Along with unrestricted overseas travel and maskless outings, concerts and music festivals rank high on the list of things we miss the most from pre-pandemic days. Besides the launch of Vaccinated Travel Lanes serving as a sign that we’re inching towards normalcy once more, concert fans and festival goers can rejoice in the return of an iconic event: Baybeats.
Taking place from 4th-7th November, Baybeats 2021 is happening not only IRL with free live shows at the Esplanade, but online through FOC livestreams as well. That means you can tune in and groove along from home, and can even jive with overseas pals and fellow fans in real time.
Speaking of overseas, there’ll also be foreign artistes in the festival lineup, including South Korean rock band, SURL, Malaysia’s Johny Comes Lately, and Voice of Baceprot from Indonesia. Here’s the full lowdown so you can start getting into the festival spirit:
Festival fanatics can look forward to a star-studded lineup this year, comprising local favourites as well as international bands and performers.
Among the homegrown bands, performances will be held at the Esplanade by beloved acts who have also graced the Baybeats stage in past years.
Clockwise from top-left: Amateur Takes Control, Electrico, Pleasantry, Caracal
Image adapted from: Baybeats
These include the alternative/indie quintet, Amateur Takes Control, masters of indie pop-rock, Electrico, vibey dream-pop group, Pleasantry, and who could forget – Caracal, the iconic post-hardcore band which has taken the region by storm since 2007.
Besides jamming to the bands who are already permanent fixtures in your playlists, the on- and offline festival will also showcase up-and-coming musicians across various genres.
Clockwise from top-left: Woes, Cadence, Summations, BGourd
Image adapted from: Baybeats
To give you a little taste, the emerging stars who will be making an appearance include indie/math rock band Woes, alternative-rock group Cadence, post-rock and post-metal quartet Summations, and BGourd, a homegrown boom bap rapper.
L-R: Johny Comes Lately, Voice of Baceprot
Image adapted from: Baybeats, MVSLIM
You can look forward to regional headliners such as Malaysian band, Johny Comes Lately, presenting its ska punk-meets-reggae repertoire, as well as the unpredictably power-packed Voice of Baceprot trio, an all-female rock act from Indonesia.
There are also international acts from Thailand, Hong Kong, Korea, and even the United States. Check out the full festival schedule linked below to find out more, and tune into these regional and international acts – exclusive to the online livestream.
With concerts and music festivals, there are always concerns about ticket pricing and whether you can afford the best category’s seats. Put your money away, because Baybeats 2021 is holding live shows at the Esplanade, absolutely free of charge.
Esplanade Theatre
Image credits: Esplanade
Performances will be held at various venues within the Esplanade. These include the massive Esplanade Theatre as well as the Esplanade Outdoor Theatre a.k.a. Arena, known for being the go-to stage for past Baybeats shows.
Esplanade Outdoor Theatre, photo taken before Covid-19.
Image credits: Esplanade
Needless to say, capacity is limited so register online via the link below to secure slots for yourself and your festival mates.
Spaces have already been filled up for certain acts such as Caracal and Pleasantry, and shows at the Esplanade Annexe Studio and Esplanade Outdoor Theatre are sold out as well. But fret not, as you’ll still be able to tune into the performances anywhere you like, via the online livestreams.
Whether the slots for your favourite acts have been fully choped or you just prefer to watch the performances while nua-ing on your sofa, Baybeats 2021 will be livestreamed for all to enjoy. You can catch the festival on the Baybeats Facebook page as well as the Baybeats Youtube channel.
This also means you can tune into the same livestream with your loved ones situated all around Singapore or staying abroad, and even connect with fellow music fans who are watching from anywhere in the world.
For those who wish to partake in some commentary and discussion online, make sure to include the hashtags #baybeats and #baybeats2021 so others can see your posts.
Besides livestreams broadcasted throughout the 4-day festival period, performance videos will also be available online all the way till 30th November 2021, 11.59PM for you to relive that music-induced dopamine rush.
Let’s face it, 2021 has been quite the rollercoaster of emotions. As a form of escape, even if temporary, a music festival is just what the doctor ordered. Jostling with passionate crowds may be a thing of the past, but we can still bask in the surreal experience of live music performances, or watch our favourite bands and artistes from the comfort of home.
If you’re planning on attending some live performances throughout Baybeats 2021 which takes place from 4th-7th November 2021, make sure to register for the free slots online ASAP. Livestream links will also be released in due time, and you can check out the full lineup and festival schedule in the link below.
Time to start planning your festival OOTD, or prepping your abode for a festival house party!
This post was brought to you by Esplanade.
Cover image adapted from (clockwise from top-left): Baybeats, Esplanade, MVSLIM
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