Featuring some of the most cutting-edge bands from across the globe, the festival has previously hosted top acts like Two Door Cinema Club, Cut Copy and The Antlers. The line-up to be staged at Fort Canning Park is similarly eclectic, and arguably even more exciting. We tell you what to expect.

!!! (Chk Chk Chk)
Take our word for it—the Californian eight-piece dance-punk band are a riot. Blending electronic dance, throbbing basslines and wobbly hooks, !!! make superlatives an understatement. Be prepared for a no-holds barred aural assault.

Deerhunter
If Karen O from the Yeah Yeah Yeahs describes their sound as “a religious experience,” you know they’re a big deal. Led by charismatic frontman Bradford Cox, the four-piece American indie band hypnotizes with their sonic soundscape of 60s-inspired pop, shoegazing ambient noise and art-school rock.

Foals
If you haven’t heard “Spanish Sahara,” it's time to get out more. That track saw the English band likened to Radiohead for their immaculately rich textural music. And with Yannis Philippakis’ emotive tugging vocals, we are truly sold.

Holy F***
With their spiraling math-rock and dance-influenced instrumentals, the Canadian band have sure got their equations right. Selling out concerts, dazzling with their use of musical instruments, partial-musical instruments and, well, strange objects … all we can say is, Holy F***.

Ladyhawke
New Zealand-born, UK-based singer-songwriter Ladyhawke aka Phillipa ”Pip” Brown is the breakthrough star of 80s-inspired pop-rock. Ruthless, melancholy and highly energetic, she's headlining a night you won’t forget.

Yeasayer
New York experimental rock band Yeasayer’s music is reliably unpredictable. Abstract and surreal, they've sold out concerts wordwide. Listen out for "Madder Red."

Laneway Festival is on Jan 29, Fort Canning Park, 51 Canning Rise, 6332-1302. $109 from SISTIC.

Welcome to Trans-Cool TOKYO; where the sounds of daily lives are made into an orchestra, a boat is made out of tentacles, and a taxidermied deer is dressed in glass balls. Featuring over 40 works from the Museum of Contemporary Art Tokyo collection, the exhibition locates the unique identities of 13 selected Japanese artists—both legendary and emerging—within the context of global pop culture.

Yayoi Kusama
The eccentricity in Kusama’s work can be attributed to rather unfortunate circumstances. She has suffered since childhood from psychoneurosis and schizophrenia, resulting in hallucinations where everything she sees is covered in polka dots, or “infinity nets” as she calls them. Her abstract paintings and installations also explore issues of gender and sexuality, often linked to a feminist theme. Her works have been critically acclaimed for their simplistic visual elements in a modernist context.

Kohei Nawa
Known for his works evoking questions of alternate realities, Nawa uses physical items like taxidermic moose and elks, children's shoes and a statue of Buddha, and layers them with crystal beads, polyurethane resin and even bubbling silicone oil to alter the way they appear.

Yoshihiro Suda
A hyper-realist sculptor, Suda’s work has been lauded for his meticulous detail and precision but frowned upon for the uncommon positioning and miniscule sizes of his work, creating a tension between the traditional and contemporary. Zul Andra

The exhibition is on through Feb 13. SAM at 8Q Singapore Art Museum at 8Q, 71 Bras Basah Rd., 6332 3222. Free.

Park Lane

If you’ve been going in and out of Ekkamai recently, you can’t have missed this new community mall not too far from the Sukhumvit intersection. You might say, “Another community mall? Big deal.” But it feels pretty different from the likes of J Avenue or K-Village with its exclusive and contemporary Greek vibe and, compound-style set up, where every shop has its own unique entrance and interior designs.
Shops are separated into three sections over two floors. Zone A is where all the food is, and without needing to take a closer look, you’ll notice that Japanese dominates here, with a repertoire that includes Yamagoya ramen, Moshi Moshi yakiniku, sukiyaki-shabu Donabe, Honmono sushi bar and Omu in Building 3 for Japanese dishes made out of omelet and rice. Craving something else? Head to Wan Chai Cafe for Hong Kong cuisine. Fans of overseas beers should check out Pint on the 1/F, and those partial to wine have Salute Bistro & Wine Bar to investigate.
Apart from all the fancy restaurants, there’s a spa on 2/F, OPI Boutique (nail salon) on 1/F, MaxValu Supermarket play center on 3/F, and Scuderia Golf Park on 5/F. You can expect numbers of concept fashion stores selling trendy clothes and glossy brand names bags for young hi-so ladies. And if money’s not a concern, you might like to swipe your card for some bling at Beauty Gem or David English. Our pick? Kin&Co., a one of a kind stationery store selling paper and more that you won’t be able to find in chains like B2S. We also like Second Floor, a multilabel store selling imported brand name fashion bags and clothings.

