Phew! What an insane first month we had for dance parties, yeah? Well we hope you ravers are ready for more, ’cos we’ve got an even bigger list of parties you need to check out in the nightlife scene. From trance mega-sets and romantic EDM events for Valentine’s, to stealthy techno gigs and bizarre Chinese New Year circuses – these are the parties worth fist-pumping to this month.
(NEW!) Gingapura: 20 Feb at The Muzium Cafe
Wanna rock it like in Rio and samba ’til you’re sore? No need to book a ticket to Brazil; just take it to the streets with Gingapura – SG’s very own Brazilian carnival! Vibing up the Kampong Glam district like a spontaneous block party, Gingapura will be one technicolour showcase of tropical Brazilian tunes (think lots of drums), caipirinha cocktails and – if you’re lucky – masks and costumes to usher in that Mardi Gras spirit.
Gingapura, 20 February, The Muzium Café, 9 Bali Lane, Singapore 189845. No cover charge.
(NEW!) The Rooftop Relaunch Party: 24 Feb at Potato Head Folk
As much as we love munching on Three Buns burgers on the ground floor and sipping a swish cocktail on Level Three’s Studio1939 Lounge, we’re suckers for the breezy, cosy rooftop garden that always makes us feel on top of the world… or Keong Saik, at least. Head on up for a revamped alfresco experience, festooned with tropical themes, celebratory shots and skewers, and even a live tiki band! Seriously, where do you find tiki bands these days??
The Rooftop Relaunch Party: TK DISCO, February 24, Potato Head Folk, 36 Keong Saik Road, Singapore 089143, p. 6327 1939. Free entry.
(NEW!) REWIND Feat. KiNK + Rachel Row: 26 Feb at kyō
So a lot of people tend to wonder, “What exactly are DJs doing behind those decks?”. True enough, some DJs are lacking in the live performance, especially if they’ve no charisma (or skills) whatsoever. KiNK, however, has got it all. No set of this Bulgarian powerhouse is ever the same, as he flexibly plays around with drum machines, synthesisers and MIDI controllers – music-making weaponry that sharpens his bewitching techno sets. Also upping the ‘live’ factor will be Rachel Row on vocals! Once again, this is NOT your average DJ set.
REWIND Feat. KiNK + Rachel Row, February 26, kyō, 133 Cecil Street, Singapore 069535, p. 8299 8735. $20 for ladies and $25 for men, both include one complimentary drink.
(NEW!) Kawara Reggae Special Feat. PART2STYLE: 27 Feb at Koi
Like hip-hop, Jamaican reggae is a genre that’s become universal throughout the global music community. So it’s really no surprise to find such ragga ‘selectahs’ emerging from the Land of the Rising Sun. Organised by local reggae ambassadors, Lion Steppaz Sound, this gig is calling on the Japanese wizardy of PART2STYLE – renowned in Tokyo for pushing the boundaries of dub, bass and jungle. Supported by DuriO from ATTAGIRL!.
Kawara Reggae Special Feat. PART2STYLE, February 27, Koi Brunch + Beats, Lvl 3, 8B Circular Road, Singapore 049364, p. 9790 7535. Cover charge is $15.
Para//el Presents Catz ’N Dogz: 12 Feb at Velvet Underground – Dance (Editor’s Pick)
Far from docile, domesticated creatures, this Polish duo will definitely bring out the party canine and feline in you. Veterans for over a decade, these two are one of the leading forces in the house scene with their Pets Recordings imprint, home to other acts like Breach, Eats Everything and Friend Within. Unblemished hammering rhythms and soulful sky-high vocals are just a teasing portion of what’s up their arsenal.
Para//el Presents Catz ’N Dogz, 12 February, Zouk, 17 Jiak Kim Street, Singapore 169420, p. 6738 2988. $28 for ladies and $33 for men, both include two complimentary drinks.
Bob Marley Birthday Bash: 5 Feb at Refuge
Rastafarian lions, where ya at? If the only king you bow down to is the king of the reggae jungle himself, the late Bob Marley, then you’ll definitely wanna represent at this commemorative bashment. Held just one day shy of the dreadlocked legend’s birthdate, this dubby party will also see a collaboration between Refuge’s Reverb residents, Nez and Submerge, and Singapura Dub Club ambassadors, selector Rumshot and emcee Masia One. There’s even gonna be an artist market selling reggae vinyls, handmade crafts and other Marley-approved merch.
