Zouk Has Finally Teased The Arrival Of ZoukOut 2022 After A Three-Year Hiatus

Did you miss this? (Credit: Zouk Singapore)

The legacy of Zouk Singapore has always gone beyond the four walls of its clubspace, whether we’re talking about its Jiak Kim or Clarke Quay era. One influential offshoot that fortified its international clout was ZoukOut, and it was deemed one of the go-to music festivals to flock to amongst ravers in the region. If Zouk was considered the gem of the Singaporean club scene at the time, ZoukOut was its crown jewel.

That changed when Zouk unexpectedly pulled the plug on ZoukOut in 2019, disrupting an annual tradition that started in 2000. The festival’s pre-hiatus edition in 2018 was a commercial-inclined crowd-pleaser that brought down the likes of KSHMR, Timmy Trumpet, and Dimitri Vegas & Like Mike. Its departure left a gaping hole amongst the party community and the Siloso Beach expanse where it dominantly took place. This was promptly filled up by Legacy Festival, a homegrown event that brought the music back, albeit for one year before COVID reared its ugly head.

Scenes from ZoukOut 2018 before it went on hiatus (Credit: Zouk Singapore)

But after three years, Zouk is now mustering the tenacity to bring back what its fans have yearned for. In a vague social media teaser post, Zouk has revealed that ZoukOut 2022 is going to be happening, returning to Siloso Beach for another two-day spectacular on 2 and 3 December. No details on the lineup yet, but one can only speculate that it’ll feature an ensemble lineup that includes both international and local acts.

Many might feel that the curation of ZoukOut today has veered from what it used to be. Its past editions have often flaunted balanced lineups between commercial and underground champions. In one night (or two), you’d able to catch Solomun share the evening with Alesso, Nina Kraviz with Porter Robinson, Dubfire with Steve Aoki, or Armin van Buuren with Roger Sanchez. One will have to wait and see what spills out from this 2022 reveal, but a gander at its ongoing club programming would indicate a more commercial-led charge.

W&W performing at ZoukOut 2018 (Credit: Zouk Singapore)

However, if there’s one thing that’s always been consistent with ZoukOut, it’s its penchant for putting on a monster of a show. You can expect production value to be top-notch as always, with grandiose stage design and beastly sound. You can expect the dusk-to-dawn antics with golden hours that never lose their lustre. And for a new re-inspired generation of clubbers who have never been for a ZoukOut, you can’t deny that that will be a milestone night for them to remember.

Call it an institution. A tourist attraction. A main event or a sellout. However you see it, ZoukOut is evidently here to stay to continue its legacy. What impact will it make this year?