The best live music venues in Singapore

There's a new vinyl bar in town, and it's hidden in the basement of Mint Museum of Toys (where Mr Punch used to be). Sonic Youth and Joy Division posters flank the walls and leather and wooden accents fill the space, illuminated by mood lighting and a neon pink sign that reads "turn off your mind, relax & flow downstream."

For over a decade, Blu Jaz Café has rocked Kampong Glam's colourful shophouses with its unique blend of good vibes, visual arts, and great music. This eclectic entertainment hub is not your typical joint, hosting diverse gigs ranging from jam sessions to hip hop nights, comedy acts to poetry slams, and so much more. Enjoy the vibrant murals while chilling alfresco or head up to the second and third floor for some mind-blowing DJ live sets.

Stay updated with all the latest happenings by checking out Blu Jaz Cafe's Facebook page, where there's always something exciting going on.

Here’s a multi-concept boozer that’s full of surprises – penguins not included. Perfect for after-work drinks, Tipsy Penguin is an Asian- fusion bistro, sports bar, karaoke joint and live music venue under one roof. If that’s not enough, the menu here is just as extensive with pasta, Hawaiian poké and Mod-Sin dishes available on top of bar bites and desserts. As for the tipples, unwind with pints of draught beer, glasses of house pours and signature cocktails including the Tipsy Old Fashioned ($15) with bourbon, demerara and dried orange peel.

Welcome to the new kid on The Rail Mall block that offers craft beer on tap and has a large variety by the bottle. Its tap offerings change every week, keeping things fresh for people who want to try new beers. Protip: pop in on Tuesdays for $12 pints, all night long.

If you like live music performances (from 7pm till late), you can join the hordes of people packing this place. Practically bursting at the seams on weekends, you’ll be hard-pressed to even find a decent spot to stand in. But if you can manage the discomfort of feeling like a sardine in a can, start filling yourself up with some of the brews and you’ll be partaking in the rowdiness in no time. Sip from signature mojitos ($19) shaken with ginger or cucumber juice, or choose the daily happy hour specials which range from $7 for housepours to $45 for a beer bucket of five, all available from 5-8pm.

Housed in the 150-year-old Chinese mansion The Riverhouse, Yang Club is not just a place for sweaty club nights. The chic club venue has just launched The Preshow, a live performance series fronted by seven-piece band Gravity. Swing by from 9.30pm on Tuesdays and Thursdays to catch them thrumming out Top 40s, old-school groove, rock, alt-rock and R&B hits. This is no sedate, sit-down performance – expect the dancefloor to get heated and even some guitar crashing. Otherwise, reduce the tempo a notch at sister Yin Bar – the riverside venue runs nightly acoustic performances.  

Jazz things up at Cool Cats, the NCO Club's live entertainment lounge, which sees a rotation of resident artists gracing its stage. Lay eyes on the secretive speakeasy that exudes the enigmatic charm of the prohibition era. Plus, its cocktail menu is inspired by moments in music. There are 14 tipples available that cover everything from 1800s ragtime to legendary jazz artists Billie Holiday and Duke Ellington.

Offtrack is a relatively new hangout spot at 34 Canal Road, and we warn you – it's perpetually booked out. No wonder, because it's got excellent tunes, delicious food, great drinks and a decent interior decorator to nail the vibe. The brains behind this operation are none other than electronic music label Darker Than Wax and party collective Ice Cream Sundays, so you're guaranteed a good party time when you've got a live DJ behind the deck. You can follow Offtrack or DJ Dean Chew on Instagram for the latest updates. 

Proper steaks and eclectic live bands go hand in hand under the stars at Wheeler’s Estate. Jive from Tuesdays to Sundays (from 7.30pm to 10.30pm) with local resident bands bellowing out bilingual hits that are bound to rock the house down. There are also immensely popular monthly tribute nights dedicated to iconic bands and legendary singers such as The Eagles, The Beatles, Beyond and Jay Chou. There’s more action on the grill – we’ve got our eye on the mouth-watering signature 1.3kg Tomahawk Steak ($188), Asahi Black Beer Battered Fish & Chips ($30) and Baja Fish Tacos ($22).

When it comes to catching a live music performance, the Esplanade is a no-brainer. Make a beeline for its series of free live sets by local artists at its various venues happening daily. Soak up the stunning view of the bay at the spacious outdoor theatre or chill at the air-conditioned indoor concourse, either way, you're in for a riveting evening.

You've probably heard the nursery rhyme that goes: Jack and Jill went up the hill to catch some live music. No? Well, there's definitely a new bar up a hill in the bustling Chinatown. New nightlife hangout, Kult Yard, has called a former police barrack at 195's Pearl's Hill Terrace home. Brought to you by the brains behind Kult Kafe, it's is a brand new cool sanctuary for musicians, design studios and makers. Find a secret flight of stairs that lead you to refreshing cocktails, aptly named Kultails, that blends local flavours like gula melaka and sambal belacan.

