Image: Corbis
Make sure you save your ang pow money, because more than 30 major gigs will be staged in Singapore in the first quarter of 2011 alone.
These gigs cover every music genre, ranging from contemporary pop and jazz to rock and indie.
Besides solo acts by some of the industry’s biggest names like Janet Jackson, Taylor Swift and Michael Bublé, you can also expect multi-act gigs like Big Night Out 2011 and St Jerome’s Laneway Festival.
With headliners like Stone Temple Pilots and Slash for the former, and The Temper Trap and Warpaint for the latter, these gigs will please fans of old-school rock and indie music.
Read on for some of our top picks across all genres.
CONTEMPORARY POP
Super Show 3 – Super Junior: The 3rd Asia Tour
K-pop fans, you probably won’t want to miss this massively popular Korean band live in concert. What’s more, the Singapore Indoor Stadium stage setup costs an estimated $1.5 million, comprising props such as sprawling LED screens, hydraulic platforms and even aerial stunt ropes.
When: January 29
Where: Singapore Indoor Stadium
Admission: From $158 to $208
Janet Jackson Number Ones, Up Close and Personal
Singapore has been chosen out of 35 cities to kick off the iconic pop superstar’s largest world tour yet. She will be performing songs exclusively from her chart topping album Number Ones in an intimate setting.
When: February 7
Where: Singapore Indoor Stadium
Admission: From $88 to $248
Taylor Swift Speak Now Tour
Singaporeans, be proud; like Janet Jackson’s world tour, Singapore marks the first stop in Taylor Swift’s Asian tour. Notable for her penchant for translating her own love stories into her song lyrics, this country darling will be performing catchy tunes from her latest album Speak Now.
When: February 9
Where: Singapore Indoor Stadium
Admission: From $90 to $175
INDIE
St Jerome’s Laneway Festival
The acclaimed indie music festival will be loaded with bands – that you may or may not have heard of – known for their diverse and cutting-edge musical talents. The lineup will include The Temper Trap, !!! (Chk Chk Chk) and Ladyhawke.
When: January 29
Where: Fort Canning Park
Admission: $109.50
Faithless and Friendly Fires
Put on your dance shoes and groove along to British electronica trio Faithless and their opening act, dance-punk band Friendly Fires.
When: February 22
Where: Fort Canning Park
Admission: $115 (standard tickets), $140 (at the door)
ALTERNATIVE ROCK
Deftones: Diamond Eyes Tour
Expect nothing less than a high-energy performance from this Grammy-winning modern rock band, who are back with their new album Diamond Eyes after a three and a half year forced hiatus – their bass player was in a near-fatal car accident that left him in a coma in 2008.
When: February 16
Where: Fort Canning Park
Admission: From $88 to $110
Big Night Out 2011
If you love rock music, there’s no way you can miss out on this two-day music festival that features hard rock band Stone Temple Pilots, guitar legend Slash and heavy metal band Saxon.
When: March 11 & 12
Where: Singapore Indoor Stadium
Admission: One-day tickets from $98 to $168; save 20 per cent with two-day tickets
Jimmy Eat World
Bop along to the pop-infused rock tunes of this American alternative rock band, famous for hits like The Middle.
When: April 1
Where: The Coliseum, Hard Rock Hotel Singapore, Resorts World Sentosa
Admission: To be announced
CLASSIC ROCK
Eagles Long Road Out of Eden
With legendary hits like Hotel California, Heart of the Matter and Tequila Sunrise, their concert is a must-go for every music lover.
When: February 23
Where: Singapore Indoor Stadium
Admission: From $98 to $499
Iron Maiden: The Final Frontier World Tour
Even if you’re not into head-banging, angsty music, you have to check out this concert – the iconic British group, formed in 1975, is touted as one of the most successful heavy metal bands in history.
When: February 15
Where: Singapore Indoor Stadium
Admission: From $98 to $178
Santana Live in Singapore
Guitar maestro Carlos Santana has sold over 90 million records, reached more than 100 million fans at concerts around the world and won 10 Grammy awards in his 40 years of performing.
When: March 7
Where: Singapore Indoor Stadium
Admission: From $100 to $300
