As the rains come to a stop in many Southeast Asian countries and the so-called high season begins, it’s a great time of year for music festivals that attract both locals and tourists alike.
From huge festivals with bold print names like The Weeknd to small bands you’ve never heard of, here are the festivals you’ll likely feel the strongest case of FOMO for not having attended… (trust us, we know the feeling).
We Are Connected
This one-day festival in Yangon happens this weekend, so if you don’t already live there — then you’ve still got time to plan a quick trip. An offshoot of the famed Amsterdam festival by the same name, this Southeast Asian version will have Sander van Doorn, Alan Walker, Cash Cash, Don Diablo, and more on the lineup.
Yangon
Sept. 15
Tickets: MYK25,000 (US$16)
Djakarta Warehouse Project (DWPX)
This serious Jakarta festival institution has decamped to Bali this year to celebrate their 10th anniversary in style. The lineup focuses on house, trance, and EDM and, though it’s changed location this year — it’s still happening in December.
Known for excellent production levels and a pounding sound system, this festival will deliver acts like The Weeknd, Major Lazer Soundsystem, Alesso, and Armin Van Buuren. The tickets aren’t cheap, but the lineup looks first class.
Bali
Dec. 7-9
Tickets: 3-day tickets INR1,800K (US$120)
Neon Lights
Though Singapore suffered without an annual Neon Lights fest last year, the ever-popular festival is back this year for three days in November for their third installment. Headliners include Interpol, Yuna, Caribou, Rhye, and Cigarettes After Sex are interspersed with smaller outfits such as Bodega and Sticky Fingers.
The premier Singapore music festival, which has drawn comparisons to Glastonbury fest, did so even more in 2016 when partygoers danced like crazy despite the rain and mud.
Singapore
Nov. 9-11
1-day tickets start at SGD99 (US$72)
Clockenflap
Indeed, Hong Kong is not in Southeast Asia — but it is within the Coconuts empire (muahaha), so we’re including its legendary Clockenflap festival on our list. Happening on exactly the same weekend as Singapore’s Neon Lights, Clockenflap will feature New York indie rock giants Interpol, US R&B star Khalid, and David Byrne, the former frontman of new wave pioneers Talking Heads.
The 11th edition of the city’s biggest annual music and arts festival — scheduled to take place in November — will also feature British alt-rockers Wolf Alice and indie rock outfit The Vaccines.
Hong Kong
Nov. 9-11
1-day tickets start at HKD890 (US$113)
Wonderfruit
Unlike the long-running alt/indie Big Mountain Music Festival in bucolic Khao Yai — which focuses purely on music and has remained mum on this year’s supposed December installation so far — this festival focuses more on lifestyle than tunes.
They offer art installations, a hair and makeup tent, and three days of bands few people have heard of but might become your new fave. But that’s OK, this is as much a place to try gastronomic pop-up dinners, so-called “cutting-edge” cocktails, and climb on art as listen to music.
This year features Fleetmac Wood, Huun-Huur-Tu, and Goldie & The Ensemble among many others. Go ahead, take a selfie. Everyone else is.
Thailand
Dec. 13-16
1 day tickets start at THB4,500 (US$137)
Epizode 3
Closing out the year with a bang will be the third installation of Vietnam’s Epizode festival on Phu Quoc island featuring Apollonia, Dan Andrei, Dubfire, Ferry Corsten, Nick Warren, and more.
The shockingly long festival — it runs 11 days! — will play stages around the beaches of the Western Vietnam island and in the jungles of the interior. The New Year’s experience brings together talents from Europe as well as Asia and has built quite a following in just a few years.
Vietnam
Dec. 28 – Jan. 8
11-day passes are VND4.5 million (US$196)
Reader Interactions