The rooms in Singapore
Esplanade Theatres on the Bay
Twin spiked-glass domes on Marina Bay, opened 2002. Russell Johnson / Artec acoustics in the 1,600-seat Concert Hall. An acoustic canopy that can be lowered to tune the room.
Zouk Singapore
Asia's longest-running superclub, founded 1991. Moved to Clarke Quay in 2016. Two-room layout (Zouk Main + Phuture).
Planning a trip
Hearing music in Singapore
Esplanade suits listeners of classical, jazz and world music. The Concert Hall's acoustic canopy can be lowered to tune the room for chamber music, full orchestra or jazz. Weeknight orchestra concerts run year-round, the Mosaic Music Festival is the main annual programme in March, and there are free outdoor concerts on the waterfront most weekends, often by musicians playing inside that night. The box office is open daily from 10:00 to 21:00, and the centre closes only on public holidays.
Zouk suits house and techno fans. It opened in 1991 and moved to Clarke Quay in 2016. It has two rooms: Zouk, the main room, for the headline acts, and Phuture, the smaller room, which currently plays urban, hip hop and R&B. The main room runs a customised Gary Stewart analogue sound system. It opens on Wednesday, Friday and Saturday nights from 10pm, and is closed on Thursdays, Sundays, Mondays and Tuesdays; Friday and Saturday carry the headline programming.
Both are easy by MRT. For Esplanade, go to Esplanade station and take exit D, a two-minute walk, or walk ten minutes along the bay from Marina Bay Sands. For Zouk, go to Clarke Quay station on the North East Line; exit C is the one signed for Clarke Quay, and The Cannery is a short walk, so check a map. From Changi airport, Esplanade is 30 minutes on the Downtown line.
FAQ
Questions people ask
Are there free concerts at Esplanade Theatres on the Bay?
Yes. Free outdoor performances take place on the waterfront most weekends, often by the same musicians playing inside that night. Orchestra concerts run on weeknights year-round, and the Mosaic Music Festival is in March.
How do you get to Zouk Singapore?
Take the MRT to Clarke Quay station on the North East Line and leave by exit C, which is signed for Clarke Quay, then walk to The Cannery at 3C River Valley Road. Doors open at 10pm on Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays; the club is closed on Thursdays.
What are the two rooms at Zouk Singapore?
Zouk, the main room, holds over 1,500 and carries the headline programming on a customised Gary Stewart analogue sound system. Phuture, the second room, holds 500 and currently plays urban, hip hop and R&B.