Weezer, Charlie Puth, Panic! At The Disco, Kenny Rogers, Birdy and more in our handpicked concerts in August
Just like these best parties in Singapore, the loads of concerts you can find on our isle are yet another reason why we’re proud to be Singaporean. It’s not just us who agree; international superstars like Weezer, Charlie Puth and Panic! At The Disco recognise the appeal of swinging by our shores, and even a certain country legend who’s embarking on his retirement tour! Also packed with lots of local gigs featuring the elites of homegrown musicians, August looks set for all your live music cravings.
The Gathering With Birdy: 2 August at Suntec Convention & Exhibition Centre
Having brought down stellar acts like Flying Lotus, The Flaming Lips and Belle and Sebastian, The Gathering is one local promoter that’s always on the ball when nourishing the indie music scene. And for its next gig, they’re taking a more intimate, cushy approach with this high-flying British songbird. Best known for her wistful, tear-jerking vocals and a prolific cover of Bon Iver’s “Skinny Love”, Birdy will have you cooing in comfort.
The Gathering With Birdy, 2 August, Suntec Convention & Exhibition Centre Hall 606, 1 Raffles Boulevard, Singapore 039593. Tickets available here.
Fred Perry Subculturelive: 4 August at Gallery & Co
On 4 August, after a three-year hiatus, Fred Perry relaunches their iconic gig series under a new alias, Fred Perry Subculturelive. Headlining the comeback concert is the frontman of indie-rock trailblazers, Friendly Fires’ Jack Savidge, who will be dropping an exclusive DJ set. Local left-field rebels, Poptart, will also take deck duties to spin a set of indie hits, Brit-pop classics and alt-rock anthems. Read our full feature to see what all the fuss is about.
Fred Perry Subculturelive, 4 August, Gallery & Co, National Gallery Singapore, 1 St. Andrew’s Road, Singapore 178957. You can register for free invites now at this website.
Good Times Presents Homebody Sandman: 5 August at Blu Jaz Café
Eight years might not seem long in one’s lifetime, but for the Good Times crew, it’s been more than enough to establish their legacy in the underground community. Their roots have been sturdy, religiously unshaken in throwing underground gigs that churn out the purest in hip-hop, trap, grime, dubstep, and other left-field rarities. For their eighth birthday, they’ve roped in Stones Throw Records emcee, Homeboy Sandman, for a liquid night of hip-hop. He’ll be supported by other local champs, Rah (Darker Than Wax), Intriguant (Syndicate), and Drem (Matteblacc). Come through!
Good Times Presents Homebody Sandman, 5 August, Blu Jaz Café, 11 Bali Lane, Singapore 189848. $20 for pre-sale, $25 at door.
Kenny Rogers: 6 August at The Star Theatre
You’re probably too young if you only associated this legendary name with roasted chicken. A country phenom, Kenny Rogers (now 77) has been stealing hearts and dominating charts since the 1950s, and he’s now lugging his iconic status all the way to Singers. It’s been rumoured that this may be his retirement tour, so it’s possibly your last chance to catch this charismatic Hall-of-Famer!
Kenny Rogers, 6 August, The Star Theatre, The Star Performing Arts Centre, 1 Vista Exchange Green, Singapore 138617, p. 6636 0055. Tickets available here.
Charlie Puth: 10 August at The Coliseum
From YouTube sensation to one of the hot-rods speeding through the pop scene, Charlie Puth is one name you should get chummy with. Ellen loves him, as do Platinum-selling collaborators like Meghan Trainor and Selena Gomez, and this lad from New Jersey’s even got a Platinum track of his own titled “One Call Away”. And likewise, you’re just one click away from bagging tickets to an evening with this romantic dreamboat.
Charlie Puth Nine Track Mind Tour 2016, 10 August, The Coliseum, Hard Rock Hotel, 8 Sentosa Gateway, Singapore 098269, p. 6577 8899. Tickets available here.
HBBBS EP Launch: 12 August at Aliwal Arts Centre
Having worked their way up through the Top 40s cover circuit for years, HBBBS – or colloquially known as HubbaBubbas – are launching their debut EP dubbed Amy(gdala) [what’s with this band and hard to pronounce names?]. Calling themselves a post-acoustic trio, they stand out with their easy-breezy harmonies and vocal percussion as opposed to standard drums. They’ll be accompanied by jazz whizzes Tim De Cotta and Audrey Tengkey.
HBBBS EP Launch, 12 August, Aliwal Arts Centre, 28 Aliwal Street, Singapore 199918, p. 6435 0131. Tickets available here.
