Poparazzi

HEY guys,

Sorry for this late post, but since it’s Australia Day, I’ve stopped mourning the fact that The Killers didn’t perform here. And anyway, there’s more news on the concert front that hopefully will perk you guys up, with new concerts being added to the calendar…!

Firstly, local peacebuilding social enterprise Café Diplo is organising an emergency charity concert to raise funds towards humanitarian relief efforts in earthquake-stricken Haiti. Called Haiti Haiti, it’ll feature musicians Babes Conde, Robert Fernando, Cat Ong, Tiffanie Widjaja, Inch Chua and Jon Chong and Syltra Lee.

Inch Chua (above) and Robert Fernando (below)  will perform at Haiti Haiti

It happens this Sat (Jan 30), 8pm at City Square Mall (Main Atrium, Level 1). It’s free, but donations will be accepted, cash or cheque (make them to“World Vision International”, indicating “Haiti Earthquake Relief Fund” at the back) at Main Atrium at City Square Mall.

Alternatively, you can mail cheques to: Haiti Haiti Concert c/o Ms. Mandy Loh, World Vision International, 750B Chai Chee Road, #03-02, Technopark @ Chai Chee, Singapore 469002. Every dollar raised through corporate and public donors will go towards World Vision’s Haiti Earthquake Relief Fund. For more enquiries,you can email: stopstart@cafediplo.org.

And if you head on to *SCAPE along Orchard Boulevard over the weekend, you’ll get to hear some of Singapore’s offerings in the world of Chinese pop. Called the *SCAPE Chinese Confessions / Sounds Like Saturday, this concert series will carry on for 10 more weekends. Plus it’s free. This Sat (Jan 30) will see artistes from The Ark’s (Mu Chuan) performing stable, including Jia Min (the 17-ear-old runner-up of Campus Superstar) and other performers. 8pm.

Then, there’s singer-songwriter Alarice Thio (above), who’s in town to launch her new mini-album, Sunday Afternoon. But if you couldn’t get tickets to her gig at the Esplanade on Jan 28, don’t worry, because she’s doing a gig on – wait for it – Sunday afternoon (yes, Jan 31), at Oosh, 22 Dempsey Road at 3pm. Tickets are $15 prepaid ($20 at the door) and includes a bag of Alarice’s favourites! You can order them here: www.alaricemusic.com/component/ticketmaster/event/2-31-jan-2010-at-oosh.html

Powerhouse singer Mathilda D’Silva will be holding a gig on Jan 29 at the Esplanade Recital Studio, 9.30pm for their Late Nite Series, belting out her brand of R&B, et al. As with most of Mathilda’s shows, a splendid time is guaranteed for all. And if you’re nice, she might even sing Led Zep for you. Tickets at $25 from Sistic and Esplanade box office.

Also, that Brit rock trio Placebo will be in town! Yes, the guys who gave your Every Me Every You, etc, will rock the town on Mar 18 at Fort Canning. Tickets at $98 ($110 at the door), but if you have a Big Night Out or Paramore ticket, you get $10 off! Available from Sistic.

Then, there’s Kris Allen, current American Idol winner, who’s set to do a show at Zirca on Feb 10.Tickets at $99 from Tickets.com.

Speaking of talent competition winners, Yoga Lin (above) will be in town on Feb 4 as part of the Henessy Artistry series. The 60-minute showcase at Dragonfly starts 9.30pm. How to get in? From now till Jan 31, every purchase of one bottle of Hennessy V.S.O.P 70cl at Dragonfly, Mono or Shanghai Dolly will entitle you  to one ticket (inclusive of two complimentary Hennessy V.S.O.P drinks till 11pm.)

Those who want a bit more culture can attend the Rhapsodies Of Spring concert, a Mandarin pop classics concert with the Singapore Chinese Orchestra, and vocal performances by DJs from the Yes 93.3FM. We’re not kidding. This is in conjunction with the radio station’s 20th anniversary. Jan 29 and 30 at the Singapore Chinese Orchestra Concert Hall at Shenton Way. Tickets are priced at $25, $35, $55, $75 and $95 from Sistic.