Ready to spend half your paycheck on your poodle? Bring your baby dog to Twinkle, a Japanese pet shop and café located in building C. Here they not only groom and style your dogs, but also serve your little friends with pet-friendly snacks. They also offer a 5-star pet accommodation or help you find a pet-friendly property. For mothers, 3/F offers lots of activities for your tots, including an indoor playground (B90-B180 for entry) while you go enjoy your time shopping or getting a hairdo at Heads Up or Seat for Set.
18 Soi Sukhumvit 63 (Ekkamai), 02-382-1580. BTS Ekkamai. Open Daily 9am-10pm. www.parklanebangkok.com

Baan Ekamai

Competing with the other hi-so community malls popping up all other town, Baan Ekamai isn’t just content with being tiny. The stuff it sells is also truly distinct thanks to cheaper prices and a retro/secondhand vibe. You could say Baan Ekamai is a bit like Siam Square getting its own micro-community mall.
Baan Ekamai’s two houses are in matching pink, green, and blue pastels. A wooden deck extends from one of the houses, with outdoor seatings and a ping pong table. There’s a tiny parking that might fit only 3-4 cars. Throw in five shops and that’s it:
Cocue Basics. In the pink house on the right, you’ll find huge stock of new and secondhand vintage-style fashions from the renowned Cocue Basics from Siam Square to get that funky, manly to girly layered look.
Heidi’s Secret. On the first floor of the blue house, check out renowned Thai designers Heidi’s Secret’s streamlined take on the sweeter side and some punky gimmicks.
Him&Her. By the staircase, you’ll find a little closet of a boutique selling both new and secondhand clothes that only the hippest of hipsters will dare wear. The shop is co-owned by the young Thai celeb Ploi Horwang, and without doubt, her bold style is what you’re going to get out of that cupboard. Hence the name, outfits for guys are also available.
Zud Rang Ma. Climb up to 2/F and you’ll see a small shop selling indy records and some old rare vinyl starting from B50-B30,000
Felice. Once you’re done with the shopping, head to Felice’s cute balcony for some pastas and desserts (B180 to B260), cocktails and wine starting from B180—there’s indoor seating, too.
Despite its size, Baan Ekamai provides a welcome home for Ekkamai’s cool kids to socialize and share their interests in fashion, food, music, and art. But with a selection this bold, you better have a strong personal style to carry it off. Car park’s limited though, so better come by a cab.
77, Soi Chamchan (connecting Thonglor and Ekkamai), 081-855-5777. Open Daily 11am-11pm. baanekamai.blogspot.com

Thai street food is blessed with many different noodle dishes, and in the business madness of Sala Daeng, the saturation of hungry office workers means that famous stalls selling each of them are readily available—complete with long queues for tables. Here we round up our favorite places where the wait is worth the bowl.

Guay Tiew Tom Yam

Khao Moo Daeng Convent

Soi Convent. Open Mon-Sat 6am-2pm
On Soi Convent, on the stretch of sidewalk between the flower shop and the entrance to the Carmelite monastery is a stall that not only packs in the tables, but also packs the sidewalk with patient patrons waiting their turn while ogling the giant bowls of noodles on offer. They do a few dishes, but their highlight, we think, is guay tiew tom yam, and their fixings are high-quality and delicous, including but not limited to moo daeng, fish balls, fried shrimp balls and tofu fish balls.
The price: B30, B35 for special and B40 for extra special.
Approximate wait time: Ten minutes for a table, 15 more for your food. But it’s worth it.
Our tip: Don’t be daunted by the throngs of people waiting for a table. The lady managing tables is a dab hand at keeping track and won’t let anyone cut ahead. Oh, and ask for a boiled egg and extra limes.

