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And just like that, we’re a quarter way through to the year 2019. Where did the time go? With no public holidays in the month of March, it was a difficult month to get through.
But fret not, with Good Friday on the horizon and all these exciting events — from concerts (John Mayer and Ed Sheeran anyone?) to a Pokemon GO! Safari Zone and a Taiwan-inspired night market — to occupy our time, April promises to be way more enjoyable. It’ll pass by in a flash!
Mark your calendars and call your friends, you wouldn’t want to miss these events:
With multiple hits like New Light and Gravity, amongst many others, it comes as no surprise that John Mayer’s debut concert in Singapore is a sell-out. With seven Grammy awards under his belt, concertgoers who managed to snatch a ticket can expect a night filled with songs from his seven-album long repertoire, especially his latest 2017 album, The Search For Everything, that features favourites such as Love on the Weekend and Never on the Day You Leave. Good news: A second wave of tickets was released on March 12 and you might be able to score a coveted ticket ($128 and up).
The 23rd World Gourmet Summit is back with multiple tastings, special menus, and awards to be given out in its annual month-and-a-half-long celebration that highlights the best in local and global cuisine. One noteworthy event in their lineup is the Gastro-Market Place that will be held at the Chijmes Lawn on April 23, from 6pm to 10pm. Not only will you be able to taste and purchase local produce and ingredients, 20 per cent of the ticket sales (it costs $10 per pax) will be donated to the Singapore Children’s Society. The event will also be cashless. Go to the World Gourmet Summit’s website for full information and lineup of their events.
A couple are having an affair. That’s already complicated enough, except … he is her husband’s best friend. So what happens when the truth gets uncovered? Based on the acclaimed work by French novelist and playwright Florian Zeller, The Truth follows the relationship between the couple and their spouses as they get caught up in a tangled web of lies. Themes of friendship and deceit are examined in this play that pushes human connections to the limit. Tickets start from $35 and you can get them via Sistic or the Singapore Repertory Theatre.
This thought-provoking production examines the aftermath of colonialism, such as the prejudices and social hierarchies that have been left behind. How do these affect its people and their identity? Based on an original idea by theatre practitioner Sharon Frese, Miss British will have elements of theatre, dance and video installations. Tickets cost $35 and it is free seating.
A little girl’s innocent friendship with an old tree — and her ensuing grief that it is about to be cut down to make way for new houses — is the premise of this heartbreaking play by esteemed playwright Kuo Pao Kun. The production, which was penned in 1987, has been a popular piece among schools and drama groups for its insightful questions on the disastrous effects of modernisation on Mother Nature and on culture. This rendition will be directed by Ang Gey Pin, who leads an ensemble of promising and emerging actors from the Young People Performing Arts Ensemble. The show will be in Mandarin and cost either $23 or $27. Buy them via Sistic.
The Singapore Ink 2019 pays homage to the artistry of local and international tattoo artists. Whether you are an enthusiast or are looking to add to your collection, this is where you can marvel in the craft of these mavens. Here is also where you can get inspiration for your next piece and suss out the newest trends. There will also be a competition to see which artists’ work reign supreme. Tickets costs upwards of $30 and can be purchased via Sistic.
Wannables, listen up. K-pop singer Ong Seong Wu, who was a member of hit boyband Wanna One (which has since disbanded), is hosting his first ever fan meeting in Singapore. Seong Wu, known for his fifth placing at survival reality show Produce 101, is now venturing out as a solo act, and will be the male lead for teen drama The Moment of 18. Some lucky ticket holders will stand a chance to take a photo with the porcelain-skin star, with those who bought more expensive tickets standing a higher chance. Tickets cost upwards of $98 and is available via Apactix.
Since her debut in 2018 with her album Speak Your Mind, rising star Anne-Marie has garnered commercial success, with many of her songs hitting Platinum or Multi-Platinum status. The English singer-songwriter and Brit Awards nominee has collaborated with big names such as Clean Bandit and Marshmello, and her hit tune 2002 was co-written with Ed Sheeran, Benny Blanco, Julia Michaels and others. We are crossing fingers that she will be performing that tune as well as Rockabye, Friends and Perfect to Me. Tickets cost upwards of $98 and are available via Apactix.
Fans of badminton definitely shouldn’t miss Singapore’s most prestigious badminton competition, the Singapore Badminton Open. The event gathers champion shuttlers from all around the world to battle it out for a US$355,000 (around S$482,480) grand prize. World and Olympic champions such as Kento Momota, Lilyana Natsir, Tontowi Ahmad and Ratchanok Intanon have reigned supreme at this yearly competition. Tickets cost upwards of $20 via Apactix.
