2023 looks to continue the onslaught of music festivals in Asia that began last year as governments began easing pandemic restrictions, with events both big and small returning in full swing.
Festivals across the region have begun to announce the lineups for their events, with international headliners set to make their appearances at several major festivals this year. Among the events music fans can look forward to later this year include the Asia debut of hip-hop festival Rolling Loud in Thailand, the return of festival cruise It’s The Ship, Slipknot’s long awaited Hammersonic Festival performance and more.
Here is NME’s list of big-ticket festivals to catch in Southeast Asia this year, so make sure to mark the dates down on your calendar and get ready to catch your favourite artists near you this year.
THE ALEX BLAKE CHARLIE SESSIONS, Pasir Panjang Power Station, Singapore
When: February 25
Tickets and more information: Hapz
The female-fronted The Alex Blake Charlie Sessions festival returns to Singapore this February, with a series of pre-festival events set to run from February 21 until February 24 in the leadup to the main festival on February 25.
Already announced are American singer-songwriter Soccer Mommy, Luna Li, Japanese singer-songwriter Ichiko Aoba, and South Korean producer and DJ Didi Han among other acts.
WOKE UP FEST, GBK Sports Complex, Jakarta, Indonesia
When: February 25
Tickets and more information: Woke Up Fest website
Indonesia’s Woke Up Fest has already unveiled the first wave of acts for its February event, with OneRepublic and Japanese metal band MAN ON A MISSION announced as headliners.
The festival has yet to announce the rest of its lineup including local performers, but has already sold out its pre-sale tickets.
CLOCKENFLAP, Central Harbourfront, Hong Kong
When: February 25
Tickets and information: Ticketflap
The 12th edition of Hong Kong’s Clockenflap Festival is finally set to take place this February after its 2021 postponement.
The three-day festival is set to feature headliners Artic Monkeys, Phoenix, and FKJ, as well as performances from Massive Attack, Stormzy, The Chemical Brothers and more.
WANDERLAND, Filinvest City Event Grounds, Metro Manila, the Philippines
When: March 4 and 5
Tickets and information: Tickelo
Wanderland Festival is set to hold its eighth edition this March 4 and 5 following a three-year hiatus due to the coronavirus pandemic.
The festival has announced a series of international artists for the event, with Bobby of iKON, Carly Rae Jepsen, Phoenix, No Rome, Balming Tiger and FKJ set to perform.
SOUND CHECK FESTIVAL, Thunder Dome Stadium, Muang Thong Thani, Thailand
When: March 25
Tickets and information: TBA
K-pop event organizer CM Live is bringing a number of K-pop acts to Thailand. Girl group aespa will be joined by BtoB, EVERGLOW, Kard, AKMU and more. Ticketing details, as well as the next wave of lineup reveals, have yet to be announced.
สุดเดือด! ครบแล้วกับ line up ศิลปินเกาหลี ที่จะมาเช็คเสียงกรี๊ดของแฟนๆ ชาวไทยในงาน 'Sound Check Festival 2023'…
Posted by CM Live on Tuesday, February 21, 2023
IT’S THE SHIP, The Genting Dream, Singapore
When: March 8-10
Tickets and information: It’s The Ship
Asia’s “festival at sea” is set to return for the first time since 2019, with the cruise set to depart from Singapore this March.
The festival has already begun announcing its lineup, with Gammer, Wiwek, Mike Cervello, Ray Ray, Sihk, Lusu, Jengi, Hugel, Aazar, Bass Agents and more added to the lineup so far.
PELUPO, Siam Country Club, Chonburi, Thailand
When: March 11
Ticket and information: TicketMelon
The inaugural Pelupo International Music Festival will be making its debut with an outsize lineup headlined by Phoenix and Kings of Convenience.
US Trop-pop duo Summer Salt, Canadian indie group Men I Trust, jazz band Ezra Collective and H I N A N O have also been announced for the festival so far.
JOYLAND BALI, Bali, Indonesia
When: March 17-19
Tickets and more information: Joyland Fest
Joyland Bali is set to follow up on its highly successful 2022 edition with a three-day event this year.
The festival has already revealed Phoenix as the headliner for the 2023 event, though no further performers have been revealed. The previous edition featured the likes of Basboi, Danilla Riyadi, The SIGIT and Isyana Sarasvati in an all-local lineup.
Introducing our first headliner for #JoylandFestBali, Grammy-winning French pop rock band @wearephoenix✨
Phoenix is back with their newest album 'Alpha Zulu.' Get your presale tickets now at https://t.co/xVfJDdmKKk – early bird tickets are almost sold out🫢 pic.twitter.com/MbeiduzveW
— Joyland Festival (@joylandfest) November 24, 2022
HAMMERSONIC, Jakarta, Indonesia
When: March 18-19
Tickets and more information: Hammersonic
After a spate of delays that saw festival postponed three times due to pandemic and public health concerns, Indonesia’s biggest metal music festival finally returns this year.
