It was a glorious Sunday for the 7,800 indie-loving punters gathered on the searing-hot lawns of Fort Canning Park, as they revelled in 12 hours of alternative music at St Jerome’s Laneway Festival 2012.
The music festival, back in Singapore for the second time, saw 14 of today’s hottest indie bands belt out their goods on two stages, up from last year’s line-up of nine bands.
Female performers dominated the festival, with headliners like Feist and Laura Marling flying the female singer-songwriter flag. Electronica was also another theme for the day, with acts like Toro Y Moi, Austra and M83 offering up synth-drenched sonic assaults.
However, things took a more poignant turn when Girls frontman Christopher Owens chose to open the band’s set with an emotional rendition of the late Whitney Houston’s hit, I Will Always Love You. The raucous crowd fell silent, and thousands of voices soon swelled up to sing the famous chorus.
Unlike last year’s wet and muddy affair, Laneway 2012’s weather stayed mercifully clement. Nonetheless, lots of people came prepared wearing sturdy Dr Martens boots. The British boot company was also an official sponsor of the festival, and threw in free shuttle services and festival packs for those who came decked out in Dr Martens shoes.
Here’s a visual recap of the festival as it unfolded.