Following a rebranding, the ASEAN Music Showcase Festival returned to Singapore as the AXEAN Festival during the final weekend of the month (28 and 29 October).
Housed in the Goodman Arts Centre, the fourth iteration of Southeast Asia's first intraregional music showcase festival saw artists from across the region and beyond bring performances of varying genres and languages to music lovers in the Lion City.
In line with its organisers' goal of reaching more people, AXEAN Festival 2023, unlike previous year's events, was made free for all to experience. However, attendees who wished to aid the festival in its efforts to support ASEAN musicians had the option of doing so via donations.
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"After 3 successful editions, we want to make a statement of our commitment to elevate Southeast Asian music onto the world stage by renaming our event 'AXEAN Festival', with an 'X' symbolising our core values of collaboration and crossing borders, whether physical, lingual, or cultural, while also inviting artists and fans from all corners of the world to celebrate and share their music with us," AXEAN Festival's co-founder Piyapong ‘Py’ Muenprasertdee said of this year's event.
From a new home to performances that left an impression on us, here are four highlights of AXEAN Music Festival 2023.
A change of scenery
Its name aside, the most noticeable difference between AXEAN Festival 2023 and its inaugural in-person edition in 2022 was the place it called home.
Moving from Haw Par Villa, a famous Chinese cultural attraction, to Singapore-based arts hub Goodman Arts Centre, the event would have been unrecognisable had it not been for the banners and signboards on display. On paper, going from an 8.5-hectare theme park to a 7-acre abode for arts groups may seem like an odd choice. But if AXEAN Festival 2023 has proved anything, it is that even the unlikeliest of places can be transformed into a unique festival venue with some creativity.
With shows happening just minutes apart — and even overlapping at times — one concern that festival-goers would have had was how they were supposed to catch as many of the performing acts as possible. This was when the compact nature of Goodman Arts Centre became advantageous. Since the festival's four stages — Grass Stage, Village Stage, Tunecore Stage, and Club Art Ground — were located within proximity of each other, moving between them was a breeze.
The smaller venue also meant that there was a high chance of you bumping into artists such as Shye, ABANGSAPAU, and ena mori, who could be spotted roaming around when they were not performing.
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Located right next to a main road and opposite residential blocks, the Grass Stage was where the dreamy shoegaze and dream pop tunes of Singaporean outfit motifs, Thai band H 3 F's blend of jazz, blues, funk, and R&B sounds, and more could reach people going about their daily lives around Goodman Arts Centre. Curious onlookers could even be seen watching the former's set from a nearby overhead bridge.
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Right next to the Grass Stage was the indoor Tunecore Stage, a cozy studio-like space that hosted intimate sets from Indonesia's Tanayu and Pink Pitch, Vietnam's Thịnh Suy, Thailand's Singnoy, and more. Meanwhile, the event's other indoor space, Club Art Ground (originally an exhibition area), was where guests could lie down, sit, or stand up and dance while enjoying tunes from acts such as Vietnamese duo Limebócx, Hong Kong's XTIE, and Cambodia's Kwan.
Credit: Henzy David
There was also the Village Stage, which allowed attendees to chow down on food or enjoy some drinks from F&B stalls surrounding it while seated on steps or at picnic tables. Artists who entertained attendees at this stage included Taiwan's Robot Swing + LEO7 + Starwu, Japan's Helsinki Lambda Club, and Thailand's KIKI.
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Festival fuel
When you have a festival that spans two half-days in Singapore's sweltering heat, it is of paramount importance that you keep festival-goers well-fed and hydrated.
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Credit: Henzy David
As compared to its predecessor, AXEAN Festival 2023 came with an improved selection of F&B offerings for guests to choose from when they needed to stop and refuel. Those who wished to feast on juicy burgers and Nutella-flavoured and strawberry-flavoured doughnuts could head over to Meatsmith's booth near the Village Stage while those who had a craving for seafood could try out oysters, mussels, and lobster rolls from a booth operated by The Oyster Cart.
There were also plenty of craft beer offerings from vendors such as Lion Brewery Co, That Singapore Beer Project, and GetSome x 1925 x Alive that guests who needed to cool themselves down could select from.
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Regional heroes we rocked out with
Among AXEAN Festival 2023's acts were regional heroes, such as The Itchyworms, Masdo, and Reality Club, who drew throngs of fans to wherever they were performing.
In the early evening of the festival's first day, Filipino rock veterans turned up at the Village Stage to invigorate both fans and curious festival-goers with spirited live renditions of tracks from across their remarkable 27-year run. Whether The Itchyworms were performing their 2019 rock ballad hit 'Di Na Muli' or the upbeat 'Bugbog-Sarado' from their 2008 Self-Titled album, the combination of lead singer and drummer Jazz Nicolas' powerful vocals and the band's tight playing was an absolute delight to listen to.
Credit: Henzy David
Hailing from Malaysia, Masdo drew cheers and screams when they arrived at a packed-out Village Stage later that evening. Donning shades and suits, the band took everyone back to the past for a retro rock party. From fans' passionate singing of songs such as 'Bunga' and 'Inilah JalanNya' to the placards that they held up to show their love for the band, it was clear that Masdo needed no introduction in Singapore. And as the beloved outfit partied away with their faithful, they began to resemble a certain rock quartet from Liverpool who sent the world into a frenzy in the 1960s.
Credit: Henzy David
On the festival's second day, festival-goers waited in line excitedly ahead of Reality Club's appearance at the Grass Stage. As soon as the Indonesian alternative rockers kicked off their set (and the first leg of their 2023 Asia tour), it wasn't difficult to see why they were one of the most anticipated acts of AXEAN Festival 2023. The band displayed a knack for creating immersive experiences for their audiences, particularly during songs such as 'Anything You Want' and 'Love Epiphany'. Performed with a cinematic flair, the numbers made festival-goers the protagonists of romantic short films of their own imagination.
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Acts we won't be taking our eyes off
As regional heroes dazzled fans at AXEAN Festival 2023, numerous other artists from Southeast Asia and beyond staged performances that left indelible impressions on festival-goers.
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Bursting with energy and attitude, Filipino-Japanese singer-songwriter ena mori stole hearts during her first-ever show in Singapore. After giving a shoutout to Filipinos in attendance, she told them that she wanted to make them proud — and that was a promise that she would keep. Whether she was jumping, calling on the crowd to put their hands in the air, or shifting her facial expressions while singing, she looked fully committed to her performance, and the Lion City crowd certainly appreciated that.
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Meanwhile, singer-songwriter Vũ Thanh Vân and singer and actress Sophia Everest impressed guests with stunning vocal displays at their respective shows. An indie sweetheart from Vietnam's scene, Vân was an enchanting presence at the Village Stage, in no small part thanks to her siren-like high notes. Hailing from Myanmar, Everest displayed a knack for making quick transitions from vibratos to rapidly rapped sections.
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An artist who has risen quickly over the last few years and is still continuing to ascend, Singapore's Shye, supported by a live band, charmed the crowd with youthful deliveries of 'FLOWER', 'NEED', 'JOKE', and more. When the multi-talented act's energy proved to be too much for festival-goers to handle, a mosh pit was formed, and uninhibited dancing and jumping began — such is the effect Shye can have on you.
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Another act that gave festival-goers a performance to remember was South Korea's BULGOGIDISCO. Being huge disco lovers, the trio came ready to spread their love for the genre with AXEAN Festival 2023's crowd. From start to finish, they filled the air with funky guitar riffs and basslines and delighted everyone with their on-stage antics, which included "firing shots" from a bass guitar into the audience.
Credit: Henzy David
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