Bali’s Suara Music and Arts Festival (July 26-28), has announced its second wave of acts with Australia’s beloved Angus & Julia Stone who have just released their latest album ‘Cape Forestier’ set to headline the three day multi-genre festival extravaganza.
Taking place during the highly anticipated opening celebration of the new creative city in Bali, Nuanu, the newly announced acts include some of the world’s most respected indie artists including Brandt Brauer Frick making their Bali debut, Neil Frances (Duo Set) and Youngr alongside regional favourites Ramengvrl, Yung Raja, DJ Wordy and Jonathan Kusuma.
Now in its third year, the must-visit destination festival will bring together a curated international and local lineup of top musicians, selectors, producers and collectives from across Indonesia, Southeast Asia and Australia to showcase the region’s flourishing music scene across nine stages.
Set in a stunning seaside sanctuary overlooking the Indian Ocean, Suara (meaning ‘voice’ in Indonesian), caters to those seeking an immersive and culturally inclusive experience in the world’s wellness capital: the Island of the Gods.
Brother and sister duo Angus & Julia Stone first formed in 2006 and have grown to be one of Australia’s most loved folk performers.
Having just released their sixth studio album ‘Cape Forestier’, the ARIA award-winning siblings will grace the Suara main stage before kicking off their highly-anticipated ‘Living Room Sessions Tour’ across Australia and New Zealand in August.
Other headline acts announced include electroacoustic ensemble Brandt Brauer Frick known for their sonic experiences reinventing classical music with an electronic dance music twist, the UK’s alt-pop multi-instrumentalist solo performer Youngr, and American alt-pop duo Neil Frances (Duo set).
“I’ve had the pleasure to work with some of the best in the business on thousands of shows around the world. I’m now blessed with this incredible opportunity to partner with Sergey Solonin on Suara to bring international exposure to Nuanu City. His vision is taking the local festival scene to new heights at what will be the island’s global entertainment hub at a time when Bali is fast establishing itself as an international party capital,” says Suara Festival Co-Founder and CEO Jason Swamy (Do What You Love, Robot Heart, Wonderfruit).
“The lineup is multi-genre, inclusive and cross-cultural — bringing together a number of acts across nine stages in a first for this part of the world at a site that most event producers could only dream of. Between the programming, the venue and everything else that we have in store still to announce, this is going to be unlike anything Bali has ever seen made all the more special by the opening of Nuanu.”
In order to host such a diverse range of artists, nine unique stages will be scattered across Nuanu’s multifunctional venues amongst nature and seaside cliffs.
Drawing inspiration from Balinese culture and architecture, attendees can look forward to sunset seaside DJ sets at Luna, cave club pool raves at Utopia, spectacular light shows and state-of-the-art sound at the main stage Garuda, a church-inspired space for intimate performances at Elysium, regional acts at the Labyrinth creative sanctuary and recording studio, as well as inspirational talks and wellness workshops at Ash.
Nuanu spans 44 hectares and is envisioned as a creative city aimed at inspiring and uplifting for positive change. Festival goers at the Suara festival will have the exclusive opportunity to explore the City before its official public soft-opening post-Festival.
Among its standout features are the Seaside Sanctuaries, reimagining the global beach club experience. Luna, overlooking Nyanyi Beach, showcases a Fibonacci sequence-inspired design crafted by Inspiral Architects and has rapidly become one of the island’s most sought-after venues since its soft opening in March. During Suara, visitors will encounter captivating art installations across the site, including Earth Sentinels by Daniel Popper, a landmark piece, and the Tower of Bhuma by French Architect Arthur Mamou-Mani, that is inspired by the golden ratios and serves as a symbol of inspiration and contemplation.
Towering at 30 metres and featuring generative AI mapping projections, the Tower of Bhuma offers an unparalleled immersive art experience, marking a unique milestone in Indonesia’s artistic landscape. Nuanu’s meticulous design and curation reflects a harmonious blend of art, technology and nature.
Rounding out the phase two lineup announcement is eclectic and esoteric groover from Hong Kong Arun R, stalwart of the Australian underground festival scene Uone as well as local favourites Jonathan Kusuma, Kimoji, Walearic, plus many more from a multitude of genres from around the world.
The region’s most in demand party crews and collectives including Yeti Out feat. ONJUICY & Mezz (Hong Kong), Disko Afrika feat. Juan G, Batik Boy & Simply T (Bali), Chi Wah Wah (Australia), Escape (Bali), Full Moon (Bali), GrooveTop (Singapore), It’s Good To Be A Tree (Bali), Kang Kao (Thailand), La Piscine Electronique (Bali), Lifted (Bali), MET (China), small&TALL (Hong Kong), Soul Collective (Singapore), Spin Sum (Hong Kong), TOTEM (Bali), and Unknwn (Philippines), who will all come together under the Suara Festival umbrella.
The newly announced acts add to a bespoke roster of previously announced talent such as hypnotic vocalists HVOB (live), W Hotels Global Music Director and DJ and producer LP Giobbi.
Other exciting talent on the bill include instrumental samplists and bouncy beatmakers Geju playing in Bali for the first time, Australian pop siblings Lastlings, GRAMMY-nominees Mansionair, award-winning melodic house and techno producer Rodriguez Jr. (live), Akumandra label founder Sainte Vie (live) as well as locals Orasare, We Are Neurotic and Tantra Collective.
From sunkissed days to starlit nights, Suara will be soundtracked by some of the world’s most in demand indie acts at a festival utopia like no other place on Earth.
For those at the forefront of the cultural zeitgeist seeking a festival experience complete with wellness activities and local immersion, Suara is fast becoming the must attend destination festival of 2024.
Stay tuned for more acts still to be announced in the phase three lineup as well as further information on Suara’s wellness, culinary, market and speaker programme.
