May 3, 2024
JAKARTA – Our beloved Jakarta is a city that has a little something for everyone, isn’t it? Whether you like big bashes or intimate gatherings, the city is bustling with celebrations, making sure there is a platform for subcultures of any kind.
While curling up in bed listening to depressing songs that make you embody a tortured poet is a perfectly good option for this weekend, here are other activities that might entice you to get out of the house.
1. Music concerts
This one goes out to those that identify as a hardcore concertgoers. Ending the month on a high note, Pantai Karnaval Ancol is hosting Boys Like Girls on Sunday, followed by All Time Low in the Tennis Indoor Senayan on Monday. As people whose playlist consists of greatest hits from the noughties, this makes our hearts sing!
But it doesn’t just stop there, as the month of May is bringing even bigger names to our lovely city. We’ll mention a few: all the arrows point to Ancol as the one direction for all the girls, because Niall Horan will grace the stage on May 11. Meanwhile, a dream will come true for K-Pop fans, the NCT Dream World Tour is coming on May 18. Other amazing musicians, including Avenged Sevenfold, Jessie Reyez and more, are just waiting to meet their Indonesian fanbase!
2. Comifuro 18
Anime watchers, manga readers and gamers, we didn’t forget about you. The first of the two Comic Frontiers in 2024 is just days away and we can hardly wait for May 11! What started as a small fan-driven convention has blossomed into a major event that draws thousands of artists, cosplayers and major names in the creative industries to a two-day festivity that’s sure to delight fandoms of all genres.
Attractions will always include a perennially packed artist alley filled with fan merch and original content along with cosplayers posing for a quick snap with fans in between emulating their favorite characters, but Comifuro 18 will have performances by Virtual YouTubers from the MAHA5 agency as well as Cardfight Vanguard!! stage matches with voice actresses Aina Aiba and Yuka Nishio.
3. The Tortured Poets Department Town Hall
Us tortured poets gotta stick together, right?
Easter may have passed us more than a fortnight ago, but the hunt for eggs has just begun for us Swifties. Come one and all with your theories and love of poetry and literature to Fyne Jakarta this Sunday night, as the city commences its own department meeting. Bring your own tissues as we welcome what we think is one of the most devastatingly beautiful albums with a karaoke party by Swift Indonesia.
In the center is our chair, Taylor Swift, in spirit. Honestly, did you expect us to write out this list without paying homage to the queen of pop culture?
4. Galeri Nasional
Let’s play a game of would you rather; would you rather spend the day contemplating artworks or take part in interactive workshops?
Galeri Nasional is currently holding two exhibitions: Butet Kertaredjasa’s solo exhibition Melik Ngendong Lali until May 25, and a collective exhibition by Empu Gampingan titled Tempatan from April 30 to May 16.
The latter is especially interesting for attendees, as it also features a series of workshops, including ecoprint and tapestry weaving on May 2, mixology on May 4 and 5, painting and embroidery on May 5, and batik using wood as a medium on May 7.
5. Periklindo Electric Vehicle Show
JIEXPO will also be hosting a slew of electric vehicle (EV) manufacturers via an exhibition on April 30. Marking its third, the event carries the theme Leading EV Show in Indonesia, as the association’s support for the government to accelerate the transition to EVs in Indonesia.
Apart from the varied product displays from EV brands, perhaps the most exciting thing they can offer is the opportunity for users to try out the experience of driving using an EV directly. The exhibition will be open until May 5.