Urbanscapes, Malaysia’s month-long creative arts festival, have added Kimbra and Jagwar Ma to the line-up for the festival’s finale on Dec 6 at the Horse Ranch, Resorts World Genting. In addition to a wide-range of visual and experiential art offering, Urbanscapes’ festival finale features a diverse music line-up that caters to all aural palates by moving beyond the indie music genre.
Grammy Award winner Kimbra (“Settle Down”, “Cameo Lover”), the New Zealand-born mononymous art-pop songwriter will make her way from Melbourne to Genting Horse Ranch for a performance that draws inspiration from a wide musical spectrum. Her latest album, “The Golden Echo” is a vivid, vivacious, and ambitious arc of pop and funk that conveys an array of questions and insights. Kimbra became a global presence via her ear-turning role on Gotye’s international No. 1 hit “Somebody That I Used to Know,” which earned her and Gotye honors for “Record of the Year” and “Best Pop Duo/Group” at the 2013 Grammy Awards.
An army of music gatekeepers in the likes of NME and Pitchfork all believe the Sydney-based psychedelic/dance band Jagwar Ma (“The Throw”, “Uncertainty”) deserve acclaim — and there’s no questioning why. Known for their signature juxtaposition of voice and electronics, Jagwar Ma started as a musical project born out of studio jams and home recordings, radio frequency manipulation, TR808 patterns, MPCs loops, vintage amps, and a treasured 7-inch collection.
Staying true to its brand as a full-spec creative arts festival, Urbanscapes will play host to a myriad of unconventional festival activities that invites guests to explore, experience the festival with all senses. Urbanscapes is turning that assumption that stables are just for horses. A wander through the festival grounds will take the crowd to “The Democratic People’s Republic of North Bangsar”, a mock parody country with a back story that is laugh-out-loud hilarious — and perhaps, plausible. Produced by Terry & The Cuz and Kuah Jenhan, North Bangsar offers an experience much like walking onto a film set. Festival goers get to meet its mayor — Jenhan — and explore the town, get a “prescription” from a Chinese Medicine Hall and participate in the “local” activity of choice — real serious bolster fight skirmishes.
Also completing the festival line-up are local and regional acts such as:
- OJ Law
- Ali Aiman
- Najwa
- June Marieezy
- Faiq and the Manja Mob
- Azmyl Yunor & Orkes Padu
- The Cotton Field Scarecrowes
- Cashew Chemists
- Paperplane Pursuit
- Jumero
- Dirgahayu
Highlighting a myriad of Malaysia’s homegrown entrepreneurs and artisans, expect offerings from:
- Ash Be Nimble
- Mosaic Bijoux
- Power of Word
- Psychedelic Store
- Nyo
- Trendy Bellaz
- I’ll Studio
- Third Culture
- URBN8
- CanvasPick
- Prototype gallery
- Huggaz
- Homu store
- Robe Du Jour
- Wild Baby
- Sun Off A Beach
And more!
As previously announced, on 6th Dec, festival-goers can look forward to soak in the anthemic sounds of the Los Angeles-based indie rock band Local Natives (“Gorilla Manor”, “Heavy Feet”) that Pitchfork described as a “sort of West Coast ‘Grizzly Bear’ [the band]”. Playing alongside them will be the legendary American college rock outfit The Lemonheads (“It’s a Shame About Ray”) whose cover of Simon & Garfunkel’s “Mrs Robinson” paved a way to a breakthrough in their salad days.
Let’s not forget the Urbanscapes Satellite Shows:
- Scottish synthpop band Chvrches (“Recover”, “Lies”), will perform at 7 pm, 19th Nov at KL Live. The trio, whose track “The Mother We Share” was featured in the opening video for the 2014 Commonwealth Games Opening Ceremony in Glasgow, Scotland this year.
- The Scottish post-rock band Mogwai (“Take Me Somewhere Nice”) often championed by the late John Peel of BBC Radio will take their brand of shoe-gazing, instrumental metal renditions to Urbanscapes’ Satellite Show this year on 7 pm, 30th Nov, also at KL Live.
- American comedy rock duo Tenacious D (“Tribute”, “Wonderboy“), featuring actors/musicians Jack Black and Kyle Gass will play Urbanscapes’ third Satellite Show on 1st Dec at KL Live.
Buy your Urbanscapes tickets online here. Tickets can also be bought at physical outlets throughout the country. For full list of outlets, look them up here. Ticketing information for additional satellite shows will be announced when appropriate.
For more information on Urbanscapes 2014, visit their website or Facebook page.