From Britney Spears to Foo Fighters, Singapore’s 2017 concert fever continues – Channel NewsAsia

SINGAPORE: Metallica, Guns N Roses, Coldplay, Steve Vai, Air Supply, The Temper Trap, and a whole lot more have already performed in Singapore this year. But it looks like the concert scene is just heating up, with even more big names lined up for the second half of 2017.

Beginning with Village People on Friday (May 19), there are at least 19 top international and regional acts dropping by Singapore until December. And the announcements just keep on coming.

Music-lovers, too, are embracing this wave of concerts. Artist and avid concert-goer Kristal Melson, for instance, cant wait to catch Foo Fighters. (She kept her ticket from the cancelled 2012 show as a keepsake.) Shes also considering checking out Sting, Britney Spears, and The Lemonheads Evan Dando.

Its great that we have a lot of bands that play stadium shows (here), because those like Guns N Roses, Foo Fighters, Coldplay are bands that people wait ages to come but kind of expect the shows wont happen. Ive been conditioned to think that if I want to see my fave bands, I have to travel out. So in that sense, even though tickets are expensive, theyre still more affordable than flying to, say, Australia.

For KittyWu Records co-founder Errol Tan (another Foo Fighters fan), the influx of acts coming to Singapore is a boon despite recent incidents involving scalping.

Judging from whats happened with Coldplay and Ed Sheeran, the scalping and reselling thing might be an issue. Its been an issue in US and all the mature markets, where these big acts play regularly, and now with all of them coming to Singapore, people are catching on to the whole reselling thing. Some people who really want to catch them might be on the losing end.

Nevertheless, a packed calendar bodes well for the scene, he said. Youre creating a bigger market that is hungry for live entertainment and making more people receptive to the idea of going out to catch live music, which is also helpful for the local scene.

Whether its to start saving up, working out a gameplan, or simply wringing your hands at missing out on that sold-out show, heres a list to help you keep tabs on the top acts coming to Singapore for the rest of 2017. For now.

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VILLAGE PEOPLE (May 19 at Mastercard Theatres, Marina Bay Sands)

Time to rehearse those nifty moves when the folks behind classic disco hits like YMCA, In The Navy, and Macho Man drop by for a concert celebrating their 40th anniversary. And you get an extra treat, too theyre bringing along ABBA tribute group Bjorn Again to share the stage with them.

STING (May 28 at Singapore Indoor Stadium)

The English singer-songwriter returns in a concert in support of 57th & 9th, his first rock album in 13 years. Hes also got a couple of guests in tow Tex-Mex band The Last Bandoleros and his son-singer-songwriter Joe Sumner.

EVAN DANDO (June 6 at Hood Bar and Cafe)

The frontman of 1990s alt-rock band The Lemonheads (Its A Shame About Ray, Car Button Cloth) will be in town for his first ever solo set in Singapore.

A-MEI (June 9 and 10 at Singapore Indoor Stadium)

After last years successful concert at the National Stadium, which drew 20,000 people, the Mandopop diva returns to Singapore with her new Utopia 2.0 Carnival World Tour, which also commemorates two decades of her music career. Shell be doing her classic hits (including a 40-minute remix performance).

G-DRAGON (June 24 and 25 at Singapore Indoor Stadium)

K-pop fans wont get enough of Big Bangs big boss hell be here as part of his ACT III, M.O.T.T.E. world tour. And to make up for the fact that its been four years since his last visit, G-Dragon is doing two shows.

THE XX (July 25 at Singapore Indoor Stadium)

Another act who hasnt been here for a couple of years, the 2010 Mercury Prize-winning indie band is doing their biggest show in Singapore to date, with guest performer singer-songwriter Sampha.

BRITNEY SPEARS (June 30 at Singapore Indoor Stadium)

The last time she was in town, Britney was a teenager. Well, this global pop icon (and on-off controversy magnet) is definitely not a girl anymore but were not complaining. One of the years highly anticipated concerts.

SUNGHA JUNG (July 22 at Kallang Theatre)

Anyone who has ever checked out his online videos (or any of his past six shows here), knows this fingerstyle guitar virtuoso-slash-online sensation will be a treat to watch. Check out his YouTube channel to see what were talking about.

SHOW LUO (Aug 12 at Resorts World Convention Centre)

Mandopop artiste Show Luo Zhi Xiangs back after three years as part of his Show Crazy world tour. Expect nearly 40 songs from his discography, from 2003s Show Time to 2015s Reality Show.

G.E.M. (Aug 12 and 13 at Singapore Indoor Stadium)

After previous shows at ION Orchard and Max Pavilion, the Hong Kong singer, who switches between languages and music genres, returns for her Queen Of Hearts show.

BASTILLE (Aug 14 at The Star Theatre)

Notice how many of the acts listed here return year after year? The British indie pop act is no exception, after performing at The Coliseum and last years F1 Singapore Grand Prix.

MIDNIGHT OIL (Aug 16 at The Star Theatre)

Iconic Aussie rock band is dropping by as part of their Great Circle tour, which will see the groups classic lineup literally circling the planet with never-ending gigs in their most extensive tour since the early 1990s.

FOO FIGHTERS (Aug 26 at National Stadium)

Another highly anticipated act that might have disappointed its fans after the cancellation of their 2012 gig after frontman Dave Grohls voice problems, the Foos are back 20 years after their last Singapore show. (We wonder if Dave still remembers that Nirvana gig here in the 1990s)

ARIANA GRANDE, ONEREPUBLIC, ET AL (Sept 15 to 17 at F1 Singapore GP)

Were still waiting for other September dates but we doubt anyone would come up against this annual juggernaut of an event. From pop darling Ariana Grande and OneRepublic, to Seal and Duran Duran, to EDM duo The Chainsmokers and Grammy Award-winning DJ Calvin Harris, expect good fun for three straight days.

ED SHEERAN (Nov 11 and 12 at Singapore Indoor Stadium)

Are you among the lucky ones able to get a ticket? Or are you grumbling about scalpers, or praying for a miraculous third show? Well, its still a few more months to go before the singer-songwriters back-to-back gigs so lets just keep our fingers crossed, shall we?

BELINDA CARLISLE (Nov 11 at The Star Theatre)

Another singer whos celebrating an anniversary the former lead vocalist of the Go-Gos is on a special tour to mark the 30th anniversary of her classic solo album Heaven On Earth.

HARRY STYLES (Nov 23 at The Star Theatre)

One Direction fans in Singapore, count yourselves lucky. His show here after a 2015 performance with 1D is one of only two Asian pit stops in his solo world tour.

SHAWN MENDES (Dec 9 at The Star Theatre)

His world tour is called Illuminate which seems apt as the teenage singer-songwriter from Canada will shine a light on why hes such a phenomenon.

MAYDAY (Dec 15 to 17 at Singapore Indoor Stadium)

This year marks the Taiwanese rock bands 20th anniversary and their 10th concert tour.

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From Britney Spears to Foo Fighters, Singapore's 2017 concert fever continues - Channel NewsAsia