The Inaugural ‘Somewhere Out There’ Reveals Full Lineup – Is This A Local Festival Revival?

Fort Canning transforms into a festival ground once more (Credit: Somewhere Out There)

Seasoned gig-goers have been feeling like something is amiss lately – just where have all the big music festivals gone? Following the industry-defining success and subsequent disappearance of major music spectacles such as Laneway Festival, Neon Lights, Ultra and Garden Beats, there’s been a voracious appetite for an event of similar calibre. Now stepping into these enormous shoes is a new contender that’s reviving the hallowed gig grounds of Fort Canning – the Somewhere Out There festival. And the inaugural scene-stirrer has finally revealed its full lineup.

Steered by Fabrik Asia – the tastemakers that helped orchestrate Boiler Room in Singapore, and mammoth-scale warehouse gigs with Jamie xx, Black Coffee and more recently, Fred again.. –  Somewhere Out There first unleashed hype with Bonobo as its headliner, revered for his take on serene, soul-inflected electronica. Joining Bonobo on the main Evermore Stage is alternative K-pop outfit Balming Tiger, Amsterdam’s rising r&b songstress RIMON, and Lisbon’s MXGPU duo who’ve collectively dropped releases for the likes of Crosstown Rebels and Watergate. The Evermore Stage will be opened by local champions: RAAJ with his South Asian blends and YAØ with his indie-pop effervescence.

Local DJs dominate the Roots Stage (Credit: Somewhere Out There)

Workshop lineup at The Canopy (Credit: Somewhere Out There)

Somewhere Out There boasts two other stages onsite to create that full-on festival feeling. The Roots Stage providing a platform for beloved homegrown music collectives, with DJ representatives from Blackout Agency (Zig Zach), GrooveTop (DJ Aurora), Last Saturdays (HBN), Soul Collective (DJOONS), and Ice Cream Sundays (Bongomann and Toppings). The event also takes pride on being an arts festival as well, and attendees will see this abundantly in The Canopy. Co-curated by Wild Pearl, the area will offer experiences and workshops aimed to colour your festival excursions, including courses in dance (Guesthouse), interactive art (HAFI), slow yoga flow (Yoga For A Change), photography (Colossal) and more.

The local festival climate might’ve been somewhat of a drought lately, but Somewhere Out There, it looks like it’s beginning to lift up.

Somewhere Out There festival, 16 August 2025, 2pm-10.30pm, Fort Canning Park. For more festival information and ticket purchases, visit this website. Follow Somewhere Out There on socials for more.