And just like that, we’re already reaching the first quarter of 2016 – where did all the time go?! If your answer to that query is hopping around nightclubs, bars and pop-up venues to dance like a maniac to underground salvoes of house and techno, then you’ll probably like what you’re gonna read in this round-up. From nu-disco parties in the heart of town and EDM VVIP RSVP-only soirees, to massive picnics in the park and alfresco bashes along the Rail Corridor; March sure is looking like a helluva month to rave.
(NEW!) SUB CITY: 26 Mar at Hard Rock Café Singapore (Editor’s Pick)
If you grew up in the boroughs of London, chances are, you might’ve been a devoted junglist or the life of the party with your drum & bass crew. Feeling homesick? Then you’d best get bumpin’ towards the illest underground party in town – enter SUB CITY. Alongside beat-chuggin’ residents Senja and Twinhed, there’ll also be guest appearances from Subvert HQ’s Zul (another scene guru!), and Phyla ambassadors Anomy and Jaydah who’ve been known to drop blistering juke too. And heads-up, we hear that Panoptkn will be filming this set; they’re essentially SG’s very own Boiler Room nomads! Get your deadpan dancing poses ready.
SUB CITY, 26 March, Hard Rock Café Singapore, 50 Cuscaden Road, Singapore 249724. Entry is $15 (one drink included).
(NEW!) Revision and Tropical Temple Present Organika: 24 Mar at Kult Kafe
Two groove-savvy collectives come together for a bash that transcends borders; welcome to the culture-hopping fiesta that is Organika. The Tropical Temple shamans are no strangers to throwing tunes that jet-set from Afrobeat and reggae, to Latin and Baile, but they won’t be going at it alone. Tropical Temple’s Bhayology and Kusto will be joined by Revision Music’s Rah and Senja, the latter surely adding a grimier flavour with their cuts of bass, hip-hop, jungle and other exotic treasures.
Revision and Tropical Temple Present Organika, 24 March, Kult Kafe, 11 Upper Wilkie Road, Singapore 228120. No cover charge.
(NEW!) Poptart // Hold Me Deep Beneath The Waves: 25 Mar at kyō
Is there a light in you that never goes out? Does love always tear you apart? And are you always in love on Friday? If you easily got all of those indie references, then you’ll be in your element at this monthly hipster playground. The devlish duo of weelikeme and KiDG are back once again with more indie anthems, Brit-pop classics, grunge hell-raisers and new-wave gems; making you ask yourself the question, “Are you human, or are you dancer?”.
Poptart // Hold Me Deep Beneath The Waves, 25 March, kyō, 133 Cecil Street, Singapore 069535, p. 8299 8735. $20 for ladies and $25 for men, both include one complimentary drink.
(NEW!) Canvas & SōKO Present GotSome: 26 Mar at Canvas
The UK scene is on fire right now with regards to the quality of underground house music, and GotSome is one slick duo that’s been getting loads of airplay in the past few months. “Bassline” is the choon that propelled them to dancefloor-don status, and it’s the track that best brandishes their aptitude for tight punchy beats and hypnotically-locking hooks. They’re being brought down to Canvas by the SōKO squad – the fellas behind some of the most nostalgic UK garage parties in the city (yes, we have UK garage in Singers too!).
Canvas & SōKO Present GotSome, 26 March, Canvas Singapore, #B1-01 The Riverwalk, 20 Upper Circular Road, Singapore 058416, p. 6538 2928. Entry is $20 (pre-sale) and $30 (at the door).
Club Berlin: 4 Mar at DECK
Psst! We’re letting you in on the hush-hush after-party that’s happening on the opening night of the Club Berlin: Electronic Music & Photography exhibition. Organised by gig promoters, Moonbeats Asia, this underground rave will feature some of the slickest house and techno DJs in the local scene, like Debbie Chia, EJ Missy, FAL:X, and the enigmatic teamcake. Always wanted to get a taste of Berlin’s Berghain? Chances are, you might find the closest thing right here.
Club Berlin Afterparty, 4 March, 9pm-3am, DECK, 120A Prinsep Street, Singapore 187937, p. 6735 4555. Standard price is $15, $20 at the door.
