Where to experience live music in Singapore

When it comes to Singapore nightlife, it pays to seek out local knowledge in order to enjoy something big, bold and unique. Yet proceed in a different direction and be prepared to find something divergently different. That’s Singapore – a crossroads of influences between east and west that’s parked right on the equator, beside two of the world’s busiest shipping lanes and flight paths. It is a city that rewards the curious and demands that you venture outside the box, especially when music is concerned.

The island is well planned, and you should be too. The intensity of the heat and humidity, amid a bustling urban setting, means you’ll be wise to approach your adventures village by village, behaving in a hyper-local way, before venturing to a different quarter the following day.

Singapore is a friendly and open island, and people mingle outside their traditional groups far more freely than in other cities. That said, those who most enjoy the place will be those who become less a visitor and more a frequent friend to this city-state.

One North Business Park (West)

Timbre+ One North

Best for: Afterwork drinks
Address: 73A Ayer Rajah Crescent, JTC LaunchPad, One-North, Singapore 139957
Price: Dishes from 6 SGD / 4.40 USD. Drinks from SGD 10 / 7.40 USD

The Timbre Group has a well-earned reputation in Singapore for supporting local music in its relaxed purpose built open-air venues, and its One North incarnation is no different. Set in the modern JTC LaunchPad, Timbre+ One North hosts a busy schedule of bands, ranging from popular local duos to its regular open mic Mondays. With a range of international beer brands and a pet-friendly policy, this a youthful, noisy and unpretentious night out in Singapore’s wild West.

Marina Bay

Esplanade – Theatres on the Bay

Best for: Culture lovers
Address: 1 Esplanade Drive, Singapore 038981
Price: Ticketed events from SGD 80 / 59 USD. Free events held nightly

Set on the city side of the Marina basin, Esplanade is nicknamed ‘the durian’, given its two rounded domes and 7,000 triangular aluminium sunshades resemble the notorious tropical fruit. Alongside its 1,600-seat concert hall and 2,000-seat theatre, Esplanade also features numerous small spaces including its recital studio, theatre studio, outdoor theatre and annexe studio. The result is a dynamic year-round festival schedule boasting big name international acts, alongside numerous free performances, both indoors and outdoors. Its easy elegance and accessible spaces make it a perfect place to discover a wide range of music, from classical and contemporary through to much-loved Asian traditions such as the Indonesian gamelan.

Marquee

Best for: Glitter and glamour after the casino
Address: 2 Bayfront Avenue B1-67, Galleria Level, The Shoppes at Marina Bay Sands, Singapore 018972
Price: Entry SGD 40 / 29.50 USD (includes one drink voucher)

Singapore’s downtown integrated resort Marina Bay Sands offers a host of live music options, ranging from hit musicals to sunset cocktails at an unbeatable elevation. Indeed, elevation is definitely a theme at Marquee, the most casino-style clubbing experience that Singapore can offer. Designed for those looking to dress up and dance to DJ-driven EDM, top-40’s, and hip-hop, Marquee may not be a place you’ll end up by accident. But for a big night after the casino, stage show or convention, it delivers a fun and frivolous setting, with a level of hype and glamour that suits the champagne-toting crowd.

City

Zouk Singapore

Best for: Fans of dance music
Address: 3C River Valley Road, The Cannery, Singapore 179022
Price: General admission SGD 20 / 14.80 USD

The original homegrown super-club of Singapore, Zouk hosts the world’s biggest names in global club music and hip-hop, and was at one stage the most famous club in the Asia-Pacific region. Now in a different home in Clarke Quay and under new ownership, the club has changed with the times and has launched sister venues in Malaysia, the US and Japan. But its house DJs and 1,500 capacity main room of Zouk (together with alternate smaller floors Phuture and Capital) are still a must for those interested in the original experience. Check out its event schedule online, or for a night of ‘guilty pleasure’ tunes, head out for Mambo Jambo night, Singapore’s longest-running 80s dance night and a mainstay for local DJs Jeremy Boon and Aldrin. Check out their annual outdoor beach party Zoukout which brings thousands of beach-clad revellers out for a party under the stars.

