A beach party in Sentosa, a hip-hop legend graces a rooftop bar, throwback tunes by the river and the biggest DJs in the best clubs in Singapore; you'd best start polishing those dancing shoes
We hope you’re not worn out from all that dancing this early in the year, ’cos if you’re ravenous for a rave this April, this is the round-up to read. From hip-hop legends in sky-high joints to clubs celebrating anniversaries, to kid-friendly beach bashes and not-so-kid-friendly techno raves; these best parties of the month in Singapore will test your endurance ’til the very last beat.
Canvas & Budweiser Present Goldie: 23 Apr at Canvas (Editor’s Pick)
Ladies and gents, the king of jungle is returning! A household name for all drum & bass devotees, Goldie is one down-to-earth legend who – despite having a worldwide cult following from laying out the foundations of the UK genre’s success – never hesitates from showing his respect to the Singaporean underground scene, being a frequent deckster of both Home Club and Canvas. Metalheadz, we expect to see all of you turn up for this homecoming gig.
Canvas & Budweiser Present Goldie, 23 April, Canvas Singapore, #B1-01 The Riverwalk, 20 Upper Circular Road, Singapore 058416, p. 6538 2928. $22 for pre-sale, $30 for door, both come with one complimentary house-pour.
Refuge One Year Anniversary: 1 Apr at Refuge
Has it already been a year since this hip-hop offshoot of the LEC Group (kyō, Terra) began tearing the roof off along Circular Road?? Still fresh in the game, Refuge rallies the Rastafarians with reggae in the Lounge with selectors Submerge, Nez and Rumshot. While the hip-hop tribe will get their Wu-Tang on with golden-age classics courtesy of NashD and turntablism legend Andrew Chow. Happy B-day, Refuge!
Refuge One Year Anniversary, 1 April, Refuge, #02-01/#03-01, 79 Circular Road, Singapore 049433, p. 8121 8280. Free entry all night.
V10 Feat. DJ Yella from N.W.A: 1 Apr at CÉ LA VI
Straight outta Compton, and onto the decks of Marina Bay Sands. If you’re savvy with your hip-hop history, the abbreviation N.W.A (it stands for a ghetto phrase that’s not PG-13) should spark off nostalgia in your brain. DJ Yella was the master behind the ones and twos in N.W.A, dropping smooth West Coast grooves for member emcees like Dr. Dre and Ice Cube – needless to say, the man’s a living icon, and you’ll be sorry if you miss him. Expect nothing short of a masterclass in hip-hop.
V10 Feat. DJ Yella from N.W.A, 1 April, CÉ LA VI, SkyPark, Marina Bay Sands Tower 3, 1 Bayfront Avenue, Singapore 018971, p. 6688 7688. $38 for presale, $48 at the door, both include one premium pour.
Good Times x Darker Than Wax Present Beats N Beyond: 1 Apr at Blu Jaz Café
Possibly the edgiest party series in Singers meets the smoothest DJ collective and label in the scene; this is a match made in party heaven. Good Times returns to Blu Jaz Café yet again with globe-trotting tastemakers Darker Than Wax – with the latter’s head honcho, Funk Bast*rd, recently aceing an European tour – so you can expect sounds from the grittiness of grime to the slickness of soul.
Good Times x Darker Than Wax Present Beats N Beyond, 1 April, Blu Jaz Café, 11 Bali Lane, Singapore 189848, p. 6292 3800. $5 for entry.
Midnight Shift x NoPartyHere Feat. Hodge & Rivet: 2 Apr at kyō
Another union of scene stalwarts that ravers should relish: the frigid experimental techno of Midnight Shift goes head-to-head with the genre-jumbly playfulness of NoPartyHere (back from a brief hiatus, no less!). Likewise, they’re both combining the forces of two DJs from the UK and Sweden, and we’re anticipating an unforgiving blitzkrieg of techno that’s industrial, hypnotic, and absolutely not for the faint at heart. They’ll be supported by local acts, Lily’s Rose and Jerls.
Midnight Shift x NoPartyHere Feat. Hodge & Rivet, 2 April, kyō, 133 Cecil Street, Singapore 069535, p. 8299 8735. $20 for ladies and $25 for men, both include one complimentary drink.
The Beach Backyard: 3 Apr at Sand Bar
If you’re yearning for an alternative to a Sentosa seaside party that isn’t Tanjong Beach Club (the place is dope though), we just found a new beachy hideout that might tickle your curiosity. Cosily isolated along Siloso Beach, Sand Bar is upping its game by being the latest chill contestant in the party scene with The Beach Backyard. Cruising choons from local DJs spiced up by live percussions and saxophones, sizzling BBQ, kid-friendly games and boozy ones for the sloshed grown-ups – we wish every Sunday was like this! Heads up: this party starts early at 2pm.
