South
China Morning Post - Hong Kong
Gigs
30 Nov, 2006
Shore Thing
Music fans seeking the 24-hour party experience need look no further than Singapore's
Sentosa Island for the annual ZoukOut
By Alan Warboys
During the past six years, Singapore's annual outdoor
music gathering ZoukOut has grown into one of the biggest festivals in
the region - arguably the best, and perhaps the one entertainment event
that can be truely classified as regional.
The beach extravaganza now attracts more than 18,000 party-goers, with a third
of those flying in from around Asia and beyond, and is being held by authorities
as a symbol of Singapore's new liberated 24-hour party spirit.
Such is the growing international appeal of the famed Zouk club's annual extravaganza
that even the Singapore Tourism Board's spin doctors have worked themselves into
a lather about it. "Events such as ZoukOut bolster Singapore's image as a vibrant
and exciting city with a pulsating nightlife, boosting our efforts to become
the entertainment capital of Asia," says board director Oliver Chong, rubbing
his hands at the influx of visitors.
ZoukOut organiser Tracy Phillips says that despite mountains of red tape the
government's support has helped the event flourish, and the once straight-laced
city state's nightlife is booming thanks to round-the-clock party licences that
are now available. "The 24-hour licence has
dramatically changed the clubbing landscape and we now have crowds that can party
well into the wee hours of the morning every weekend," says Phillips.
But the changes have brought challenges. Zouk is Singapore's best known, long-running
major club, but suffered a short-term setback when London club Ministry of Sound
opened a branch there earlier this year. Phillips says it was short-lived and
Zouk is prospering more than ever in it's 15th year. "I think both clubs attract
a different audience and we're fortunate to have amassed a loyal following,"
she says
ZoukOut represents all aspects of the bricks-and-mortar venue, covering dance
music, live bands and watering holes. The festival, which takes place next weekend
from dusk to dawn on the sandy shores of Sentosa Island, is
headlined by global DJs Ferry Corsten, Jazzy Jeff and Steve Lawler.
Zouk residents DJ Jeremy Boon, who has been spinning at Zouk since it opened,
says the annual festival is the highlight of his year. "It's a chance to feel
a different vibe and atmosphere," he says. "It's always nice to see 18,000 smiling
faces."
Boon remembers the overwhelming response to the first ZoukOut in December 2000.
"It was amazing - the first time many Singaporeans got to experience a big dance
festival at the beach. It really inspired us to do more outdoor dance parties."
Besides the headliners, the bill includes innovative and cutting-edge acts from
overseas such as 2manyDJs, Soulwax and DJ Pippi from Ibiza who will play a special
sunrise set. But most significantly is that this year the event is devoting more
space to bands from around the region as Asia's nightlife scene continues to
ape western trends for a renaissance in live music.
Phillips says live bands were a huge success last year. "They added to the festival
atmosphere and demonstrated to the many tourists at ZoukOut the existence of
Singapore's own music scene," says Phillips. Among the bands from around the
region this year are Aussie rockers Stars Don't Fall and Bangkok-based Futon.
The live stage looks set to be a more popular draw than ever. Daniel Sassoon,
a guitarist with Singapore indie outfit Electrico, says the local music scene
is buzzing again as it was in the 1990s before dance music and rave culture blew
it away.
"Five years ago, the scene was at its nadir," Sassoon says. "Everything was driven
underground. Radio wouldn't touch local music and there were rumours that there
were (government) directives not to play anything local. The only local songs
i recall hearing back then were really pop numbers - if at all.
"Now, it's thriving again. But it's only recently come back. Lots of kids and
punters are checking out bands everywhere, whether at the outdoor theatre at
the Esplanade during weekends, or during festivals, and lots of kids are organising
their own punk rock, emo and metal shows at new venues," says Sassoon, reeling
off a list of new music venues.
"Even house-band-only venues like Bar None at the Marriott Hotel have opened
up to indies nights, which is amazing considering that even 10 years ago in it's
hey day, gigs were pretty much only held at schools, community centres or small
underground arts hubs."
"Its a pity there isn't yet a culture of having local support acts for overseas
touring bands, unlike Japan, Canada and Australia. Big bands come here, play
without support and leave. These could be great opportunities for local bands.
We have lot of fans who only heard of and saw us when we opened - and they've
been coming to our regular shows since."
Even so, Sassoon thinks ZoukOut is a great chance for Singaporean and regional
bands to push themselves forward.
"The Asian music scene is promising and eventually something good is going to
come out of it. There are some excellent bands in the area, including Hong Kong's
Whence He Come and King Ly Chee. There's no shortage of talents in this region.
I'm just waiting for the day it travels to the rest of the world"
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