April is a big month for Singapore. We’re hosting the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series for the first time in a decade, bands like UB40 and Tame Impala will be in town, and the calendar of theater and comedy events is overflowing. Of course, there are plenty of cool parties too.
LITERARY
Make a promise to write a poem every day in April for Singapore Poetry Writing Month. The kick-off party is at BooksActually. Apr 1
THEATER
The cast of The Noose hits the stage for their show 11 Months Of Fresh Air. Joining them are their hilarious kakis Kumar, Harith Iskander and Fakkah Fuzz. Until Apr 2
THEATER
Adapted from the acclaimed novel of the same name by William Golding, Lord of the Flies tells the story of a group of schoolboys who are the sole survivors of a plane crash on a tropical island. Stars Lim Kay Siu and Mark Richmond. Until Apr 3
THEATER
A globe-trotting dinner theater show from Brisbane, Faulty Towers is inspired by the classic John Cleese sitcom (the misspelling is on purpose), where you get to play diners in a play starring three nutty hoteliers whose comedy of errors unfolds as you eat a three-course meal. Until Apr 10
THEATER
The legendary off Broadway and Las Vegas Strip act Blue Man Group is in Singapore for the first time, bringing their unique blend of comedy, theater and live music to the MasterCard Theatres at Marina Bay Sands. Until Apr 23
FOOD
The World Gourmet Summit is in full swing bringing together top international chefs, local talents and industry experts for a line-up of workshops, talks and dining events. Until Apr 24
THEATER
Adapted from the Ramayana, Hanuman – The Superhero Monkey is fun for the whole family. This multi-sensory production is presented by The Little Company of the Singapore Repertory Theatre. Until Apr 30
ART
In collaboration with the Centre Pompidou, the National Gallery has just launched Reframing Modernism, an exhibition that pushes common perceptions of the movement. Works by Asian Modernist-era painters such as Georgette Chen and Le Pho appear alongside European biggies Matisse and Kandinsky, on loan from the Pompidou collection. Until Jul 17
DRINK
Free flow fans might want to join The Drinking Society, a new concept launched by Robbie Hoyes-Cock of The Podium Lounge, Matt Greatorex of Great New Places and Steve Yallop of The Monarchy. Sign up as a member for $80 per month, then RSVP for events that tickle your fancy. Each event is a two-hour free flow of one designated drink at a popular watering hole, and they promise at least 20 such events each month.
CONCERT
1970s British reggae band UB40 are paying a visit to Singapore with their hit parade of guilty pleasures like “Red, Red Wine” and “Falling in Love (I Can’t Help)”. Apr 2
WORKSHOP
Part of their ongoing Craft to Taste series, Marina Bay Sands presents Tsumami: Japanese-inspired Bites by Chef David Myers. The celebrity chef will be on hand to show you how to make fun Japanese bites like hamachi shabu shabu and wing bean-okra salad. Lunch will be serves after the class. Apr 2
Himala by Ishmael Bernal
FILM
The National Gallery’s Southeast Asian Film Series continues with screenings of Himala by Ishmael Bernal (Apr 2) and Hustiya by Joel Lamangan (Apr 3). Apr 2-3
OUTING
Climb over 200 steps to the summit of Bukit Timah—this free and non-competitive training exercise, organized by local fitness community, Fitness Kakis, is open to all. Do note that proper footwear (such as trekking or running shoes) is required. Meet up at the Bukit Timah Visitor Centre at 8am. Apr 3
CONCERT
Il Divo returns to Singapore for their Amor & Pasion Tour 2016. Apr 4
CONCERT
The “Prince of Romance” Richard Clayderman brings a night of his distinctive piano pieces to The Star Theatre. Apr 5
LITERARY
The creative writing faculty at NTU will be doing a special reading at Artistry. Catch Barrie Sherwood, Boey Kim Cheng, Divya Victor and Tash Aw reading original work. Apr 7
RIOT!
