From 30 October to 2 November 2025, Singapore’s waterfront will shake to the rhythms of alternative music as Esplanade – Theatres on the Bay presents the 24th edition of Baybeats. This year edition presents a whopping four full days of gigs and acts, all completely free. What was once three days, four stages, a tight lineup has now stretched into something bolder, alongside the festival welcoming back its much-missed LiveWire Stage at the Forecourt Garden, amping up the stage count to five, allowing sound to spill into the city skyline.

Hydhir Ramli, the festival’s programmer, puts it simply: “We can already picture the crowd under the open sky, the music spilling out into the city, and that unmistakable Baybeats energy roaring back to life.” That energy is certainly the draw, alongside how free, open and inclusive it is. Whether you’re a longtime fan of punk-riffs or you’re just festival-curious, this is that collision of sound and scene, straight from Singapore.

What sets Baybeats 2025 apart isn’t just extra days or extra stages, but the way it’s widening its scope. On one hand you’ve got local favourites and familiar Singaporean names; on the other, a strong regional and international line-up signalling that alternative music is both local and global.

Beyond the live sets, there’s deeper engagement: panel talks on touring, festivals and communities; collaborations with regional festivals from the Philippines and Thailand; and a real investment in the idea that a festival isn’t just performance but conversation. It turns Baybeats into a micro-hub for ideas and a celebration anyone and everyone can enjoy. Here are some standout acts (among many) to keep on your radar:

Thursday, 30 Oct

SHINSEINA open the Arena at 7:00 pm — a Singapore band worth catching early, as they set the tone for the night. Forged in the collision of chaos and clarity, progressive metalcore band SHINSEINA delivers a sound that is as brutal as it is beautiful. With polyrhythmic grooves, cinematic textures, and razor-sharp precision, their music balances crushing riffs with haunting melodies, channelling themes of inner conflict, the human condition, and existential struggle. Get ready to be obliterated and uplifted in the same breath. Whether you’re moshing it out in the pit or lost in their haunting melodies, remember: Don’t blink, don’t breathe. Just feel it.

ONE CLICK STRAIGHT (Philippines) take the Arena stage at 9:40 pm, bringing their brand of alternative rock into the mix. ONE CLICK STRAIGHT is a Philippine-based indie pop, post-punk band comprised of “three blood brothers and one spiritual brother” (according to them). The band is known for their fusion of multiple genres and sonics, creating their own signature sound, undefined by genre norms. Over the past decade, the band has self-produced two albums and two EPs which have garnered over six million streams on Spotify alone. They have brought their music to all corners of the Philippines, having done a nationwide tour and headlining various Philippine festivals. Beyond that, the band has also performed on the international stage on multiple occasions and are renowned for their self-made shows.

Friday, 31 Oct

A Vacant Affair (Singapore) appear on the Chillout Stage at 6:00 pm — a chance to see one of the more familiar local acts in a slightly more relaxed setting..Between the inwardly confrontational vocals of Matthew Lim, the faithful lead guitar lines of Joshua Tan, the amicable bass of Tan Wei Shen and the cathartic rhythms of Rudi Osman, they grew quiet. Between a blistering five-song self-titled EP in 2006, and a darker, heavier full-length debut, Reasons to Leave, in 2008, which chronicled Matt’s loss of his mother to cancer, life got thick. Between summoning a myriad of mosh pits, earning fans in the Philippines and Malaysia through touring, igniting singalongs from stages of all sizes and hearing their single We Are Not The Same played on the local radio charts, they grew still. But they never left. Now they’re back to join you in the love, the pain and the rain of life, as they perform the songs that might have kept you company through these years. And they’re starting with Baybeats 2025, their fourth time performing at the festival.

Chicosci (Philippines) is on the LiveWire Stage at 10:00 pm. Energetic and polished, they bring a strong international flavour to this evening. Hailing from the Philippines, Chicosci is a four-piece nosiemaking wrecking crew that has been raising hell since 2001. Their music fuses punk, metal, pop, hardcore and emo; anything that makes them move and keeps their fans moving too. Known for high-energy, chaotic live performances, Chicosci is back in Singapore for a loud, unforgettable set at Baybeats filled with fun, fury and face-melting music.

Saturday, 1 Nov

Be sure to check out paranoid void, a three-piece instrumental band from Japan whose music is built around intricate rhythms, polyrhythms, and carefully structured instrumental interplay, blending the precision of math rock with the expansiveness of post-rock. From the deep, tactile resonance of YU-KI’s bass to MIPOW’s nuanced, colour-driven drumming and MEGURI’s textural guitar work, the trio crafts immersive soundscapes that feel both meticulous and alive. Since their 2017 debut Literally Math, they have captured international attention, touring across Canada, the U.S., Europe, and Taiwan, and performing at festivals such as ArcTanGent, FUJI ROCK FESTIVAL, Metamorphose, and SYNCHRONICITY. In 2024, they released three digital singles, headlined in Taiwan, and became the only Japanese act invited to perform at the MONTREUX JAZZ FESTIVAL CHINA.

