KUCHING: The first night of the Borneo Sonic Music Festival 2023 has transformed Sarawak Stadium into a pulsating haven last night (Oct 6), captivating music enthusiasts and festival goers alike.
Featuring headline acts such as K-pop veteran Lee Chae-rin, known as CL, and Girls’ Generation member Hyo, the festival has made waves as an event seamlessly blending diverse musical genres.
Despite the rain, concertgoers arrived at Sarawak Stadium a few hours before the gates opened at 4.30pm to warm up with a DJ set, setting the mood for the night.
At the stroke of 7pm, the festivities kicked off with Kuching-born rapper Yung Kai, igniting the crowd with his English and Mandarin viral rap hits.
Following Yung Kai were the soulful tones of R&B duo Guccimith and Zhe Kamil, who delivered their signature trapsoul sound with hits like ‘No Games’, ‘Stay Away’ and ‘Tunggu.’
Their act was followed by Andi Bernadee who hailed from Sabah, with his popular hits, ‘Shimmy’, ‘Satu Peluang’ and ‘Donde’, leaving the audience screaming their hearts out. He also treated the crowd with an unreleased song from his upcoming album.
The festival also featured Malaysian singer-actress Ning Baizura, who specially crafted continuous remixes of her songs exclusively for this event, leaving the audience eagerly jumping for more.
The festival then underwent a genre-bending transformation, with Hyo dazzling the crowd with a non-stop 45-minute DJ mix, ensuring the beats never rested.
Adding an international flair, Taiwanese-German mixed-race rapper Majin and Nike took the stage, setting the scene for the grand finale.
A surprise auditory feast came courtesy of American rapper and hype master Fatman Scoop, whose quick-fire hit mix stirred the audience into a frenzy, with his signature chant, “put your hands up,” echoing through the stadium.
As the clock struck 11pm, the crowd’s anticipation reached its peak, with chants of “CL” reverberating through the stadium.
Following a DJ set by Seoul-born DJ Apachi, CL emerged, setting the night ablaze with her chart-toppers like “Dr. Pepper,” “Hwa,” “Spicy,” “5 Star,” and “Lover Like Me.”
The ecstatic crowd’s screams echoed the infectious energy of CL’s performance, with “The Baddest Female” closing the night.
This two-day extravaganza is poised to transcend boundaries and become a global cultural phenomenon, drawing music enthusiasts from every corner of the globe.
With the festival officially marking its arrival in the music festival scene, it promises an unforgettable celebration of diverse sounds and infectious beats.
Distinguished guests among the crowds were Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts Minister Datuk Seri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah and his deputies Sebastian Ting Chiew Yew and Datuk Snowdan Lawan.