Reverb x Singapura Dub Club Present King Of Reggae: Bob Marley Birthday Bash, 5 February, Refuge, #02-01/#03-01, 79 Circular Road, Singapore 049433, p. 8121 8280. Ticket details on their website.
Dash Berlin & Hot Since 82: 5 Feb at Zouk
Just to be clear, these two chieftains of the dance industry aren’t going back-to-back! Dash Berlin, trance titan and ZoukOut alumnus, will be governing Zouk’s main room with huge euphoric melodies and jaw-dropping drops. While UK’s Hot Since 82, one of the world’s top underground house DJs, caters to the opposite end of the raver spectrum with subdued yet sharp grooves that slay in the bassline department. Take your pick!
EP!C Presents Dash Berlin and Para//el Presents Hot Since 82, 5 February, Zouk, 17 Jiak Kim Street, Singapore 169420, p. 6738 2988. $40 for advance ticket, $45 for event day (Dash Berlin). $28 for ladies and $33 for men (Hot Since 82). Both include two complimentary drinks.
Sorry Not Sorry Pool Party: 6 Feb at Sofitel So Singapore
We’re always suckers for a good ol’ pool party! One-upping the last instalment that made quite a big splash, February’s edition sees a collab between Eyes To The Front (a local-based management agency) and Please Don’t Tell (a hip-hop nightlife brand). What ensues is a mish-mash of house, techno, hip-hop and bass from deckmeisters including Oliver Osborne, Haan, MatteBlacc’s JNR and more. Ready to get wet?
Sorry Not Sorry Pool Party, 6 February, Sofitel So Sinapore, 35 Robinson Road, Singapore 068876, p. 6701 6800. $10 for entry, arrive before 4pm for one complimentary drink.
Ritual Feat. &ME: 6 Feb at kyō
If you’ve been bouncing to the brooding, earthy tech-house hit that is “Woods”, it’s all thanks to this Berlin-based producer. Reppin’ the German dance mecca as one-part of the Keinemusik collective, he now takes over the basement with his signature tribal beats, melancholic bass drones and atmospheric synths. Big ups to Berlin vibes right here.
Forward Feat. &ME, 6 February, kyō, 133 Cecil Street, Singapore 069535, p. 8299 8735. $20 for ladies and $25 for men, both include one complimentary drink.
Outcast: 13 Feb at Marina South Pier
Ever wanted to impersonate T-Pain and yell (with or without auto-tune) “I’m on a boat”? You now can with the maiden voyage of this new boat party series dubbed Outcast. Launched by tech-house whiz and deck-proficient Mad Hatter, Zig Zach – who also runs his own Ritual residency at kyō – this booze cruise will feature himself, SiFi from the UK, and Bangkok’s Sunju Hargun who’s spun some of the sickest house and techno choons we’ve ever heard. Also, jumping into the sea is prohibited; you’ve been warned!
Outcast, 13 February, Marina South Pier, 31 Marina Coastal Drive, Singapore 018988. Tickets are currently sold out (but we’re sure you can find someone who’s selling on the event page).
The Fever: 13 Feb at Blu Jaz Café
Never mind fancy-schmancy V-day dinners; this is one party that you and your boo will love if old-school hip-hop and r&b drive y’all mental. From Warren G to Run-D.M.C., to the dynamic pass-the-mic routines of Beastie Boys and Jurassic 5, you’ll hear nostalgic earworms that’ll make you wish the Golden Age of hip-hop never died. Too vintage for you? DJs Jag and D-Swift and MC Aubz might just drop some new-age trap and crunk too. ’Cos remember, hip-hop is timeless yo.
The Fever, 13 February, Lvl 2 Blu Jaz Café, 11 Bali Lane, Singapore 189848, p. 6292 3800. Ticket details on the event page.
Pay With A Kiss: 13 Feb at CÉ LA VI
Show your affection for CÉ LA VI’s newly-revamped Club Lounge, and we do mean that literally! Head to the summit of Marina Bay Sands on Valentine’s Eve, and proceed to enter its Elevate party…with one catch: entry is complimentary if you kiss your loved one at the door! Sounds like a swell idea if you wanna steal a kiss from your beau, eh? But if you prefer to pay up and not pucker up, you will get double complimentary house pours this festive month. Except open-format, Top 40 faves from CÉ LA VI’s resident DJs.
