(L-R) VJ Utt, Michael Chugg, Danny Rogers and VJ Holly (Photo: Jonathan Fong)

Text: Lennat Mak

Indie kids, here’s a music festival that will truly make you go ga-ga for – Australia’s St. Jerome’s Laneway Festival is set to hit Singapore shores come January 29, 2011 at Fort Canning Park!

Earlier this year, Chugg Entertainment gave Singapore a teaser of the Laneway Festival by bringing in Florence & The Machine, The xx and Echo and the Bunnymen. Boosted by the immense reception, Michael Chugg (chairman of Chugg Entertainment) together with Danny Rogers (co-founder and promoter of Laneway Festival) decided to stage a full-blown festival debut with an outstanding lineup featuring some of the latest indie acts that are currently on various critics’ hotlists.

“We tested the waters with two shows – Florence & The Machine with The xx and Echo and the Bunnymen. Danny and I believe for a while that there’s an audience in Singapore for cutting edge rock ‘n’ roll music. We proved that with Florence’s sold out show and I’m very proud that we are able to bring Laneway to Singapore next year,” says Michael Chugg at the Laneway Festival press conference held yesterday (November 16, 2010) at the New Asia Bar at Swissotel Stamford.

The inaugural Laneway Festival features a stellar lineup of !!! (Chk Chk Chk), Beach House, Deerhunter, Foals, Holy Fuck, Ladyhawke, Warpaint and Yeasayer and is scheduled to run for one day starting from 2pm on January 29, 2011.

“We spoke to some locals and we handpicked a bunch of bands that we felt that will really suit the market here,” explains Danny Rogers. “We are really focused on giving the punters a good experience. We are not going to put on bands because they are going to sell a lot of tickets (but obviously we hope they do). We are putting on bands that we really love. Laneway Festival is for music lovers and for people who seek out music.”

The Temper Trap (Photo: Jonathan Fong)

Australia’s home pride, The Temper Trap, who made a special appearance at the press conference, will also be on the bill for the Singapore leg of the festival only.

Says Dougy Mandagi, lead vocalist and guitarist of the Temper Trap after their intimate four-song acoustic set with the songs “Fader,” “Sweet Disposition,” “Love Lost” and “Science of Fear, “I’ll see you soon for the real show where we will turn the amp up to 11!”

VJ Utt and Holly with The Temper Trap (Photo: Jonathan Fong)

Event details as follows:

Laneway Festival Singapore
Date: January 29, 2011
Venue: Fort Canning Park

Tickets:
Early Bird Ticket Price: $99.50 + $3 SISTIC booking fee
Ticket Price: $109.50 + $3 SISTIC booking fee

Tickets go on sale on Friday, November 19, 2010 at through SISTIC. For more information, log on to http://singapore.lanewayfestival.com.au.

MTV is the official music channel for Laneway Festival Singapore.

Want to find out more about the acts playing Laneway Festival? Here are some videos for you to check out!