From Britney Spears and The Maine, to FFION and KoFlow – these Big Gigs all over the city will be music to your ears
You deserve a treat for reaching the halfway mark of 2017, and if concerts sound like just the reward you need, June has loads of them. Meet the Princess of Pop herself, Britney Spears; relive your nostalgic, pop-rock days with The Maine; get lost with electronic whiz, Spazzkid, in a museum; and even discover the legacy of Singaporean hip-hop icon, KoFlow. You ready for this month’s Big Gigs?
Radwimps: 4 June at Megabox Event Hall @ Bigbox
Any Nipponophile who knows his or her music will assure you that Radwimps is one of the mightiest J-rock bands in the industry right now – particularly since soundtracking the anime masterpiece and global success, Your Name. They swing by Singapore with their staggering guitar hooks and turbo-paced vocals, at this brand new live music venue in Jurong.
Radwimps 2017 Asia Live Tour in Singapore, 4 June, Megabox Event Hall @ Bigbox, 1 Venture Avenue, Jurong East, Singapore 608521. Tickets available here.
Evan Dando: 6 June at Hood Bar & Café
If you spent your ’90s youth hooked on ‘college-rock’ mixtapes instead of the pop channels, then The Lemonheads should be a household name for you. While the alt-rock band has thrown in the towel, its spirit still lingers with frontman, Evan Dando, who heads to Singapore for his solo debut show. Ready for some nostalgia?
Songs for Children presents Evan Dando, 6 June, Hood Bar & Café, #05-07 Bugis+, 201 Victoria Street, Singapore 188067. Tickets available here.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hFYFj5q8_Qk
Crucial Riddims: 10 June at Montreux Jazz Café
Live reggae music in a jazz club? You’ll never know what kinda concerts you’ll find in Singapore! This gem of a gig is hosted by Singapore’s Jamaica-loving collective, Dub Skank’in Hifi, that champions the Caribbean sounds of dancehall, dub, ska and rocksteady. Local reggae band, Reggae Remedy, will take the stage here, with supporting DJ sets from J-Styles and Rumshot.
Crucial Riddims, 10 June, Montreux Jazz Café, #01-02 Pan Pacific Orchard, 10 Claymore Road, Singapore 229540. $15 with one drink.
Born of Osiris: 15 June at The Substation
Undoubtedly the most ferocious gig on this list, these metalcore veterans plan to incite a mosh that you’ll want to leave your fancy shoes at home for. Born of Osiris from The States bashes out a malicious sound that violently fuses double-time kick drums, shredded guitars, growling basslines, and deathly screamo vocals that might terrify more docile listeners. Stay safe!
Born of Osiris, 15 June, The Substation, 45 Armenian Street, Singapore 179936. More information here.
Nathan Sykes: 17 June at myVillage
If you’re a British boyband fan who didn’t like One Direction, chances are you loved The Wanted instead. While the latter is currently on hiatus (did you cry?), Nathan Sykes – the youngest member of the group – is continuing to make his set of golden pipes heard with feel-good pop tunes, even teaming up with Ariana Grande on “Almost Is Never Enough”. His debut performance will be part of A Rooftop Affair 2017.
A Rooftop Affair 2017 presents Nathan Sykes, 17 June, myVillage, Serangoon Gardens, 1 Maju Avenue, Singapore 556679. Tickets available here.
The Maine: 23 June at Millian Singapore
Pop-rock zealots, we know you’re bracing yourselves for this one. Fans are still reeling in the star power of John O’Callaghan and gang since they had crowds entranced and energised in their 2015 gig. Brought down once again by Upsurge Productions, these polished hotshots are set to stun with anthems like “Into Your Arms” and “Inside Of You”. And yes, we know you still have a crush on their charming frontman.
Upsurge Productions present The Maine, 23 June, Millian Singapore, 3 Sentosa Gateway #01-05, Singapore 098544. Tickets available here.
FFION Bad Habits EP Launch: 23 June at The Substation
The nascent, homegrown songbird has been gradually erupting from the fringes of YouTube to attaining indie/r&b semi-stardom and street cred amongst discerning musos. Ballads with subtle electronic edges aside, Ffion stands out from the bunch of scene youngbloods with beguiling, nuance-peppered vocals reminiscent of prolific r&b sirens like Banks and Corinne Bailey Rae. Catch Ffion at the launch show of her debut EP titled Bad Habits, which we talked more about in our Singapore Sound feature.
FFION Bad Habits EP Launch, 23 June, The Substation, 45 Armenian Street, Singapore 179936. Tickets available here.
Benjamin Francis Leftwich: 23 June at Blu Jaz Café
Set aside the synthesisers for a bit and go back to basics; lose yourself in the intricate art of the acoustic singer-songwriter. With just a guitar, Benjamin Francis Leftwich is a folk-influenced songsmith whom fans of Sufjan Stevens and Bright Eyes will admire. With nimble fretwork and breathy vocals, this lad will have you hooked in this intimate showcase.
Symmetry Entertainment presents Benjamin Francis Leftwich, 23 June, Blu Jaz Café, 11 Bali Lane, Singapore 189828. Tickets available here.
Mark Redito (FKA Spazzkid): 27 June at Papaya Paddling Club
Moonbeats Asia continues to be on a roll following their Crystal Castles show and sold-out HONNE gigs. June sees these consistent local promoters taking it down a notch with a more intimate showcase at Gallery & Co’s Papaya Paddling Club, roping in the synth-savvy, otaku-friendly sounds of Filipino ‘wonky’ musician, Mark Redito, who’s made a splash in L.A. with now-defunct alias, Spazzkid.
Mark Redito (FKA Spazzkid), 27 June, Papaya Paddling Club, 1 St. Andrew’s Road, Singapore 178957. Tickets available here.
Flow – The Story of KoFlow: 30 June at Esplanade Concert Hall
Want to know the story of Singapore’s most iconic hip-hop figure? Since the late 1990s, KoFlow has stuck out as a hustling icon in the local hip-hop scene which he helped grow, particularly as a world-class turntablist with skills unparalleled. This once-in-a-lifetime gig blends the concert experience with storytelling, with special guests like Shigga Shay and Vandetta performing original songs honouring the hip-hop legend.
Flow – The Story of KoFlow, 30 June, Esplanade Concert Hall, 1 Esplanade Drive, Singapore 038981. Tickets available here.
Britney Spears: 30 June at Singapore Indoor Stadium
The Grammy-winner is set to hit the road on an international tour, stopping at the Philippines, Japan and Hong Kong, before making her way down to Singapore for a one-night-only event. Unleash your inner pop diva and sing along to hits like “… Baby One More Time”, “Oops… I Did It Again”, “Toxic”, and her current single, “Slumber Party”. You can also expect a setlist of tracks from her latest album Glory, which has received positive reviews.
Britney Spears, 30 June, Singapore Indoor Stadium, 2 Stadium Walk, Singapore 397691. Tickets available here.