It’s a fairytale marriage between two childhood sweethearts. Or is it? Although Ellen Toh loves Jonathan, she actually wants to be with women. Her life starts to unravel after she meets and falls in love with an openly lesbian lawyer Lesley. Starring Oon Shu An, Shane Mardjuki, Amanda Tee and Nessa Anwar, Eleanor Wong’s Mergers and Accusations examines love and sexuality as well as the societal pressures that bind and restrict us. Tickets cost $35 via Sistic and it is free seating.
Need a new place for after-hour parties and nightlife revelry? Then you’re going to want to mark your calendars for the opening of Marquee Singapore. Created in collaboration between Marina Bay Sands and Tao Group, an American nightlife enterprise, the 2,300 sq m club spans three storeys and houses an eight-armed indoor ferris wheel. How’s that for the ‘gram? Their opening weekend promises to be spectacular, with headliners such as the renowned DJ Tiësto and Afrojack, with a special guest slated to appear on the 13th. Above & Beyond and Steve Aoki will also be playing their sets the following weekend on the 18th and 19th respectively. Tickets cost upwards of $20 and are available via their website or at the door. Online tickets for Tiësto and Afrojack are unfortunately sold out but can be purchased at the door, while stocks last.
Pet and animal lovers unite — Singapore’s biggest pet fair is back for its sixth consecutive run at the Singapore Expo. Not only will you be able to shop for the latest and most stylish accessories for your beloved pets, you can also purchase yummy treats and supplements for them (gluten-free dog food anyone?). Classes will also be conducted and the topics range from animal healthcare, nutrition and wellness, to massages and animal first aid. Last but not least, you can bring your dogs to get groomed by the Fur4Hope charity dog grooming event where 100 per cent of the proceeds will go to canine shelters. The fundraiser is co-hosted by the Animal Arts Academy and Pet Lovers Centre, with prices for services such as hair/nail care and hair cut ranging from $5 to $20. The first 200 participants to register for the charity event via online booking will receive a goodie bag worth $20. Tickets cost $5 for a one-day ticket or $12 for all three days via PetExpo website or at the door. Pets are of course, welcomed. For full information details, head to their website.
Giant teacups, costume displays, animation, puppetry and a myriad of audiovisual and light projections — these are just some of the many exhibits that you can interact with at ArtScience Museum’s collaboration with the Australian Centre for the Moving Image. Celebrating Lewis Carroll’s 1865 classic tale, Alice In Wonderland, get ready for a colourful and mind-boggling experience as the show brings you through the various iterations of Alice in popular culture. Tickets cost upwards of $11 and you can get more information from their website.
If you grew up listening to Hokkien music, or you are looking to spoil your parents and grandparents by treating them to a night of melodic hits, then the Taiwan 4 Divas concert is for you. The four veteran songbirds, Fang Rui Er, Wu Xiu Zhu, Lee Yi Jun and Cai Qiu Feng, will entertain you with a nostalgic night of revelry with Chinese and Hokkien classics. Tickets cost upwards of $48 and are available via Sistic.
With EATMEPOPTART’s resident DJ KiDG helming the musical curation at OverEasy Orchard, you’re promised a night of fun and revelry as you reminisce over classic pop tunes from bands such as Madonna, Savage Garden, No Doubt and many others while tucking into their delicious selection of food and drinks. Purposefully held a day before the Good Friday public holiday, here’s a place to unwind before the long weekend. For information and reservations, head over to OverEasy’s website.
Written by theatre-maker and producer Neo Kim Seng, My Grandfather’s Road is a collection of stories that delve into his experiences growing up on Neo Pee Teck Lane, a side road named after his grandfather. This latest iteration adds new stories and reflections to the existing canon. Furthermore. the production talks about how the interplay of memory and history shapes our present identity. The show is free seating and tickets cost $35 via Sistic.
If you’re still deeply in love with Pokemon GO, here’s a piece of good news for you: In partnership with Niantic and The Pokémon Company, Sentosa will become a safari zone for players to catch rare, shiny and never-before-seen Pokémon, such as Tropius, shiny Shuckle, Unown and more as you explore the island. While you do have to register for a spot in the zone, people who missed the chance can still experience normal gameplay on the island. There are over 100,000 slots up for grabs so hurry, register for free and go catch ’em all.
Raise the roof at Asian music festival Sundown Festival, which is back for its 10th edition at the grounds of Siloso Beach. All things Asian will be celebrated here through music, food, art, and culture. More than 50 artists will take the stage over the three-day event, including international stars such as K-pop group iKON and EDM DJ Henry Fong and local artistes such as Sam Rui, Charlie Lim and THELIONCITYBOY. There will also be multiple film screenings, a food village and a marketplace to entertain you. Tickets cost upwards of $70 via Apactix while camping tickets packages costs upwards of $300.
