An indie party at Fred Perry Subculture Live, We The Citizens Fest at Zouk, underground parties at Canvas, kyo, The Council and more this month of August
In light of the red and white revelries from National Day, we shout out to one of the many reasons why we love this lil’ red dot – Singapore is utterly packed with parties. Gone are the days when ravers would scratch their heads trying to find the coolest parties; DJs are rollin’ and scratchin’ right under your nose once you know where to look. And if you don’t, just pay heed to our monthly rave round-up where we list out the best parties of the month. Indie secret gigs, unofficial National Day bashes, pool parties, Latino fiestas and more – are you ready for another round?
Noche De Fiesta: Every Friday at Terra
One of our go-to rooftop bars at the mo’, Terra gets Latino-lovin’ this month with a series of parties every Friday, complete with addictive Latin American street food and stupor-inducing cocktails. Resident DJs, Kenneth Francis and Ramesh K, will be engulfing the beautifully designed space with jaunty vibes, flaunting a repertoire of funk, soul, bossa and even Afrobeat.
Noche De Fiesta, every Friday, Terra, #03-308 Suntec City Sky Garden, 3 Temasek Boulevard, Singapore 038983, p. 6336 6009
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, p. 6292 3800. $20 for pre-sale, $25 at door.
Leftbank: Every Friday at CATO
Believe us when we say that local deckster, Haan, is one of the most underrated techno DJs in the scene. It’s not just his penchant for dark yet driving selections, but also his foresight in curating parties that click, by garnering both top talents and fledgling youngbloods. Leftbank, often happening on Fridays at Cato, is one of his newest, off-kilter brainchilds, affluent in house and techno vibes that would drive even the pickiest of listeners mental.
Leftbank, every Friday, CATO, 237 South Bridge Road, Singapore 058786, p. 8299 6434. No cover charge.
Pool/Party/BBQ: 6 August at Sofitel So Singapore
Splashing about to the thumps and bumps of house music is bound to make anyone hungry. And thankfully – kudos to the crews behind Eyes To The Front, Pop Studio, and Sofitel So Singapore – this rave will have you craving some smoky, saucy BBQ. Stack your plate with sausage platters, beef burgers, St. Louis baby ribs and honey buffalo wings, and boogie on (dancing while eating is possible; we’ve tried) with the likes of Amy Dabbs, Jared Kong, Oliver Osborne and more.
Pool/Party/BBQ, 6 August, Sofitel So Singapore, 35 Robinson Road, Singapore 068876, p. 6701 6800. $10 for entry, arrive before 4pm for one complimentary drink.
Majulah Massive: 7 August at Tanjong Beach Club
So what do you love about living in Singapore? If Tanjong Beach Club is one of your answers – and deservedly so – then you need to give this beachside spot a visit on National Day weekend. We hear there’s gonna be brunch by the beach and bottles of Champagne ready to pop, as TBC’s resident DJs pump out soul, funk, nu-disco and deep house faves. With weekends this sublime, aren’t you glad to be part of this country?
Majulah Massive, 7 August, Tanjong Beach Club, 120 Tanjong Beach Walk, Sentosa, Singapore 098942, p. 9750 5323. $28 Early bird, $35 Standard, $40 Door.
We The Citizens Fest: 9 August at Zouk
Punters were startled a bit when they caught wind that Zouk’s and Ismaya Live’s Beach Beats Fest had been cancelled. But thankfully, those keeping theirs fingers crossed to catch tropical house upstart Sam Feldt, deep house deckster Hayden James, urban beat-tripper Ta-ku, and the legendary uptown funkster Mark Ronson, will get their second shot at this unofficial ‘National Day’ party. Where ’em party patriots be at?
We The Citizens Fest, 9 August, Zouk, 17 Jiak Kim Street, Singapore 169420, p. 6738 2988. $51 (advance), $65 (at door).
Salsa Under The Stars: 10 August at Kult Kafé
You’re already aware of our shameless infatuation with Kult Kafé’s Sunday On The Hill series (next one’s happening on 7 August), so we figured we’ll fill you in on another bouncy boogaloo. In fact, this one should be right up your alley if you’re slick with salsa, ’cos this right here is an alfresco salsa party! Although this gig is free (and you’re free to pull off all sorts of moves to the tropical Caribbean soundtrack of salsa, cha cha and reggaeton), you can pay $5 for an enlightening 45-minute Bachata workshop by dancing pro, Cheryl Wu. You’ll be getting your salsa on even if you have two left feet!
Salsa Under The Stars, 10 August, Kult Kafé, 11 Upper Wilkie Road, Singapore 228120. Free entry, $5 for class.
The Council Presents Kaye & Jonathan Kusuma: 12 August at Headquarters by the Council
Happening at the hippest club you probably haven’t heard about, this seedy, clandestine rave reminds us why we love Headquarters by the Council so darn much. This month, this temple of decadence brings back local techno authority and saxophone whiz Kaye (Darker Than Wax), and Jakarta veteran Jonathan Kusuma (I’m A Cliché) for an audacious night of acid house, tech-house, techno and everything the doctor wouldn’t order.
