This first weekend of May sure is a doozy. With two big live gigs, numerous “May The Fourth” events and more parties than you can be at in a single weekend, you’re gonna have to be some sort of Avenger with the ability to split yourself up (or clone yourself) to go for everything.
Friday, May 4
Dua Lipa
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
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
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
FILM
Of course there’d be a screening of Star Wars: The Force Awakens on May the 4th. Head down to The Working Capitol and relive the greatest moments (and twists) in the seventh episode of the space opera. 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
WORKSHOP
Every Star Wars fan needs his or her very own lightsaber. Co-making space Mox is holding a special workshop where you’ll learn to make one for yourself. Oh, and they’re durable enough for friendly duels. May 4-6
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 well as modest wear and Muslim fashion this month. May 4-6
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
Zouk is turning 27 this year. They’re celebrating it with a three-day weekend bender of sorts (starting from Thursday), with guest DJs Marshmello, Ben Nicky and Zouk residents helming the decks. Through May 5
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
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
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
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. Through Jun 10
Saturday, May 5
Amek Gambar: Peranakans and Photography. (Tan Kim Ching and family. Photo credit: Peranakan Museum, gift of Mr and Mrs Lee Kip Lee)
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. May 5, 2018-Feb 3, 2019
PARTY
While the view of Singapore’s skyline from Ce La Vi at night is stupendous, you should also take the chance to see it during the day. And what better than to swing by their hectic and super fun daytime Sky High Brunch party, where you can sip on endless glasses of boozy, get your munchers on delicious grub and boogie to groovy tunes. May 5
DRAG/PARTY
It’s gonna be a mean, sordid affair of disco, drag, dim sum and daytime dancing over at Tuff Club, as Yum Yum Disco Dong’s Bobby drops some yummy disco classics while Riot!’s Becca D’Bus and her gang of dumplings wow you with drag performances throughout the day. May 5
PARTY
Get down to a night of reggae and dub at Root Down, where big-time reggae and dub selectas like Ras Irie and Sham Em, together with Lion Steppaz Sound System, will take over The Great Escape with roots and culture music lasting into the wee hours of the morning. May 5
FILM
The Singapore International Festival of Arts (SIFA) returns for its 41st edition, marking a change of guard at the helm as Singapore Repertory Theatre director Gaurav Kripalani takes over as festival director. And among the hundreds of events scheduled 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
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. Through May 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. 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
Sunday, May 6
The Great Race at Mazel Galerie (Contemporary Chinese Zodiac, Laurina Paperina)
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
DRINK/FOOD/PERFORMANCE
For the second year running, Poland Shiok! returns to the greens of Botanic Gardens where you can enjoy a fine afternoon of picnicking to the soundtrack of Polish music performed live by Polish musicians on the Shaw Foundation Symphony Stage. Just pre-order your picnic baskets, which comes with a complete cocktail set, Polish nibbles and picnic gear, on BottleXO’s app. May 6
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 6-7
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 Magda Danysz, Banksy, Shepard Fairey and more. Through Jun 3
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
