Music festivals Asia 2019: 17 events you can’t miss, from beach parties to boat bashes
- Chainsmokers, Sia, Flume, The Chemical Brothers, The Cure, Thom Yorke and Janelle Monáe are some of the big names playing the Asia festival circuit
- From Summer Sonic in Japan to Wonderfruit in Thailand, there is a party for everyone
Far from the wet and muddy festivals Europe is famed for, Asia knows how to pull off a good festival.
While Japan might get all the attention for its long-established events, head south for diverse line-ups, dreamy beach locations and practically guaranteed warm weather.
Here are the Asian music festivals to look forward to in the second half of the year.
July
S2O Taiwan Songkran Music Festival – July 6-7
Inspired by the annual revelry at Thailand’s Songkran festival, Taiwan’s S2O Festival is claimed to be “the wettest festival in the world”, promising partying punters a dousing wherever they stand in the arena. Dutch DJ R3hab and duo Yellow Claw will be headlining, with US electronic producer Ookay and Booty Bounce hitmaker Tujamo rounding out the bill.
Follow-up Shek O full-moon party apparently axed after first one a fiasco
Dajia Riverside Park, Taipei City, Zhongshan District, Taiwan
Rainforest World Music Festival, Borneo – July 12-14
Perhaps Asia’s answer to the UK’s Womad, Rainforest World Music Festival in Borneo is a gathering of eclectic performances from across the globe, from the Celtic folk of Scotland’s Talisk and the evocative throat singing of Mongolia’s Sedaa to the politically astute rhymes of Jamaica’s Macka B (aka, the “Cucumber” rapper) and the dazzling Polynesian dances of Chile’s Ballet Folclorico de Chile Bafochi.
Alongside a busy three-day programme of music, there’ll be wellness workshops, including self-defence, yoga, dance and tarot reading, as well as a world crafts bazaar.
Sarawak Cultural Village, Damai Beach Resort, 93762, Kampung Budaya Sarawak, 93010 Kuching, Sarawak, Malaysia
We The Fest, Indonesia – July 19- 21
The slickly organised Indonesian festival is back for a sixth edition with a monster line-up: international names including Warpaint, Rae Sremmurd, Troye Sivan, 6lack, Alvvays, Cigarettes After Sex and Yaeji will all be performing alongside top Indonesian talent like Endah N Rhesa, Dekat and Barasuara. Expect an art village, children-friendly games, a cinema club and top-notch eats, too.
Jiexpo Kemayoran RW. 10, Kota Tua, Pademangan Tim., Pademangan Jakarta Pusat 14410 Indonesia
Good Vibes Festival, Malaysia – July 20-21
With a line-up similar to We The Fest, Malaysia’s Good Vibes makes the most of the high-calibre international talent jetting into the region by giving more fans a chance to see their heroes live. Rae Sremmurd, 6lack, Cashmere Cat, Cigarettes After Sex and Yaeji will all be in attendance, along with Jess Connelly, Dean, Anna Lunoe and many more acts to be announced in the coming weeks.
B66 Jalan Batang Kali, Genting Highlands, 44300 Genting Highlands, Selangor, Malaysia
Avicii’s friends preserve legacy of late electronic DJ by finishing off his last album
Jisan Rock Festival, South Korea – July 26-28
Formerly Jisan Valley Rock, the new iteration of the festival has cobbled together a unique line-up. Psychedelic Aussies King Gizzard and The Lizard Wizard top the bill. Expect to also catch some of Korea’s top (non-K-pop) acts, such as Lee Seung-yeul, Daybreak, DickPunks, Sultan of the Disco, Solutions, Zitten, Guckkasten, Monni, Galaxy Express and Huckleberry Finn.
Jisan Forest Resort, Majang-myeon, Icheon, Gyeonggi Province, South Korea
Fuji Rock, Japan – July 26-28
The legendary Fuji Rock continues to reign as the region’s best-known bash, presenting another world-class line-up for 2019. This year, The Chemical Brothers, The Cure, Thom Yorke, Janelle Monáe, Sia, Death Cab For Cutie and James Blake will be among the 200-plus international and Japanese stars to rock the ski resort venue on the 22nd anniversary of the festival, known to be among the cleanest in the world.
Naeba Ski Resort, Yuzawa-cho, Niigata Prefecture, Japan
August
Incheon Pentaport Rock Festival, South Korea – August 9 -11
Amid all the electronic music events that dominate the region, South Korea’s Pentaport serves a crowd who like things a little more guitar-based. This year, US garage kings Weezer will head a bill that also includes The Vamps, Two Door Cinema Club, Steel Heart, Jambinai, The Rose, Riot Kidz and Bulnabang Star Sausage Club – all gathering at the poetically named Songdo Moonlight Festival Park.
