KUALA LUMPUR: With the theme of Budaya Popular & Kontemporari (Popular & Contemporary Culture), the Borneo Rock Festival 2023 will have popular rock acts Search, Wings, Butterfingers, ACAB and Hujan entertaining fans next Dec 30.
Organised by Imika_Culture at Stadium Likas in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, the 11am concert which will last 13 hours, combines modern rock as well as traditional Borneo music.
The event's organising chairman Datuk Abdul Rahim Tahir said in a statement today that Imika aimed to make the festival an annual affair that gave visitors the best of old and new rock musicians, plus lots traditional musicians who could share useful knowledge with their fans.
"We want our festival to be edutainment at its best, where visitors can learn the basics of traditional as well as modern music," he said, adding that a total of 30 bands will perform in the festival.
"Search and Wings are the fathers of modern Malaysian rock, and no rock festival should begin without them. As for Butterfingers, Hujan and ACAB, they represent the post-1990s generation of rockers who resonate with music lovers of the 21st century."
Search lead singer Datuk Suhaimi Abdul Rahman or Amy hailed the festival as a "great idea" to help boost tourism in East Malaysia and bridge the geographical divide between East and West Malaysia.
"The festival achieves two great objectives, to promote the best of rockers and to showcase the best of East Malaysian musicians," he said.
The Sabahan bands participating in the festival include Maka Amef, Mahkluk, Silversun, Suka Suki, Markaz79, Beyond My Rage, Dita Darcia, Gutaeters, Measmata and Melodychain.
There will also be film screenings, a motorsports show, handicrafts and cookery contests.
Tickets are priced at RM79, RM99, RM129 and RM300. They can be purchased at www.ilassotickets.com or 011-1329 7822.