On the local side, weish (Singapore) plays the Powerhouse² stage at 9:30 pm, following a very strong performance at SIFA this year. Known for her unconventional vocals and rich lyricism, following past years’ Baybeats performances with jazz/alt-rock band sub:shaman and experimental duo .gif and grindcore legends Wormrot, she returns to the festival as a solo act for the very first time, performing her own solo material.  

Wicked Aura (Singapore) also perform in the Arena at 10:00 pm, with post-hardcore energy for those who like their live sets with a fair amount of grit. Wicked Aura has come a long way since starting out as street performers in 2003. Over twenty-two years, these noiseniks have evolved their sound into a lethal combo of Afro-Brazilian rhythms, abrasive rock, hypnotic dub/reggae, bopping drum’n’bass and everything in between. With frontman Budi’s spitting vocal delivery and the band’s wickedly explosive rhythm section, their music moves people—literally. Imagine one big party where Olodum jams with Parliament Funkadelic and The Clash. Wicked Aura’s live shows deliver that same raw, rhythmic energy. With over two decades of history behind them, Wicked Aura remains one of Singapore’s most electrifying live acts, rhythmically charged, endlessly inventive and impossible to ignore.

Sunday, 2 Nov

Check out Carsick Cars from China, veterans of Beijing’s indie-rock underground and pioneers of the region’s noise-inflected guitar sound. Expect walls of texture, hypnotic repetition and an electric sense of purpose. Their sound draws from the drone and dissonance of Velvet Underground, Suicide and Sonic Youth while also echoing the textures and structures of Steve Reich and Glenn Branca. The result is a brilliantly layered roar built on hard, open chords that cut through the noise with surprising clarity. Beneath the explosive feedback and distortion lies their undeniable gift for songcraft, this is something that has not been lost on the many musicians of Beijing who are their fans; Carsick Cars are likely the most frequently covered underground band by local groups in China.

Look out for Blanco Teta (Argentina) headlining the Powerhouse stage at 7:10 pm, a major international moment in the closing night lineup. Based in Buenos Aires, Argentina, the group was formed in 2017 out of a need to create a unique sound with an unconventional lineup: a rock setup—not with a guitar, but a processed cello. Blanco Teta is a quartet of degenerate riot sudacas made up of Carola Zelaschi on drums, Carlos Quebrada aka Genosidra on electric bass, Violeta García on cello and vocals, and Josefina Barreix on vocals. Recorded almost entirely live in the studio between Buenos Aires and Barcelona, LA DEBACLE DE LAS DIVAS moves between pop songwriting and corrosive noise, no-wave and DIY electronics, grunge and metal. The lyrics are raw and urgent. It is a collection of corrosive, urgent songs—cynical yet tender—dedicated “to the Flixbus divas and the working-class divas.”

Local punk rock trailblazers Plainsunset (Singapore) perform on the LiveWire Stage at 8:20 pm — a perfect local counterpoint to the international headliner, showcasing home-grown talent in a prominent slot. Plainsunset is known for electrifying shows, sharp wit, and anthemic singalongs that have defined the local scene since 1995. With countless tours across Asia, multiple releases, and a record-setting 8,500-strong crowd at Baybeats 2006, they’ve built a legacy that spans generations. This year marks their 30th anniversary, and they’re returning to Baybeats with a high-energy set packed with fan favourites, deep cuts, and the raw spirit they’ve carried from day one. Expect loud guitars, massive singalongs, and stage banter that hits as hard as their songs. Punk’s not dead—Plainsunset never left.

Be sure to catch Battlesnake (Australia) at the LiveWire stage at 11.10pm. The rising titans of Australian hard rock and pure heavy metal, Battlesnake have quickly emerged from the underground, captivating audiences worldwide with their unique fusion of powerful riffs and dynamic songwriting. Their sound has been described as a genetically engineered offspring of Queen, Judas Priest and King Gizzard, creating music that feels both familiar and groundbreaking. Battlesnake are renowned for their high-octane live performances, epic theatrical compositions, and relentless energy—and now they’re bringing all that chaos to Baybeats.

Make time for the panel talks too if you’re curious not just about the music but the ecosystem around it, they’re a worthwhile stop. And finally: keep your mind open. Some of the most memorable festival moments come from discovering the unexpected, a local band you’ve never heard of, a genre you didn’t know you’d like, a conversation sparked backstage.

Four days, five stages, free entry, global meets local, and all played out against the backdrop of the Singapore waterfront. Whether you’re there for the pits, the panel discussions, the unfamiliar sounds or the familiar faces, this edition looks primed to deliver the kind of vitality that alternative music thrives on. As Hydhir Ramli puts it: “Whether you’re here for the pits, the panels, or just to catch up with familiar faces, know that Baybeats wouldn’t be what it is without you.” Come ready, come curious, and maybe leave with new sounds and a new artist in your Airpods you didn’t know you needed.

Baybeats 2025 plays from 30th October to 2nd November 2025 at Esplanade – Theatres by the Bay. More information available here