Pre-party events planned for Keong Saik Carnival

SINGAPORE — After it was made into a site for an arts carnival for the Singapore HeritageFest, Keong Saik Road will once again be the venue for another carnival on May 28 — the inaugural Keong Saik Carnival, a street party that features more than 35 local and international vendors and performers.

Spearheaded by popular eatery Potato Head Folk, the Keong Saik Carnival will see the road turned into a bazaar of sorts, featuring food and drink stalls, as well as cultural and live music performances and activities for the young and old.

But before that, there will be the launch of the new limited edition Three Buns x Fergadelic merchandise and special menu on Friday (May 6). Fergadelic, who is best known for his work with fashion labels such as Stussy, Paul Smith, Marc by Marc Jacobs and McQ; and the Palace Skateboard Tri-Ferg logo.

This includes a special cocktail (The Single Montage), a mocktail (Kiddo Moto) and the Vegetarian Moto Burger (Fergadelic is a vegetarian), which comes with a patty of fried tempeh, cucumber, bread and butter pickle, cabe rawit, scallions, coriander, BBQ sauce, den miso mayo, kecap manis glaze and lettuce in a toasted rice bun (S$10). (That said, there will be a regular Moto Burger (S$18), which boasts all the same trimmings on top of a 120g Hereford Angus beef patty.)

On May 21, DJs Intriguant, Kiat and SSYSTM from local music collective Syndicate will join forces with American turntablist Mr Carmack, Dutch DJ Jarreau Vandal and guest DJs FZPZ and Jerls for a special Pre-Party, kicking off from 5pm to midnight at Potato Head Folk level 3. And no, there will be no cover charge
At the May 28 street bazaar, the latest collections from fashion labels such as kapok, Sundays and Supplies & Co will be available, as well as pop-up record stores by #vinyloftheday and Analog Vault and merchandise from Magpie, Gallery & Co, Curious Creatures and get.give.

Other features include an art installation by Tell Your Children and performances by the Hok San Lion Dance Troupe, as well as visual displays by HoodLam and Empyreal. The popular Uncle Ringo will add to the carnival atmosphere with rides for children.

Two performance stages will be set up to feature artistes from Singapore and around the region. Representing the local contingent are art-rock group The Observatory and music collectives and DJ outfits Syndicate, Pushin’On, Darker Than Wax, Mr Has and Attagirl.

Beijing’s Howie Lee, Shanghai’s ChaCha and Drunk Monk, and Al Rocco and Blow from Shanghainese hip-hop group Busy Gang will also be performing.

As for dining options, a number of acclaimed restaurants, including Luxe, Lime House, Sunday Market and of course, Potato Head Folk, will be serving special menus created for this event.

“We wanted to combine some of our favourite things and bring them all together in one place,” said Earn Chen, creative director at Potato Head Folk. “Keong Saik Road has this unique vibe of laid-back fun and creativity, in large part because of the people who run the food and drink establishments here. (This event is) the perfect opportunity to work together and build something great for our shared neighbourhood.”

The Keong Saik Carnival is on May 28, noon to 10.30pm, at Keong Saik Road. Admission is free.