Pay With A Kiss, 13 February, CÉ LA VI, SkyPark, Marina Bay Sands Tower 3, 1 Bayfront Avenue, Singapore 018971, p. 6688 7688. Cover charge subject to kiss.
Pleasure Factory Feat. Kidnap Kid: 13 Feb at kyō
Another amorous affair for the Valentine season, this party will make you believe in love all over again. Cute fellow at the bar aside, you will be awestruck with the audial Cupid’s arrows of guest selector, Kidnap Kid. Part of the Black Butter crew (Clean Bandit, Gorgon City), Matt Relton AKA Kidnap Kid will win your heart with synth-padded, creamy-vocalled cuts that fall within the more melodious side of the deep house gamut. Swoon!
Pleasure Factory Feat. Kidnap Kid, 13 February, kyō, 133 Cecil Street, Singapore 069535, p. 8299 8735. $20 for ladies and $25 for men, both include one complimentary drink.
Continued Chaos: 19 Feb at The 1925 Microbrewery & Restaurant
What is Continued Chaos? For one, it’s most likely one pop-up party that you haven’t heard about due to its hush-hush secrecy – that’s how underground it is. We, however, have managed to sniff this one out, and have discovered that it’s a hard-hitting habitat of tech-house and techno, with sub-bass so violent and rumbly that you’ll feel your bones shake. Tempted yet? We are.
Continued Chaos, 19 February, The 1925 Microbrewery & Restaurant, 369 Jalan Besar, Singapore 208997, p. 6294 9215. No cover charge.
Lion City Burn: 20 Feb at Tree Lizard
Time to go ape-sh*t crazy at this campy pop-up party at Dempsey! In case you haven’t heard, this Chinese New Year doesn’t just ring in the Year of the Monkey; it’s also the time to shine for the ‘Fire Monkey’. So what’s more apt than tying in the Fire Monkey theme with a Burning Man Festival concept? Expect an otherworldly experience – circus-like fire performances, art installations, outdoor cinemas, 3-D projections and more, while DJs Passion, Anthony, Dr Foo and Joshen turn up the volume with bass, dubstep and house hits. It ain’t the Nevada Desert, but heck, we’ll take it.
Lion City Burn, 20 February, Tree Lizard, #B1-01 Blk 25, 25 Dempsey Road, Singapore 249670, p. 6834 3969. Tickets are $20, more at the door.
Re:fuge Presents Ocean Lam: 20 Feb at CATO
Despite the abrupt demise of Kilo Lounge as a nightclub, punters found solace in the fact that the promoters responsible for most of Kilo’s parties were adjourning to CATO to vent their pent-up four-on-the-floor shenanigans. One of our favourite residencies, Re:fuge by Maurice Simon, is set to resume at this South Bridge resto-turned-ravespot; its setlist curated by Simon himself, CATS ON CRACK, and Hong Kong’s very own Ocean Lam on the ones and twos.
Re:fuge Presents Ocean Lam, 20 February, CATO, 237 South Bridge Road, Singapore 058786, p. 8299 6434. No cover charge.
The Analog Assembly: 20 Feb at The Projector
While not exactly a rave, this gathering hopes to bring together vinyl junkies of all sorts to buy, sell, or trade their records in the spirit of fostering analogue culture. If you’re a DJ or an avid music collector of dance records, who knows what kind of treasures you might find here? Aside from an acoustic performance from Sean Lam (Hanging Up The Moon vocalist and scene doyen), DJ Koflow will crank up the revelries with his hip-hop picks and showy turntablism skills – and yes, it will be an all-vinyl set.
The Analog Assembly, 20 February, The Projector, #05-00 Golden Mile Tower, 6001 Beach Road, Singapore 199589, No cover charge.
White Magic Sunsets: 20 Feb at Tanjong Beach Club
Imagine a dreamy Bali sunset – piña colada in one hand, as you lazily bob your head (or loosen up on the floor) to tropical nu-disco and cosmic funk jams. Too bad you can’t just lug yourself over, right? The good news is: you won’t have to! White Magic Sunsets, the resident sundowner event of Sheraton Bali Kuta Resort, is prancing your way to spread ’em chill vibes with Downtown Party Network and Adrian Giordano. So book a day bed and get ready to soak it all in; paradise is just around the corner.
White Magic Sunsets, 20 February, Tanjong Beach Club, 120 Tanjong Beach Walk, Sentosa, Singapore 098942, p. 9750 5323. No cover charge.