ROCK WITH US
Taiwanese singer Angela Chang will join home-grown artists and musicians including Joi Chua, Jeremy Monteiro and Jimmy Ye for this online concert that raises funds for Darul Ihsan Orphanage.
Hosted by Taiwanese host Mickey Huang, the multi-lingual concert will run for about two hours.
Other acts performing include Taiwanese singer-songwriter William Wei, also known as WeiBird, home-grown singers Alemay Fernandez, Rudy Djoe and Jordin Tan, as well as veteran local club band Jive Talkin'.
WHERE: Several online platforms including IMC Live Global's Facebook page
WHEN: Sept 23, 9pm
ADMISSION: Free but viewers are encouraged to donate at bit.ly/2F3cMMY
JAZZ ANTHOLOGY BY AYA SEKINE TRIO + SPECIAL GUESTS
Three prominent musicians in the Singapore jazz scene - Japanese pianist Aya Sekine, American bassist Christy Smith and home-grown drummer Aaron James Lee - will perform in this online concert. They will play their interpretations of music by American music icons Jerome Kern and Duke Ellington, as well as original songs by Sekine.
The gig, part of Sekine's online music series Aya Music Today, will also feature guest musicians - Shawn Letts on tenor saxophone and Tim De Cotta on vocals.
In recognition of the African-American community's role in creating and popularising jazz music globally, all proceeds from the concert will be donated to United States civil rights organisation NACCP (National Association for the Advancement of Colored People).
WHERE: bit.ly/3bHkKqO
WHEN: Sept 13, 8pm
ADMISSION: Viewers can pay as much as they want but are encouraged to give $20 per household. Payment is to be made via PayLah! or PayNow (telephone number 96605471) or at PayPal.me/ayasekine. Indicate "Jazz Anthology" for both modes of payment.
WORDS & MUSIC WITH NICK HEXUM OF 311
American singer-songwriter Nick Hexum will appear in this upcoming episode of local podcast Words & Music, hosted by concert organiser and former radio and television host Lauretta Alabons.
Hexum is the frontman of American alternative rock band 311, known for hits such as Amber (2001) and their 2004 cover of English rockers The Cure's Lovesong.
He will discuss 311's 30th-anniversary celebrations as well as how the Covid-19 pandemic has affected the band's live performances.
WHERE: Several platforms including apple.co/32c8jQE and spoti.fi/336fFV6
WHEN: Sept 17, 8pm
ADMISSION: Free
STRAITS RECORDS POP-UP STORE
Singapore record label and music store Straits Records, a stalwart of the independent and underground music scene here and in the region, has a physical presence again.
The 25-year-old company founded by Ridhwan Ghany, also known as Wan Vegan, closed its last retail space in Balestier in 2016 due to rising rental costs.
Its current space at The Substation might be temporary, but like the record store, the arts centre has long championed the non-mainstream scene in Singapore.
Besides an eclectic collection of CDs and vinyls, the space in the Substation Box Office also hosts workshops ranging from live screen printing to zine making as well as music listening parties.
It is part of The Substation's Front Of House Project, which features local independent retailers operating a bi-monthly pop-up store at its box office.
WHERE: The Substation, 45 Armenian Street
WHEN: Until Oct 11. Wednesdays to Fridays, 2.30 to 7.30pm; Saturdays and Sundays, 1 to 8pm
NU-SOUL/JAZZ
TAPE ENDS
The Steve McQueens
4 stars
Singapore soul/jazz outfit The Steve McQueens are a prolific bunch.
They are currently working on The Observer, the follow-up to 2017's sophomore album Terrarium that is scheduled for release in 2021.
In the meantime, the quartet comprising singer Eugenia Yip, keyboardist Joshua Wan, bassist Jase Sng and drummer Anson Koh have released a six-song EP, Tape Ends.
But this is not a stopgap until their next full-length album. Tape Ends features finely-crafted, previously unreleased songs from their 2018 Tape tour that saw them play shows in Singapore and Japan.
A freewheeling spirit permeates the songs but there is also a distinct intimacy - mostly thanks to Yip's fluid and penetrating vocals.
Cosmic Terrain 2.0 is a wild, psychedelic ride, while Go To Sleep is a lush, yet trippy lullaby. Lead single Firefly starts out eerie but takes a left turn with snatches of electronica.
That sums up the EP - you think the song is going one way, but the band surprise with delicious twists.
