Mosaic Music Festival

The Mosaic Music Festival is an annual festival in Singapore that takes place in and around the Esplanade Theatre for ten days. Started in 2005, Mosaic began as a jazz and world music festival but has since grown to feature a wide variety of music styles. The festival is a celebration of music as art and as such is less likely to feature chart-topping pop stars. The entire Esplanade complex takes part in the festival. Not only utilising the venues within, like the concert hall and the theatre but also the surrounding area. As the Esplanade is right next to Marina Bay, it is the perfect setting for these free outdoor shows. The free shows are an important part of Mosaic. With a feeling that music should be for everyone, an outdoor stage right on the waterfront will be showcasing music that’s perfect for music lovers and passers-by alike.

Some of the 2013 Mosaic Music Festival performers include:

Acid House Kings: Bonding over a shared love of Elvis Priestly and The Smiths, Sweden’s Acid House Kings bring their unique brand of indie-pop to the Esplanade Theatre Studio.

Grimes: Hailing from Canada, the fiercely independent Grimes has grown in popularity at an astronomical pace. A true testament to DIY record making and the power of the Internet, see what all the fuss is about when Grimes brings her keyboard to the Esplanade Theatre Studio.

Wouter Hamel: Holland’s own pop sensation Wouter Hamel brings his amazing voice to Mosaic in 2013. Hamel shot to fame after winning the Dutch Jazz Vocal Competition in 2005. Since then he has released three critically acclaimed albums and has toured all over Europe. Catch him in the Esplanade Recital Studio.

mouse on the keys: Containing members from a well-known Japanese post-rock band, Tokyo’s mouse on the keys emerged playing a fusion of post-rock and jazz. Since then they have further evolved to incorporate many diverse styles of music, boiling them down to create something compelling and unique. Their highly visual live show takes place in the Esplanade Recital Studio.

Jose Stone: The 26 year old soul singer is probably the most recognised name on the Mosaic line-up. The organisers may have thrown a curveball in terms of booking a famous chart-topper, but a mere pop star, Jose Stone is not. Her incredible soulful voice has been wowing audiences since her debut album The Soul Sessions in 2003. Ten years later, she comes to Singapore to bring a lot of soul to the Esplanade Concert Hall.

Tokyo Ska Paradise Orchestra: After meeting in a record shop and becoming friends based around the love of a Gaz Mayall cassette, Tokyo Ska Paradise Orchestra was born. Now in their 25thyear, the band doesn’t just play straight up ska, despite the name. Instead they incorporate all their musical passions including surf rock, punk and jazz. With nine members, this is a musical spectacle not to be missed. Playing the Esplanade Concert Hall – as they’re unlikely to fit anywhere else!

Grizzly Bear: Although releasing their debut album in 2004, it wasn’t until the release of their second album Yellow House in 2006 that the world stood up and listened. And listen they did. Released on Warp Records, a label most famous for its forward-thinking and experimental electronic music, Yellow House took the music world by storm. Loved by critics and adored by fans, Grizzly Bear quickly became one of the most respected and sought after bands in the indie scene. Now touring album number four, Grizzly Bear perform at Mosaic in the Esplanade Concert Hall.

That is just a small snippet of the artists that are performing at this year’s festival. At ten days, there really is something for every music lover.