Singapore Free Concerts: 5 free concert venues for you to Discover
One thing about Singaporeans is that we love freebies with a passion despite having to stand for hours. Being cheapos in nature, we would rather not spend money unless we really have to. And when it comes to enjoying music, if it’s free, it’s worth it. Fortunately, there are many free concert venues in Singapore are waiting to be discovered. Here is a Singapore free concerts guide for you to plan your next budget hang out or date.
Botanic Gardens for Nature Lovers
Image credits: Ethan Chan on Unsplash
Honored as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Botanic Gardens is one of Singapore’s pride and joy. Visitors can find a variety of historical buildings and plantings within the beautiful tropical garden. Since 1875, the Botanic Gardens have become an important center for scientific research and plant conservation in Singapore.
Imagine sitting on a picnic mat, indulging in red wine while having constant live music playing in the background. Head over to the Shaw Foundation Symphony Stage to enjoy their regular Singapore free concerts! Usually held on Sundays or public holidays, it is a perfect opportunity for a date. The stage blends in beautifully with its surroundings as a lake and majestic trees envelop it. As the location is outdoors, visitors should take their own precautions with the elements.
Other than concerts, Botanic Gardens has movie screenings, workshops, ticketed tours, and exhibitions for you to indulge in.
For more Singapore free concerts at Botanic Gardens, check out their website here.
Address: 1 Cluny Rd, Singapore 259569
Esplanade for the Artsy Fartsy Music Lovers
Image credits: Esplanade
Shaped as our beloved durian, the iconic Esplanade is the king of performing arts venues in Singapore. This iconic building hosts paid and free concerts within Singapore, making it a hub for music lovers and performers alike. Welcoming all sorts of genres, visitors can expect to come across a wide range of music from classical to rock music. Here in Esplanade, you can come across many rising Singaporean artists who are raring to take on the world!
If you like orchestras, wind bands, and music ensembles, Esplanade has its very own “Beautiful Sunday” that’s held once every Sunday. Held in the Concert Hall, it’s the perfect place for a date or a gathering with your like-minded music-lover friends. (Due to upgrading works, Beautiful Sunday will be temporarily stopped from September 2024 to March 2025. To make up for it, there will be two performances monthly at 2pm and 5pm until September 2024.)
For a more outdoorsy space for performances, there’s the Esplanade’s Outdoor Theatres that’s situated along the waterfront of Marina Bay. With a backdrop of Singapore’s city skyline, enjoying music will definitely be an elevated experience. There may also be occasional performances hosted inside the building near the concert hall for aircon lovers.
For more Singapore free concerts at Esplanade, check out their website here.
Address: 1 Esplanade Drive Singapore 038981
Yong Siew Toh Conservatory of Music for the Classical Enthusiasts
Image credits: National University of Singapore
If you like classical music, you’ll have to check out Yong Siew Toh Conservatory of Music. Hidden within Singapore’s most prestigious University, the National University of Singapore (NUS), Yong Siew Toh Conservatory of Music is the country’s first music school. They are known for educating and churning out talented musicians, sound engineers, and composers. Unbeknownst to many, the institute holds over 200 ticketed and free concerts yearly to showcase talents. Held mostly at the Conservatory Concert Hall or Conservatory Orchestra Hall, audiences are admitted on a first-come-first-serve basis. So it’s better to head there earlier for a seat.
For more Singapore free concerts at Yong Siew Toh Conservatory of Music, check on their website here.
Address: 3 Conservatory Dr, Singapore 117376
Victoria Theatre and Concert Hall for an Eargasm
Image credits: Victoria Theatre and Concert Hall
Situated along Empress Place, the neoclassical style building is a popular venue for world class performances and melodic masterpieces. Known as the oldest concert hall in Singapore and the home to Singapore Symphony Orchestra (SSO), Victoria Theatre and Concert Hall is often praised as one of Singapore's best concert halls. Most concerts within the venue are ticketed but there are occasional free concerts littered throughout the year.
Singapore Symphony Orchestra has an occasional free 1 hour lunchtime concert to spice up your lunch break. Operating on a first-come-first-served basis, the audience will have to collect a ticket at the ground floor atrium before proceeding. Unfortunately for families, Victoria Theatre and Concert Hall does not allow children under the age of 7.
Audiences can also experience ticketed stage plays, art tours, comedy shows, and more! For more Singapore free concerts at Victoria Theatre and Concert Hall, check on their website here.
Address: 11 Empress Pl, #01-02, Singapore 179558
Raffles Hotel Singapore for a Trip to the Past
Image credits: Singapore Symphony Orchestra
This 5-star hotel would be the last place where you’d think to have free concerts. Held quarterly by the Singapore Symphony Orchestra, you can enjoy uplifting music from world-class musical performance with their concert, “Magic Hour”. There are even refreshments such as light bites and drinks for your purchase in case you’re feeling peckish or thirsty. As the event space is held outdoors, remember to bring a picnic mat to sit on the floor comfortably!
For more Singapore free concerts at Raffles Hotel Singapore, check on their website here.
Address: 1 Beach Rd, Singapore 189673
This marks the end of our Singapore free concert guide, we hope that this has been helpful! For more free live music venues, check our article on 10 free live music venues in Singapore. If you are a musician, you might want to check out our article, 10 Singapore Recording Studios Every Musician Needs to Know for a guide to recording studios in Singapore. Anadigi Sound Lab is a Singapore recording studio that provides top-quality professional mixing and mastering services for your project. We intend to support the local music scene with great articles that you’ll keep coming back for more.
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