Popaholic, Esplanade’s free festival of chart and cover pop, is into its final week. It runs from 1 to 30 October, and this weekend carries five sets across the Esplanade Concourse and the DBS Foundation Outdoor Theatre, with no tickets needed for any of them.
Saturday, 24 October
pov: Ari made Izzy is the biggest booking of the night. Singer Izzathy Halil takes on the Ariana Grande catalogue, from pov and the boy is mine to the newer Hampstead, with a guest appearance by vocal group The Island Voices. She plays the DBS Foundation Outdoor Theatre at 7pm, 8.15pm and 9.30pm.
Inside on the Concourse, Music from Daisy Chain Fields has singer Risa Ann Wong and guitarist RENE covering the artists from the first Daisy Chain Fields Music Festival in August 2026, the all-women event founded and headlined by Olivia Rodrigo. Expect songs by Rodrigo, Chappell Roan, Alanis Morissette and Stevie Nicks. Sets start at 6.45pm and 7.45pm.
Sunday, 25 October
Daniel Sid returns with Songs I know because of TikTok, a set of current hits and older tracks that found a second life on the app. He plays the Concourse at 6.45pm and 7.45pm.
Outdoors, Leave Those Kids Alone throw a 2010s pop party built on Rihanna, Taylor Swift, Bruno Mars and Justin Bieber. Each 45-minute set is made for singing along, at 7pm and 8.15pm on the DBS Foundation Outdoor Theatre.
Monday and the final week
On Monday (26 October), Grace Ann and Joshua play an intimate set of Sara Bareilles and Kodaline covers with a few originals. The rest of the week brings Sad Girl Pop with Dhanishta on 27 October, Mandarin love songs from Hazel Yew on 28 October and Gaston’s reworked pop, soul and R&B on 29 October. Nadya Zaheer and the band Oakë close the festival on 30 October.
All Popaholic shows are free and unticketed, so seating at the Outdoor Theatre and space on the Concourse go to whoever turns up first. Esplanade is at 1 Esplanade Drive, a short walk from Esplanade MRT station on the Circle Line.