Realness Feat. Sarah Love: 4 Mar at Refuge
The ace parties are the ones that keep it real, but none execute it quite as outstandingly as this high-octane series over on Circular Road. UK’s Sarah Love – dubbed the “First Lady of UK hip-hop” – comes over to drops phat beats on the Refuge turntables; certainly a gig that will have you sporting your slickest sneakers and throwing your gang signs in the air. Holla!
Realness Feat. Sarah Love, 4 March, Refuge, #02-01/#03-01, 79 Circular Road, Singapore 049433, p. 8121 8280. Ticket details on their website.
Rally – The 1st Edition: 5 Mar at Blu Jaz Café
Sure, raving may seem like a chaotic pastime that exhibits no care in the world – but that’s not the case here. On the contrary, Rally is a new party series that lets you dance for a good cause; a praiseworthy initiative that donates all proceeds to charity! Choose to go mental with the housey stylings of scene mavens Maurice Simon and CATS ON CRACK – and a special appearance from UK’s Law & Order – and your donations at the door will go straight to The Children’s Charities Association of Singapore. See? Partying can make a difference.
Rally – The 1st Edition, 5 March, Blu Jaz Café, 11 Bali Lane, Singapore 189848, p. 6292 3800. Tickets at $20 for charity.
A Sound Alibi: 5 Mar at The Alibi, Catalunya
Posh with pizazz, The Alibi is the scene’s latest party fixture for VVIPs and those willing to splurge and be seen. We’ve previously raved about it here, so don’t be surprised to find us harping about its parties that frazzle the Fullerton every weekend. A high-brow affair with luxe cocktails and classy house selections, The Alibi is one gathering to save for if you wanna up your social status.
A Sound Alibi, 5 March, The Alibi – Catalunya, The Fullerton Pavilion, 82 Collyer Quay, Singapore 049327, p. 9800 3787. $50 per guest including one drink.
kyō 3rd Year Anniversary Feat. Trus’Me & Mano Le Tough: 11-12 Mar at kyō (Editor’s Pick)
Count on us to be at the birthday bash of one of our fave clubs in Singapore. The beat-booming basement turns three with a Japanese theme of “Wabi-Sabi” – the appreciation of beauty in simplicity and the perfection of imperfection. It’s an apt depiction of kyō’s standard musical curation: pure, welcoming, with a subtle tinge of dancefloor destruction. Leading the celebrations in a two-day special, UK’s Trus’Me represents his Prime Numbers imprint with tech-teasing, soul-laced house cuts, and the Dixon-endorsed Mano Le Tough churns out some of the most emotionally heart-wrenching deep house you’ll ever hear.
kyō 3rd Year Anniversary – Wabi-Sabi Feat. Trus’Me & Mano Le Tough, 11-12 March, kyō, 133 Cecil Street, Singapore 069535, p. 8299 8735. $20 for ladies and $25 for men, both include one complimentary drink.
Cherokee: 12 Mar at OverEasy Orchard
When it comes to gooey, bass-squirming nu-disco earworms, we all know the Frenchies have it down to an art – where do you think French house came from? This isn’t Cherokee’s first rodeo with the Lo & Behold fellas; from Loof, the hook-heavy mixmeister now takes his choons to the heart of town. Dance the night away (rain dances are welcome) to his plush chubby beats and summery synth-work.
Cherokee, 12 March, OverEasy Orchard, 541 Orchard Road, #01-01, Liat Towers, Singapore 238881, p.6684 1453. Early bird tickets at $28, $33 at the door.
Para//el Presents Secret Cinema: 12 Mar at Velvet Underground – Dance
Coming soon: one of the most esteemed techno acts to ever grace the Zouk decks. No doubt, Jeroen Verheij (AKA Secret Cinema) holds quite a history with the Zouk crew, and is always welcomed back by punters who expect nothing short of pounding, drilling beats on overload. He’s also one of the seminal acts to shape the Dutch dance industry, long before it became a mecca for commercial EDM. So don’t worry, purists; you won’t hear that here.
Para//el Presents Secret Cinema, 12 March, Zouk, 17 Jiak Kim Street, Singapore 169420, p. 6738 2988. $28 for ladies and $33 for men, both include two complimentary drinks.
