When it comes to festivals, Hong Kong music fans are right to have a regional case of music envy. Singapore, for example, has for years attracted top international talent for its successful Womad and ZoukOut gatherings. This holiday weekend it adds another, with the arrival of one of Australia's best-loved events, the Good Vibrations Festival (GVF), which boasts the Beastie Boys leading a star-studded lineup of live and DJ acts. Organiser Donovan Wong is bringing the event to Singapore for Lunar New Year after leading a fact-finding team to last year's festival, which has become one of the highlights of Australia's summer music calendar since it began in 2004. 'The Good Vibrations Festival is known for bringing the world's freshest and most critically acclaimed music acts Down Under,' says Wong. 'It has become the consummate Australian party of the summer.' Those who've played in past years include James Brown, Moloko, Scissor Sisters, Gilles Peterson and Satoshi Tomiie. 'We were convinced Singapore was ready for a similar concept and so started working on a proposal to bring the event to Singapore,' Wong says. 'Good Vibrations Festival liked it. We're proud to be the first outside Australia to hold the event.' This year's festival offers a unique chance in Asia to see a rare stage collaboration between Beastie Boys, turntablist Mix Master Mike and keyboardist-producer Money Mark, as well as a performance by DJ and MC hip hop quintet Jurassic 5 and many other cutting-edge acts who will roll into town after the festival's tour of four Australian cities. Other acts on the bill are New York-based DJ Ursula 1000; Cut Copy, a Melbourne trio with an electro-punk sound; British electronic band Cicada; and Singapore's favourite home-grown rockers Electrico. 'Music festivals are a growing trend in Singapore and most are organised by well-known and reputable production houses,' says Wong, who knows the importance of government backing when it comes to holding any cultural or music event of this scale. 'The festival will be held as a 'uniquely Singapore' event - a tag given by the local tourism authority to events that will build on Singapore's attraction and appeal factors to tourists,' he says. 'We've received support from the Singapore Tourism Board to publicise the event in foreign markets,' says Wong. About a quarter of the 10,000 punters expected to turn out at Fort Canning Park will come from Hong Kong, Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand and Dubai. 'Getting that nod of approval from the government for the event means a lot to us, and we're striving to make the festival an even bigger success with their help.' Singapore's once straight-laced government has spent the past few years providing funds and relaxing laws to support entertainment events in a bid to turn it into the 'events capital of Asia' - a tag still coveted by Hong Kong. Wong isn't as keen to lay claim to the title, saying that every large city from Bangkok to Beijing should help develop the Asian scene. 'Ideally, each city should collectively contribute to livening up this part of the world. Each of our scenes will flow differently with the times, but in general, every city has its own identity,' he says. But he's confident that the Good Vibrations Festival will become an annual event. Good Vibrations Festival, Mon, Fort Canning Park, Singapore, S$60 (advance), S$80. Tickets available in Hong Kong from IdN Proshop, 4/F Jonsim Place, 228 Queen's Rd East, Wan Chai, tel: 2528 5744. For details, go to www.goodvibrationsfestival.com.sg
