Discover S’pore’s 50 years of music history with SingaPop!
The Quest; Matthew and the Mandarins; Naomi and the Boys; Tokyo Square -- recognise any of these names?
If you don't, prepare to be schooled -- these are three of Singapore's many home-grown bands over the past five decades, who will be featured in a historic all-local music concert that will track the development of the country's pop music culture in five segments, from the 1960s till today.
And here's the best part -- it'll be free for the public to attend.
SingaPop!, as it is called, is organised by the Economic Development Board (EDB) as the last of a series of events held in celebration of its 50th anniversary this year.
Sharing the namesake of singer-songwriter-producer-creative director Dick Lee's 1995 album, the concert will be directed by Lee, and will feature a total of 24 local performers who have shone in Singapore's music scene over the years.
These include hit performing artists such as international stars Kit Chan and Olivia Ong, and Vernon Cornelius of The Quest, Sakura Teng and Matthew & the Mandarins.
A selection of indie artists will also be performing for the '21st Century' segment of the show -- Jack & Rai, Alemay Fernandez, Douglas Oliverio, Wendi Koh and John Molina will be collaborating for a special song. They will complete the largest collection of Singapore artistes performing in a single concert.
"I am proud and honoured to be part of this event," said Lee. "It's a good representation and a great assembly of our best talents -- in all these years I've been doing music, I've never been in a show like this," he added.
The concert ties in five decades of pop culture evolution with the same length of time in economic development, added organising committee head Jayson Goh, executive director of infocomms and media at EDB.
"We wanted a platform to connect with Singaporeans," Goh said. "This event is meant to bring the celebration (of EDB's 50th anniversary) down to the people of Singapore."
The 90-minute concert promises a special set-up, with a multi-level stage, a 12-piece band led by veteran composer Iskandar Ismail, multimedia screen projections and even a catwalk -- all of which will amount to a hefty S$1.5 million, fully funded by corporate sponsors, led by nine key companies.
"Everyone who attends this concert will come away learning something new," said Lee. "I'm working on (giving) everyone a really great experience."
SingaPop will be held at the Promontory @ Marina Bay on 20 August, from 8-10pm. Free tickets are limited to a capacity of 5,000, which will be balloted for on the SingaPop website. Registration starts on Friday, 8 July at noon, and ends on Monday, 8 August at 11.59pm. Successful applicants will be informed to print their tickets at AXS machines islandwide.