Offtrack

Best for: Elevated musical discoveries
Address: 34 North Canal Road, Singapore 059290
Price: Free with a reservation. Drinks from SGD 12 / 8.90 USD

One of the best arrivals to the nightlife scene since the pandemic, Offtrack opened to rave reviews in 2022 and has been solidly sold out since. The fact that it was opened by two co-founders of local music collectives feeds into everything Offtrack does, as does its stylish retro-futurism aesthetic, consistent in its interior design, digital artwork and thoughtful drinks and food menu. So is it a cocktail bar, a restaurant or a music venue? You be the judge, but thanks to a DJ console built into the main dining area and vinyl records lining the walls, the combination of all three elements does hit on a winning harmony. And with a team of genuinely friendly and knowledgeable staff, the appeal of this spot is unlikely to dim anytime soon.

Sentosa Island

Tanjong Beach Club

Best for: Fun at the beach
Address: 120 Tanjong Beach Walk, Sentosa Island, Singapore 098942
Price: Free entry. Drinks from SGD 15 / 11 USD

TBC on Sentosa Island’s Tanjong Beach – undoubtedly one of the finest stretches of beach in Singapore – provides beach goers and day clubbers a transporting mix of sun, sand and island tunes that speaks perfectly to Singapore’s tropical lifestyle. Booking a Tanjong Beach Club cabana affords you a beach view and a live afternoon beach-club set. The crowd morphs from brunch-focused in the morning to more of a young and party-driven atmosphere centred around the pool and beach in the afternoon. Avoid driving, buy a pitcher and enjoy the island life as it should be, sandy feet and all.

Arab Street

Blu Jaz Cafe

Best for: Jazz with a slice of indie bohemia
Address: 11 Bali Ln, Singapore 189848
Price: Free entry unless listed. Drinks from SGD 7.00 / 5.20 USD

Set in the historic Arab Street district known as Kampong Glam, Blu Jaz Cafe is a centre for a style of nightlife that, like its nearby Haji Lane shops and restaurants, easily blends a touch of bohemia with a rich dose of live jazz, funk and fusion. Set in a former shophouse on Bali Lane, Blu Jaz is actually three venues under one roof and presents a colourful lineup of local jazz, comedy and DJs, with an emphasis on dancing and international exchanges. This is the kind of venue where door prices are minimal and jam sessions stretch into the night, part New Orleans, part Notting Hill Carnival.

Chinatown

Kult Yard

Best for: Tacos, cocktails and colourful attire, with a funky musical twist
Address: #01-54 195 Pearl’s Hill Terrace, Singapore 168978
Price: Free entry. Drinks from SGD 15 / 11 USD

Set in a former police barracks in Chinatown, Kult Yard offers an easygoing neighbourhood feel, replete with craft beers, tacos and lethal homemade ‘kultails’. Run by a fun group who draw upon the relaxed spirit of Singapore’s ‘kampong’ (local neighbourhood culture), Kult Yard’s music offering is equally eclectic: follow its Instagram page to keep up with upcoming gigs, most commonly DJ-driven vinyl nights that lean heavily on crate-digging funk, soul and dub tunes. Dress easy and breezy, though well enough to keep up with the friendly crowd of creatives looking for a drink, laugh and healthy slice of silliness.

Kallang

National Stadium

Best for: The big-ticket concert experience in a big-crowd setting
Address: 1 Stadium Dr, Singapore 397629
Price: Tickets vary, but typically start from SGD 220 / 162 USD

Singapore’s National Stadium is the biggest music venue in town, boasting a capacity of over 60,000 people. Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour and Coldplay’s Music of the Spheres both held unprecedented six-night runs at the stadium, with each night entirely sold out. National Stadium’s waterside location in Kallang, just east of the city centre, affords easy access in and out, thanks to the Stadium MRT Station (CC6) on the Circle line. As with all sports stadiums, the viewing and listening experience is very much dependent on the artist’s screen and stage configuration: we suggest booking standing tickets where available.