The Council Presents Kaye & Jonathan Kusuma, 12 August, Headquarters by the Council, 66 Boat Quay, Singapore 049854. Buy first drink at $15 to enter.
Canvas Presents Icicle: 13 August at Canvas
You might know by now if you’ve lived here long enough, but there is a hardy drum & bass scene here in Singers! And if you’re a junglist junkie yourself who likes ’em full-throttle beats, then this rave at Canvas will send a chill down your spine. An advocate of the genre and one of the top dogs from the Shogun Audio label, Icicle is swinging by for a set of rolling rhythms, dubsteppy wubbiness and shuddering bass that will warm up to you if you give it a chance.
Canvas Presents Icicle, 13 August, Canvas, The Riverwalk, #B1-01/06, 20 Upper Circular Road, Singapore 058416, p. 9169 3815. Presale $22 (incl one drink), Door $30 (incl one drink).
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.
Forward Feat. Heidy: 20 August at kyō
Often Bali-bound for the hedonistic nightlife scene? Then you’ll probably be familiar with one of its most prolific DJs who’s taken residence at Sky Garden, W Bali, and currently, Jenja. Armed with her tech-house and house arsenal, Heidy is en route back to Singers to show us why she’s a force to be reckoned with.
Forward Feat. Heidy, 20 August, kyō, 133 Cecil Street, Singapore 069535, p. 8299 8735. $20 for ladies and $25 for men, both include one complimentary drink.
Sub City: 20 Aug at Kult Kafé
Another jam for the junglists this month! Seeing a shift in scenery from its previous base of operations in a secret room above Orchard’s Hard Rock Cafe (the folks behind organisers, Revision Music, are as hip as it gets), Sub City now invades Kult Kafé for a full day of turbulent drum & bass and chilled-out liquid funk. With an all-star line-up featuring hustlers of the genre – including long-time veterans like Kiat, Aresha and Zul – this party will also keep your energy up with BBQ and beers.
Sub City, 20 August, Kult Kafé, 11 Upper Wilkie Road, Singapore 228120. Free entry.
Sessions Rooftop Pool Party: 20 Aug at Hotel Jen Orchardgateway
Never one to rest on his laurels, DJ and promoter, Zig Zach is back at it again with his rooftop pool party series in the heart of Orchard Road. Splash, shimmy and snack away (did we mention there’s live BBQ?) as guest DJs Danny Fry, Si-FI, Giuseppe G., Trev D and Bhayology crank up the decibels with chunks of house, tech-house, and even world music like Latin and Afrobeat. Shopping spree followed by a raving soirée? Sounds like a plan.
Sessions Rooftop Pool Party, 20 August, Hotel Jen Orchardgateway, 277 Orchard Road, Singapore 238858. $15 (incl. one drink) before 4pm.
Subvert Sessions: 26 Aug at Blu Jaz Café
The bass and beats get bangin’ at this one, and it’s all thanks to the Subvert HQ crew, one of Singapore’s longest-running purveyors of jungle (told you we had plenty of it here!). Led by scene stalwart, Zul, this party is all about extremities – it doesn’t get rumblier than the swelling sub-bass of drum & bass, and it doesn’t get choppier than the hiccup-y rhythms of juke. These niche sounds will be pushed out by veterans, Aresha, Senja and Harv, alongside rising breakout deckster, Prema. But you’re ready for something different, aren’t you?
Subvert Sessions, 26 August, Blu Jaz Café, 11 Bali Lane, Singapore 189848, p. 6292 3800. Entry is $5.
The Deep End With San Holo: 27 August at Velvet Underground – Dance
Push start to continue: you’re gonna dig this one if you’re a sucker for glitchy, sugary, video gamey symphonies. An audial geek at heart – and a sci-fi one too at that, judging from his cheeky alias from a galaxy far, far away – San Holo is the latest apple of Moonbeats Asia’s eye, with his shimmering synths and spluttering beats à la trap. Total ride with this one!
Velvet Underground x Moonbeats Asia Present The Deep End With San Holo, 27 August, Velvet Underground – Dance, Zouk, 17 Jiak Kim Street, Singapore 169420, p. 6738 2988. $28 for ladies and $33 for men, both include two complimentary drinks
Forward Feat. Sunju Hargun: 27 August at kyō
There’s a multitude of gifted local DJs, and plenty more music mavericks in the region. And if there’s one rave rouser who’s been impressing us time and time again, it’s Bangkok’s own Sunju Hargun. Banging with techno and house beats so hard they’ll still be pounding in your sleep, Sunju returns to the basement once again, and we assure you it’s gonna be one rough, rumbly night.
Forward Feat. Sunju Hargun, 27 August, kyō, 133 Cecil Street, Singapore 069535, p. 8299 8735. $20 for ladies and $25 for men, both include one complimentary drink.