Music Picks: Baybeats, The Steve McQueens, Le Grand Jazz

Tickets to the live performances of the Esplanade's free alternative music festival are so hot that most were snapped up the moment public registration opened on Oct 27.

Apparently, demand is so high that scalpers are trying to profit by selling their tickets online, a practice frowned on by the Esplanade and true music fans.

Those who cannot get passes to watch the acts live can catch the performances online for free.

The 20th edition of the annual festival will take place over four days instead of the usual three. The line-up will feature more than 40 acts, most of whom are home-grown - ranging from veterans such as pop rockers Electrico and ska band The Full Pledge Munkees to rising names like Sobs and Kribo Brothers.

Where: Theatre Stage (Esplanade Theatre), Arena (Esplanade Outdoor Theatre), Esplanade Annexe Studio, 1 Esplanade Drive; and online
When: Nov 4 to 7, various times; online performances are available until Nov 30, 11.59pm
Admission: Free, but registration is required to watch at the venue; the shows are free to watch online
Info: Baybeat's website

Local band The Steve McQueens, known to defy easy categorisation, are launching their fifth album, The Observer, with two live gigs on Thursday and Friday (Oct 28 and Oct 29).

The new songs are said to be influenced by genres such as 1960s Motown, alternative R&B, chill-pop and nu-soul, and were played live during their tour of Singapore, Japan and Indonesia last year.

The album includes singles released in recent months - Mila Ascending, Eye and Beginning.

Formed in 2013, the quartet - comprising singer Eugenia Yip, keyboardist Joshua Wan, bassist Jase Sng and drummer Anson Koh - made their name with gigs here as well as tours in countries such as Australia.

Where: Esplanade Recital Studio, 1 Esplanade Drive
When: Oct 28 and 29, 7.30pm
Admission: $30 from Sistic's website or call 6348-5555

The newest concert by Jazz Association (Singapore) is an ode to the late French composer, arranger, conductor and pianist Michel Legrand.

Musicians from the Jazz Association Singapore Orchestra (Jasso) will perform on stage and be joined virtually by French musicians, trumpeter Nicolas Folmer and saxophonist Sylvain Beuf. Singers from the home-grown jazz scene, Richard Jackson and Maya Raisha, will also perform live.

The concert is organised in association with the 2021 Voilah! France Singapore Festival.

Where: Capitol Theatre, 17 Stamford Road
When: Nov 5, 8pm
Admission: $48 and $68 for live concert, $15 for live stream from Sistic's website