Guay Tiew Ped

Guay Tiew Ped Sala Daeng

Soi Sala Daeng, 081-491-5626. Open Mon-Fri 10am-1:30pm
Situated down an alley ten meters into Soi Sala Daeng, this is a rare duck noodles place in the neighborhood. The soup is murky and savory and their fixings are several cuts of duck, from the lean to the fatty to the chunks of congealed blood. If you’re not into veggies, this is the soup for you. Theirs barely has a few bean sprouts.
The price: B30-40
Approximate wait time: About five minutes.
Our tip: You’re also right next to a very cute, cheap dessert stall, where you can sample some delicious sangkhaya khao niaw (B10).

Yen Ta Fo

Coke Chuan Chim

Sala Daeng Soi 2. Open Mon-Fri 6-9:20am, noon-1:30pm
Turn right out of Central Silom’s back entrance and head down the street to this lauded yen ta fo stall. A single-file row of tables lines the sidewalk and is managed by a moody uncle who’s happy to see you but will slap you down if you try to cut the orderly queue for tables. Their broth is a great balance of garlicky, sweet and sour, and their shrimp and tofu-fish meatballs are varied and fatty. You may also like their rubbery, fermenty dried squid bits.
The price: B40, B45 for special
Approximate wait time: Ten minutes for your table, another 15 for food.
Our tip: Wait on the sidewalk across the street instead of crowding around the tables. Also, go for the special; it’s not that huge, but it’s got all the fixings.

Bah Mee Moo Daeng

Chuwan Sawoey

207 Silom Rd., 02-235-1860. Open daily 8am-8pm
This is a Chinese-owned shophouse a few doors away from Central Silom, right next door to yet another shophouse selling bammee moo daeng. You’ll know it from the friendly grandpa sitting outside rolling fresh wontons (and from the sign that warns you against going into the wrong shop). The bowl here is earthy, balanced with a mild, radish-heavy broth.
The price: B35.
Approximate wait time: No more than ten minutes, despite crazy crowds.
Our tip: The yelling can be a bit scary, but everyone’s nice. There’s a lesser-known second floor upstairs with more tables. Get your bah mee moo daeng dry with the broth on the side, so you can take intermittent bites.

Pad Thai

Pad Thai Sala Daeng

47 Sala Daeng Soi 2 (behind Silom Complex), 086-403-0106. Open daily 7am-2.30pm
A street stall in the front yard of an old Thai private residence, this pad Thai stand is run by the longtime housekeeper of the house, whose owner granted her use of the front yard. A smiling but busy woman, she works alone over the wok, expertly dishing out steaming plates of smoky, fresh pad Thai, the secret to which is supposedly the home-made tamarind paste. We love the large table that’s set away from the street, on the actual front porch of the house, but it’s almost always taken.
The price: B30 for pad Thai, B40 for pad Thai with fresh shrimp or squid.
Approximate wait time: Ten minutes for your table, 15 for your food. Don’t forget to order the minute you arrive, even if you’re still standing.
Our tip: Show up early (around 11:30am) or late
(around 1:30pm), or you’ll be waiting forever for a table, and then forever more for the food. Even if you’re squeamish about dried shrimp (what’s wrong with you?), try theirs: they are bigger than usual, very crunchy and not too pungent.

Extras

- For our chat with the pad Thai lady
- For more places with spectacular bah mee moo daeng in the city
- For something else around the neighborhood, check out the street eats of Soi Phiphat

Before & After Award—Energia Fitness Club
It’s all too easy to undo your good work in the gym by eating unhealthily afterwards. We think we’ve found the perfect solution at Energia, which has an in-house café menu designed for pre and post-workout meals. They have an impressive variety of healthy and tasty options here, including wholemeal wraps ($7.50-8), salads ($4.50) and even a bowl of hot oatmeal porridge ($2.80-4).
#04-11/12 Riverside Point, 30 Merchant Rd., 6226-2777.

