George Town Festival – a festival I’ve heard very little about when I lived in Kuala Lumpur apart from the fact that if you’re into the arts scene then this would be a festival you don’t want to miss. Since moving to Penang, almost a year ago, this year I’ve decided to submerse myself in the festivities and take in as much as I can.
Dasha Logan performing at the A+SEAN Showcase during the George Town Festival 2016.
George Town Festival (GTF) is a month long festival that celebrates arts, culture and heritage. It’s a yearly event that takes place around July to August, since its inauguration in 2010. It brings together local and international artist to Penang to showcase their art works and performances around George Town during this period.
I’m sure everyone is familiar with Ernest Zachaveric’s street art and installation around George Town – it was during one of this yearly GTF that he produced these artworks that has bought attention to his skills. He is just one of the many artist that have their installations around George Town long after the GTF is over.
I’m sure everyone is familiar with Ernest Zachaveric’s street art and installation around George Town – it was during one of this yearly GTF that he produced these artworks that has bought attention to his skills. He is just one of the many artist that have their installations around George Town long after the GTF is over.
Seated on plush beanbags and mats, the young and the old alike were entertained by Potehi, a gloved puppet show. This glove puppet theatre used to be performed in temples for the gods but in recent years, it has found popularity with a younger audience. Although the entire script was in a Chinese dialect, there were subtitles right as the bottom of the screen box for those who needed translation into English.
Same Same, the portrait of Malaysia- where images of groups of friends or family are captured and fused together to create one image that represents unity.
Another interesting stand that I found rather intriguing is the Same Same project by Lithuanian photographer Paulius Staniunas. Having lived in Malaysia for a few years and falling in love with its cultural diversity Same Same project showcases the stories of Malaysians and its diversity.
Paul had a booth set up at the esplanade where each group of friends or family, had their images taken. These images are later fused together to create one portrait. At the end of the project, he aims to fuse all the portrait he’s taken over the course of this project to create one unanimous image that represents Malaysia.
Paul had a booth set up at the esplanade where each group of friends or family, had their images taken. These images are later fused together to create one portrait. At the end of the project, he aims to fuse all the portrait he’s taken over the course of this project to create one unanimous image that represents Malaysia.
One of the creations from Theo Jansen's Strandbeest.
As the last rays of light disappear in the horizon, colourful lights lit the esplanade - it was time to pick a confortable spot in front of the stage for the main event to start. I was quite amazed that the crowd wasn’t all too large as I had imagined. Having been to festivals in England as well as in Kuala Lumpur, I mentally geared up for a large crowd, sweaty conditions and a possible mosh pit but there as none of that in sight.
*The tickets were cheap as chips for the artist line-up that would cost 10 times more to watch each artist individually at any given time.
I had the leisure of picking a spot, even nabbed a bean bag to be comfy, to watch the entire show in comfort. Of course the sitting down didn’t last long – I ended up some where in the front row standing and singing along to some of the tunes. Although the artist varied among the two days, I felt that the best line up was on Sunday. It had Joe Flizzow, Dasha Logan, Sheila Majid and Raisa to name a few.
*The tickets were cheap as chips for the artist line-up that would cost 10 times more to watch each artist individually at any given time.
I had the leisure of picking a spot, even nabbed a bean bag to be comfy, to watch the entire show in comfort. Of course the sitting down didn’t last long – I ended up some where in the front row standing and singing along to some of the tunes. Although the artist varied among the two days, I felt that the best line up was on Sunday. It had Joe Flizzow, Dasha Logan, Sheila Majid and Raisa to name a few.
Joe Flizzow and SonaOne warming up the crowd.
The evening started off with a buzz when SonaOne came on stage to perform followed by Joe Flizzow performing ‘Aku Tanya Apa Khabar’ together among other hits. Home girl, Dasha Logan was up next belting out famous renditions and some of her own tunes such as ‘Leave your man’ and ‘Cleverly’ which peaked number one at the UK Soul charts when it first released. At this point, the crowd was fully charged and was slowly but surely swelling up – even around the esplanade.
While Dasha Logan finished her set, I was ushered backstage to meet Raisa an Indonesian songstress that has been creating waves since she started her career. This was least expected as all I wanted was to be in the media area, taking close up pictures for this post. A friend, who was managing the event, was kind enough to ask me to follow the rest of the entourage to head back stage – surprise, surprise there was Raisa.
First hand impression – she’s sweet, funny and pretty bubbly. As much as I wanted to stay longer and chat, Sheila Majid was a more important cause of exit. 30 years in the industry and this would be the first time I’ve ever watched her perform live. I won’t say I’m her number one fan and that I know all her tracks but I sure do remember one song from her that made an impression on me; the one song that I love above all others from local artists – ‘Lagenda’.
While Dasha Logan finished her set, I was ushered backstage to meet Raisa an Indonesian songstress that has been creating waves since she started her career. This was least expected as all I wanted was to be in the media area, taking close up pictures for this post. A friend, who was managing the event, was kind enough to ask me to follow the rest of the entourage to head back stage – surprise, surprise there was Raisa.
First hand impression – she’s sweet, funny and pretty bubbly. As much as I wanted to stay longer and chat, Sheila Majid was a more important cause of exit. 30 years in the industry and this would be the first time I’ve ever watched her perform live. I won’t say I’m her number one fan and that I know all her tracks but I sure do remember one song from her that made an impression on me; the one song that I love above all others from local artists – ‘Lagenda’.
Sheila Majid with KAYDA
Woman still has it – powerful vocals, amazing presence and energy to keep the crowd going. She sang 12 of her well-known tracks and for someone who only knows one song, I ended up singing to half of them. Clearly I have heard of them, known of them but never realised she sang them!
While Sheila’s songs were of the Jazz and R&B genre, her daughter KAYDA is on the other side of the spectrum – rap. KAYDA is singer-songwriter in her own right. Still fairly new in the industry, this young lady is one to watch out for, for I am sure she has a lot more in store for us. Its was beautiful to see both mother and daughter perform together singing ‘Sinaran’ fusing their different styles into one.
The night ended with Raisa’s set. Powerful vocals and harmonious melodies, she was a perfect ending to the night.
Its safe to say that its a good start to GTF and the list of shows just keeps getting better each year. So if you’re heading out this Penang this month, look up George Town Festival’s event calendar and plan wisely. Not all shows will go on for a month, some would be just over the weekend like this one so do check if you don’t want to miss out!
While Sheila’s songs were of the Jazz and R&B genre, her daughter KAYDA is on the other side of the spectrum – rap. KAYDA is singer-songwriter in her own right. Still fairly new in the industry, this young lady is one to watch out for, for I am sure she has a lot more in store for us. Its was beautiful to see both mother and daughter perform together singing ‘Sinaran’ fusing their different styles into one.
The night ended with Raisa’s set. Powerful vocals and harmonious melodies, she was a perfect ending to the night.
Its safe to say that its a good start to GTF and the list of shows just keeps getting better each year. So if you’re heading out this Penang this month, look up George Town Festival’s event calendar and plan wisely. Not all shows will go on for a month, some would be just over the weekend like this one so do check if you don’t want to miss out!
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