The widely anticipated two-day TAPAUfest is making its triumphant return on October 7th and 8th, 2023, following the tremendous success of last year’s event, which drew an audience of about 3000. This event stands as a lighthouse, unifying the Southeast Asian indie community under the theme of #SerumpunBerpesta and #LepakLenggong, nestled against the gorgeous background of a lovely lake and towering mountains at Resort Tasik Raban, Lenggong, Perak.
An embodiment of the spirit of unity and celebration, TAPAUfest brings together top and rising indie artists from Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore, and Thailand.
“Instead of trying to make the festival bigger and bigger from one year to the next, our focus this year is on making sure that we pay more attention to the details especially in terms of getting the indie community and the locals of Lenggong to come together in terms of curation and participation”, said Ahmad Faris, Creative Director of TAPAUasia Sdn. Bhd..
With that in mind, this year, TAPAUfest pays tribute to the women that make up the scene. This can be seen through their collaboration with Newruul, the young artist behind the poster and merch design, while the lineup at PENTAS (music stage) features plenty of up-and-coming female talents.
Kicking off Day 1 with a bang, the new-generation ‘Midwest Emo’ outfit Mascot is all set to captivate the audience with their energy and depth.
Next up, experimental dub reggae band Rub of Rub from Indonesia brings an ethereal sound that perfectly complements Lenggong’s enchanting landscape, which is especially magical during sunset.
Opening the night’s performance is the electronic duo Wobbebong. Armed with high energy and curiosity, the girls will surely bring on the fun with a hint of quirkiness to their set.
The next act on the lineup is the legendary Force Vomit from Singapore. Celebrating the 20th anniversary of their sophomore album with the release of ‘Give It Up For The Trustfund Rockers’ in vinyl, the boys are hyped to rekindle their love relationship with Malaysia’s indie scene.
Rock N’ roll Supergroup Jemson will then take the stage paying homage to Malaysia’s ‘rock kapak’ golden era while injecting their own modern sound and sense of humor, promising a high energy rock show.
Closing Day 1 is Indonesia’s young balladeer, Nadin Amizah, whose fanbase in both Indonesia and Malaysia is getting larger as many flock to her emotionally honest, coming-of-age songs. She maintains a strong connection with her audience as a representative of a new generation of singers. For a reflective, sentimental dive into the depths of the soul, the combo of Tasik Raban’s natural beauty with Nadin Amizah’s performance would be perfect.
Day 2 kicks off with one of the most exciting indie acts from Indonesia at the moment,The Jansen. Describing themselves as a mid-tempo 70’s punk band from Bogor, the band blew up after the release of the album, ‘Banal Semakin Binal’ last year.
Next, Ipoh’s very own Muck will take the stage as a salute to local heroes. Formed in 1994, the band is considered one of the pioneers of Malaysia’s indie scene.
Marking a first in TAPAUfest history, Door Plant is the first-ever act from Thailand to grace the festival’s stage, bringing a carefree and easy vibe to the stage with their unique sound as they stop by Malaysia in their tour.
Bringing neo-folk to Lenggong, Bayangan‘s cinematic arrangements and lyrical self-exploration are set to captivate the audience, especially with a full band set-up for songs normally performed solo.
Get ready to dance and contemplate the collective energy of Lomba Sihir, a band that has gained recognition as groovy poets of a complex love-hate relationship between humankind and the modern city with their album ‘Selamat Datang Di Ujung Dunia’.
Last but not least, concluding the festival is Zee Avi, a trailblazer in the community of indie musicians as she leaped to fame during the early YouTube years. In 2009, her breakout singles “Kantoi” and “Bitter Heart” propelled her into the hearts and minds of not only Malaysians but also international audiences after being featured in NPR Music Tiny Desk Concert that same year. In 2020, her song “Good Things” was an anthem of hope for many. Ending a festival with her melancholic tunes and radiant songs is the best way to wrap up TAPAUfest.
With music performances at PENTAS only starting at 5pm, this gives plenty of time for festival goers to discover and explore the magic of Lenggong where amazing nature and delicious food spots are aplenty.
Beyond the PENTAS, TAPAUfest is also a creative hub of learning, discovery, and sharing. Step into the air-conditioned tent to escape the sun and dive into indie art and community workshops in the BENGKEL segment, or discover local indie shorts at LAYAR, co-curated with Kakiseni.
TAPAUfest weaves food, art, and culture into its vibrant fabric, creating a hub of experiences. Savour the culinary delights of WARUNG, where street food vendors from Lenggong as well as from all over showcase the richness of Malaysia’s ‘makan’ culture.
PASAR, a marketplace for records, merchandise, clothing, and artworks by indie artists and brands is where attendees can shop while being entertained by live DJs at the mini stage.
One thing that sets TAPAUfest apart from other art festivals is the opportunity to camp out for 2 nights at Resort Tasik Raban and fully immerse in the Lenggong vibes. Campers can book their spot at the Santuy Campsite, where bonfire sessions and acoustic performances await or alternatively join the Outsiders Campout, tying hammocks, biking to Lata Perahu, and sharing in a community cookout.
TAPAUfest 2023 is a festival experience by TAPAUasia in collaboration with Majlis Daerah Lenggong, Ipoh Social Club, Verssusika, and in partnership with Vans, Yoodo, Batik Air, Era, Gempak and Syok.
TAPAUfest 2023 is supported by the Ministry of Communications and Digital Malaysia (KKD) through MyCreative Ventures (MYCV).
Pre Sale tickets are on sale from now until 6th October 2023 for the price of: Solo Daily Ticket (1 ticket for Day 1 or Day 2) – RM175
Solo Weekend Ticket (1 ticket for Day 1 and Day 2 – RM330
Geng Weekend Ticket (1 tickets for Day 1 and Day 2) – RM1200
For tickets and more info please visit www.TAPAUfest.asia or follow @TAPAUfest on all social medias.
