"It's a beautiful place," James Blake said as he headlined this year's edition of Joyland Bali.
The sentiment rang true for everyone – from artists who flew in to perform at the annual gathering of arts and music on the island, and for attendees who travelled from neighbouring cities and beyond. Held at Nusa Dua's Peninsula Island, Joyland Bali's playground is set amidst sea waves, sandy beaches, and palm trees.
BEAUTIFUL BALI
Now on its third year in Bali, the festival has brought the elements from Joyland Jakarta – music, art, comedy, and community – and given it its own spin. From the electronic-laden lineup to stages overlooking the waves, the Bali edition couldn't have taken place anywhere else.
While the start of the festival weekend was marred with torrential rain, the grey skies and heavy downpours couldn't dampen the festival spirit.
LA-based Indonesian creative Vega shared how Joyland Bali was an "unforgettable experience" with the rain "adding to the adventure and making it all more memorable." "Being by the beach added such a unique vibe to the whole event. Seeing bands all over the world alongside local talents was truly special, especially catching some of my favourite acts for the first time live," she added.
Even artists on the lineup were left enamoured by Joyland Bali. Before he wrapped up his mesmerising 17-song headlining set, James Blake commended the audience for being an "amazing crowd" and shared how he spent the last two days rehearsing in his hotel room for his performance. He promised to return "not just to play music" but to enjoy what more Bali has to offer.
Minnesota-based dream pop duo Vansire called Bali an "absolutely gorgeous place" and spent their downtime exploring the neighbourhood near their hotel. As first-time festival performers, the pair were ecstatic to play in a "new show format" and to finally be able to meet and perform for one of their biggest fanbases in the world. "We've always been curious about Indonesia; It's a place where we have a lot of listeners. [This experience is] super special, we're incredibly grateful."
SCENES AND SOUNDS
In true Joyland tradition, the Bali edition featured names from the international, regional, and local music scene. Program Director Ferry Dermawan stated that the Bali lineup is skewed more toward dance and electronica, genres that the Bali crowd gravitates more to, evident in the likes of James Blake, Gilles Petersen, and Todd Terje.
Showcasing a wide range of genres and artists, this year's roster featured established acts from Norwegian folk-pop duo Kings of Convenience to Japanese music icon Shintaro Sakamoto.
Over at the Lily Pad Stage, which was set on the sandy shores, attendees also got to check out up-and-coming Southeast Asian artists like Singaporean shoegaze band Blush and Vietnamese experimental outfit Mona Evie.
The Joyland Bali stint gave internet sensations Mona Evie their first overseas gig – a surprise for the group that mostly found international fans online. "It doesn't feel real," the band shared in an interview with Bandwagon. "It's crazy that Joyland Bali booked us. It's such a big deal for us to be here," the collective added. While their first international performance wasn't without jitters or hiccups, it has driven the collective to do more live performances within the region – Southeast Asia remaining a priority, because "it just makes sense to be connected" and "easier for us with the passport [situation]".
While there's a plethora of international and regional names on the bill, homegrown Indonesian acts will always have a space on Joyland stages – from White Shoes and The Couples Company doing their thing on the Joyland Stage to Mocca entertaining guests at the White Peacock Tent to Nadin Amizah serenading the crowd with the ocean waves crashing in the background.
Cinematic soul trio Ali was a highlight not just for music fans, but also for Vansire's Sam Winemiller who has been listening to the band for a while now. "It was so cool to see them live," the bassist shared.
Aside from its stacked musical lineup, Joyland Bali was filled with vivid characters and fanciful installations.
With Joyland always a well-thought-out experience, practical activations like sitting areas with electric sockets for charging devices and water refilling stations, could also be found within the sprawling Peninsula Island.
The Joyland Village had endless choices when it came to food, whether it was a warm and toasty pizza from Braud Cafe or a much-needed hot meal from Nasgero. Ice-cold lemonade and cold brew coffee were also plentiful for attendees who needed to cool down amidst the humidity.
As with previous Joyland editions, the festival remains to be a family-friendly event with designated areas for kids and kids at heart. The White Peacock area had its own mini-festival, with both indoor and outdoor activities – special musical performances, arts and crafts, kid-friendly snacks, and more.
For the adults, 21 Monkeys was a space to chill out and have drinks with friends. Assigned areas for smoking were also scattered throughout the festival grounds.
The Shrooms Garden and Cinerillaz areas, which catered to comedy and short films respectively, gave attendees the chance to explore other forms of art at Joyland.
While the Bali and Jakarta editions share the same DNA, there's really something quite special about Joyland Bali. It might be the cool sea breeze that sweeps in between performances, or the sandy white beach shores you trek before heading in, but one thing is for sure, no matter who ends up on the lineup poster, we'll find ourselves drawn to what Joyland Bali has in store for us next year.
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