Music Matters Festival, F1 Singapore concerts, Macklemore and Ryan Lewis, Simple Plan, Mosaic Music Weekend and more are our featured gigs of the month in September
Heads up; September is gonna be one heck of a month for music! You have festivals galore like the Music Matters Festival and Ultra Music Festival, and not to mention the high-octane action drifting from the F1 Singapore Grand Prix. But believe it or not, these are all just the tip of the iceberg, ’cos there are plenty more live music acts headed your way next month. From hip-hop giants to pop-punk icons, and even local bands launching debut releases, here are your big gigs for September.
Mosaic Music Weekend: 2-4 Sep at The Esplanade
Fans of the annual Esplanade series were gutted when they thought they’d seen the last of this gig showcase – after all, this was the series that brought down the likes of Grimes, The Go! Team, and Los Campesinos!. But rising from the ashes, the Mosaic series looks to revitalise its reputation with another series of shows next month: a double-bill folk frolic with Lisa Hannigan and Patrick Wolf (2 Sep), synth-gushing South Koreans Idiotape (3 Sep), and hotly-anticipated noir-rock debut of Singapore’s own TOMGIRL (4 Sep, pictured above).
Mosaic Music Weekend, 2-4 September, The Esplanade, 1 Esplanade Drive, Singapore 038981, p. 6828 8366. Tickets available here.
Boxchild EP Launch: 3 Sep at Aliwal Arts Centre
Never mind their alias, the rambunctious energies of this new local alt-rock outfit certainly can’t be boxed in! The self-proclaimed Breaking Benjamin of Singapore, this hard-hitting quartet dominates with howling riffs and beastly drums, and is cranked up yet another level with mind-blowing guitar solos that Gods of Metal will approve. They launch their debut EP next month, and will be opened by bands Sangriento and forests.
Boxchild EP Launch, 3 September, Aliwal Arts Centre, Singapore 199918, p. 6435 0131. Tickets available here.
Jay Chou: 3 Sep at National Stadium
Known throughout the region as the brooding prince of Mando-pop, Jay Chou returns to Singapore with more heart-tugging ballads and gung-ho rock numbers. Never mind his Hollywood accolades; Chou is still a vehement force in the music industry, and his resilient, loyal fan-base of weeping fan-girls is testament to that.
Jay Chou, 3 September, National Stadium, 1 Stadium Drive, Singapore 397629. Tickets available here.
Simple Plan: 5 Sep at The Coliseum
“Do you ever feel like breaking down? Do you ever feel out of place?” – if these lyrics exemplified the anthem of your rebellious years, then get ready for another blast from the past. Torchbearers of the pop-punk renaissance in the early noughties, Simple Plan is back in Singapore to deliver more sprightly, hell-raising riffs, chugging power chords, and emotional lyrics that won’t make you feel ashamed to shed a tear.
Simple Plan, 5 September, The Coliseum, Hard Rock Hotel, 8 Sentosa Gateway, Singapore 098269, p. 6577 8899. Tickets available here.
Against The Current: 8 Sep at *SCAPE The Ground Theatre
Good things come in threes: this triad of musicians – who have three records under their belt – will be returning to beguile their Singaporean fans for the third time next month. Their repertoire reflects a huge bag of tricks – from the tenderness of country to the chirpiness of synth-pop, and the stadium-filling potential of pop-rock – making Against The Current one of the more versatile outfits to have successfully erupted from obscurity to the big leagues.
Against The Current, 8 September, *SCAPE The Ground Theatre, 2 Orchard Link, Singapore 237978, p. 6521 6565. Tickets available here.
Elvis Costello: 11 Sep at The Esplanade
Another Rock and Roll Hall of Famer is coming to town! Celebrated frontman of The Attractions in the ’70s and extolled solo artiste in his own right, Elvis Costello swings by our shores to showcase the cream of the crop of his 35-year repertoire. Looking for a concert to bring the folks to? This might be it.
Elvis Costello, 11 September, The Esplanade, 1 Esplanade Drive, Singapore 038981, p. 6828 8366. Tickets available here.
Songs For Children Presents Yuck: 13 Sep at Hood Bar and Cafe
Despite the departure of their frontman, after a much-acclaimed debut album that critics claimed heralded the revival of grunge, these brazen bucks from Yuck are unwavering in their fuzz-rock antics. These Brits make a comeback to Singapore following a rollicking third album dropped earlier this year, full of gritty, crusty rock that still sounds as fresh as ever.