Songdo Moonlight Festival Park, Songdo-dong, Yeonsu-gu, Incheon, South Korea
Summer Sonic , Japan – August 16-18
For nearly two decades, Japanese behemoth Summer Sonic has been held simultaneously in Tokyo and Osaka over the same weekend. A giant roster of acts perform across multiple stages at the urban festivals, which see the most high-profile Japanese outfits play alongside international A-listers. Rock duo B’z, pop-punk squad Fall Out Boy, Hong Kong heroes Supper Moment, pop rockers The 1975, garage rock legends Weezer and even Abba parody-tribute act Bjorn Again will grace this year’s stages.
Osaka: Maishima Sonic Park, Kitakouryokuchi Konohana-ku, Osaka, Japan ; Tokyo: Makuhari Messe, Nakase, Mihama-ku, Chiba, Japan
Hydro Manila, Philippines – August 17
Rock out at this festival that comes with one guarantee: you will get wet. Fire trucks and super soakers come locked and loaded, and ready to douse revellers to cool them off in Manila’s intense summer heat. Previous years have seen some of the Philippines hottest EDM acts come out to play. Bonus: it’s cheap as chips.
Mall of Asia (MoA) Concert Grounds, Pasay, Metro Manila, Philippines
Sunny Side Up Tropical Festival, Indonesia – August 24
It’s always sunny in Bali, home to a host of music festivals, though perhaps none so chill as Sunny Side Up Tropical. Aussie DJ Flume and British rising star Grace Carter are the first announced acts – expect many more names released over the coming weeks. Previous years have included Mark Ronson, Disclosure and Ellie Goulding performing on a unique poolside stage beside the beach.
Manarai Beach House, The Beachfront of Sofitel, Lot N5 BTDC, Nusa Dua 80363, Jl. Nusa Dua, Kuta Sel., Kabupaten Badung, 80363 Bali, Indonesia
Hodgepodge SuperFest, Indonesia – August 31 – September 1
Run wild and free at this (very reasonably priced) festival set at an ocean-themed waterfront amusement park just outside Jakarta. Featuring hard rockers Prophets of Rage, indie group Snow Patrol, pop soloist The Japanese House and home-grown Indonesian talents Gaz, Danilla and Barasuara.
Allianz Ecopark Ancol, Taman Impian Jaya Ancol Jl. Lodan Timur No. 7, Jakarta, Indonesia
September
Creamfields Taiwan – September 7
Get excited as one of the world’s most renowned music festivals touches down in Taiwan. The Chainsmokers are the first announced act on the bill, with the full line-up to be released soon. Previous editions have hosted Martin Garrix, Galantis, Dimitri Vegas & Like Mike, The Chunder Kids and Timmy Trumpet.
Transmission Korea – September 21
Trance festival Transmission is now a global brand, with events from the Czech Republic to Australia. Organisers chose South Korea for their first ever outdoor festival. Details are scant so far, but it’s certainly one to keep an eye on as acts are announced.
Paradise City Korea 186, Yeongjonghaeannam-ro 321-gil, Jung-gu, Incheon, Korea
November
It’s The Ship, Singapore – November 13-15
Set your radar to party and clamber aboard the HMS hedonism for an unforgettable weekend on the high seas. It’s The Ship, Asia’s largest music festival at sea, is a luxury floating city that boasts 18 decks, multiple swimming pools and jacuzzis, water slides, a zip line, a bowling alley, a minigolf course and more than 35 restaurants and bars. Line up will be announced soon.
Set sail from Marina Bay Cruise Centre, 61 Marina Coastal Drive, Singapore
Clockenflap, Hong Kong – November 22-24
No Asian festivals guide would be complete without the inclusion of Clockenflap, Hong Kong’s biggest music event, which will celebrate its 12th year in 2019. Few details are available regarding this year’s event, but expect a similarly high calibre of acts seen previously, including Franz Ferdinand, Interpol, New Order, MIA, The Chemical Brothers and David Byrne.
Central Harbourfront, Hong Kong
December
Wonderfruit, Thailand – December 12-16
Get on down to Wonderfruit, one of Asia’s most well-organised and green festivals. Thailand’s carbon-neutral, four-day celebration of music, art and sustainable living has seen Goldie, Nightmares on Wax, Khruangbin, Gui Boratto and Roots Manuva all play in recent years, though there’s no word yet on who will be taking to its stages this year. Snap up your ticket nice and early before the inevitable stampede.
The Fields at Siam Country Club, Pattaya, Thailand
Epizode, Vietnam – December 27- January 7
Tinsel, jingle bells and snowy Christmases not for you? Get to the beach to see out 2019 and ring in the new year at Phu Quoc’s 11-day bonanza of electronic music and art. Loco Dice, Apollonia, Waff, Ricardo Villalobos and Anja Schneider are all confirmed this year, with more names expected to be released over the next few months.
Sunset Sanato Beach Club, Phu Quoc, Vietnam
