Baybeats Returns With 4 Days of Music Featuring Local Acts Electrico, Keyana, and BGourd

Since the festival’s inception 20 years ago, Baybeats has constantly been seeking fresh ways to showcase alternative and indie music, and though the pandemic has made it a little challenging to plan, the annual festival is slated to happen this year from 4 to 7 November 2021.
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To celebrate their milestone (20th anniversary!) this year, Baybeats will span across four days, as compared to the typical three days, in a hybrid format with a line-up of musicians that are set to perform live to audiences at Esplanade venues, as well as via livestream for audiences at home.

Admission is free by registration, which you can sign up for via a link that will be released in mid-Oct.

Here’s a closer look at the Baybeats 2021 line-up.

THE ESPLANADE THEATRE STAGE

Electrico. (Image courtesy of Martin Yeoh & Don Yeo)

The Esplanade Theatre stage will be home to some of the most iconic local bands who have performed in past editions. Audiences at the theatre will get to witness bands such as the loud and thumping Amateur Takes Control, the ever eclectic Tiramisu, pop-rock gods Electrico, dream-pop quintet Pleasantry, hardcore legends Caracal, and lion city ska punkers The Full Pledge Munkees, live and via livestream!

THE ESPLANADE ANNEXE STUDIO

Keyana (in collaboration with Secret Signals), and sl_owtalk (in collaboration with Atmos).

In an effort to breathe life back to the vibrant underground music scene that has suffered due to the pandemic, the Esplanade Annexe Studio will be transformed into a collaborative space for indie organisers, labels, and presenters to kickstart a new phase of engagement with the local music community.

This year’s festival will feature collaborations with four partners — Atmos, Big Duck, Middle Class Cigars, and Secret Signals — who will each bring their distinctive style to the presentations at Baybeats 2021. The performance line-up includes Don Aaron, Keyana, Kribo Brothers, sl_owtalk, and Sobs.

ON LIVESTREAM

Just like with the previous editions, Baybeats 2021 will continue to cast a spotlight on younger bands who are making a name for themselves in the music scene. The line-up includes the groovy Astronauts, alternative-rock band Cadence, post-metal outfit Summations, and hip hop’s new poster boy BGourd. All these performances will be broadcast via livestream alongside the latest batch of Budding Bands fresh from the Baybeats Budding programmes.
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To commemorate this special year, Baybeats will also be releasing a four-part episodic series titled Add to Playlist for view on Esplanade Offstage, which takes a deep dive into the scene and festival, exploring themes relevant to alternative music including subcultures, inclusivity, nostalgia, and finding a voice.