Fans will be looking forward to seeing Slipknot perform after a three-year wait, with Trivium, Saosin, Black Flag and more also joining the lineup.
RAMPAGE FEST, Lido Hall, Bangkok, Thailand
When: March 18
Tickets and more information: TBA
Six international metal acts are set to rock the Lido Hall in Bangkok this March, with deathcore veterans Suicide Silence leading the charge.
Joining them will be Born of Osiris, Devourment, Disentomb, Within Destruction and Batushka.
GUDFEST, Sumantri Brojonegoro Stadium, Jakarta, Indonesia
When: March 19
Tickets and more information: Tokopedia
Indonesia’s GudFest was initially planned as a two-day event, but due to the lack of time to prepare, the festival was eventually announced to be a one-day affair.
Pop punk veterans Sum 41 are set to headline, with more announcements on the way.
ROCK FRENZY FESTIVAL, JJ Mall, Bangkok, Thailand
When: March 31
Tickets and more information: TBA
Thailand’s Rock Frenzy Festival will showcase a lineup of punk bands this March at the JJ Mall in Bangkok.
Sum 41 has been announced as a headliner, with a yet-to-be-revealed group from St. Louis, Missouri set to join them at the top of the bill. The organisers have also promised a lineup featuring Thailand’s pop punk acts, though further information has yet to be announced.
Be Hear Now กลับมาอีกครั้ง กับเทศกาลคอนเสิร์ตสุดมันส์ ที่จะทำให้ทุกคนโยกจนหมดพลัง ไปกับ𝐁𝐞 𝐇𝐞𝐚𝐫 𝐍𝐨𝐰 𝐏𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐑𝐨𝐜𝐤 𝐅𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐳𝐲…
Posted by Be Hear Now on Saturday, February 11, 2023
ROLLING LOUD THAILAND, Legend Siam, Pattaya, Thailand
When: April 13-15
Tickets and more information: TicketMelon
The Asia debut of the lauded hip-hop festival is finally set to go forward after a failed expansion into Hong Kong in 2019 that was cancelled due to political protests.
Travis Scott is set to headline, with Ski Mask The Slump God, and Robb Bank$, with organisers having promised a total of 66 acts for the festival.
SIAM SONGKRAN FESTIVAL, Urban Yard RCA, Bangkok
When: April 12-16
Tickets and more information: EventPop
The Siam Songkran Festival returns with a lineup for DJs to celebrate the Thai new year, with water fights galore promised.
Afrojack, Darren Styles, Sihk and Yellow Claw are set to perform at the festival with many names yet to be revealed.
ORGANIK FESTIVAL, Taiwan
When: April 21-23
Tickets and more information: KKTix
Taiwan’s Organik Festival will moving to a new site dubbed “Secret Island” near the popular tourist spot Baisha Bay for this year’s edition.
Call Super, Sedef Adasï, Danielle, CEM, Sunju Hargun, Diskonnected, Clarisa Kimskii, Oceanic, Accelerationism and Amor Satyr have already been announced for the festival, with organisers promising 30 acts in the final lineup.
JAVA JAZZ, JIExpo Kemayoran, Jakarta, Indonesia
When: June 2-4
Tickets and more information: TBA
Java Jazz festival recently revealed the dates for its 2023 edition, with lineup and ticketing details yet to be announced.
The 2022 edition of the festival saw JoJo, The Temptations Revue featuring Glenn Leonard, and Maroon 5 keyboardist PJ Morton headlining a lineup that featured the likes of Dewa 19’s Ahmad Dhani, Maliq & D’Essentials, Afgan, Danilla Riyadi and more.
WE THE FEST, Jakarta, Indonesia
When: July 21-23
Tickets and more information: WeTheFest
We The Fest has announced the dates for its 2023 edition, with the festival returning to Jakarta for a three day event in July. On February 20, the festival announced its first wave of lineup reveals. The Strokes, The 1975, The Kid LAROI, and Lewis Capaldi will headline the festival.
Ticketing details will go live soon on the We The Fest website.
NUSAFEST, Bandar Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
When: July 8-9
Tickets and more information: MyTicket
NusaFest is set to feature 20 acts from across Malaysia, Singapore and Indonesia in a celebration of Nusantara music.
Originally set to be held in Feburary with a lineup Indonesian acts including Burgerkill, Dipha Barus, Diskoria, Fourtwenty, and Kunto Aji, and Singaporean act The Pinholes, a new lineup for the festival has yet to be announced.
GOOD VIBES FESTIVAL, Sepang International Circuit, Malaysia
When: July 21-23
Tickets and more information: Good Vibes Festival
Malaysia’s Good Vibes Festival returns in full for its 10th anniversary following the launch of a spin-off event dubbed Good Vibes Weekender last year.
The first wave of artists were announced on February 20, with The Strokes, The 1975, and The Kid LAROI headlining. Other notable international acts include DPR Live + DPR IAN, Porter Robinson, and Sabrina Carpenter. Tickets are available now on the Good Vibes Festival website. Prices start at RM 788 for General Admission and RM 1,388 for VIP.