Last but not least – and I know Michelle Chong will get excited about this – the most soft-spoken man in Chinese pop, Jam Hsiao, (above) will be in town to present his Mr Rock World Tour 2010. He be singing his hits and as well as classics in English, Hokkien, Japanese and even Cantonese, as well as songs from the likes of Jolin Tsai, Cyndi Wang and the Wonder Girls. ‘I’m not making this up.  Mar 13 at the Singapore Indoor Stadium. Tickets at $148, $128, $98, $68 from Sistic.

Tags: Alarice Thio, Australia Day, Babes Conde, Haiti, Inch Chua, Jam Hsiao, Katya Grineva, Kris Allen, Mathilda D'Silva, Michelle Chong, Placebo, Robert Fernando, Singapore Chinese Orchestra, The Ark, The Killers, Yoga Lin

YES, we’re still reeling from the fact that The Killers cancelled their concert at the last minute, but the band has a good reason.

Here is the updated statement they released to “add some clarification on the matter”. And we quote:

“It is with great regret that The Killers have been forced to cancel their upcoming appearances in Singapore, Beijing, Hong Kong, Manila, Tokyo and Seoul due to unforeseen circumstances involving a serious illness of a close family member.

The band deeply apologises to their fans and hopes to reschedule their shows in these cities soon.  We hope you understand and respect our privacy at this difficult time. At this time, the band’s Australian appearances remain scheduled as planned. ”

More info on the band’s website: http://www.thekillersmusic.com/

Tags: cancelled, concert, The Killers

YES, you read right!

Organisers Live Nation have issued the following with regards to The Killers’ concert that was to have happened this Sunday.

“It is with great regret that The Killers have been forced to cancel their upcoming appearances in Singapore, Beijing, Hong Kong, Manila, Tokyo and Seoul due to unforeseen circumstances.

The band deeply apologizes to their fans and hopes to reschedule their shows in these cities soon. In the meantime full refunds will be available from Sistic via point of purchase.

Refunds will be administered at the Sistic box office from Jan 27 to Feb 7. The refund hours are Tuesday to Saturday, noon to 8pm and Sunday 1pm to 7pm. Refunds will be made in full, inclusive of the $3 Sistic booking fees, through the original mode of payment.

For purchases made through credit card, refunds will be automatically credited to the same card.

For purchases made through cash or Nets, please present the physical tickets and your NRIC/passport/FIN card at the Sistic box office at Singapore Indoor Stadium. Sistic reserves the right not to process your refund if these two items are not in order.

If you had purchased tickets from Sistic’s overseas Authorised Agents, please contact them directly for further details. For more information, call the Sistic hotline at (65) 6348 5555.”

YES, everyone – including the poor organisers – is shocked by this news. WHY, you may ask? What happened? An accident? Some internal friction going on? Something untoward happening? We’re all asking the same question.

So far calls to Brandon Flowers and gang have left us none the wiser. (Mostly because we don’t actually have Brendan Flowers’ phone number, nor their manager’s number even, nor any number that might even be closely associated with The Killers…)

Hopefully all will be revealed in the coming days…

Till then, watch this space. We’ll let you know once we know…

Tags: cancelled, concert, Singapore, The Killers

HELLO, fellow Poparazziacs!

It’s a sunny morning here in Dubai, and I was doing usual morning routine – ablutions, email, breakfast (not always in that order) - when I saw this email that said The Killers will be in town! That’s in Singapore, and not Dubai, of course.

Yes, Live Nation is bringing in the guys who brought you Mr Brightside, Human, etc, etc, etc…

Listen to the Killers on their MySpace page

When? Jan 24, 2010.

Where? Singapore Indoor Stadium – like really, you were expecting somewhere else?

“We have been overwhelmed by the numerous requests by both the media and fans to bring The Killers in ever since they first came out and we are glad to be able to pull this one off for all The Killers fans,” said Luke Hede, Live Nation’s veep of international promotions – Asia.

Yay, Luke!

This is the first time that The Killers will be in Singapore, so let’s give them a rousing Singapore welcome! (Gee, don’t I sound like some National Day pep?)

Tickets from $128 to $168 go on sale Nov 23 at Sistic outlets.

Tags: Abang of the Airwaves, concert, Dubai, Live Nation, Luke Hede, Singapore, Singapore Indoor Stadium, Sistic, The Killers