Neon Lights, a new major music and art destination festival, will blaze a trail across the region circuit on the upcoming November 2015. The first of its kind in Singapore, and taking its cues from the world’s greatest music festivals, Neon Lights will illuminate the historic Fort Canning Park on Saturday November 28th and Sunday November 29th 2015 with a rich and vibrant music and arts program encompassing international and local music, dance, theatre, comedy, art and design installations, spoken word, and children’s workshops. Built on an uncompromising philosophy of collaboration and community, the inaugural annual festival will run from 1PM till late each day, and will incorporate every nook and cranny of three main outdoor of Fort Canning event spaces, such as Fort Green, Fort Gate, and OMSQ. Neon Lights promises a premium multi-disciplinary, multi-sensory experience for everyone, regardless of age or interest, set across six stages, such as Neon Lights Stage, Neon Gardens Stage, Club Minky, Cloud Factory, Lit Up @ Neon Lights, and Easy Street.
The first sixteen acts of a superbly eclectic music line-up are released today. Handpicked from over ten countries across five continents, the headliners of Neon Lights are the legendary hit-makers CHIC featuring Nile Rodgers, who is one of the most influential producers and prolific musicians in the history of popular music. The multi-platinum selling singer-songwriter from Ireland known as Damien Rice will also play his first Singapore show in nearly a decade. Aside from them, brilliant cult mavericks from United States, Mercury Rev will also make their long-awaited return to Singapore right off the release of their latest album and upbeat party acts Flight Facilities from Sydney and New Yorkers Ratatat will play their first-ever shows here. Other acts making their first trips to Singapore include legendary UK shoegaze trailblazers Ride, the hypnotic Songhoy Blues from Mali, Mancunian world-fusion DJ Mr Scruff and the Asia premiere of Kiasmos who is the ground-breaking new audiovisual electronic project from Iceland composer and pianist Olafur Arnalds.
The Neon Lights and Neon Gardens stages will showcase a stellar music line-up spanning genres and decades, blending international stars with local heroes, including sensory rockers Hanging Up The Moon. Also on the Neon Lights bill so far are cool punk-meets-bossa-lounge act Nouvelle Vague from Paris, gifted Japanese multi-intstrumentalist Shugo Tokumaru, introspective indie folksters from United States Sun Kil Moon and Singapore very own Bennett Bay, and the new queen of dream pop of United States Julia Holter. More acts certainly will be announced in the coming weeks. Families with kids will be entertained by the interactive sideshow, circus, comedy and cabaret performances at Club Minky, followed by wearable art for children, and movement workshops by MySuperFuture at Cloud Factory. For fans of the spoken and written word, Lit Up @ Neon will be a literary treat with performances, readings, panel discussions, and interviews. So do not miss any activities that are available at Neon Lights and Neon Gardens stages!
The holistic festival will feature three distinct performances each night at Cloud Factory by some of the most innovative sound of Singapore, video and performance artists, all curated by Noor Effendy Ibrahim, former artistic director of The Substation and Teater Ekamatra. Also, attendees will get to participate in a live street art and culture celebration on Easy Street curated by Recognize Studios and Sideshow, alongside the breakbeats of hip-hop artists and scratch DJs. According to Jennifer Jennings who is the Producer and Arts Programme Director of Neon Lights, “All of our favourite outdoor music festivals from around the world have great arts, great food and a real sense of family as integral to their offering. While Neon Lights is first and foremost a music-lovers festival, it is also for people who are looking for something more. From performance, workshops, installations, comedy, delicious food and other surprises, all combining to make one of the most nourishing, uplifting weekends of the year. That is the aspiration.”
Full details of arts programme, food and other experiential offerings to be announced in October 2015. Neon Lights is organised by a team of international award-winning festival experts, including co-founders of Electric Picnic from Ireland, Clockenflap from Hong Kong, and Harvest Festival from Australia, in collaboration with the experienced and dynamic Singapore team. Early Bird and Family Weekend tickets are on sale now online at several sites such as Neon Lights, Sistic, and EventCliQue.com. Limited supply of early bird tickets available until stocks last. For those under the age of 18 conditions of purchase is applied. All prices exclude booking fees, such as Early Bird Adult for 2 Day Weekend cost you $189, Youth for 2 Day Weekend cost you $150, and Child for 2 Day Weekend cost you $40. All teenagers and young child must be accompanied by an adult while maximum of two child per paying adult with photo ID required. For more information and the latest update from Neon Lights a New Major Music and Art Destination Festival at Fort Canning Park Singapore, feel free to visit their site.