5 places to get your dose of local talent
Eager to check out the local music scene but unsure where to start? Here are five great places to catch some of the finest aspiring musicians- we made sure we got your booze covered too!
Artistry
Nestled in a corner of the Kampong Glam district, Artistry is an art gallery and café which aims to provide a platform for emerging local artists. In the daytime, pop by for a cuppa brewed with beans from Liberty Coffee, or savour one of Windowsill Pies’ delicious creations. Upon nightfall, the cafe transforms into a playground for local talent, ranging from musicians, photographers, to poets. Look out for event updates on their Facebook page!
Artistry, 17 Jalan Pinang, Singapore 199149, p. 69282420. Open from Tues-Sun 10am-7pm.
Timbre
With an annual music festival under their belt- Timbre Rock & Roots, you can bet that these folks mean business when it comes to music. They are proud to have groomed bands such as 53A and Goodfellas, who gained a strong fan base while performing on the Timbre stage. Dig into delish grub, while relishing rocking live tunes at any of their three restaurants. Check out their signature thin crust pizzas named after their resident musicians!
Timbre @ The Substation, 45 Armenian Street, Singapore 17936, p. 63388030. Open Mon-Thu & Sun 6pm-1am, Fri-Sat 6pm-230am.
Timbre @ The Arts House, 1 Old Parliament Lane, #01-04, Singapore 179429, p. 63363386. Open from Mon-Thu 6pm-1am, Fri-Sat 6pm-2am.
Timbre @ Gillman, 9A Lock Road, Gillman Barrack, Singapore 108926, p. 66944201. Open from Mon-Thu 4pm-1130pm, Fri-Sat 5pm-1230am.
Wala Wala Café Bar
On first glance Wala Wala looks like a typical sports bar with flat-screen televisions tuned in to live soccer matches, but head upstairs and that’s where the magic happens. Familiar names such as Jack & Rai and Shirlyn & The UnXpected take the stage on weekends but do check out other talented musicians like Pennylane and Victor Tang who perform on weekdays. Expect fresh quality beer to accompany the grooves as Wala Wala holds eight kinds of draughts, including Grimbergen and Asahi, along with an extensive range of bottled beers.
Wala Wala Café Bar, 31 Lorong Mambong Singapore, Singapore 277689, p. 64624288. Open Mon-Thu 4pm-1am, Fri 4pm-2am, Sat 3pm-2am, Sun 3pm-1am.
Five Izakaya
With $5 food and drink deals all-day-everyday, what’s not to love about Five Izakaya! Their three outlets are scattered conveniently around key business districts, and can be considered the go-to place for affordable post-work drinks without breaking the bank. Each day of the week, different local musicians like Shili & Adi, Singapore Char Siew Baos, and Hubba Bubbas serenade with soothing acoustic covers which are guaranteed to have you singing along.
Five @ Collyer Quay, 16 Collyer Quay, #01-05B, Singapore 049318, p. 65368955. Open from Mon-Fri 12pm-12am, Sat 6pm-12am.
Five @ Changi City Point, 5 Changi Business Park Central 1, Changi City Point #01-66/67, Singapore 486038, p. 66048255. Open from Mon-Sun 12pm-12am.
Five @ Cuppage Terrace, 25 Cuppage Road, Cuppage Terrace, Singapore 229454, p. 67338097. Open from Mon-Sun 5pm-12am.
Hood Bar and Café
Step into Hood and you will be amazed by the street art-inspired interior décor. Besides hosting resident musicians, such as Rush Hour and Smells like Last Friday, Hood organises a weekly event titled ‘Saturday Original Sessions’ which allows budding musicians to gather, socialise and perform their original compositions.
Hood Bar and Café, Bugis+, 201 Victoria Street #05-07, Singapore 188067, p. 62218846. Open from Mon-Tues 5pm-1am, Wed-Fri 5pm-3am, Sat 12pm-3am, Sun 12pm-1am.
Image: Hood Bar and Cafe