Even if you’ve never been to Taipei, you should still be familiar with its renowned Shilin market — considered to be the largest and most famous night market in the city. Invade, the same organiser who brought Bangkok’s Art Box to our shores, is bringing this popular night market concept to The Grounds@Kranji, located at Singapore Turf Club. You can expect a wide array of offerings spanning across categories of food, fashion, lifestyle and design goods, interactive arcade games, KTV booths, live music performances and lantern installations. We’re hoping that we can get favourites such as fried chicken cutlet, mee sua, grilled beef cubes, baked potato with cheese and assorted toppings and, of course, bubble tea. Admission is free and it is a rain or shine event.
For one day only, the Dance Ensemble Singapore Arts Company (DES Arts), in collaboration with Sri Warisan Som Said Performing Arts, will present an original dance-drama that “brings us into a mystical realm of rediscovering our Island’s heritage”. The show commemorate Singapore’s 200 years of peaceful coexistence and its evolution from an island of immigrants to a nation that prides itself on its multi-ethnic cultures. In conjunction with Singapore’s bicentennial anniversary and commissioned by the Singapore Chinese Cultural Centre, the production features the artistic advice of famed Indonesian choreographer Didik Nini Thowok, with the support of historical advisor Kua Bak Lim, script advisor Han Laoda and Peranakan costume designer Raymond Wong. Tickets cost upwards of $30 via Sistic.
Known for her unique blend of folk with Japanese pop music, Rimi Natsukawa is holding a concert, titled mīfaiyū (or “thank you” in the dialect of the Yaeyama Islands where she hails from) to express her gratitude towards her fans for their continued support over her two-decade-long career. Not only is she known for hits such as Nada Sōsō, her songs were the OG Japanese versions of popular Mandopop hits such as Fish Leong’s Insomnia and Cyndi Wang’s Fly. Tickets cost upwards of $108 from Apactix.
Popular Taiwanese Mando-pop singer-songwriter Pan Mei Chen is back in Singapore as part of her newest Asia tour. With over 20 albums and multiple awards under her belt, you can expect a performance filled with nostalgic favourites from the past as well as her latest hits. Psst, songstress had debuted at the age of 18 in 1987 with the song Regret. Tickets cost upwards of $38 via Sistic.
Perched on the 57th floor of the Marina Bays Sands hotel, rooftop bar Cé La Vi Club Lounge is playing host to esteemed British DJ Hannah Wants as part of the location’s house music series, Crossfade. A professional footballer turned disc jockey, Hannah is an award-winning and sellout musician and has her own music label, Etiquette, that blends house and bass music. Starting from 10 p.m. till late, get ready for a night of musical delight. Tickets cost $28 at the door, which includes a premium pour.
This Tony and Olivier award-winning musical needs little introduction. Andrew Lloyd Webber’s musical hit Phantom Of The Opera — which celebrated its 30th anniversary in 2018 — returns to Singapore once again to charm its audiences with its heartbreaking story and soaring musical pieces. The musical traces the life of a disfigured musical genius who haunts the depths of the Paris Opera House. He falls deeply for a young soprano, Christine, but she loves another. The 37-strong cast will be supported by an 11-piece live orchestra. To get in the mood, you can try watching Nicole Sherzinger performing as Christine with four “Phantoms” at the 2011 Royal Variety Performance on Youtube. Tickets cost upwards of $75 via Sistic and Marina Bay Sands website. Singtel users can get 10 per cent off their tickets, while stocks last.
Singaporean singer-songwriter Inch Chua recently braved the harsh elements to explore Antarctica, as part of 2041’s International Antarctic ClimateForce Expedition, an organisation founded by
Robert Swan that rallies for the use of clean energy. Her experience forms the basis of TheatreWorks’ new production, Til The End Of The World, We Meet In No Man’s Land, a play that will feature original songs and the first full-length script written and performed by Inch. Tickets cost $48 via Sistic.
Performing his latest album Divide to a sell-out crowd in Singapore, concertgoers can expect multiple platinum hits such as Shape of You, Castle on the Hill and Galway Girl. The English singer has more than just his records to celebrate as he recently got married to childhood friend and former high school classmate Cherry Seaborn. If you’re thinking of buying his concert tickets from scalpers, don’t, because the tickets sold are personalised with the buyers’ names.
Outspoken Malaysian hip hop singer-songwriter Namewee, whose real name is Wee Meng Chee, is back in Singapore as part of an encore to his 4896 world tour. First finding fame on YouTube with his unconventional tunes, Namewee really cemented his fame after collaborating with Wang Lee Hom on the 2017 song Stranger In The North. We’re hoping that he will perform that hit, as well as other hilarious viral songs such as Tokyo Bon 2020 and Thai Cha Cha, at the concert in April. Tickets costs at upwards of $28 via Sistic.
Multiple award-winning magician duo Thommy Ten and Amelie Van Tass are bringing their sold out show to Singapore. Promising a night of mentalism and exciting illusions, the duo, who also placed second on America’s Got Talent, will keep you entertained and confused at the same time. Get set for a fun night of magical wonder with their jaw-dropping sequences. Get your tickets via Sistic from $68.