Songs For Children Present Yuck, 13 September, Hood Bar and Café, #05-07 Bugis+, 201 Victoria Street, Singapore 188067, p. 6634 6810. Tickets available here.
Music Matters Festival: 12-15 Sep at various venues
Now on its sixth edition in Singapore, Music Matters is once again triggering tremors in the music industry. Over four nights during 12-15 September, stages at Timbre, Millian and kyō will host the likes of The Veronicas (Australia), Bastian Baker (Switzerland), Alex Cuba (Canada), Garden City Movement (Israel), P!SCO (Taiwan), and dozens more. And if it’s anything like previous years, we’re hoping to discover more budding homegrown talents as well. Check out our full feature.
Music Matters Festival, 12-15 September. For full information on venues and performing acts, visit this website. Entry is free.
F1 Concerts: 16-18 Sep at Marina Bay Street Circuit
F1 fans, start your engines! The Singapore GP season is already zooming its way here, and the high-octane hype is definitely getting as hot as burning asphalt. Aside from the fast cars and charismatic drivers (Vettel ftw), the Singapore Grand Prix is always regarded as one of the biggest events of the year with some of the greatest live music acts that the world has to offer. On stage this year: Queen + Adam Lambert, Kylie Minogue, Pentatonix, Imagine Dragons, Bastille, KC and The Sunshine Band, Halsey and many more. Check out our full feature.
F1 Concerts, 16-18 September, Marina Bay Street Circuit, For more information on entertainment, visit this page.
Macklemore & Ryan Lewis: 20 Sep at The Star Theatre
Making trips to the thrift shop (with only 20 dollars in your pocket) cool again, the trailblazing hip-hop duo of Macklemore and Ryan Lewis finally hustle their way to Singapore for the first time ever. Energetic, madcap and full of free-stylin’ swagger, these two hotshots can’t be held down.
Macklemore & Ryan Lewis, 20 September, The Star Theatre, The Star Performing Arts Centre, 1 Vista Exchange Green, Singapore 138617, p. 6636 0055. Tickets available here.
Postmodern Jukebox: 23 Sep at The Star Theatre
Want to experience the PMJ phenomenon in front of your very eyes? And we don’t just mean watching a YouTube clip! Taking social media by storm with their retro jazz and swing renditions of modern-day hits – they’ve put their time-warping spin on everyone from Meghan Trainor to Radiohead – the Postmodern Jukebox, founded by Scott Bradlee, shimmies down to Singapore with their full, flamboyant ensemble.
Postmodern Jukebox, 23 September, The Star Theatre, The Star Performing Arts Centre, 1 Vista Exchange Green, Singapore 138617, p. 6636 0055. Tickets available here.
Gillman Barracks 4th Anniversary: 23-24 Sep at Gillman Barracks
One of Singapore’s most prominent arts hubs is turning four, and they’re showing no signs of slowing down with age. Taking place over two days, these revelries will feature an inspiring hodgepodge of exhibitions, workshops, tours and farmers’ markets; though if live music’s your jam, then you’ll rest easy knowing that there’ll be a performing line-up of local musos as well.
Gillman Barracks 4th Anniversary, 23-24 September, Gillman Barracks, 9 Lock Road, Singapore 108937. Free entry.
Moonbeats Asia Presents Stööki Sound: 24 Sep at Millian
Fresh off their San Holo showcase, these local promoters now swerve from a floaty, spacey aesthetic to something that lumbers in the low end. Moonbeats Asia expands their alumni yet again with London’s Stööki Sound, known for getting parties ‘turnt’ with their bass-slingin’ barrages of trap. Hypebeasts, where y’all at?
Moonbeats Asia Presents Stööki Sound, 24 September, Millian, #01-05 St. James PowerStation, 3 Sentosa Gateway, Singapore 098544. Tickets available here.
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Bring Me The Horizon: 27 Sep at Fort Canning Park
We finally get these alt-rock deviants after an eight-month wait! Originally scheduled for January earlier this year, these Sheffield anarchists had to pull out due to tour conundrums. But it looks like they’re just over the horizon, as they bring with them their growling vocals and belligerent dose of riotous rock.
Bring Me The Horizon, 27 September, Fort Gate @ Canning Park. Tickets available here.