All The Exciting Events Happening This May

Want to know how Hallyu stars such as actress Gianna Jun Ji Hyun and Blackpink’s Jennie always look so flawless on and offstage? Luxury Korean label Hera is hosting a pop-up to spill the beans on their latest foundation Hera Black Foundation. Makeup artists from Korea will also be there to share their tips and tricks, while you Instagram away with their immersive displays. Plus, there are exclusive promotions and a complimentary trial of the foundation for you too. Register your interest here.

For just a few times a year, the usually heavily guarded and serene office of the President of Singapore will spring to life as it welcomes thousands of visitors through its open doors. If you haven’t seen what life is like in The Istana, pay a visit on May 1, Labour Day, for its open house from 8.30am to 6pm. Besides getting a chance to marvel at the colonial architecture and learning about the heritage of this important building, you can also enjoy a bustling line-up of performances and activities and even have a picnic with your loved ones. Moreover, the Istana is celebrating its 150th anniversary and you can purchase commemorative tokens and Flashpay cards there. Entry is free for Singaporeans and PRs and $2 per person for everyone else. More information is available at The Istana website.

Sip on an icy cold cocktail as you tuck into food from Tanjong Beach Club and enjoy a lovely cool sea breeze — all while watching a film. Doesn’t that sound like a dream? Live out that fantasy at the Peroni Sunset Cinema, where you get to catch movies such as biographic dramedy Green Book (2018), biographic legal-drama On The Basis Of Sex (2018) and crime drama The Mule (2018) while lounging in deck chairs with wireless headphones. While some dates are already sold out (you can’t see Lady Gaga belting out Shallow by the beac, unforch), you can check out their website for other available dates. Tickets cost $31.80 each via their website and the screening will only be cancelled if the weather conditions pose a risk.

Don’t be fooled by his skinny frame and elvish good looks — South African-born Australian singer-songwriter-actor Troye Sivan packs smooth vocals that are at once soulful and soothing. First spotted doing song covers on YouTube, Troye has since received a Golden Globe nomination for his song Revelation in coming-of-age film Boy Erased (2018). Set to perform his latest album Bloom, concertgoers can expect hits such as My My My!, Dance To This and Animal, but we’re hoping that the 23-year-old performs favourites including Youth and Wild. Tickets cost upwards of $98 and are available via Apactix.

Local songbird Jacintha Abisheganaden is a household name, especially if you favour jazz music. The singer-thespian will be performing hits such as Somewhere over the Rainbow, Moon River and tunes from her 2018 album Fire & Rain. The performance will also be supported by music director Mei Sheum, Dr Sydney Tan on bass, Tama Goh on drums and Sebastian Ho on guitar. It’ll be a night of stirringly good music. Tickets cost $45 via Sistic.

Show your support for our local talent by grooving to their live performances held at the Singapore Chinese Cultural Centre (SCCC).  Performing familiar nostalgic tunes and the latest hits, the roster of performers include Project Superstar winner Kelvin Chen Wei Lian, pop singer-songwriter Zeeaura and pop-folk artist Charlie Lim. Set on two dates, May 3 and 17, the program is split into a lunchtime session at Tanjong Pagar Centre and evening session at the concourse of SCCC. Admission is free and you can get more details at their website.

Fans of South Korean boy band GOT7 listen up. This is your last chance to catch its sub-unit Jus2 — consisting of JB and Yugyeom — in action as Singapore will be the final stop for the duo’s tour. Performing their debut album Focus, you can definitely expect them to perform most of the tracks there. But here’s hoping that they entertain us with some of GOT7’s hits as well. Tickets costs upwards of $148 via Apactix.

Do you love Chanel perfumes and makeup? Then this pop-up event by the French luxury label is an event you can’t miss. You’ll get to play with new, limited edition makeup and fragrance releases at the Coco Flash Club, such as the Voyage de Chanel (a blush and highlighter palette), Les Eaux de Chanel Le Voyage and Les Eaux de Chanel Paris-Riviera and purchase them if you wish. Register your interest via http://bit.ly/cocoflashclubsg and get set to indulge in your love for all things beauty while jiving to the club’s music.

