Aside from concerts featuring local music and bands, August’s Big Gigs will also rope in global superstars like Bastille, Justice, Sum 41 and Foo Fighters.
It might be Singapore’s birthday in August, but don’t expect a whole month of National Day anthems in the local music scene. From punk icons Sum 41 to indie-pop behemoths like Bastille, and even trailblazers of French house, Justice – these Big Gigs in August are the concerts that will make you feel proud you’re living in Singapore.
Oh Wonder: 3 August at Suntec Convention & Exhibition Centre
Ever wondered how two people can influence thousands? Simply direct your attention to this intimate duo from London. Boasting stirring duets, feel-good production and an on-stage chemistry that makes these two delightful to watch, Josephine Vander Gucht and Anthony West will tug at your heartstrings with their indie-pop earworms.
The Gathering presents Oh Wonder, 3 August, Hall 606 Suntec Convention & Exhibition Centre, 1 Raffles Boulevard, Singapore 039593; Tickets available here.
M1LDL1FE EP Launch: 5 August at 203 Henderson Road
Touted as one of Singapore’s top indie-rock bands at the moment, M1LDL1FE (FKA Take Two) officially opens the curtains on its new chapter and persona with an EP launch party in a gritty location. Known for their bouncy guitar licks reminiscent of Two Door Cinema Club and Last Dinosaurs, the quartet now unveils an electronic aesthetic that’s sounding as fresh as ever.
M1LDL1FE EP Launch, 5 August,#02-01, Blk 203 Henderson Road, Singapore 159546; Tickets available here.
LANY: 10 August at *SCAPE The Ground Theatre
Good on you if you managed to snag tickets to this gig before it sold out. Soaked in synths and bobbing atop clean beats, the sound of LANY salutes and milks what’s hot in the modern pop world, and takes it to a higher level with infectious singles like “Good Girls” and “Super Far”. Topped off with the silky-smooth vocals of Paul Klein, this trio is rising swiftly to the top.
Secret Sounds Asia and Live Nation Lushington present LANY, 10 August, *SCAPE The Ground Theatre, 2 Orchard Link, Singapore 237978
Iman’s League 4th album launch show: 12 August at Hood Bar and Café
Singapore has a thriving punk scene as well, and one of the bands leading the charge since 2007 is Iman’s League. Having won awards across the region and toured from Malaysia to Japan, this rambunctious outfit is now on its fourth album titled The Only Way Is Up, signalling the trajectory of their craft and status. They’ll be opened by fellow noisemakers, Amterible, Take-Off, and ANGRYKIDS all the way from Jakarta.
Iman’s League 4th album launch show, 12 August, Hood Bar and Café, #05-07 Bugis+, 201 Victoria Street, Singapore 188067; Free entry.
Bastille: 14 August at The Star Performing Arts Centre
Back with his commanding vocals (and gravity-defying hair), Dan Smith returns to Singapore after two years with his Bastille mates. Dominating the indie-pop airwaves with anthems like “Pompeii” and “Things We Lost In The Fire”, this UK group continues to be on the rise with sing-a-long hooks and larger-than-life showmanship.
Bastille, 14 August, The Star Performing Arts Centre, 1 Vista Exchange Green, #04-01, Singapore 138617; Tickets available here.
Justice: 15 August at Zouk Singapore
Daft Punk aren’t the only ambassadors of French electronic music; fans of the electro and French house movement of the noughties can attest to that. Making everyone do the D.A.N.C.E. for over a decade is the revered Justice, a duo that recently made a comeback while sounding as magnificent as ever. Brace yourself for big synths.
Justice, 15 August, Zouk Singapore, #01-05 The Cannery, 3C River Valley Road, Singapore 179022; Tickets available here.
DNCE: 15 August at Suntec Convention Centre
You might as well wear a dunce hat and sit in a corner if you miss this gig – especially if you’re a fan of Joe Jonas. The charmer from the Jonas Brothers has carved a niche of his own with his bandmates from the disco-pop outfit, DNCE. With hits like “Cake By The Ocean” and “Toothbrush”, this cutting-edge crew is reshaping the boundaries of pop music.
DNCE, 15 August, Hall 403, Suntec Convention Centre, 1 Raffles Boulevard, Singapore 039593; Tickets available here.
Cigarettes After Sex: 17 August at Capitol Theatre
Close your eyes, and be whisked away by the intimate lullabies of Cigarettes After Sex. Expect the opposite of a large-scale concert here; this band is known for their tender, downtempo, dream-pop numbers cradled with reverb-soaked guitars and Greg Gonzalez’s hushed, guy-next-door vocals.
Cigarettes After Sex, 17 August, Capitol Theatre, 11 Stamford Road, Singapore 178884; Tickets available here.
All Time Low: 17 August at The Coliseum
Helping fans get out of their lowest points for over a decade are these veterans from Baltimore. One of the pop-punk scene’s most popular ambassadors, All Time Low makes another comeback to Singapore with a seventh album, Last Young Renegade, in tow. With supercharged rock arrangements and earnest lyrics that hit close to home, this band will take you along on an all-time high.
All Time Low: The Young Renegades Tour, 17 August, The Coliseum, Resorts World Sentosa, 8 Sentosa Gateway, Singapore 098269; Tickets available here.
Singapore Night Festival: 18-26 August at Bugis-Bras Basah
While not a concert in itself, the Singapore Night Festival annually plays host to a bevy of homegrown gigs in the artsy district, with this year being no different. Get a taste of New Orleans with the New Stream Brass Band; sway to samba with the festival’s HOMEMADE programme featuring local musicians; and if you love thunderous drums and percussions, check out mammoth troupe, Bloco Singapura, and the Chinese ZingO Festival Drum Group.
Singapore Night Festival 2017, 18-26 August, Bugis-Bras Basah; For more information on acts and times of performances, visit the official website.
Sum 41: 24 August at Zepp@Bigbox
If you grew up in the ’90s, chances are, you would’ve had a one-man mosh in your bedroom to these punk-rockers. The Canadian rascals behind hits like “In Too Deep”, “Fat Lip”, “The Hell Song” and “Pieces”, Sum 41 makes their return to our sunny shores with a beefed-up ensemble and cantankerous numbers laden with shredded riffs and energetic harmonies.
Sum 41, 24 August, Zepp@Bigbox, 1 Venture Avenue, Singapore 608521; Tickets available here.
Foo Fighters: 26 August at National Stadium
Wipe away your tears from the disappointment that was 2012, when the Foo Fighters’ much-anticipated show at the Padang was cancelled. These rock legends have confirmed their Southeast Asian tour dates – and will be playing in Singapore on 26 August at the National Stadium, making good on their promise to return since their last show more than 20 years ago.
Foo Fighters, 26 August 2017 at the National Stadium, 1 Stadium Dr, 397629; Tickets available here.