DRAG
Singapore’s one and only drag revue is sadly no longer at the cavernous and trashy-fun TAB. But fear not, Riot! is moving to new digs at Clarke Quay. The first show at their new home will feature Becca D’Bus herself, along with Mona Kee Kee and Noristar, and new additions Gina Gemini and Papa Cherry. Apr 9
WORKSHOP
Craft to Taste at Marina Bay Sands concludes with four workshops on offer. There's The Perfect Plateau by db Bistro & Oyster bar executive chef Jonathan Kinsella, The Combination of Thai Flavours by Long Chim head chef Yingyod "Ommo" Raktham, From Garden to Glass at Flight bar & Lounge by property mixologist Lucas Swallows and Classic and Modern Cocktails by Adrift head bartender Anandha Ruben. Apr 9
PARTY
Coinciding with the Singapore Yacht Show, Pool Intentions is a glam pool party by the folks behind Alibi (Catalunya’s fancy new club night) and W Singapore, with eight DJs spinning over two days. It’s free to get in, but you can score a VIP booking with minimum spends ranging from $600-2,000. Apr 9-10
PARTY
Skip the Sunday blues and head over to Emily Hill for a night of outdoor dancing and beers with big-deal electro musicians from France: Saycet, who has worked with the likes of Mogwai and Steve Reich, and Anoraak, known for his synthwave treatment of the 80s. Apr 10
PARTY
Potato Head Folk relaunched its rooftop a couple of months ago with a tiki-themed disco party. Due to popular demand, they’re making it a monthly thing. Deal with hump day blues with the next edition of TK Disco, with DJ sets with a special cocktail going for $20 and a bucket of five beers for $50. Apr 13
LITERARY
Acolytes of the printed page, don’t miss four-day Singapore Art Book Fair with exhibitors from both near and far. Along with local heroes Math Paper Press and Basheer Graphic Books, we’re excited about a visit from art book giants Phaidon and Bloomsbury Books. It all kicks off with a special edition of ArtScience Late on Apr 14, with a performance by .gif and readings by local poets. Apr 14-17
CONCERT
A collective of musicians from Singapore, the US, Cuba and elsewhere bring a casual, energetic night of Cuban and Latin American music to town. The first of a series of Cuban Nights will feature Karen Lacey. Apr 15
CONCERT
Esplanade has been hosting A Tapestry of Sacred Music, bringing together traditional performers from around the world. We’re particularly excited about an evening with Fareed Ayaz and Abbu Muhammad Qawwal, who will perform qawwali, a form of Sufi devotional music from South Asia, known for its call-and-response forms and choral crescendos. Apr 15
DANCE
Hosted by LASALLE College of the Arts, Constant Flux is an energetic and experimental dance performance featuring international guest artists. Apr 15-16
HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series
SPORT
Singapore is hosting a leg of the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series, with 16 teams, including the indomitable New Zealand All Blacks. For those of you who don’t know, rugby sevens is the shorter, rapid-fire version of the sport, with dozens of games taking place each day. There’s also a concert by DJ Pete Tong and a music festival (not to mention food and drink promos) at Clarke Quay. Apr 16-17
FESTIVAL
Voilah! French Festival is back with something for foodies and culture vultures alike. There’s the Voilah! Food Festival (Apr 15-May 31), Superstars of Ballet (Apr 29-May 1), a collaborative performance of productions like Giselle and Don Quixote and a performance by renowned classical guitarist Thibault Cauvin (May 13). Apr 15-May 3
Ryan Hemsworth, photo by Drew Stewart
PARTY
Organized by local party heroes Moonbeats Asia, Warehouse Party is bringing in young Canadian DJ Ryan Hemsworth headlining with his electro-heavy, hip hop/indie rock sample-laden set, along with ethereal-sounding American act Slow Magic and Singaporean producers/DJs Et Aliae, DuriO of Attagirl fame and Team Cake. Apr 16
MARKET
Shop for fresh fruit, veggies, pastries and other locally-made products by independent vendors at The Farmers Market at Loewen Gardens. Who knows, you just might be able to snag some delicious homemade sourdough and freshly-baked goods by Woodlands Sourdough. Apr 16
FILM
It’s been over 20 years since the release of Eric Khoo’s Mee Pok Man (yes, you are old), and the Asian Film Archive is hosting a series of screenings of the film at The Projector each followed by a discussion. Apr 17, 23
WELLNESS
7Cycle is doing a charity spinning session for charity. Sign up for a 45-minute session, and pedal away with like-minded folks. All proceeds will go to Children for Youth, Nepal. Apr 17
OUTING
Explore MacRitchie and Lower Peirce Reservoir Parks then tuck into the famous food of Casuarina Curry Restaurant at this fun photowalk organised by The Photography Academy. Apr 17
OUTING
Experience a different perspective on Singapore with a walk to the top of Mount Faber. Meet at 7:30am at Exit D of HarbourFront MRT Station. The walk is free to join. Apr 17
Tame Impala
CONCERT
Aussie Indie rockers Tame Impala are coming to town, so head down and dance to tracks from their latest album, Currents, and previous hits like "Let It Happen," "Feels Like We Only Go Backwards" and "Elephant." Apr 21
FILM
The Italian Film Festival is taking place across The Projector, the National Museum and various Golden Village cinemas. Highlights include popular Italian titles such as Wondrous Boccaccio, about 10 young men and women who escaped the Black Death in 14th-century Florence and My Mother by Nanni Moretti, about a comedic clash between a filmmaker and her mother. Apr 21-30
ART
The Affordable Art Fair is back again, with work ranging from $100 to $10,000, and 75% of the art priced below $7,500. Apr 22-24
COMEDY
The Singapore Comedy Fringe is back with 10 shows over five nights featuring 25 comedians. Apr 26-30
CONCERT
The first artist to sign with Ed Sheeran’s Gingerbread Man Records, British singer-songwriter Jamie Lawson will be performing at the University Cultural Centre Theatre. You know him best for the hit single “Wasn’t Expecting That”. Apr 27
THEATER
Another year, another edition of Singapore Repertory Theatre’s beloved Shakespeare in the Park. This time, they’ll be doing Romeo and Juliet. Apr 27-May 22
FOOD
Curate, Resort World Sentosa’s newest restaurant, features pop-up menus by Michelin-starred chefs from around the world. Its debut showcase features three Michelin-starred chef Massimiliano Alajmo of Italian restaurant La Calandre, who is known for dishes that focus on seasonal ingredients and molecular techniques. Apr 29-May 6
FILM
The first edition of A Design Film Festival’s gastronomic offshoot, Food Cine.ma takes place over two weeks, and highlights include the world premiere of Tasteology, about chefs who are advancing taste through science, the Asian premiere of Miso Hungry – comedian Craig Anderson’s healthy eating adventure in Japan, and The Birth of Saké, a documentary that charts the 2,000 years of Japan’s national drink. Apr 29-May 14