The first in-person showcase by ASEAN Music Showcase Festival (AMS) is officially behind us, and it ended on a high note, thanks to some amazing performances by artists from various ASEAN countries like Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia, Cambodia, Philippines, Indonesia, and guest acts from India, Taiwan and Australia, which rounded out the schedule on September 10-11 (Saturday and Sunday) at Haw Par Villa in Singapore.
The first day of AMS offered an eclectic lineup, giving the audience something to enjoy as the festival got underway. It was an exciting first day with Jatayu‘s remarkable performance, the Indian jazz-rock fusion band wowed the crowds with sounds of classical music with jazz, blues, rock, and funk; a true reflection of modern Indian music.
Indonesian hitmaker singer-songwriter Pamungkas concluded his SE Asia tour by closing things out with his headlining set on Stage 1. It was quite the way to put a cap on the first night.
The intraregional music showcase festival underscored the value of forging strong music communities through the tried-and-tested joy of music discovery
On Day 2, closing act VannDa from Cambodia performed a high-octane set—and an encore to boot—to a passionate crowd, several of whom waved Cambodian flags and rapped and sang along in Khmer. Earlier on Sunday night, HIGH CLOUD Entertainment founder and Thai veteran rapper F.HERO brought together a dozen-plus of his fellow artists on stage. He said, “We just want to spread the love. We are [the] Asian sound.”
Over 2,000 people attended the event, visibly marked by multigenerational and multicultural music fans. Artists can be seen among the crowd enjoying performances from their contemporaries. At different points during the festival, many artists professed their excitement about discovering new music and eagerly professed their desire to collaborate.
One of the most compelling sights during AMS weekend is the strong support of music fans who came out in high spirits not only for their favorites, but also for the many attendees who showed camaraderie to foreign performers, many of whom made their international debut on the AMS live stage, such as non-Asean representatives like I Mean Us, LÜCY and Huan Huan from Taiwan, and Yeo from Australia.
During the weekend festival proper, attendees were treated to various types of musical performances, which were concurrently streamed live on AMS’s YouTube channel for music fans around the world who wished to watch the sets. The programming was curated to specifically cater to different music preferences and tastes. Food and drink stations can be easily accessed near each stage.
About the ASEAN Music Showcase Festival (AMS)
AMS is co-organized by Fungjai, NYLON Thailand, and Bangkok Music City from Thailand; Steady State Records from Singapore; SRM from Indonesia; City Roars Festival from Malaysia; The Rest Is Noise PH from the Philippines; Baramey Production from Cambodia; and Monsoon Music Festival and Swan Zoo from Vietnam.
AMS 2022 is proudly supported by the National Arts Council, Taiwan ASEAN Music Action (TAMA) – supported by the Ministry of Culture, Taiwan, with Haw Par Villa – managed by Journeys Pte Ltd as venue sponsors, and TuneCore and Parlo Tours as the general sponsor.