SINGAPORE - While the F1 track sizzles, over 500 entertainers will perform, including at a new music festival
When the F1 race comes to town, music fans are as thrilled as motoring enthusiasts - the action on the concert stages is no less fast and furious compared to the machines zooming around the circuit.
Top acts for the 2013 Formula 1 SingTel Singapore Grand Prix from Sept 20 to 22 are R&B queen Rihanna, South Korean megastars BigBang, indie rock stalwarts The Killers and evergreen sex bomb Tom Jones.
For the first time, the concerts will spill over to Monday, Sept 23, one day after the Grand Prix, with a special show at the Padang stage featuring Canadian pop prince Justin Bieber.
The executive director of Singapore GP, Mr Michael Roche, says the organisers have pulled out all the stops in catering to fans from a wide variety of music genres, including home-grown music, represented by acts such as singer Weish and indie band The Great Spy Experiment.
He says: "Singapore GP has put together over 500 artists and entertainers for this year's event which in its totality is the most far reaching and challenging to date."
Music fans keen on catching the acts within the circuit park during the three-day races have to move fast. A spokesman says about 96 per cent of the tickets have been sold.
This year will see the debut of a new music festival taking place outside the circuit park: The two-day Singha Presents 1 World Music Festival at Marina Barrage on Sept 20 and 21.
While its massive line-up includes plenty of club-friendly acts such as electronic music veterans Moby and Orbital and British rapper Tinie Tempah, it also features live performances by singer-songwriters such as US-based Malaysian artist Yuna and Singapore Idol Sezairi Sezali.
It is organised by Reftar Entertainment and its managing director Gregory Gumo says it aims to complement the official F1 offerings. "People want to party after the race and we are 'the party'. They can watch the race and concerts, then head to 1 World Music Festival for another experience."
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melk@sph.com.sg
Book it
2013 FORMULA 1 SINGTEL SINGAPORE GRAND PRIX
Who: Headliners include Justin Bieber, The Killers, Rihanna, BigBang, Tom Jones, Bob Geldof, Owl City and Laura Mvula
Where: Marina Bay Street Circuit
When: Sept 20 to 23
Admission: From $148 onwards (go to www.singaporegp.sg/ticket/ticket_price.php
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