Concert review: 3 highlights from One Love Asia Festival
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox
American singer-songwriter Wang Leehom performed on the first day of the One Love Asia Festival Singapore 2024 music festival on Oct 19 at the Padang.
ST PHOTO: BENSON ANG
Follow topic:
One Love Asia Festival Singapore 2024
The Padang
Oct 19
Fast becoming a staple event of the Mandopop calender, the third edition of the One Love Asia Festival kicked off with boy bands, chanteuses and the return of a headline act to the Lion City.
The late afternoon drizzle cleared up before the big acts came on, launching 2024’s two-day music festival on a high. About 7,000 people attended day one of the festival.
Performances began at 5.15pm with Hong Kong newcomer Dark Wong taking the stage for a 25-minute set. Singaporean rapper-singer J.M3 then came on for 20 minutes, followed by five acts including Taiwanese pop-rock group Bestards and Hong Kong singer Joey Yung – each performing for around 40 minutes.
Here are three highlights from day one of the festival.
1. Wang Leehom’s nostalgic set
The American singer-songwriter, famous for fusing hip-hop, R&B and traditional Chinese music, gushed about his connections to the Lion City. He last performed here in 2019 during his Descendants Of The Dragon 2060 World Tour.
The 48-year-old began his set with the dramatic Open Fire (2011), which he performed on the piano. The number included elements of martial arts and hip-hop music, and was not performed during his 2019 show.
At one point, he walked off the stage to get up close to fans, strumming a guitar and later giving them high fives.
At one point during his set, Wang Leehom walked off the stage to get up close to fans, strumming a guitar and later giving them high fives.
ST PHOTO: BENSON ANG
He recalled parachuting down from the roof of the nearby Marina Bay Sands while hugging Chinese actress Zhang Ziyi when the duo were filming the romantic adventure movie My Lucky Star (2013).
“Looking at it still gives me a sense of fear,” he said, adding: “Since the release of my first album in 1995, I have been coming to Singapore. I love you so much.”
His set featured repeat performances of favourites such as The One And Only (2001) and All The Things You Never Knew (2010).
The star said he hopes to return for another concert in the future, but qualified: “I have to (first) prepare the programme.”
2. Double dose of boy bands
Taiwanese pop-rock group Bestards, comprising (from left) lead singer Kidding Chiu (back to camera), drummer Look Lu and guitarists Jerry Kuo and Dillion Lee, charmed the crowd with soothing numbers.
ST PHOTO: BENSON ANG
In a first for the festival here, fans were treated to two boy bands on the same night. One of them was pop-rock group Bestards from Taiwan, who charmed the crowd with soothing numbers such as Rain Or Shine (2018) and Easy Peasy (2022).
The quartet, comprising lead singer Kidding Chiu, guitarists Jerry Kuo and Dillion Lee, and drummer Look Lu, last performed at The Theatre at Mediacorp in December 2023. They returned with their latest single, the motivational Push On, which encourages listeners to keep going even in the face of hardship.
Taiwanese group W0LF(S) also brought a cosy sense of ease during their segment, with radio-friendly hits such as All Day (2020) and Lalala (2022). Helmed by leader Qiu Fengze, who is Singaporean, together with Wayne Huang, Nine Chen, Lai and Shou from Taiwan, the quintet’s years of appearing on variety shows were evident from their engaging banter and playful attitude.
Taiwanese group W0LF(S), comprising members (from left) Nine Chen, Lai (partially blocked), Qiu Fengze, Shou and Wayne Huang, brought a cosy sense of ease during their segment.
ST PHOTO: BENSON ANG
Qiu taught his bandmates how to use the Singlish word “jialat” (Hokkien for “sapping strength”), and there was a spirited discussion on which member’s outfit and performance were most apt for the adjective.
Four of the five members also teased a captivated audience by removing their jackets by the end of the show to reveal singlets underneath, and some lucky fans caught towels which the members used to wipe off their perspiration.
3. Empowering female singers
Singaporean singer Janice Yan delivered multiple empowering numbers.
ST PHOTO: BENSON ANG
Two solo female singers wowed with their vocals and emotional range.
Janice Yan’s set included multiple empowering numbers. The Singaporean singer first turned up the heat with her adrenaline-pumping cover of Christina Aguilera’s Fighter (2002), and her original song Right, Now! (2020) was also an anthem of self-love. In Dare To Be Different (2023), she reminded the crowd to courageously chart their own paths.
Joey Yung’s set was more toned down, but the Hong Kong singer still reminded the crowd to have fun with her opening dance song Pretty Crazy (2019), before settling into Let All This Heavy Rain Fall (2022), which, thankfully, did not bring on the rain clouds.
Hong Kong singer Joey Yung’s rendition of Let All This Heavy Rain Fall (2022).
ST PHOTO: BENSON ANG
The party continues on Oct 20 with performances by Mandopop star Joker Xue, whose Extraterrestrial World Tour will be returning to Singapore for an encore performance on Feb 15, 2025, at the National Stadium. Other acts lined up for Oct 20 include Kit Chan, Harlem Yu, Yisa Yu, MJ116 and the Tin Box Band.
Book It/One Love Asia Festival Singapore 2024
Where: The Padang sistic.com.sg
When: Oct 20, doors open at 4pm, performances start at 5pm
Admission: $188 (general admission one-day pass) and $228 (premium admission one-day pass) from Sistic (go to
