International dance music party Sensation is coming to Singapore for the first time this year, with an outdoor set-up at Changi Exhibition Centre on Sept 1.
It will be an all-white themed affair centring on a new concept show called Rise, that will make its debut on the South American leg of Sensation shows this year. It will feature house, trance and electronic dance music.
Tickets will go on sale in the coming months, according to Dutch entertainment group ID&T and IME, a Singapore-based concert promoter. Pre-registration for tickets will open via sensationsingapore.com in March. Prices have yet to be announced.
Sensation, which originated in Amsterdam in 2000, typically transforms indoor spaces into large-scale nightclubs, combining Cirque du Soleil-style spectacle with dance music pumping through the venue as top-billed DJs take the stage.
It has travelled the world to more than 40 cities, from London to Hyderabad. This year alone, there are already 15 confirmed shows across Europe, South America and Asia, including in Bangkok and Jakarta.
Headline acts for Singapore have yet to be announced, but ID&T general manager Eric Keijer, 46, promises "top 10 DJs" in the line-up. "There will be pyrotechnics, special effects and even water fountains integrated into the stage," he adds.
He says that he first looked into Singapore as a potential venue for Sensation about six years ago, but he was waiting to find the right venue and partner.
The venue of Changi Exhibition Centre has proven to be logistically challenging to get in and out of in the past, as it is accessible only by Aviation Park Road, a narrow two-way road.
The 30ha site has held large-scale events such as Metallica's concert in 2013 and Guns N' Roses' concert last year. It also hosts the biennial Singapore Airshow.
"We are, of course, looking to improve that, especially the traffic challenges," says Mr Keijer, who hopes Sensation Singapore will attract 15,000 to 20,000 revellers.
He is also confident it will stand out against the other large-scale dance music events held in Singapore annually, such as ZoukOut and Ultra Singapore.
Unlike the other music festivals which have multiple stages, Sensation will have one massive centrepiece stage. A large part of the draw for those festivals is also the line-up of DJs who are playing.
"Our event is not only about the DJs, it's about the total nightlife experience with DJs, F&B services and VIP tables," he adds.
Among the performers will be Sensation's resident DJ Mr White, who sports a painted white face. Mr White was also present at the launch event at Chijmes on Monday and played an hour-long set.
