ZoukOut, Singapore’s annual outdoor dance music festival, returns to the palm-tree-lined Siloso Beach on December 12, for the ninth consecutive year offering partygoers a spectacular voyage of rapturous music, dancing, art and other festivities.

Inspired by Greek mythology’s illustration of the legendary aquatic nymphs’ irresistible allure, the Sirens’ call beckons the collective buoyant vibes of partygoers to ZoukOut 2009.

With a record breaking 26,000 party revellers last year, ZoukOut 2009 extends its venue to incorporate Siloso Beach’s latest lifestyle attraction, Wave House Sentosa, which will house one of ZoukOut’s stages. Offering exhilarating rides akin to the Wave Houses found in North America, Chile and South Africa, thrill seekers can look to make a wild splash and get their adrenaline fix whether surfing the tube, jumping waves or performing gravity defying flips and stunts.

Following the successful release of "Zouk in the House" in 2008, Zouk is again teaming up  with globally recognised brand, Defected Records, a key player on the international dance music scene, to launch a special twoCD compilation titled “ZoukOut in the House 09”.

Headlining this year’s event is Armin Van Buuren, who’s been voted Number One twice by DJ Mag in the Top 100 DJ poll, has 30 million listeners tuning in to his radio show and constantly sells out his gigs. With his remarkable rise to fame, Van Buuren will rock the decks at ZoukOut with his well known and best loved uplifting, euphoric sets.

With dancefloor smashers from the likes of Martin Solveig, Bob Sinclair, Ame and Kings of Tomorrow, Defected label owner, Simon Dunmore, plans to get all house music lovers grooving with his exceptionally infectious and highspirited sets. Dunmore will also be playing a special set with percussion extraordinaire Shovell.

Making their debut are new bloods on the dance music scene, the Martinez Brothers, Chris, 17, and Steve, 20, who’ve e been flying the house flag at Pacha in New York City and Ibiza), Cielo (NYC) and Social Club (Paris). The boys will bring the party to fever pitch with the high energy sets for which they’re  celebrated.

The ‘Live’ element at ZoukOut 2009, Miss Kittin & The Hacker, promises to be the commanding addition to the lineup. Being pioneers that paved the route for the electroclash movement and producing one of most exciting electro pop tracks at the turn of the century, their celebrity followers include Karl Lagerfeld and Marilyn Manson. The pair now returns with new perspectives and seemingly complementary extremes, to unmask a perfectly accessible and evocative sound, debuting at ZoukOut.

Everyone who has ever attended ZoukOut knows it’s not only about the best in dance music, but about the entire festival experience, an escape into the world of visual arts and merriment for both local and visitors alike.

For 2009, besides the usual outofthis world performers, carnival rides, palmistry, massages and food vendors, Zouk once again teams up with the Singapore Art Museum to present one off installations by Singapore’s premier artists, as part of Zouk’s continued support for local talents.

ZoukOut Facts

• Zouk opened its doors in Singapore in 1991 and has become a world renowned clubbing institution, credited with introducing dance music and club culture to the region and remaining its strongest perpetuator to this day.  
• Zouk has been voted one of the best clubs in the world annually since 1993 to present day in the world’s  leading music publications. 
• ZoukOut was conceived in 2000 to be the region’s definitive dance festival and bring Zouk’s spirit and energy to the great outdoors and an even larger audience.
• Past big names to grace the decks and stages include Paul Van Dyk, 2ManyDJS, Masters at Work, Gilles Peterson, Richie Hawtin, Sven Vath, Peter Kruder, James Lavelle, Armin Van Buuren, Stereo MCs and many more making ZoukOut the largest, most notable outdoor dance and music festival in South East Asia.
• In 2008, ZoukOut saw its largest turnout of 26,000 in attendance, an increase from 23,000 from the previous year, with numbers increasing every year since the first in 2000 that had 9000 in attendance.
• 2008 saw a large increase in visitors from Australia, India and Europe.  
• Musical genres at ZoukOut include house, techno, trance, minimal, electro, progressive, alternative/ indie, mash up, hip hop and of course the ever popular Mambo Jambo.
• 30- 35% of the total turnout come from the region, mainly from Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia and Hong Kong and also as far off as the United States. 
• ZoukOut 2007 won the Singapore Tourist Board’s “Best Leisure Event Experience 2007” along with Zouk being the “Best Nightspot Experience 2007”

On the surface, everything in Singapore looks flawless, from the moment you arrive at Changi Airport – frequently rated as one of the most efficient in the world. This can no doubt be attributed to the stringent laws in the country – inherited from their colonial powers, which are said to be one of the toughest in the world.

In Singapore, every little misdemeanor can earn you a hefty fine, be it littering, or spitting, or even chewing gum! Needless to say, the moral code is pretty high in Singapore. Anything which might put a blemish on Singapore’s clean reputation is quickly quelled and eradicated. Pornography is illegal.

Strangely enough prostitution is legal here but you can be arrested for spitting on the street or jaywalking and chewing gum is a big NO-NO!

That does not stop Singaporeans from having fun. The city offers some of the best nightlife in South East Asia. Singapore boasts one of the thriving commercial sex industries in the region. Some estimates claims there are more than 15,000 commercial sex workers in Singapore at any given time. Most of these sex workers are foreigners on social visit passes, who ply their trade throughout the country during the short duration of their stay there.

Prostitution is legal in Singapore, something it is not countries as Cambodia, Vietnam and Thailand. Although prostitution is legal, soliciting is not.

Orchard Towers is better known as “4 floors of whores” locally in Singapore, located at the top end of Orchard Road. During the day time Orchard Towers is like most of the other malls on the mile long road; tailors shops, electronics, cameras and a few places to eat.

But some the later afternoon/early evening and everything is about to change. Most of the shops in Orchard Towers will start to close up about 7 or 7:30 to avoid the rush of guys and girls that will soon occupy the malls clubs and surrounding areas.

Around 8pm the girls will start to show up in large numbers and by 11pm the clubs will be full. It doesn’t matter what day of the week it is so don’t worry about that, the girls are there all the time. On some nights you can find over 400 girls within the towers. Many of the clubs have done renovation and really fixed them up nicely.

As they say, “it pays to advertise” and these girls do it well. They know how to get your attention for that glance that will get them to come over to your table for a short chat or night of fun. I don’t care who you are or what you look like you can meet someone in the Towers if you want too. Some times it is just kind of fun to watch all the things that are going on around you in the clubs.

The girls come from all over Asia; Thais, Malays, Indians, Filipinas, Indonesians, Singaporeans, Japanese, Chinese (HK) and ever a few Europeans (mostly Russians). The girls you see in the Towers after 9pm are there looking for a date for the night.

For some the best looking girls head for the Top Ten Disco (4th floor) after 11pm. There is an admission fee and drinks are a bit higher here. Top Ten is surely on the very upper scale of the clubs in the Towers.

The Ipanema and Peyton Place are Filipina hang outs mostly while the other will have mix of everyone else. The Thai girls come down from Bangkok, Phuket and Pattaya for 2 to 3 weeks at a shot to make some money then head back home so the chances of running in to here again may be slim.