The mecca of local musicians, however, is Timbre. Timbre, the outdoors bar at The Substation garden, is alive when we visit it on a Tuesday evening. Singapore's king of jazz Jeremy Monteiro is checking out the venue's potential for jazz shows; Danny Loong - Timbre's co-managing director and founder of top Singapore band Ublues - is jamming with the evening's musicians Ngak and Renee; there's a lively corporate celebration at one table and lots of people chilling with what Mr Loong calls 'rock-and-roll soul food', or beer and thin-crust pizzas served on rustic wooden blocks.
Timbre, which opened about a year ago at a cost of over $200,000, is a bar devoted to supporting local musicians. 'It is our strict policy that on a regular basis we only feature rock, pop, alternate and indie musicians from Singapore. The venue is professionally managed; all musicians are paid market rates which amount to about $10,000 per month of Timbre's operating overheads. On Saturdays we have an open stage policy where prime time is given over to local indie bands.'
Local musicians at Timbre
Mr Loong reminisces: 'In terms of Singapore's arts history, this venue is important, it's where many of our local talents started out. I had one of my first gigs right here in The Substation garden many years ago.' |
Olij Studio
