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SINGAPORE: Three years ago, two guys named Danny Loong and Edward Chia took the underused garden area of the Substation - vacated by the former Fat Frog Cafe - and transformed it into one of the hippest spots where one could enjoy a drink to the sound of local bands playing.
They called the place Timbre, which according to dictionary.com means "the characteristic quality, tone or colour, of sound".
The sound of Timbre is expanding. Last year, they opened another outlet at the Arts House, and earlier this year, they opened chill-out bar Klee at Portsdown, although Danny was quick to point out that Klee "is a different brand altogether".
"One of the key things about Timbre is the music," said Danny. "And as we expand Timbre, we're not just talking about the physical space, but we're expanding the music scene as well by offering more venues for musicians. It's always been about the music."
Well, musicians should be happy then: even as Timbre prepares to celebrate its third anniversary with its annual Timbre Music Festival, they're also opening their third Timbre outlet at Mount Sophia.
"Yes, there is a new outlet opening next month," confirmed Danny, 36. "I can't tell you the real name yet, we're still calling it Timbre @ Mount Sophia."
The new Timbre is going to be similar to its two predecessors in the sense that it'll be a bar-cum-restaurant with live music.
"But the musical content is different," Danny added. "We want to focus on intimate acoustic music as opposed to the big fireworks of an electric band."
Plans aren't quite concrete yet, but Danny said they would consider theme nights such as "indie night".
The third Timbre will also serve lunch - a first - and they've added a couple of new dishes to its menu. "People have been asking whether we'll do food delivery, and I think maybe this is the time," he joked.
TIMBRE = MUSIC
If there's one thing that Danny will keep reminding you about, it's that Timbre is inextricably linked to music. And it's not just because he performs in bands Ublues and Soulfellas.
One of the original precepts that he and Edward originally drew up for Timbre was that it would be a place where Singapore musicians could go to perform.
Now, they've taken that one step further with the launch of Timbre Music, a music events company under the Timbre umbrella that Danny hopes to develop into an artiste management arm.
Timbre Music helmed the Rock The Sub and Blues at the House concerts during this years Arts Fest in June, and is also organising the Timbre Music Festival from Sept 19 to 28.
The 10-day music fest will feature not only regular house acts such as Reverie, Jack & Rai and Goodfellas, but also acts such as popular pub bands Jive Talking and Tania, indie rockers Plainsunset, Vertical Rush and The Fire Fight, as well as music veterans Vernon Cornelius and Tony, Terry and Spencer.
Noted Low Seow Yee, 30, music events manager for Timbre Music: "It's quite a diversified range of music we will have."
Another event that Timbre Music is organising is the Timbre Rock and Roots Festival (TRRF) at Fort Canning Park next year.
"We are tying up with Peter Noble, who runs festivals in Australia and New Zealand, such as the East Coast Blues and Roots Festival," said Seow Yee. "What he brings to the table is his experience in festival management and all his contacts."
Noble, a veteran events organiser, met Danny at a blues festival. "And we just asked if he was interested to tap into the Asian market," said Danny. "It's not firm yet, but we're finalising everything with Peter right now."
The TRRF is expected to be a two-day show, similar in style to the Ublues music festivals Danny used to host. Timbre is probably the first pub to organise an international festival on such as scale.
"That's a great example of how Timbre Music is working to bring Timbre out of the physical venue. Timbre Music will probably be 30 or 40 per cent of what Timbre is all about," explained Danny.
EXPANSIONIST POLICIES
Of course, Timbre isn't the only nightbird embarking on expansionist policies.
St James Holdings, for example, which runs popular nightspot St James Power Station, has already bought over Bar None and The Living Room, and will soon open its latest outlet Bellini Grande at Clarke Quay at the former Crazy Horse venue.
Popular rooftop haunt Loof, which also turns three this year, recently opened chic restaurant-bar The White Rabbit at Harding Road, and is now joining forces with hip-hop club Butter Factory to open a new outlet called Over Easy at the revamped One Fullerton.
"It's going to be a bar and diner concept," said Tengwen Wee, 28, managing partner of Loof.
"Predominantly, it's an after-work bar, but there'll be a supporting food element - it will have a breakfast slant, hence the name, Over Easy."
It's slated to open in December, and Teng said the idea to go in cahoots with Butter Factory, which is moving from its current location in Robertson Quay to One Fullerton, came naturally.
"They are experts in their field and they wanted a partner that had a better understanding of the bar and restaurant side of things," he explained. "And we've always been close friends with them."
OPPORTUNITY KNOCKS
In the movie Dead Poets Society, teacher Robin Williams tells his students, "Carpe diem - seize the day."
That philosophy apparently works if you're a nightspot owner, too. According to its chief executive Dennis Foo, St James decided to buy the space at Clarke Quay for Bellini Grande was because "it happened to be available at the right time".
Similarly for Teng, the idea to open Over Easy was opportunistic. "The space is amazing and holds a lot of potential. It was too good to pass up."
For Danny, the chance to expand practically fell into his lap.
Timbre @ Arts House, for example, happened because the previous tenant Q Bar just so happened to fold when Danny and Edward were thinking of venues for a new outlet.
But just because Timbre seems to be embarking on a blitzkrieg at the moment, don't expect a new Timbre every year.
"We can't have too many Timbres around. We don't want to be a McDonald's of the pub world and we'll never be that way," insisted Danny.
"We have Timbre at the garden, the river and now the mountain! For a fourth one, we have to find something really interesting. It's about passion and you have to be focused."
Loof's Teng agreed: "For the most part, we will create distinct concepts that won't cannibalise each other. We'll also be in different areas and target different market segments.
"Who knows what's next? Will we do another outlet with Butter Factory? If we are confident of the concept and the space, then why not?"
Even with the possibility of the economy taking a turn for the worse? "The current market sentiment isn't that good, but we wouldn't go into the third outlet if we weren't prepared," said Danny.
"But," mused Teng, "whatever it is, people still need to moisture their throats, right?" - TODAY/fa
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