Bring your appetite for live acoustic music to Prinsep Street where you'll find this intimate gastropub. Request for your favourite song by scanning the QR code here and submit your dedication. While the stage lights up for the band at 8pm, you can satiate your hunger with a hearty plate of mouth-watering Western grub like rib-eye steak, or the local-inspired chilli crab pizza or laksa pasta. Wash it all down with refreshing drinks including housepours that go as low as $6.

Bring your appetite tipples and tunes to Dempsey's latest addition. Besides shelving a variety of scotch and whiskeys from all around the world, the cocktail bar and listening lounge also hosts two live music nights –1819 Tuesdays and Tiara Friday Club – dedicated to all your favourite classics from swingin' jazz to classical music. On May 24, 25 and 28, indulge in its opening weekend specials featuring jazz songbird Melissa Tham, jazz veteran Alemay Fernandez, acclaimed jazz pianist Tan Wei Xiang, The Steve McQueen’s former percussionist Aaron James Lee and freelance bassist Kenji Nakano.

Showing no signs of slowing down, Le Noir opens its second doors at the Marina Bay Sands. This live music venue shines its spotlight on an array of local talents alongside signature bands, taking you from chill acoustic sets to hand-clapping singalongs from 6.15pm daily. Guests can also enjoy all-day and all-night dining menu including tantalising starters and sharing plates like crab cakes and salmon ceviche, delectable mains like steak tartare and handmade pizzas, and more, while soaking in the sweet sounds of live music.

Over at Fullerton Pavilion is this swanky Italian restaurant and bar that's pulsing with life by the bay. Jazz up your musical romantic escapade and let the restaurant’s resident jazz band carry you through the night from 7.30pm with soothing blues and funk as you dig into hearty plates of Italian dishes. The lineup changes monthly with regular appearances by jazz stalwarts Jeremy Monteiro and Stephan Francis.

If the typical bar scene isn’t your cup-of-tea, and you’d rather be somewhere with a little more class, then Astor Bar is the place for you. To complement your cocktail from the bar’s wide range of selections, soak in the captivating tunes of resident Jazz pianist-singer, Ron Sinclair, as his smooth voice replaces any worries on your mind.

Well, its name says it all. This Orchard hideout is one of the longest-standing live music venues in the city. It's not all hard rock as well. Hard Rock Café consistently rotates a variety of genres like rock and reggae to keep its line-up fresh. It also maintains strong ties with the local music scene and champions up-and-coming artists.

Try imagining one of those timeless Wild West saloons, but without the dangerous gunslingers and with good modern music instead. That's what you get at Hero’s. With its stone and brick walls decorated with longhorn skulls and saddles, this Wild West-style bar has a resident pop-and-rock band that puts on a rodeo of a time every night starting at 10pm.

One of the best music bars in the city. On the ground floor, enjoy a cold one at the distinctive yellow-lit bar and catch the game on several flat-screen TVs. The bar upstairs hosts a variety of local acts with a focus on raucous rock music – just how we like it.

Mojitos, Cubanos, Latin music – and even sweet, sweet jazz – you’ll get them all in spades at Bob’s Bar. Besides rum-based cocktails and a menu of bar bites that range from the familiar (wagyu beef sliders, anyone?) to the mildly exotic (Ensalada Serrana), the joint gets a shot of Cuban charm thanks to its live house band that takes the stage over the weekend. Oh, and an alfresco terrace means you can sip on your sundown cocktails in style.

For an authentic taste of Mexico, look no further than this taqueria. Besides serving comfort food like tacos, quesadillas, botanas and specialties from the different regions of Mexico, it also serves up live Latin tunes. Grab a margarita and dance to groovy melodies of salsa (both kinds), rumba, mambo, bolero, and cumbia, as well as the traditional sounds of a mariachi band.

Dance all night long at Cuba Libre – there's a spacious dancefloor where you can show off your moves and you won't be the only one. On different nights, the live band belts out salsa, bachata and other Latin Amercian dance numbers you can't help but groove to. The drinks are decent too, making this a must-visit bar on the Clarke Quay stretch.

If you like late-night live music performances, you can join the hordes of people packing this place. Practically bursting at the seams on weekends, you’ll be hard-pressed to even find a decent spot to stand in. But if you can manage the discomfort of feeling like a sardine in a can, start filling yourself up with some of the brews and you’ll be partaking in the rowdiness in no time.

More than just a lifestyle hub for Singapore's youths, *Scape also makes an ace spot for budding musicians to hone their skills and flex their chops. Graduates of the *Scape's music programmes include indie darling Linying and our former cover star YAØ have performed at the Orchard hotspot. 

Grab a picnic basket and head to the Singapore Botanic Gardens. The Shaw Foundation Symphony Stage hosts a myriad of free music performances, including the NParks Concert Series in the Park, Garden Sounds and Music Day Out. The Symphony Lake also makes an ace spot for an evening of classical music, acapella shows, intimate acoustics and throwback tunes. Remember to BYOB (bring your own blanket) – because grass stains are a no-no.