SINGAPORE, Nov 15 — This year’s countdown party cannot get any more exciting than this.

Popular R&B singer-songwriter Alicia Keys will headlining this year’s countdown concert at The Float @ Marina Bay, and she will be belting out a 40-minute set of soulful and powerful performances speaking to the cultural climate of the world today.

Keys has just released her sixth studio album Here to critical acclaim, and is currently a judge on The Voice Season 11. She was in Singapore in 2004 for her concert, but this would be her first time performing in a countdown concert here.

The 15-time Grammy Award-winning artist will be joined by other notable acts in the eight-hour extravaganza titled Rock On! 2017.

These include Taiwanese multi-hyphenate Rainie Yang, Taiwanese rock maestro Shin, Malaysian singer-songwriter Penny Tai, and homegrown artistes such as singer-actress Joi Chua, singer Chriz Tong, rock band Shirlyn & The UnXpected and more. Each artiste will put up at least 20-minute long performances, complete with the full band, said IMC Live in a statement today.

There will also be another international act taking the stage besides Keys, but that will be revealed at a later day.

IMC Live added that the audience can expect special effects as well as magnetic musical and vocal arrangement at the multi-million dollar production, which will happen from 5pm to 1am, and it will culminate in an eight-minute firework display. They are expecting to attract 26,000-strong crowd.

Rock On! 2017 will happen on December 31 from 5pm to 1am at The Float @ Marina Bay. Ticket prices range from S$48 (RM147) to S$218 and can be purchased at www.apactix.com (from Nov 18, 10am). — TODAY