This article was first published in The Straits Times on Dec 1, 2000

WEATHER forecast for the weekend: Late afternoon and early evening showers with thunder tomorrow, with skies remaining cloudy through Sunday morning.

But for clubbers set to hit Sentosa's Siloso Beach tomorrow evening for the 13-hour Zouk Out dance party, what is a little rain?

"Rain or shine, I'll still be checking out all the tents," says Gail Leena Krishnan, 21, a final-year arts and social science undergraduate at the National University of Singapore.

She bought her tickets two weeks ago and is all geared up to party with a bunch of friends. In fact, she will be stocking up on her beauty sleep before tomorrow's big do.

Even Mr Andrew Ing, 31, Zouk's marketing manager, professes to be unperturbed by the thought of a thundery, rainy night.

He says that two of the four music tents where clubbers will congregate - The Phuture/Wall Of Sound and The House/Techno - will be fully sheltered.

But the Main Stage and Mambo Jambo tent will be only covered partly to allow for more open-air partying.

If it really pours tomorrow night, he says, the organisers have sufficient tentage to provide "covering area" for all revellers.

But, he adds: "It's a beach party, you know. So you are bound to get wet one way or the other, right?"

However, he reminds clubbers to bring a raincoat. As for those who forget, "we'll also be selling them that day".

Zouk Out is Singapore's first and largest outdoor dance party. Set to start at sundown tomorrow at 5 pm, the beats and bleeps will only fade out at 6 am on Sunday morning.

It is organised by Zouk Management (winner of the Singapore Tourism Board's Best Nightspot of the Year for dance club Zouk earlier this month), independent party promoter Tac Promotions and the Sentosa Development Corporation.

The event has stirred avid interest over the past month as clubbing-mad Singaporeans bought tickets and geared up for the gig.

The organisers are targeting a crowd of 8,000 for the dusk-to-dawn party.

Already, 7,000 advance tickets have been snapped up at $38 a head, including admission to Sentosa.

Another 1,000 tickets priced at $45, excluding the $6 admission to Sentosa, will be on sale at Siloso Beach from 5 pm tomorrow. Each customer will only be allowed to buy a maximum of four tickets.

The party grounds will sprawl across 260,000 sq ft of beach, or the equivalent of three football fields.

The four music tents will feature various genres of dance music, played by more than 30 DJs and live acts.

Besides Zouk's six resident DJs and other homegrown jocks, nine famous DJs from Britain, Canada, Sweden and Japan will add a more eclectic dimension.

There will also be 24 food stalls and alcohol will be sold until 3 am or 4 am, depending on which bar you go to.

Mr Ing says the organisers have been ironing out possible problems that could crop up ever since the event was mooted in July.

About 500 people will be working during the party. They include security officers, sound, lighting and production crew, drink attendants, cleaners, bar operators and ticket collectors. Two ambulances will also be on standby.

Including the 500 or so staff members and the 1,500 complimentary passes issued for corporate sponsors and the media, Mr Ing estimates that there will be a total of 10,000 people on the beach.

He says that the party area can accommodate up to 25,000 people easily. But the idea is to make it spacious and to create "more room for people to move".

He also urges party-goers to arrive early.

Although those who bought the advance tickets can drive into Sentosa from 6.30 pm at $6 a car, subject to a maximum of five passengers per car, it is not advisable to do so.

About 2,000 parking lots are available at the Parade Square carpark on the mainland and the Siloso Beach carpark, says Mr Nguyen Van On, 37, sales manager of the Sentosa Development Corporation.

But he warns of a scramble for parking lots.

Your best bet is to rely on the Sentosa buses, he says, as both the cable car and ferry will not run beyond their normal operation hours of up to 9 pm and 10 pm respectively.

As the Sentosa Bus C is the only bus to go to the venue directly, expect a long queue at the Tiong Bahru MRT station, where it sets off.

It will run at about five-minute intervals tomorrow until 12.30 am on Sunday.

Between 12.30 am to 6 am on Sunday, there will be another Sentosa bus providing a loop service at 10-minute intervals between the Seah Im Road bus interchange opposite World Trade Centre and Sunset Bay, the venue of Zouk Out.

Sentosa buses will resume normal operation at 7.30 am on Sunday morning.

Meanwhile, those looking for trouble at the party be warned: A police spokesman says the police will be conducting more patrols in and around Siloso Beach. The Central Narcotics Bureau will also be making its usual rounds.

PARTY DETAILS

Bars An expected 8,000 partygoers will be fighting for drinks. To meet their thirst, Zouk will be setting up three bars of its own on top of the one already at Sunset Bay. These will be sited along Siloso Beach. Zouk's bars will sell alcohol till 3am, while Sunset Bay's will operate till 4am.

Main Tent The centrestage for live performances by homegrown bands Livonia, Force Vomit, the Stoned Revivals and The Bushmen. The action lasts from 6pm-9pm. Get high on the psychedelic beats of trance and house after that, spun by Rocky from midnight, Dave Seaman from 2am and Christian Smith from 4am till closing time.

Beach volleyball The ultimate image of fun in the sun, you can play it under the moonlight now. First come first served. Balls not provided.

Chill out areas Relax in any of the open spaces and take a breather before psyching yourself for another round on the dance floor.

Mambo Jambo Tent Action here lasts five hours, from 9pm to 3am. It will feature Zouk's own DJs spinning retro pop music from the 1970s and 1980s.

Food stalls and Flea markets Recharge with anything from kebabs to burgers to nasi lemak, and check out bargains while digesting your munchies.

Phuture Tent Otherwise known as the Wall of Sound Tent, partygoers can enjoy live graffiti art and breakdancing showcases from 5pm-8pm. Thereafter, it is the sounds of big beat and drum 'n' bass. DJTouche aka The Wiseguys spins from 10pm, and Jacques Lu Cont aka Les Rythmes Digitales from midnight to 2am.

House/Techno Tent Kick off the evening with Chris Coco at 5pm, then bounce to the sounds of Diesel from 8pm-10pm. Singapore band Project Eastward will perform at midnight. At 1am, Richie Hawtin aka Plastikman comes on, followed by DJ Wada from 3am-5am.

WHAT: Zouk Out WHEN: 5 pm tomorrow to 6 am on Sunday WHERE: Sentosa, Siloso Beach TICKETS: 7,000 advance tickets at $38 each are sold out. Another 1,000 tickets priced at $45 each (excluding $6 admission to Sentosa) will be on sale near the party entrance from 5 pm tomorrow. WHO: DJ line-up includes Dave Seaman, Richie Hawtin aka Plastikman, Christian Smith, DJ Touche aka The Wiseguys, Jacques Lu Cont aka Les Rythmes Digitales, Chris Coco, Rocky & Diesel, DJ Wada, and Zouk in-house DJs.