After the many concerts and festivals held in Peninsular Malaysia, it’s high time for East Malaysia to take centre stage with this upcoming international music and arts festival!
End the year with a blast at the Sunbear Festival, which will be held at the Sarawak Cultural Village on 9 & 10 December!
If you’re a music lover, hungry foodie or artsy-fartsy person, then you’re in luck – because Sunbear Festival has it ALL!
1. Some of the world’s hottest acts, all in Sarawak!
Reality Club (Indonesia)
Great music is arguably the most essential aspect of festivals. Fortunately, Sunbear Festival has that well covered, with top-notch international acts from across the globe to stimulate our auditory senses. Walao-wei!
Here are the headliners who will be making waves at the festival:
a) The Red Jumpsuit Apparatus (USA)
Can you believe this family-owned American band has been around since 2003 (that’s 19 YEARS!)? Not only have they earned Gold and Platinum certifications from the RIAA (Recording Industry Association of America), but they also climbed Billboard’s Christian Rock Radio charts to reach #1 SEVEN times as an independent band!
b) Danilla (Indonesia)
Danilla Riyadi comes from a family that’s deeply entrenched in the Indonesian music scene, so no wonder lah she chose music as her professional career, not to mention she acts too! With two studio albums and one EP under her belt, her debut in 2014 was met with critical acclaim, to the extent that Rolling Stone Indonesia named her the year’s “Best New Act”.
c) Ramengvrl (Indonesia)
Before exploding into the music scene with her 2016 debut single “I’m da Man”, Putri Estiani didn’t expect her love for hip hop and blogging/journalling would bring her here. While working in the corporate world, she was unexpectedly discovered by local record label Underground Bizniz Club, who offered to help share her music with the world!
d) Phum Viphurit (Thailand)
Malaysians would undoubtedly be well-acquainted with Phum Viphurit’s 2018 single “Lover Boy”, which was played on repeat so many times on local radio! With his unique blend of neo-soul and indie folk music, one can’t help but be hooked on his music right away!
e) Sekumpulan Orang Gila (Malaysia)
Hailing from Batu Caves, Sekumpulan Orang Gila (SOG) are a band of post-hardcore/metalcore local boys with no shortage of talents. They emerged as winners at the Battle Of Acoustics in 2010; runner-ups at the talent show for young composers, Keynote; and most recently won Anugerah Juara Laju 36 for their song “Pelukan Angkasa”, featuring none other than Shila Hamzah herself!
f) FUR (UK)
If you’re into ’60’s music, this indie rock band hailing from Brighton is one artist you MUST check out! FUR’s modern twist of ’60’s music has been turning heads at an alarming rate, which is incredibly impressive for a wholly-independent band with zero commercial backing.
And that’s just the frosting on the cake. Sunbear Festival will feature a total of 35 artists from Malaysia and all over the world, so rest assured, there will be no shortage of awesome music!
2. Embark on food adventures at Hungry Town!
Sarawak laksa
Delight your ears AND taste buds at Sunbear Festival, with exciting food adventures that await you at Hungry Town!
From slurp-licious Sarawak laksa and native favourite ayam pansuh to juicy homemade burgers and the #$&!% best doughnuts you’ll ever have, Hungry Town is lined with plenty of multi-cultural food options that’ll stimulate your palates.
Ayam Pansuh
3. Unravel the arts, culture and shopping sides of you
Once you’ve had your fill of music and lip-smacking food, take a walk around the festival grounds and take in the numerous art installations by local artists! If you feel their artwork is worth sharing, feel free to take a photo with it and Gram it up!
Once you’ve finished admiring the arts, head over to Sunbear Festival’s Culture City and take a gander at their marketplace of fashion, music and experiences! Get a rare signed poster, limited edition clothing, timeless vinyls and more, all around the “city” grounds~
And last but absolutely not least, expand your mental horizons by exploring Jugam Art Village, a uniquely curated Sarawakian marketplace that features crafts, arts and experiences from the hosting state. Not only can you shop for locally-made crafts, but you can also learn a thing or two from cool workshops like sape playing (traditional Borneo instrument), batik painting, Bidayuh glass beads threading, and more!
“Woah, quite ons ah this festival! How to go?”
If you don’t happen to have a car to drive there, Sunbear Festival will actually be offering affordable shuttle bus services from Kuching City to the festival venue at Sarawak Cultural Village! Stay tuned to Liveinkch’s Facebook and Instagram pages for the bus schedule.
So convenient! Sarawakians and Sabahans will undoubtedly get to have fun at Sunbear Festival, but this would also be the perfect opportunity for Peninsular Malaysians to plan a holiday to their neighbouring state!
Sunbear Festival’s tickets are now sold in Phase 2, which are a little like early bird tickets that are cheaper than the normal-priced passes.
Here are the Phase 2 ticket prices:
However, Phase 2 tickets are being phased out soon, which means Sunbear Festival’s tickets are going to be more $$$! So, don’t dilly-dally or you’ll miss out on one of the year’s biggest music and arts festivals in Malaysia!
Head over to Sunbear Festival’s official website to get your tickets today, or follow organiser Liveinkch’s Facebook and Instagram pages for updates on this funtastic festival!