The Council Feat. Mat.Joe: 18 Mar at Secret Location
Run by our fave Pusheen-at-heart and gutsy female DJ, CATS ON CRACK, The Council is one series that’s thrown sublime underground parties in whatever edgy nook and cranny she can find – from Japanaese izakayas to secret bars above art-house cinemas. You might have already heard rumours about The Council’s Haji Lane street party on 4 March (yes, it’s true), but turns out, they’ve got an even bigger bash later in the month! Saluted by Jamie Jones’ Hot Creations label, Mat.Joe is a Berlin duo that bumps and thumps with brooding house numbers, and they’ll be gracing The Council with their presence. Be part of The Council for further deets.
The Council Feat. Mat.Joe, 18 March, Venue and ticket prices to be confirmed.
The Great Singapore Jerk Off Pt. 2: 19 Mar at Red Baron
Stop giggling, you pervs; this is one bashment that celebrates the culinary art of BBQ chicken served with traditional Jamaican Jerk sauces (what else were you thinking?). Raiding Gillman Barracks from 2pm onwards, this kid-friendly party will serve wings and drumlets all through the day. But we told you this was a party, right? So expect some Rastafarian tunage from SG’s own reggae residents, Singapura Dub Club. Ska, reggae, dancehall; this event’s got it all, mon!
The Great Singapore Jerk Off Pt. 2, 19 March, Red Baron, 45 Malan Road, Singapore 109455, p. 6334 6734. Free entry.
Rail Collidoscope: 19 Mar at Rail Corridor Art Space
A joint collaboration between National Arts Council’s Noise Singapore and Lush 99.5FM’s Lush Loves Local – both leading visionaries in the promotion of homegrown, original music – Rail Collidoscope plans to see this gritty, guerrilla-styled arts space off with a bang (don’t worry, it’ll be back; more deets here) next month. The Rail Corridor Art Space has seen local acts throw parties like the Rail Jammin’ and Off The Rails, dropping tunes from the disciplines of reggae, jungle, hip-hop, soul, funk and more off-beat genres. So who knows what kind of vibes we’ll get this time?
Rail Collidoscope, 19 March, 12pm-6pm, Rail Corridor Art Space, Holland Drive Block 44 Carpark, Singapore 270044. Free entry.
Garden Beats Festival: 19 Mar at Fort Canning Park
Oftentimes, gripes about not being able to bring in your own food into festival grounds run rampant. Except here’s a music festival that intends to shatter this grievance, by letting punters bring in their own picnics while enjoying world-class dance music entertainment – home-made sandwiches and house music are finally a reality! Yes, it’s true; the spontaneous party-lovin’ chieftains behind Sunshine Nation – guilty of raucous street parties at Circular Road – are pulling out the big guns with the Garden Beats Festival. We’ve got more deets here.
Garden Beats Festival, 19 March, 1pm-10.30pm, Fort Canning Park, Fort Gate, River Valley Road, Singapore 179037. Tickets: $85 (regular), $105 (at door), $75 (picnic special for group of 5pax or more).
Sunset Sessions: 25 Mar at Hotel Jen
First a Chinese junk boat party for his Outcast Sessions, now a sunset shindig at a mystery location (now revealed to be Hotel Jen!); DJ Zig Zach really knows how to keep us party animals on our toes! Those who keep track of this tech-house dabbler will also be familiar with Zig Zach’s RITUAL nights at kyō, so he definitely knows how to pull off one crackin’ party. Not only does his new Sunset Sessions have a secret venue, but it’s also confirmed a line-up comprising the disco-proficient KFC, techno doyenne Debbie Chia, and even a live set from electronica twosome .gif. Stay in the loop if you don’t wanna miss out!
Sunset Sessions: Launch Party, 25 March, Hotel Jen Orchard Gateway, 277 Orchard Road, Singapore 238858. Entry fee is $15 (with one drink).
Stefano Ritteri – Eyes To The Front Pool Party: 26 Mar at Sofitel So Singapore
No one throws pool parties in the CBD – or anywhere, for that matter – quite like the Eyes To The Front crew helmed by DJ Oliver Osborne. And for its March instalment, they’re roping in the Italian talents of Stefano Ritteri, who dives deep when it comes to spewing out vibey house tunes; snug, shrewd grooves that’ve received the attention of labels like Defected and Dirtybird. The ex-resident of London’s Fabric will be joined by KL’s Jonnyvicious, and main man himself, Osborne.
Stefano Ritteri – Eyes To The Front Pool Party, 26 March, Sofitel So Sinapore, 35 Robinson Road, Singapore 068876, p. 6701 6800. $20 for entry, arrive before 4pm for one complimentary drink.
