes, tin cans and more that inform, entice and make you wanna fork out dough you don’t have. But is that all there is to it? Journey through the history of modern day food packaging in Singapore at the National Museum’s Packaging Matters exhibit, and you just might find a renewed appreciation for all them compelling coverings. Through Sep 15
EXHIBITION
The ArtScience Museum’s next big showcase is a whimsical one sure to be a hit with all audiences. Leading us all through the rabbit hole is Wonderland, which celebrates all the intrigue of Lewis Carroll’s timeless universe, and invites you to step through the looking glass for an immersive museum experience. Our guide to the exhibition here. Through Sep 22