Tai Tai Award—Sky Fitness
Sky is the only fitness center in town that provides concierge services. We’ve looked at their menu of services and, frankly, we wish we were better paid. If you’re interested and can afford it, the list includes airline and event ticket reservations, personal and Internet shopping, tailoring and shoe repair, duplication and binding (paper, not people) as well as awards and engraving services.
#16-01 HarbourFront Tower 2,
3 HarbourFront Plc., 6271-0818.

Great Guns Award—Gold’s Gym
It’s a well-known fact that bodybuilding is the best way to overachieve in life–just look at Arnie’s career trajectory. Gold’s (in California) is where he started out and you only need to walk past this specialized fitness gym to feel inspired. It’s packed with full-bodied figures; some lean, some massive, all ripped. One of the celebrities fronting the Gold’s Gym empire is Bollywood superstar Salman Khan (have you seen the shoulders on that dude?). So if getting big is your principle goal, enquire about their services, which include a no-frills 12-week bulk-up program.
86A Tanjong Pagar Rd., 3110-5888.

Hard as Nails Award—Evolve MMA
A solid bum looks good but it doesn’t win your battles for you. Jack up your internal strength with intense professional training by some of Asia’s world champions in Brazilian Jujitsu, Muay Thai, boxing and mixed martial arts. It’s also affiliated with some of the most prominent martial arts associations in the region, including Thailand’s respected Sityodtong Gym.
#01-01, 26 China St., 6536-4525; #02-22, 1 Selegie Rd., 6337-0082.

If The Kids Are An Issue

Amore Fitness
There’s no such thing as a good excuse for skipping the gym these days. If you simply can’t leave the kids at home, consider Amore Living, the more holistic arm of Amore Fitness. Here, you can “park” the kids at the Kid-Fit Club, which provides activities such as board games, arts and crafts, fun exercise, reading, movies and even Nintendo Wii games for children aged four and above. Spend the day at their in-house spa, go for a quick jog on the treadmill or take a dip in the pool while the little rascals work up a sweat in a separate room—now that’s what we call getting the best of both worlds. 
Stats: 16,000 square feet of space with a studio for yoga, Pilates and Stretchfit classes, a cardio studio, an elevated outdoor pool, a spa and a kids’ gym. 
Equipment: The gym itself is small and houses approximately 10 treadmills and three cross trainers per outlet, all by Technogym. 
Amenities: Drinking area (hardly a lounge since you have to drink-and-go here to make way for the snaking queue) and showers with steam bath facilities.
Classes: Over 30 different types of classes including blitz and fusion dance, cardiovascular and toning, Pilates, yoga, MTV dance and aerobics. Aqua classes are also held at the pool five times a week.
Price: $165 per month for unlimited access to all their outlets; additional $60-120 per personal training session. Complimentary one-day trial and body composition analysis available. 
Outlets: #05-18 Tampines 1, 10 Tampines Central 1, 6789-8822; #06-01 City Square Mall, 180 Kitchener Rd., 6781-1822. 
Overall: 3/5
The cramped changing rooms and narrow lockers (you have to hang your clothes and leave your shoes outside) leave much to be desired but if you get frustrated you can always trot off to the boutique spa to calm down.

If You Work Late Nights

California Fitness 
Let’s face it—there are times when it is practically impossible to squeeze in a workout during the day no matter how well you plan your schedule. And these days, work and other pressing engagements can easily eat into your weekend. What to do, then? One of the pioneer mega gyms in Singapore California Fitness remains open until midnight on most days and also has outlets in strategic parts of town so you can work up a healthy sweat even when you knock off late from work.
Stats: Four outlets spanning about 12,000 square feet each, with cycling and group exercise studios, Mind Body studios and free weights areas. Those looking to squeeze in a quick, 30-minute session of intense Muay Thai-inspired exercise can enter the Kick-Fit zones.
Equipment: Lots of cardio (treadmills, elliptical trainers, exercise bikes), strength and resistance equipment, mostly from Technogym. 
Amenities: Ample showers, full-sized lockers, steam and sauna facilities, Jacuzzi and internet kiosks.
Classes: A regular variety of classes such as Zumba Fitness, yoga, BodyPump, BodyCombat and Latina Flava, as well as Jackie Chan Signature classes.
Price: Membership starts from $49 per month. A Platinum membership (price upon application) allows you access to all their four clubs. Personal training starts from $75 per session. Complimentary seven-day passes available.
Outlets: 4/F Bugis Junction Towers, 230 Victoria St., 6337-2577; Orchard Bldg., 1 Grange Rd., 6834-2100; 14/F Republic Plaza, 9 Raffles Plc., 6534-0900; 3/F Novena Square, 238 Thomson Rd., 6250-2345.
Overall: 4/5
This one’s been around for a long time so you can be sure they know what they’re doing.

