Baybeats 2020

“A festival by the community, for the community.” This is the motto that the Baybeats team has held dear since the indie music festival’s inception 19 years ago. The first online edition of the festival was held in August 2020, and now Baybeats returns to Esplanade – Theatres on the Bay for an unprecedented second time this year, from 6 – 8 Nov 2020.

At a time when there are still limits to physical gatherings, the team has put together a line-up of digital programmes to satiate the hunger for Singapore indie music. We also plan to welcome back small groups of live audiences at the centre for selected performances in line with the government’s regulations.

For the very first time, the festival will be moving into Esplanade’s crown jewel, our Concert Hall, and the magnificent Esplanade Theatre. From the Concert Hall, we will be livestreaming performances by our six Baybeats Budding Bands, who will make their debut at the festival after two months of mentorship. And against the dramatic backdrop of the Theatre’s auditorium, bands including dream pop starlets Subsonic Eye, theatrical metal band Cockpit, electronic pop sextet Riot !n Magenta and punk metal veterans Opposition Party will be livestreaming their performances.

At the Esplanade Annexe Studio, we will create a special two-way livestreamed experience. Audiences will be able to be part of an experience that comes the closest to a live gig. Heavyweights such as indie rock band Astreal, all-star group Hanging Up The Moon and hip hop stars THELIONCITYBOY feat. Amthakid and ABANGSAPAU will be performing in two-way livestreamed sets with live audiences projected on screens around the performers.

Finally, through our Baybeats Budding initiative, we are excited to continue to welcome more of our homegrown talent—not only in music-making but also in other creative fields like music journalism, gig photography and video arts—into the Baybeats family.

With so much to look forward to, this November’s edition may turn out to be the most exciting and special thus far! So, grab your gear, roll up your cuffs, gather your troops and rock on(line) and onsite at Baybeats!