If you are wondering why Baybeats is a staple event for music lovers every year, all you have to do is talk to anyone who was at its latest edition.

On the final weekend of October (28 to 30 October), the long-running free festival returned in full force for a spectacular 21st iteration, during which it reinforced its status as a haven for alternative music. 

Held at Singapore's Esplanade — Theatres on the Bay, Baybeats 2022 not only showcased talents from the Lion City, but also hosted exciting regional names from across a dizzying array of musical styles.

This year, there was also a palpable sense of relief as both festival-goers and artists were able to freely celebrate their shared love for music in the absence of COVID-19 restrictions, which resulted in scaled-down affairs in 2020 and 2021. 

As the sounds of musical instruments, cheers, singing, and laughter brought The Esplanade to life over three days, it was clear that the much-missed normalcy of the pre-pandemic days had finally returned, and all that was left to do was bask in the joyous atmosphere. 

If you were unable to experience the event or are currently suffering from post-festival depression and want to relive it, here is a recap of what made Baybeats 2022 so memorable.

ONE VENUE, MULTIPLE EXPERIENCES

Credit: Esplanade — Theatres on the Bay

Although there was only one host venue for Baybeats 2022, there were a number of different ways for festival-goers to experience the weekend's live music. With stages of varying designs and characters, The Esplanade was more than equipped to cater to all manner of performances. 

Guests wanting to catch a respite after attending high-octane shows could head over to the Chillout Stage (Esplanade Concourse) to do as its name suggests — chill out. The cosy indoor area was where the likes of Khana Bierbood, The F16s, and Trust The Chaos played soothing stripped-down sets in front of audiences made up of families with young children, couples, as well as a number of curious passers-by.

Credit: Alvin Ho

Located just a short walk away was the Arena (Esplanade Outdoor Theatre), a stage that should be familiar to regular guests of The Esplanade. With the beautiful Singapore River and the soaring skyscrapers of the financial district in its backdrop, the Arena was a constantly packed performance space that hosted acts such as Quite Quiet, Bakers in Space, and Aggressive Raisin Cat.

Credit: Esplanade — Theatres on the Bay

Meanwhile, the Powerhouse² (Singtel Waterfront Theatre) was a hit among those who had shown up for the festival with the intention of moshing. Housing a standing pen that was large enough for rock and metal fans to let jump, dance, and just let loose during displays by Force Vomit, Naedr, Rudra, .Feast, and more, the recently opened performance space had a Baybeats debut that will be talked about for months to come.

Credit: Danial Halim

For those who wanted to have initimate encounters with artists such as Hathaw9y, FERS, and Go Go Machine Orchestra, the Annexe (Esplanade Annexe Studio) was the place to be. Resembling the interior of a small warehouse, it was an area that made it easy for audiences to be completely sucked into the performances that were taking place just a few metres away. 

Credit: Esplanade — Theatres on the Bay

Finally, guests also had the option of having a calming picnic on the Esplanade Lawn, also known as the Open Stage, while enjoying 15-minute acoustic sets from Singaporean acts such as LAYYI, Benny's, and Shazza. 

A STELLAR SELECTION OF ARTISTS

Credit: Esplanade — Theatres on the Bay

Baybeats has a proven track record when it comes to programme curation and the festival certainly did not disappoint this year. With so many high-quality acts on its lineup, you could walk into any show with the assurance that you would be in for a good time. 

On the first day of the festival, the biggest highlights were the riotous sets of death metal outfit Purbawara and heavy metal act Burgerkill. Filled with dark, guttural vocals, the former's performance was one that got everyone in the crowd moving. After dividing the crowd into two to form a "wall of death", the Malaysian band unleashed chaos in Powerhouse² in the form of running and bouncing festival-goers.

Credit: Alvin Ho

Taking the stage at 11:55 PM, Burgerkill had the honour of rounding off Day 1. Chock-full of blazing guitar riffs, the Indonesian quartet's performance was a sonic feast for metalheads and a perfect way for tired guests to recharge after a long evening of hopping between shows.

Credit: Cliff Yeo

Day 2 of Baybeats 2022 built on the opening day's momentum with an eclectic mix of performances. Representing South Korea, punk trio Drinking Boys and Girls Choir (DBGC) delivered a slew of rebellious numbers in a cathartic set that gave the crowd no time to catch its breath. A delight to both the eyes and ears, the Daegu-based outfit's infectious performance was the perfect remedy for anyone who needed to unwind after a stressful or tiring week.

Credit: Alvin Ho

Later that evening, Japanese shoegaze band For Tracy Hyde combined the sweet vocals of lead vocalist eureka and the dreamy sounds of distorted electric guitars to create a realm that the crowd at the Arena could temporarily retreat to. During their set, the band also brought Cosmic Child's Zhang Bo on stage as a guest guitarist, a move that drew loud cheers from the audience.

Credit: Cliff Yeo

Even more exciting acts awaited music lovers on Baybeats 2022's final day, and one of them was Kyoto-based punk rock quartet Otoboke Beaver. Fresh off playing shows across North America as part of their SUPER CHAMPON 2022 Tour, the all-female band displayed no signs of fatigue as they sent wave after wave of energy through a packed-out Powerhouse². Punctuating their rip-roaring set with the declaration "We are Otoboke Beaver!", they made it clear that they wanted festival-goers to be unable to forget them.

Credit: Cliff Yeo

Filipino instrumental rock band tide/edit's show was one that many were looking forward to, so it was really unfortunate that it had to be called off after a few minutes due to inclement weather. But during their abbreviated set, the quartet held the attention of everyone in attendance as they spread their "happy" brand of music. It was a performance that was so charming that the crowd collectively groaned in disappointment when the emcee announced the show's cancellation. tide/edit's music clearly spoke to many, and it is safe to assume that the band's new followers will be eagerly awaiting their return.

 

 

 

 

 

View this post on Instagram

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A post shared by tide/edit (@tideeditmusic)

A JOYFUL GATHERING OF MUSIC LOVERS

Credit: Cliff Yeo

While some chose to quietly absorb the music they were hearing with their eyes transfixed on the festival's performers, others chose to show their love for their favourite acts through singing, headbanging, and even crowd surfing. 

The beauty of Baybeats 2022 was that no matter how you decided to support the artists on the various stages, you did not have to worry about being judged. After all, everyone was there with only one intention — to have fun. 

Credit: Cliff Yeo

And the positive energy from festival-goers certainly did not go unnoticed by those who were on stage. Wearing smiles on their faces, the weekend's acts responded by delivering performances that oozed with confidence.

MERCH, MEET-AND-GREETS, AND MORE MERCH

Credit: Bandwagon

Aside from hosting musical performances, Baybeats 2022 was also a paradise for merchandise collectors. Found near the various performance stages, merchandise booths gave guests an assortment of eye-catching items to choose from, including (but not limited to) T-shirts, vinyls, albums, stickers, and tote bags. Not unlike souvenirs, these items were tangible things that festival-goers could remember the event as well as their favourite musicians by. 

Credit: Bandwagon

After the shows at Baybeats 2022, attendees also rushed to have a quick chat with the acts they had just seen and take photographs with them. One-on-one interactions between musicians and fans are a luxury at most festivals and concerts these days, but it is nice to know that after so many years, Baybeats is still a place where music creators and music lovers can gather, enjoy little moments together, and strengthen their bonds.

Credit: Bandwagon