Neon Lights : Geared Up Your Lights!

An incredible array of top-tier music and arts acts have been announced and are set to perform from November 9-11 at Neon Lights 2018, and now the exciting final additions to join the line-up of Singapore’s premier outdoor music and arts festival are revealed.  The phenomenal music line-up of world-class performers includes the likes of Interpol, YUNA, Caribou, Cigarettes After Sex and Peking Duk, and Neon Lights is proud to unveil that Mantravine, Instigator Afrobeat Orchestra, Preetiplsand Subhas, and OrkeStar Trio will also be joining the stellar roster of musical luminaries at the highly anticipated festival at Fort Gate, Fort Canning Park. Attendees can look forward to a fully immersive festival experience with a slew of performances and exciting activities each day.

FRIDAY, 9 NOVEMBER

A new addition to Friday night’s mood amplifiers on the Main Stage will be the world electronic group of sonic sorcerers Mantravine. Known for their melodic harmonies and gravity defying grooves, they’re set to take listeners on a journey of psychedelic rock and Indian Arabic vibrations, all the way to the “Arambha”, or “beginning”, in Sanskrit, as per the name of their latest record. They will be sharing the stage with Los Angeles-based R&B superstar and headlining act of the day YUNA, and Thailand’s incredible Paradise Bangkok Molam International Band.

Easy Street will play host to Singapore’s favourite viral internet sensation Preetipls as she shares her newly released music, together with talented lyricist and hip hop artist Subhas, who released his debut album ‘Not A Public Assembly’ earlier this year. Joining them on Easy Street will be the popular local hip-hop collective Mediocre Haircut Crew, as well as Scottish beatmaker DJ Shellsuit and Singapore-based musician Ridz. When the small hours draw near so do Silent Disco Asia, kicking off silent disco parties led by their trademark genre-spanning DJs that will run for all 3 nights of the festival.

SATURDAY, 10 NOVEMBER

Instigator Afrobeat Orchestra will take to the Main Stage on Saturday, ready to enthrall the audience as they channel the forefathers of Afrobeat mixed with their distinct Lion City grit. With influences of reggae, Afro-Brazilian music, funk and disco, festivalgoers can expect to witness a truly 21^st century translation of the Afrobeat genre. They’re followed by the dynamic rock sensation Interpol, Texan ethereal dream-pop maestros Cigarettes After Sex, and English rock band The Vaccines. Festivalgoers will also be treated a performance by post-punk provocateurs Shame, as well as the edgy soul vibes of Singapore sextet Riot !n Magenta.

Saturday’s line-up of incredible Easy Street performances include the underground electronic dance tastemaker Perk Pietrek, FAUXE, one of Singapore’s most prolific producers, and a scratch workshop by E-TracX. Conquering the stage with a TUFF Club Takeover will be local icon DJ Ulysses.

SUNDAY, 11 NOVEMBER

The last day of the festival will see the headlining act Caribou take to the Main Stage all the way from Canada. Also taking to the stage will be the mesmerizing R&B enigma Rhye, hitmakers and everyday heroes Peking Duk, multi-platinum selling reggae group Sticky Fingers and Brooklyn-based art-punk group Bodega. Other unmissable Main Stage performances include Phum Viphurit, Thailand’s alternative folk-funk crooner, and Singapore’s indie pop-trio Sobs.

On Easy Street, festivalgoers can look forward to an incredible show by OrkeStar Trio, a genre-spanning adventurous group with musical influences tied to the modern-day Malay Archipelago. In addition, Easy Street is slated for a rare alternate set by Daphni, the underground dance music alter-ego of Caribou’s Dan Snaith, as well as captivating performances by The Jazz Djogets, Read Bridge Dulcimer and his Appalachian mountain tunes, and DJ Shellsuit’s electrifying festival encore.

