Singapore River Festival

Whether it’s in honour of the F1 night race or the fact that the Singapore River is no longer a glorified sewer, Singapore will hold its first-ever River Festival this month. There will be DJs and sets by local bands, plus magic acts and dance performances – all an entertaining sideshow to the main event. Here are four highlights:

CQ River Party at Clarke Quay
In the week before the race, the floating Riverstage will host live bands and DJs – such as Quasimode (Japan) and Wicked Aura Batucada (Singapore) – bobbing to their own beats. During F1 race weekend there are even more DJ sets and live performances, plus televised broadcasts of the track action will occupy the Atrium.
Various times/dates, go to www.clarkequay.com.sg for more details.
MRT: Clarke Quay.

The Impossible Journey
Singaporean illusionists JC Sum and ‘Magic Babe’ Ning will transport, Star Trek-style, three Central shoppers plucked from the mall across the river. The trip is expected to take just three seconds. Sure beats walking.
24 Sep; 7pm.
River promenade in front of Central at Clarke Quay (6532 9922, www.thecentral.com.sg).
MRT: Clarke Quay.

Legenda Singapura
Boat Quay may now be a jungle of touts, but at one time it was Singapore’s wilds, where Sri Tri Buana first planted the seeds of modern-day Singapore. ‘Legenda Singapura’, put on by Singapore River Cruises, will re-enact our early history through a dance drama at Boat Quay. Afterwards, the performance – with music, dance and puppetry – will continue down-river aboard a royal regatta, entertaining diners as it makes its way to Clarke Quay.
19-21, 26-28 Sep; dance drama starts at 8pm.
UOB Promenade at Boat Quay. MRT: Raffles Place.

Timbre MusicFest
Artists Jive Talking, Jack and Rai of EIC, Reverie, and The Goodfellas will perform on a stage built along the river’s edge. Tony Goh of the Tony, Terry & Spencer Trio goes old-school with a retrospective of Singapore music from the ’60s to the ’80s.
19-28 Sep; 7.30pm. See live preview.