The Beach Backyard: 3 April, Sand Bar, 52 Siloso Beach Walk, Singapore 099012
Daydream Nation: 6 Apr at Canvas
Presuming you grew up as an indie-loving hipster in SG, you would’ve definitely gone for a handful of Ginette Chittick’s debaucherous, sweat-dripping BEAT! parties at what was once known as Home Club. Coming full circle, one of our fave female DJs is now back at the riverside joint that’s now become Canvas, with yet another indie-rockin’ residency alongside Poptart alumnus Jinmart. Still can’t decide if you prefer Blur or Oasis? Relive the nostalgia right here!
Daydream Nation, 6 April, Canvas Singapore, #B1-01 The Riverwalk, 20 Upper Circular Road, Singapore 058416, p. 6538 2928.
Audio Translate Presents Marco Loco: 9 Apr at CATO
Why scoot all the way to the party capital of Ibiza when you have gigs like this? Kudos to the Eyes To The Front crew, CATO’s getting a deckmeister who played a part forging the underground scene in Ibiza for 13 years, having held residencies in Space and Café Del Mar. And now, Marco Loco is taking his house-honed expertise and sharing it with us Singers folks to show us what we’re missing. On warm-up duties are Tye West and Amber H.
Audio Translate Presents Marco Loco, 9 April, CATO, 237 South Bridge Road, Singapore 058786, p. 8299 6434. $10 for entry.
Saycet + Anoraak Live in Singapore: 10 Apr at Kult Kafe
Kult Kafe is really turning into the slickest party hangout in SG thanks to shows like this! Figure8 Agency and Revival Agency are bringing the French to town, with a double-bill gig that will leave you in dreamy awe. Anoraak returns to Singapore with a synth-gushing soundtrack reminiscent of an ’80s video game fantasy, as does Saycet (now a solo act) with a misty, electronic showcase that’s both entrancing and unsettling. No one does it as sophisticatedly as the French, oui?
Saycet + Anoraak Live in Singapore, 10 April, Kult Kafe, 1 Upper Wilkie Road, Emily Hill, Singapore 228120. Tickets at $30 (includes one drink).
EP!C Presents Nicky Romero: 15 Apr at Zouk
Are you a trooper of the EDM revolution? Then you’ll definitely wanna raise your arms at this heavyweight gig. Undoubtedly one of the bona fide champs of the commercial house industry, Nicky Romero is one Dutch dynamo who’s worked with everyone from Avicii to Nile Rodgers. Having graced stages in Singapore at huge spectaculars like ZoukOut and Road To Ultra, Romero will leave you overwhelmed with banger after banger.
EP!C Presents Nicky Romero, 15 April, Zouk, 17 Jiak Kim Street, Singapore 169420, p. 6738 2988. $28 for ladies and $33 for men, both include two complimentary drinks.
Moonbeats Warehouse Party: 16 Apr at Studio Point
Here’s a seedy warehouse gig brought to you by the fellas behind the Camp Symmetry festival. Moonbeats Asia, the sister promoter of Symmetry Entertainment, keeps the momentum going from their dubiously shady Club Berlin techno-teasing party, with another shindig in a clandestine industrial venue in Kallang. Intriguing venue aside, the line-up also boasts a mind-tripping ensemble of electronic shapeshifter Ryan Hemsworth, and foxy masked dream-popper Slow Magic. They’ll be joined by the UK-based et aliae, a lass who combines glitchy wonky-pop with smooth r&b textures and hints of classical, alongside local DJs DuriO and team cake.
Moonbeats Warehouse Party, 16 April, 9pm, #01-519 Studio Point, 158 Kallang Way, Singapore 349245. Tickets at $55 (early bird), $70 (standard) and $240 (group package x 4 standard).
Defected In The House Feat. Sam Divine & Sonny Fodera: 22 Apr at kyō
When it comes to underground house music, there are a few labels that drop beats as deadly as Defected. Keeping that 4/4 momentum going since 1998, the British imprint is no stranger to the kyō basement, and it’s showing its love once more with two of its ambassadors – Sonny Fodera and his streamlined beats, and the honorary First Lady of Defected herself, Sam Divine. “Not everyone understands house music” – or so the popular adage goes; but if you do, you know missing this is not an option.
Defected In The House Feat. Sam Divine & Sonny Fodera, 22 April, kyō, 133 Cecil Street, Singapore 069535, p. 8299 8735. $20 for ladies and $25 for men, both include one complimentary drink.
Zouk x Sunshine Nation Present Art Department: 23 Apr at Zouk
From painting Circular Road red with block parties to pulling off successful mega-shows like the Garden Beats Festival, Sunshine Nation now outdoes itself by collaborating with the don of nightclubs in Singapore. Taking over the main room of Zouk, Sunshine Nation is bringing down the introspective, brooding deep house of Art Department; expect a spiritual affair that will suck you in and mellow you out. It’s also the first time we’ll be catching the Canadian outfit as a solo act, following the departure of vocalist Kenny Glasgow.
Zouk x Sunshine Nation Present Art Department, 23 April, Zouk, 17 Jiak Kim Street, Singapore 169420, p. 6738 2988. $28 for ladies and $33 for men, both include two complimentary drinks.