Do you live to eat? The inaugural GastroFest at Shangri-La Hotel, Singapore is set to satiate your tastebuds. You can expect an array of mouthwatering cuisines from in-house restaurants Waterfall Ristorante Italiano and The Line as well as partnering establishments TONO Cevicheria, Meatsmith, Springleaf Prata, Coconut Club and The Pantree. If you fancy a tipple to accompany your meal, East Imperial and Drinksfellas will be serving up curated gin and tonic cocktails, bouquet wines and champagne. All of these while live music performances set a relaxing ambience. A wonderful way to spend a Saturday, we think. Tickets costs upwards of $228 for adults and you can make your reservations via their website.

Combine your love for sneakers and partying at Bar Rouge’s Drip event. Besides music by local DJ Rattle, urban apparel labels such as Jason Markk and Freshly Pressed will be selling their goods there from 6pm to 10.30pm, and there’ll be a live shoe cleaning station. There’ll also be hourly giveaways of products, but you’ll want to stay till 2am as the big prize includes a bottle of Patrón tequila, $200 worth of Converse vouchers and a pair of limited edition Converse kicks. Show up in your best sneakers and get complimentary entrance to the club all night. If you’re not wearing sneakers, you get free entry if you enter before 10.30pm. Entry costs $25 per pax after 10.30pm, and you can pay at the door.

Not that we ever need a reason to drink, but The Cocktail Festival is presenting booze in such an intriguing manner that it’s hard not to put our names down straightaway. Boasting a lineup that includes international and local renowned bars such as Tippling Club, Jigger & Pony, Smalls from Bangkok and Keepers from Seoul, expect unique creations such as a sweet and spicy Tián Mì Mì from Madame Fan Bar and banana and miso infused Peel & See from Smoke & Mirrors. There will also be live music and food so it’ll be an awesome party. Tickets cost upwards of $34 via Sistic and the SCGF website.

What happens when an innocence bout of flirting goes awry and the lady gets sexually assaulted? With the rise of the #MeToo and #TimesUp movements, more sexual assault stories are getting unearthed and destabilising the lies and power dynamics that keep victims silent. Created by playwright Ken Kwek after conducting over 100 interviews with victims, this production is aimed at giving voice to the shamed and damned victims and stars thespians including Oon Shu An, Pam Oei and Adrian Pang. Tickets cost upwards of $25 via Sistic.

With his unique blend of folk-pop sound and positive lyrics, it comes as no surprise that American singer-songwriter Jason Mraz has amassed a loyal fanbase and two Grammy awards under his belt. Jason is set to perform his latest album Know that features catchy tunes such as Have It All, Unlonely and More Than Friends. Of course, we’re hoping that Jason also performs fan favourites including I’m Yours, Make It Mine and I Won’t Give Up. Tickets cost upwards of $98 via Apactix.

Known as the “Prince of Love Ballads”, veteran Taiwanese singer Jeff Chang returns to Singapore with his latest concert titled Continuum. But what sets this apart from past concerts is that Jeff himself is involved in every detail, from the concept to stage lighting and effects. The show will also be supported by a music team led by Golden Melody music director, Jim Lee, and band members who have worked with artists such as Shakira and Alanis Morissette. Get set for a night of soulful ballads and nostalgic favourites from this mesmerising singer. Tickets costs upwards of $18 via Sportshub.

A group of strangers on a train interact with each other and realise that they have more in common than they thought. That’s the premise of the Romanian film Beside Me, one of the many showings at this year’s European Union Film Festival. Happening at the National Gallery of Singapore, this year’s presentation spotlights Romania as the feature country and celebrates the cultural heritage of Europe with films from other nations including Ukraine, Austria and Malta. Tickets (per show) cost $11 via Sistic.

Known for being the runner-up of RuPaul’s Drag Race All-Star 2, Katya has amassed fans with her flamboyance and unique and derisive sense of humour. As one of the most popular queens to come out of the competition, you can expect a night filled with laughter as Katya shows off her various hilarious personas and characters. Tickets cost upwards of $88 via Sistic.

