Singapore’s calendar is filled with fun-filled music events to enjoy with your friends. From K-pop to jazz, the city's most hip venues host incredible performances from both world-renowned and beloved local artists. Dress to impress and get ready to dance the night away at one of Singapore’s highest rated music festivals, whether you choose to see acts on one of Sentosa’s sandy beaches, in the epic Indoor Stadium and truly get into the festival spirit at the Songkran celebration held at favourite waterpark Wild Wild Wet.
Sundown Music Festival
One of Singapore’s coolest festivals, Sundown is a three-day, two-night music extravaganza. Featuring only Asian artists, the event is a celebration of the best regional talent, from Japan to India, and South Korea to the Philippines. Genres represented here stretch from EDM to rock music, with 2019’s lineup featuring Grammy-nominated TOKiMONSTA and K-Pop superstars iKON. As well as music, the festival creates a visual and sonic feast for the senses, making the most of its bewitching setting on Sentosa’s Siloso Beach with interactive art installations and outdoor film screenings. It’s highly recommended to stay at Campville, a luxurious glamping venue, where you can ensure you never miss a performance due to its proximity to the site.
Hallyu Pop Fest (in photo)
K-pop fans need look no further - Singapore is the lucky host of Southeast Asia’s biggest K-pop festival, which features a huge lineup of Korea’s biggest stars. 2019’s event featured fan favourites Super Junior and Oh My Girl. Held at the Indoor Stadium in Kallang, it won’t just be performances you can look forward to, but also red carpet events and signings. Make sure you wander around the HallyuTown event, where booths celebrating Korean food, beauty, fashion and lifestyle make you feel like you’re shopping in downtown Seoul. The HallyuTown area also becomes the site of the festival’s most glamourous attendees at night, when the walkway hosts a red carpet and everyone’s favourite K-pop stars make an appearance.
Baybeats
Alternative music fans will love annual festival Baybeats, which takes place in the picturesque Esplanade area, around the lush Esplanade Forecourt Garden. Genres hosted here range from post-rock to folk, and the festival aims to showcase the best new innovations from regional musical talent. 2019 saw performances as eclectic as Japanese psychedelic-rock band Sundays & Cybele and Filipino hip-hop artist Ramengvrl. Taking place every August, make sure you visit to hear your current favourites and also wander between stages to discover your new favourite band. And the best part? It’s completely free.
Singapore International Jazz Festival
Since 2014, the iconic Marina Bay Sands has hosted the Singapore International Jazz Festival annually. Complementing the stunning architecture, past shows span multiple stages at the complex and featured internationally renowned artists like Lauryn Hill, David Foster and Esperanza Spalding. After watching performances, wander around the SING JAZZ Festival Village, an eclectic fringe event that features additional performances, often by talented local artists. Music here can be enjoyed free of charge, and ranges from swing jazz and latin to soul. Aspiring jazz musicians are also encouraged to enjoy the popular Jazz Academy located here, which hosts inspirational masterclasses.
Songkran Music Festival at Wild Wild Wet
One of Singapore’s best waterparks hosts a fun-filled music event every April. Wild Wild Wet, located in Pasir Ris’s Downtown East resort complex, fills the venue with the best new dance and electronic music. 2019 was headlined by Dutch DJ Quintino, highly rated as #25 of DJMag’s Top 100 DJs, and local dance music favourites like TINC and Delly. Watch everything from the Tsunami Pool, where you can dance and be cooled down by water jets, or dare to try one of their fun waterslides.The waterpark is lit by incredible lighting and visual effects and the space is scattered with water guns for those who really want to get into the Songkran spirit. Wash everything down at the craft beer bar by Beerfest Asia, and enjoy Singapore’s most authentic Thai food by local foodies Sawadeecup, who will be parking up their food truck.