Live music with your cup of kopi

Musicians and DJs have been hitting hawker centres and coffee shops to liven up the atmosphere at eating haunts

- Cherie Lok

Music and food have always paired well together. From romantic ballads that sprinkle a dash of sentiment over a glass of red wine, to groovy Italian tunes making that bowl of pasta taste all the more authentic, they have long worked hand in hand to set the tone of many an evening.

And in a modern world where vibes are paramount, music, with its power to elevate a meal into an experience, is more essential than ever.

These days, live bands can be found almost anywhere in Singapore: in banquet halls, casual restaurants, bars, clubs, and even hawker centres and coffee shops.

Yes, that nucleus of heartland life has a new soundtrack, an added layer on top of the usual clanging of bowls and crowd chatter.

Twice a month, One Punggol Hawker Centre in Punggol Drive comes alive with the sound of music. The Music Affair, a live band, belt out nearly two hours' worth of pop hits.

They switch effortlessly between chart-toppers like Ed Sheeran's Perfect and kid-friendly jams like Baby Shark, much to the delight of their young audience.

These Hawker Harmony sessions are organised on the second and fourth Friday of every month by the centre's management, Timbre Group.

"Building a community in Punggol is something that we have been very focused on for the last couple of years. We focus on what we can do to entertain the kids, inspire the youth and get families to enjoy music together in an inter-generational setting," says Mr Danny Loong, 52, chief executive and founder of Timbre Group.

He adds that since One Punggol Hawker Centre is a good distance from the residential estate and attracts many young families, it was the ideal place to trial this musical programme, which began in May.

The musician, who used to lead Universal Blues Band, also wanted to make live music more accessible.

Here, instead of paying $20 for a drink as they would have to in a bar, patrons can enjoy the music with just a $1.50 kopi in hand.