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If You Value Your Privacy

The Gym at Orchard 
We imagine this new kid on the block will appeal to two types of people—self-conscious types who shy away from bigger gyms and celebrities. Unlike its more intimidating competitors, The Gym at Orchard allows you to exercise away from prying eyes. “Some people, like celebrities, prefer to work out where it’s not too crowded no matter what time of the day it is. The Gym at Orchard is the perfect place for that,” says director and personal trainer Adrian Tan. 
Stats: 4,500 square feet of floor space with dedicated free weights and kickboxing zones. 
Equipment: 5 treadmills, 3 exercise bikes, 4 elliptical trainers and 2 steppers; all from Life Fitness. 
Amenities: Built-in entertainment system, four showers, 56 full-length and mini lockers.
Classes: None. 
Price: $125.10/month with a minimum commitment of 12 months; additional $800 for 10 personal training sessions. Join by Jan 31 and save $450 (one month free, 2 complimentary personal training sessions plus 10 percent off monthly fees). 
Outlet: 4/F Liat Towers, 541 Orchard Rd., 6235-5687. 
Overall: 3/5
There’s nothing to break the monotony of your workout here but, if you’re into exercising in isolation, you probably won’t want classes anyway. You can always engage the help of a personal trainer (they have five).

If You Like Variety

True Fitness
True Fitness utilizes the widest range of fitness products in Singapore, boasting treadmills, exercise bikes, cross trainers and resistance equipment from Life Fitness, Star Trac, Technogym and Nautilus. Looking for a fitness regime that goes beyond running on the treadmill and lifting weights? Sign up for Agility Circuit Training (ACT), a program designed in-house for anyone who wants to enjoy the benefits of cardiovascular, resistance and agility training without having to work out on a machine. 
Stats: Each of the six gym outlets has about 18,500 square feet of space including hot yoga, spinning, aerobics, Kinesis and Pilates Reformer studios, as well as free weights and low-impact exercise areas. 
Equipment: Over 30 pieces of state-of-the-art cardio equipment (like the ones mentioned above) equipped with integrated TVs and iPod links per outlet.
Amenities: Live DJ and plenty of lockers and showers in all outlets. Branches also include a members’ relaxation lounge, VIP Black Card lounge with Osim massage chairs and steam and sauna facilities.
Classes: More than 300 classes a week including Zumba (a new class inspired by Latin dance), yoga (up to 17 types), spinning (up to 4 types), Les Mills group exercise classes (BodyPump, BodyCombat and BodyJam) and martial arts inspired classes like Wing Chun and Muay Thai. 
Price: From $109 per month for a basic membership with options for access to all fitness clubs or all of True’s outlets including yoga centers; VIP Black Card membership (price available upon application) gives access to regional centers across five different countries; personal training from $80 per session. Seven-day trial passes available.
Outlets: #07-00 Chevron House, 30 Raffles Plc., 6438-3000; #B1-26 China Square Central, 18 Cross St., 6438-3833; #03-14 Great World City Mall, 1 Kim Seng Promenade, 6235-9622; #07-15/17 Parkway Parade, 80 Marine Parade Rd., 6348-9200; #07-001 Suntec City Mall, 3 Temasek Blvd., 6820-9000; #03-10/11 VivoCity, 1 HarbourFront Walk, 6278-3000. 
Overall: 3/5
This one’s got everything you need to break a serious sweat but the peak-hour crowds can be quite a turn-off. Some of the outlets also seem a bit dingy (old carpeting, dustballs, low lighting)—not ideal if you’re OCD about this sort of thing (although they are upgrading the locker rooms from mid-February onwards).

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