After getting us excited with the announcements of Tame Impala and M83, Urbanscapes today have released their festival lineup for 2016. If you haven't been following them closely, the festival will not be returning as a two-day event in one venue. Instead, Urbanscapes 2016 will take place for three weekends from April 23 to May 8 with events taking place at various venues across town: mapKL, The Bee Publika, KL Live, and Medan Pasar's heritage OCBC Bank art deco building (2 Hang Kasturi) – dubbed Urbanscapes House during the festival. A little bit about what's set to be Urbanscapes HQ: It's a five-storey building which will host the festival's arts events, markets and workshops as well as closing party – there'll even be a café at the entrance with a specially curated menu. Exciting stuff.
The Observatory
Now on to business: So other than Tame Impala (April 23) and M83 (May 7), you can also look forward to catching UK drum and bass band Rudimental at KL Live (May 1). On the local side, Hujan and Bittersweet will have a show on April 24 (we're told that both bands will be 'showcasing tracks from their upcoming albums'). Meanwhile, gig central The Bee Publika will host several intimate gigs as well as the Jin Hackman-curated 'The Night Before Tomorrow' (NB4T) on April 30, and on May 5, Singaporean art rock band The Observatory will present a screening of their documentary 'The Obs: A Singapore Story' followed by a live showcase of their latest album 'August is the Cruellest'.
'Cannot Be Bo(a)rdered'
Other highlights: the return of vinyl market and party Musika Publika at Blackbox (April 23), rooftop markets at Urbanscapes House (yes there will be a food market), 'Cannot Be Bo(a)rdered' (a regional art exhibition on skate culture happening throughout the festival), and Market of Experiences (April 30-May 1). Urbanscapes 2016 will finish off with a street party at Medan Pasar on May 8 featuring street performers, art installations, food trucks, and all the good stuff the now 14-year-old arts festival is known for.
For more info and the full lineup, visit urbanscapes.com.my.