Sultangate Music Festival Encore 2018

An annual performance, a unique celebration, an encore to be remembered for a lifetime. Held as part of Park(Ing) Day 2018, Sultangate Music Festival Encore was situated at the end of Arab Street. There, various delectable dishes from neighbouring food establishment and rising start-ups tickled my nose repeatedly with their mouth-watering entrée. Refusing to give in to gluttony, I wandered off to the other side of the street.

At the opposite end, there are various activities from Balloons of Happy-Ness designed by One Bite Design Studio to #BeKindSendLove by Be Kind SG. Partaking in activities like miniature golf to sending a handmade card to your loved ones, was such an inquisitive and joyous experience. They not only made me feel like a kid again but they presented how one can recycle creatively in their creation. In conjunction with these works of art, So Gelam Market had plenty of goods to offer in the middle of the vibrant event.

I trotted back to the encore area where I was just in time to catch Merissa and her ukulele. As a fellow beginner ukulele player, watching her strum and pluck the strings without mistakes got me inspired. Additionally, it was aspiring to hear her vocals burst through the sound system, depicting her story.

For a brief moment, the audience and the singer became one. Her vocals open the eyes of the audiences, allowing them to have a sneak peek of her life. To wander through her soul and her mind.

As dark shadows were cast onto the restless avenue, a melodious tune of VEDA9 serenading the multi-cultural audience could be heard even from the other end of the Arab street.

The audience swayed in tune with the music while we indulged in its soulful music.

The crowd grew larger as Ikhwanul Muntaqa presented Qasidah as part of the Neighbourhood Sketches segment.

Although the performers were chanting in an unfamiliar language, I enjoyed it for I was too mesmerised by their charisma on stage.

The sensation that they gave us was not only a strong, powerful blow but a great pick-me-up for the last two performances – The Lost Hats & VEDA9.

As the night draws to an end, so did the curtains for this year’s encore. An encore that keeps your addiction at bay, as it did to mine.

Written by : Shi Hui