Held on 7 Dec 2019, the debut of The Alex Blake Charlie Sessions brought great fun and energy to one of Singapore’s best kept secrets, the former Pasir Panjang ‘A’ Power Station. Singapore’s latest music festival has shown the potential of the unused spaces – of which there is a wealth is – in playing host to large scale events. Featuring a global and local cast of female fronted acts, the festival also had the essential distractions such as food, drink and art – a female themed bar and even a place to do one’s hair.
Cate le Bon on one of the Alex Blake Charlie Session’s three stages.
Chill-out spaces during the Alex Blake Charlie Sessions.
Among the star global acts was the fresh-faced Welsh-Australian artist Stella Donnelly. The fast rising indy star and a voice for change is a breath of fresh air and a joy to hear from. We were able to learn about her fashion choice of second-hand clothes, and about some of the more unusual stages she has performed on – which includes the back of a moving truck.
Stella Donnelly at the former power station.
The former power station – Singapore’s second public power plant built in the 1950s and decommissioned in the 1980s, was recently the subject of a competition to find ideas for its interim use prior to the detailed planning for the Greater Southern Waterfront being carried out. Since 2017, it has attracted attention as a location for filming, music-videos and also for advertisements. It would certainly be nice to see more events on the scale of the music festival to bring the best out in the space.
The disused power station during the Alex Blake Charlie Sessions.
SOAK.
Another of SOAK at the Nest.
The Nest.
Dream Wife on “A” Stage.
Vendetta.
Vendetta.
Cate Le Bon.
Vendetta at the Nest.
Stella Donnelly.
Stella Donnelly.
Stella Donnelly.
Cate Le Bon.
A Whiskey Bar.
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