Lauv is no stranger to performing in Singapore, after all he opened for Ed Sheeran’s sold-out concerts for the Divide World Tour back in 2017. Known for his smoky vocals, his two-day gig at Capitol Theatre has already sold out, which attests to his singing prowess and popularity. For the quick few who managed to snag a ticket, you can expect songs such as The Other, There’s No Way and I Like Me Better from the young, talented American singer-songwriter.

Hermès Heritage is a cycle of touring exhibitions that shares the rich history and heritage of the house. After Harnessing the Roots and Rouges Hermès, the series continues in Singapore with In Motion, which explores the spirit of travel that is so deeply rooted in the DNA of Hermes.

Curated by Bruno Gaudichon and exhibited in a scenography designed by Laurence Fontaine, the exhibition will present objects from the Émile Hermès collection, the archives, the Hermès Conservatoire of Creations and contemporary pieces.

The exhibition will be held at Hermès Liat Towers, levels 3 & 4, and will be open to the public from 11^th to 19^th May 2019.

Singapore has come a long way, from a humble fishing village to a thriving, modern metropolis. But the journey has not been smooth; in fact, it has been a wild and complicated ride, according to The Necessary Stage’s new production, Civilised. Written by esteemed playwright Haresh Sharma, the play examines Singapore’s colonial past and its present-day veneer of glamour. It casts the spotlight on one’s relentless pursuit of economic success and explores the idea of freedom of speech. Underlying all this is the question: Does civilisation come at a cost? Tickets costs $36 via Sistic.

The annual pinnacle arts festival is back, and with genres spanning from theatre and dance to art and film, you’ll be spoilt for choice with this year’s lineup at the Singapore International Festival of Arts (SIFA). SIFA aims to celebrate local and international works and has become a must-go event for art lovers. Held across various locations islandwide, fascinating shows include the Displaced Persons’ Welcome Dinner, a production that looks at how humanitarian workers deal with the refugee crises, an intimate and moving performance by eminent Japanese musician and composer Ryuichi Sakamoto titled Fragments, and Frogman, a supernatural thriller that uses a virtual reality experience. Prices vary between shows and you can get the full information via the SIFA website.

Fans of martial arts, mark your calendar right now. If you love watching athletes battle it out in a ring, then the One Championship showcase is an event you wouldn’t want to miss. While not much has been released about the event, you can expect a headline match between reigning champion Shinya “Tobikan Judan” Aoki against Singapore’s Christian “The Warrior” Lee. Tickets cost upwards of $28 via Sportshub and you can get more info at One Championship’s website.

As part of Zouk’s 28th anniversary and in celebration of the long Vesak Day weekend, Dutch-Moroccan DJ R3HAB is set to entertain partygoers with a night of hits and revelry. Having worked with top celebs such as Rihanna, Lady Gaga and Justin Bieber, you can expect a night of energetic tunes and transcendental spins. Tickets cost upwards $38 via Zouk.

It’ll be a chill weekend of unwinding by the beach, participating in yoga classes and revelling in live music from local and international musicians if you head down to the AIA Glow Festival. International headliners include yoga teachers such as Marysia Do and Patrick Beach, both of whom will be conducting classes, while Belgian DJ Lost Frequencies, hit London band Rudimental and local band The Sam Willows are set to perform. This is a rain or shine event so remember to bring your raincoats. Tickets cost upwards of $59 each and you can get more information from their website.

Mother’s Day might be over by then but that doesn’t mean you can’t treat your parents and grandparents to a night filled with nostalgic tunes and golden melodies. Adam Cheng and Liza Wang, both titans in the Hong Kong entertainment industry, join forces to dazzle and enchant with resplendent costumes and hit songs. Tickets cost upwards of $38 via Sistic.

The annual Children’s Choir Concert by the Singapore Lyric Opera is back. Tune in to the beautiful young choral voices as they perform tunes such as Everybody Rejoice from the movie The Wiz and How Far I’ll Go, the Grammy award-winning song from Disney cartoon Moana. Conducted by chorus mistress Rose Loh, the Children’s Choir will be joined by guest singers from St Margaret’s Secondary School and Raffles Girls Primary School. Tickets cost upwards of $20 via Sistic.