Eight reasons why Laneway Singapore 2013 is a must-fly
The new line-up is even better than the last one,” my friend tells me, his eyes almost moist with happy tears.
For those of you who attended Laneway Singapore 2012, it’s easy to question my friend (and doubt his moist eyes) mostly because 2013’s lineup may ring fewer bells than before. The bands are more forward-looking yet still hot off the hype as any classic Laneway act should be.
To be held at The Meadow at Gardens by The Bay on Jan. 26 from noon to midnight, Laneway Singapore 2013 will feature 14 of the most compelling indie acts today. Big acts Gotye, Kings of Convenience, Tame Impala, and Of Monsters and Men will be joined by indie rock bands Japandroids, Real Estate, Yeasayer, and Cloud Nothings. Female-fueled ones slated to perform are Bat for Lashes, Kimbra and Polica, along with newer breakthrough acts like Alt-J, Nicolas Jaar, and Divine Fits (part Spoon, part Wolf Parade). The third-ever Laneway Singapore will be a packed gig, in short.
And although the lineup may speak for itself, I thought of elaborating further on what makes Laneway Singapore 2013 a must-fly to. Here are eight reasons to consider going.
Laneway Singapore 2013 has included three exclusive acts.
Tame Impala, Gotye, and Kimbra are officially exclusive to Laneway Singapore 2013, making Singapore arguably better than those of Australia’s line-ups.
Tame Impala will be a chaotic tie-dye moshpit of psychedelic fun.
The hype is untamed these days. With new album “Lonerism” rating a sold 9.0 on Pitchfork (after an 8.5 on their previous LP “Innerspeaker”), this Australian band pledges to bring on the same high-haze psychedelic rock they once brought to Coachella. Imagine a dreamier John Lennon meeting John Bonham’s raw drum grooves and you have this band. And possibly even more.
If you’ve always wanted to see Spoon, then Divine Fits will satisfy you.
Spoon frontman Britt Daniel has joined Wolf Parade/Handsome Furs’ Dan Boeckner and Sam Brown of New Bomb Turks this year to mastermind a sideband called Divine Fits. It’s modern punk worth seeing, especially if you dig Spoon’s vocals.
The addition of Norwegian duo Kings of Convenience is a welcome mystery.
Who knows if their appearance will hint at a new album?
Kimbra is promising.
Kimbra is not only New Zealand’s eye candy but a recent hoarder of awards, having copped five Tuis awards, including the coveted Album of the Year prize, at the Vodafone New Zealand Music Awards. It should be interesting to see her perform.
Alt-J is probably the most exciting new act to come from the UK this year.
Having won the Mercury Prize for best British album, Alt-J is now endlessly being compared to Radiohead and with good reason. Their live performance is highly awaited.
The Meadow at Gardens by the Bay is a new venue to explore.
This new landmark can accommodate over 30,000 people, making it Singapore’s largest outdoor garden venue. It’s going to feel like a garden concert set in the future.
Laneway will always be Laneway.
There are several more reasons as there are several more bands to discuss but Laneway should be a yearly tradition for music guys and girls who want to discover their next favorite band. Plus, there’s no other 14-act indie music festival that you can enjoy for such a reasonable price.
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Tickets are now on sale at sistic.com, eventclique.com, and facebook.com/LanewayFestSG. Standard ticket: S$145,
4-ticket bundle: S$493 ($123.25 per ticket), and VIP Ticket: S$350. It’s better to book online since tickets on the event day at the venue will cost S$160 each.
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To stay updated with all things Laneway Singapore, be sure to follow them on facebook.com/LanewayFestSG, twitter.com/LanewayFestSG (hashtag: #LanewaySG), and Instagram: Search @LanewayFestSG.
