GEORGE TOWN, July 5 — The annual George Town Festival (GTF) this year will kick off with a spectacular two-day showcase that involves an artistic and engineering creation, giant puppets, a concert by Asean artistes, a fashion show and a market featuring Asean products.
The A+SEAN Showcase of Australian and Southeast Asian talents at the Esplanade on July 30 and 31 will feature the best of Southeast Asian talents while Theo Jansen’s Strandbeest (which is Dutch for beach creature) and Snuff Puppets roam the open field.
“There will also be market with over 30 stalls selling art, handicrafts and the latest fashion from Asean countries, it will be like Bangkok’s Chatuchak market,” said festival director Joe Sidek.
The concert will feature Malaysia’s queen of jazz, Sheila Majid, hip hop artist Joe Flizzow, SonaOne, Indonesian band Nidji, singer Raisa, Penang songstress Dasha Logan and local indie bands such as Bittersweet, OAG, Bihzhu and Ocean of Fire.
There will also be a ballet performance titled the “Rite of Spring”, street magic by Magicnews TV James, an exhibition of “Same Same - The Portrait of Malaysia”, a Chinese puppet theatre “Potehi” and Iflix film screening.
This year, GTF also launched its first ever festival discount card - the GTFD 2016 GO card that is available in yellow (RM30) and red (RM50).
Those who purchase the yellow GO card will get a one-day ticket for A+SEAN or the red GO card for two-day tickets to A+SEAN. Those who purchase tickets to A+SEAN will be entitled to redeem free GO cards too.
“This GO card entitles the buyer to other benefits and privileges such as discounts at participating outlets and 20 per cent off festival tickets,” said Joe.
Participating outlets included a list of cafes and restaurants such as China House, Black Kettle, Mugshot Cafe, Junk Cafe, Inch, Jawi House, David Brown, Edelweiss Cafe and also places like The Habitat, Tech Dome, Spice Garden, Art and Garden by Fuan Wong, the Cheah Kongsi and Khoo Kongsi.
Other events lined up for the opening weekend of GTF included a talk on “Stories, humanity and what about the arts” by Larry Harvey of Burning Man Festival and Cambodian director Rithy Panh, whose movie The Missing Picture was nominated for the Oscars.
Tickets to GTF events and the GO card are now for sale. Find out more at georgetownfestival.com.
