The Jansen brought its raw punk energy and anthemic melodies to the Baybeats stage for the first time on 6 Oct 2023 at Powerhouse² (Singtel Waterfront Theatre at Esplanade). Comprising brothers Cintarama Bani Satria (guitar, vocals) and Adji Pamungkas (bass) alongside drummer Aduy, punk band The Jansen emerged from the city of Bogor in Indonesia.

In 2020, The Jansen teamed up with Grimace Records from Texas, USA, to begin publishing works on digital platforms, such as the album Say Say Say. In April 2022, the band released their third full-length album, Banal Makin Binal on tape format, followed by a mini tour to Jakarta. A few months later, they teamed up with Demajors Records to release a CD and promote their third album on digital platforms. The Jansen's line-up was completed with the inclusion of Karina Restiani, filling in on guitar and vocals.

Britpop-inspired band Orange Ocean stands out in China’s burgeoning indie music scene thanks to the yearning nostalgia embedded in their music, which reflect the band’s unique worldview. Hailing from Qingdao, China, the band comprises members 2KM (vocals and guitar), Xiao Lu (bass) and Qingxi (drums).

With infectious melodies and ingenious guitar riffs, the band creates lush ocean-romantic soundscapes, evident in their full-length debut record, Tears in Ocean (2019). The band saw immediate success with this record, racking up more than 300 million streams on Chinese DSP with breakout tracks Summer Cozy Rock and You Nuan Chi.

Catch Orange Ocean live again on 20 Mar 2024 at Esplanade Annexe Studio for a fuller live set. Tickets here

Premiere: 28 Feb 2024, 9pm

MASS OF THE FERMENTING DREGS is a post-hardcore/shoegaze trio based in Japan, known for their tightly arranged, guitar-driven style, melodic pop vocals and high-energy stage presence. The band comprises vocalist and bass guitarist Natsuko Miyamoto, Naoya Ogura on guitar and vocals, and Isao Yoshino on drums and vocals. Armed with their latest album Awakening:Sleeping, the trio greeted fans in Singapore at Baybeats on 6 Oct 2023 with their hynoptic, driving songs.

Premiere: 28 Feb 2024, 9pm

Riotous and raucous emo/math-rock trio Forests took the stage by storm on 7 Oct 2023. Since 2014, Forests has gained a global cult following of listeners through its unique blend of 90s-influenced emo with math-pop perfection. The Singapore-based trio gained a huge increase in global listenership upon the release of its sophomore album Spending Eternity In A Japanese Convenience Store, with word-of-mouth buzz from fans and critics alike hailing them as new heroes of the emo/math rock genre.

The group has been featured on publications such as The Ringer, Stereogum, NME and Bandwagon. Forests is the only Asian band highlighted on Vulture’s list of 100 Greatest Emo Songs of All Time as well as The Ringer’s The Most Important Emo Songs Of Every Year, with Tamago named as their pick for 2016’s most important emo song—a huge honour to be mentioned alongside legendary genre stalwarts such as American Football, Jawbreaker and Sunny Day Real Estate.

In 2022, with its newest member Daniel, the trio released its third full-length album Get In Losers, We’re Going To Eternal Damnation, well-received by fans and hailed by critics as “Forests at their summit, ready to conquer the world” (NME Asia) and “one of the most instantly enjoyable albums [heard] this year” (Stereogum).

While the band has previously performed in countries like Japan, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Indonesia, China and Malaysia, 2023 saw them embark on a multi-city USA tour alongside Ben Quad and The Others Like Us. While in the US, the band recorded a session for the acclaimed web series Audiotree Live, which premiered on 27 Sep 2023. Forests continues to bring its riotous, frantic and exciting live performances across Southeast Asia and the world, to legendary venues and intimate club shows alike.

Dive into a whirlwind of sonic fury with Singapore's very own grindcore outfit, Wormrot. At Baybeats, on 7 Oct at the Powerhouse² (Singtel Waterfront Theatre at Esplanade), the band delivered an onslaught of grindcore madness with blistering blast beats, ear-shattering guitar riffs, with Implore’s frontman Gabriel Dubko stepping in on vocals. This was the band's first ever collaborative performance with multidisciplinary artist weish, who melded her unique and ethereal vocals with their signature heavy sound. It was an unforgettable night of unadulterated auditory mayhem with Wormrot!

After an eight-year hiatus, The Great Spy Experiment made its comeback with a fourth appearance at Baybeats on 8 Oct 2023 at Powerhouse² (Singtel Waterfront Theatre at Esplanade). Armed with a repertoire of crowd favourites, the band brings their distinct brand of emotive and powerful indie rock to the venue that has been their spiritual home, with the goal to move the hearts of fans once again.

Formed in 2006, The Great Spy Experiment is considered to be one of Singapore's indie rock veterans. Effortlessly blending elements of indie rock, pop, and dance-electronica, the band's music is as much guitar-led as it is beat-driven, with indie riffs juxtaposing melodies that tug the heartstrings—music created with the dance floor in mind and bedroom at heart.

The band has released two albums, Flower Show Riots in 2007 and Litmus in 2013, with Litmus making history as the first in Singapore to break through iTunes album charts. Prior to their hiatus, The Great Spy Experiment delivered electrifying live performances touring across the world and was the first homegrown band to play at SXSW Festival in 2007. With their innovative sound and charismatic stage presence, they have earned a dedicated following, making them one of the leaders of Singapore's independent music scene. After disbanding in 2015 and a lengthy hiatus, The Great Spy Experiment returned with a new release Sanctuary/Secrets, a two-track single embodying their signature sound—powerful yet poignant.

Mary Sue and the Clementi Sound Appreciation Club brought soulful and introspective jazz-hop tunes, featuring a slew of guest artists: Bgourd, Zakir from 730 bedside, Zaymm and ABANGSAPAU.

A rapper and producer hailing from Singapore, Mary Sue started making and releasing music during the pandemic. Sue's glitchy, sample-heavy sound paired with introspective lyrics has helped him develop a growing presence in the underground abstract hip hop scenes in the US, UK and Australia, as well as releasing music with London based hip-hop collective Higher Self. Sue released his debut album KISSES OF LIFE in February 2022, which was critically praised and featured on multiple online music publications such as Best Hip Hop on Bandcamp, NME, and HipHop-DX.

Holy Serpent brought raw stoner doom grooves and fuzz-laden onslaught of riffs with melancholic vocal melodies to Baybeats on 8 Oct 2023, at the Powerhouse² (Singtel Waterfront Theatre at Esplanade).

Hailing from Melbourne, Holy Serpent is a heavy rock band that explores the realms of psychedelic, stoner, and doom metal. With ethereal melodies and hypnotic grooves, their evocative storytelling and haunting soundscapes have garnered a devoted following. After gaining global attention with their self-titled debut released on Riding Easy Records in 2014, they followed up with second album Temples in 2016, and released their latest album Endless in 2019.