NEON NOOKS AND NEON FUN

As part of the festival’s Neon Nooks which is set to illuminate the nooks and crannies of Fort Gate, witness an incredible array of live art performances, roving acts and projection mapping scattered throughout the festival grounds. Joining the line-up of interactive arts is HF/DF, an interdisciplinary art collective behind this year’s Plastic Collection Unit, set to collect everyone’s plastic. Hoarder of all things reflective and clear, these three waterproof crew members are the magpies of plastic recycling, gathering materials for upcycling into future art projects. Festival revelers can be captivated by Justin Shoulder’s ‘Fantastic Creatures’, Empyreal’s mesmerizing liquid galaxies light projection, the sparkly PINK transformation of the Glitter Queen,  Saudaçåo Capoeira Singapore’s fiery Samba display, and the spirited performances of roving bohemian band The Lost Hat.

Creative souls can look forward to an array of imaginative workshops and games for the whole family at Neon Fun, such as STPI – Creative Workshop and Gallery’s screen printing and marbling technique workshhops, Casey Chen’s wearable woodart sessions,  Frankie Malachi’s Puppet Exposé, and Sideshow’s various DIY Garden Games. DJ Itch and MC Manic Jango are set to hype up the crowd with their energising performance, as will the electric DJ Gonzo. For a dose of vibrancy, festivalgoers can head over to Dr. Paradise’s UV Clinic for some otherworldly face and body painting, or join an It Takes Balls workshop to get creative with DIY finger bracelets.

SPONSOR ACTIVATIONS

The amazing sponsors whose support helped bring Neon Lights about are pulling out all the stops for the festival crowd, with fun interactive activations across the board. Head over to the whimsical garden party at Hendrick’s Tent of Divine Destinies for some top-tier gin and mystical tarot card readings, visit the  Monkey Shoulder Cage to experience cocktail nirvana, or enjoy the champagne-coloured ambience at the supersized Fred Perry Deck with a great view of the Main Stage and light features synchronised to the beat of the live performances. Festivalgoers can also look out for Fred Perry’s visual black-out disruption of Empyreal’s light projection at Fort Gate. Every day from 7pm for one hour or until the limit is reached, beer lovers can claim beers for the price of $1 thanks to OCBC, for anyone who downloads the OCBC Pay Anyone™ app and joins the dedicated queue to pay through the app. For attendees who are feeling competitive, do pop by the OCBC Pay Anyone™ Tent for some beer pong competitions, and stand a chance to win cash prizes.

FESTIVAL APP

To make sure the only thing festivalgoers get lost in is the enthralling line-up of music and arts performances, Neon Lights is introducing a festival app powered by Deezer to help guide attendees in the right direction. The app, a first in Neon Lights history, will showcase all the acts set to perform at the festival, display the line-up for each day, and an illuminating map of the festival grounds for the user’s easy reference. It will also allow users to customise their own schedule for the festival. The app can be downloaded from the App Store and Google Play Store here: http://oneevent-oneapp.com/neonlights-2018/

For those who prefer to navigate through the festival experience the good old-fashioned way, the festival map is available here:https://bit.ly/2Rprb6v

F&B

Attendees will be spoiled for choice to indulge their inner foodie at Neon Lights, from Two Men Bagel House’s delicious selection of specialty bagels, to Taste of Kult Kafe’s assortment of world gourmet street food inspired dishes. The Lab will offer hearty halal burger options, while The Fish Sh-nack will keep hungry hearts supplied with tasty fish skin snacks and other delights, and The Swag Social are set to serve up delectable Japanese donburis for days. Popaganda Sorbets will set up shop to help cool down festivalgoers with their refreshing array of popsicles. The festival bar will also be open for business, and can match any mood with their energising selection of alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages alike.

NEON NIGHTS AFTER PARTY SERIES

The fun doesn’t stop after the festival lights go off, with Neon Nights, the official pre and after party series for Neon Lights Festival, keeping the party going deep into the night.  The official after party venue this year will be none other than Tuff Club, where dancing is exercise!  Free entry for all Neon Lights ticket holders.

Neon Lights 2018 takes place across 3 consecutive days, from 9 – 11 November 2018. Tickets can be purchased at www.neonlights.sgand SISTIC. For ticket purchases in Malaysia, please visit https://airasiaredtix.com/neonlights2018.