INTERNATIONAL acts, roving artistes, all-night clubbing and sexy Coyote Ugly dancers will add to the excitement when the inaugural Formula One SingTel Singapore Grand Prix roars into town next Friday.

More than 100 performers will entertain fans at more than 10 stages around the circuit. Some 120,000 F1 fans are expected at the three-day event between Sept 26 and 28 at Marina Bay.

The stages will be located at various points on the circuit, including the Padang, Esplanade Outdoor Theatre, Singapore Flyer, Paddock Club lifestyle area and Esplanade Concourse.

Taking centre stage are international acts such as French indie rock singersongwriter Cyril Niccolai, Jamaica's reggae band The Wailers, Australia's Fab Four Beatles tribute band and Britain's Nitin Sawhney Sound System.

Some of the performances will start at 1pm and continue into the wee hours .Local nightspots will also provide latenight entertainment. Zouk dance club will set up two bars at The Padang which will open from noon.

Next Saturday, British techno and house deejay Carl Cox will be performing at Zouk's marquee from 11pm.

Alastair Hunt, Singapore GP's circuit park and events manager, said: "We want patrons to experience Singapore's dynamic nightlife by involving some of the island's best-known bars and clubs.

"The spectators can party with some of the best names in entertainment."

Nightspots such as Cafe Del Mar, Raffles Long Bar, Hard Rock Cafe, dbl-0 dance club and Balaclava will also set up bars around the circuit park.

A hawker village, operated by Food Republic, will be located at Connaught Drive. It will feature 24 hawkers serving
an array of local fare.

Restaurants including Rang Mahal,Tung Lok and Din Tai Fung will also be setting up stalls at the circuit.

The Singapore Flyer will be a party hub, with three party areas- the Greek Theatre, Yakult Rainforest Discovery Garden and Bubble Lounge.

It will see more than 30 entertainers,such as local band John Molina & Kruegerand a group of local Samba dancers, performing from 4pm to midnight on all three days.

The Bubble Lounge, located at the second level of the Singapore Flyer retail terminal,will feature a line-up of local
deejays.

Already, tickets to its three-day party are selling fast, with only 80 passes left, says a spokesman.

Each ticket priced at $688 includes a three-day Grand Prix walkabout pass, entry to Bubble Lounge, a bottle of G.H.
Mumm champagne, a ride on the Singapore Flyer and a one-way river taxi ride from Clarke Quay to the Singapore Flyer.

F1 fan Allan Khoo, 35, an events management director, is looking forward to the race next week.

He said: "The Singapore Grand Prix is definitely a must-visit event. Besides the race, there are also many fringe activities to keep me occupied throughout the three-day race."

Only race ticket-holders will get access to the entertainment venues.

PADANG (ZOUK)

Techno/house DJ Carl Cox (Britain, below)
When: Sept 27, from 11pm

ESPLANADE OUTDOOR THEATRE
Indie rock singer-songwriter
Cyril Niccolai (France)
When: Sept 26 (8.30 to 9.30pm),
Sept 27 (8pm to 8.30pm)

SINGAPORE FLYER STAGE

The Fab Four (Australia)
Beatles tribute band
When: Sept 26 (8.30pm to
9.30pm)

La Ranura Latin band (Paraguay)
When: Sept 28 (5pm to 5.30pm)

PADDOCK CLUB LIFESTYLE AREA

Jazz singer Alemay Fernandez
(Singapore)
When: Sept 26 (11pm to midnight), Sept 27
(2pm to 3pm), Sept 28 (1pm to 2pm)

Only race ticket-holders will get access to the venues. Go to www.singaporegp.sg for more information.

This article was first published in The Straits Times on Sept 19, 2008.

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