Concerts On The Hill: 14 August at Kult Kafe
Yet another reason why Kult Kafé is one of the hippest habitats in town. A new live music series that’s being launched in August, Concerts On The Hill is a buzzing platform for local and regional artistes – a means to retaliate against the scarcity of independent music venues in Singapore. Kicking off the series, set against the chilled-out, cloistered backdrop of Emily Hill, are homegrown musicians bittymacbeth and Evanturetime (both musicians we told you to watch out for) for a soultronica escapade, and Khmer psych-rockers Cambodian Space Project.
Concerts On The Hill, 14 August, Kult Kafe, 11 Upper Wilkie Road, Singapore 228120. Tickets available here.
Weezer: 15 August at Suntec Convention & Exhibition Centre
We have yet another gig announcement that will have you yelling “say it ain’t so”! You might know these seminal alt-rockers for clowning around with The Muppets, or dancing with ‘The Fonz’ on Happy Days, or simply because of gen-defining anthems like “Hash Pipe”, “Buddy Holly” and “Beverly Hills”. Yes folks, Weezer is finally coming to our shores for the first time ever! Took ’em over 20 years to get here, but better late than never, yeah?
Weezer, 15 August, Suntec Singapore Convention & Exhibition Centre, 1 Raffles Boulevard, Singapore 039593. Tickets available here.
Panic! At The Disco: 16 August at Suntec Convention & Exhibition Centre
Hot on the heels of pop-rocking icons like Fall Out Boy in the noughties was this feisty, theatric, and tongue-twisting band fronted by Brendon Urie – especially with meandering song titles like “Lying Is The Most Fun A Girl Can Have Without Taking Her Clothes Off”. Urie’s gliding, gut-wrenching vocals remain iconic amongst the punk peers of his generation, and over a decade later, intends to show that he’s still got it.
Panic! At The Disco, 16 August, Suntec Convention & Exhibition Centre, 1 Raffles Boulevard, Singapore 039593. Tickets available here.
Nothing But Thieves: 18 August at Hard Rock Café Singapore
These nascent Brit rockers have stolen the show in gig venues all over the world, even when supporting the big-name likes of Muse and Twenty One Pilots. The mighty guitar riffs bring to mind the rawness of Royal Blood, while Conor Mason’s powerful vocals resemble the likes of Muse’s own Matthew Bellamy and the late Jeff Buckley. This concert marks the sophomore edition of Hard Rock Café Singapore’s Rising Star Series, and it’s certainly heading in the right direction.
Nothing But Thieves, 18 August, Hard Rock Café Singapore, 50 Cuscaden Road, Singapore 249724. Tickets available here.
Feel Like Jumpin! Feat. Denny Frust & Reggae Remedy: 19 August at Artistry
Both a gig and rave of the Rastafarian sort, the lions behind Dub Skank’in Hifi Soundsystem are throwing yet another reggae-rousing fest. Alongside swaying DJ sets from Austria’s Me.Layan, Sir Edy from Big Up Soundsystem and Lady Emma from Singapore Soul Club, this bashment is being headlined by esteemed ska vocalist, Denny Frust, who will be backed by superband, Reggae Remedy. Get your skankin’ shoes ready!
Feel Like Jumpin! Feat. Denny Frust & Reggae Remedy, 19 August, Artistry, 17 Jalan Pinang, Singapore 199149. Entry by contribution.
Noise Singapore 2016 Festival Concert: 26-28 August at The Esplanade
Thanks to Noise Singapore’s annual music mentorship, many local bands (some household names today like Linying, Stopgap and Take Two) are on the road to success. This showcase at The Esplanade is a culmination of this mentorship’s efforts – a three-day concert featuring all sorts of genres from a budding pool of songsmiths. Folk, electronica, pop, indie-rock – who knows what breakout star you’ll discover this year?
Noise Singapore 2016 Festival Concert, 26-28 August, The Esplanade Outdoor Theatre & Concourse, 1 Esplanade Drive, Singapore 038981, p. 6828 8366. Free entry.
LC93 Album Launch: 28 August at Aliwal Arts Centre
Hardcore music in the Lion City? You betcha. In fact, this mosh-summoning movement have been raising hell in Singapore as early as the ’90s, documented by the pivotal 1993 compilation, Lion City Hardcore Together At Last. This ferocious gig sees the reunification of these pioneering warriors who were involved for a night of circle-pitting and two-stepping, featuring vicious genres like hardcore punk, metal and grindcore. Not for the faint at heart, this one.
LC93 Album Launch, 28 August, Aliwal Arts Centre, Singapore 199918, p. 6435 0131. Tickets at $15 (before 7pm), and $20 (after 7pm).