This year, AXEAN Festival is officially coming back for its fourth iteration. The first ever Southeast Asian intra-regional music showcase will be returning to the Jimbaran Hub in Bali, Indonesia for the second year in a row. It is set to happen on September 13 to 14, 2025 (Saturday to Sunday), promising to “transform the island into a two-day convergence of sound, innovation, culture, and collaboration,” alongside “an expanded vision and more comprehensive programming.”
AXEAN Festival 2025 is set to “showcase over 40 emerging and established acts from Southeast Asia and beyond while exploring new educational and collaborative formats that strengthen the creative and business ecosystems across the region.”
“AXEAN Festival has always been a labor of love for all of us co-founders — driven by passion, run pro bono, and built with bootstrapped resources,” says Piyapong Muenprasertdee, AXEAN Festival co-founder and team leader, in a press statement, emphasizing how their team has “consistently pushed the limits of what’s possible with limited funding,” noting that “the positive impact [they’ve] made so far is a testament to that dedication.”
What To Expect
One of the event’s main highlights this 2025 is its music conference segment. It will include an array of “curated panel discussions, business pitching sessions, and structured speed meetings between delegates and artists” — all aimed at bringing about “impactful conversations and long-term partnerships.”
Alongside this, the festival’s songwriting camp also returns, which is “a four-day initiative inviting select showcasing artists, producers, and songwriters to co-create in an intimate, cross-cultural setting.” Held for the first time last year, the camp’s 2024 iteration yielded 20 original songs from the artists involved.
With this, the introduction of a new program called SEA Club Showcase — “a live music platform dedicated to regional electronic subcultures such as Indonesian funkot or dangdut, Vietnamese vinahouse, Singaporean/Malaysian manyao, and Filipino budots.” It serves to shine “a spotlight on Southeast Asia’s burgeoning rave, dance, and electronic culture,” and thereby honoring “the unique grassroots genres that are redefining the international club scene with distinctly local flair.”
The Lineup of AXEAN Festival 2025
At the time of announcing its return this year, AXEAN Festival has yet to reveal the lineup for its 2025 edition. Watch this space for updates.
Last year, the event saw around “more than 50 music acts from Southeast Asia and beyond” who participated. Among these are a six notable Filipino acts. Namely, they were “Dilaw” hitmaker Maki, indie-folk band Munimuni, producer and DJ crwn, Eco Del Rio of dream-pop band bird., indie pop/soul-jazz soloist Muri of The Ransom Collective, and singer-songwriter Mix Fenix.
AXEAN Festival’s Mission and Vision
“On the delegates’ front, the intentions of the AXEAN team are clear — we really just want the artists to succeed, and we do all we can to make that happen,” says AXEAN Festival co-founder and co-director David Siow, as he stressed “the importance of authenticity and intent in the festival’s DNA.” “People do sense authenticity and intent, so having a unified goal and communicating that honestly allows for the music industry to trust us.”
“The relaxed and jubilant atmosphere of the festival, conference, and songwriting camp, are direct reflection of the personalities in the AXEAN team,” he continues, noting how these factors are a major driving force in the success of the festival. “But don’t be fooled; some serious business and networking is happening for delegates and artists whilst the public enjoys the showcasing part.”
Muenprasertdee backs this up, “noting that AXEAN Festival’s success lies in its people.” “Over the years, I’ve made it a personal mission to invite people I’ve connected with — those who bring positive vibes and a collaborative spirit — to simply come as they are,” he states. With this, he emphasizes how that exact “openness” is the key to fostering “a welcoming atmosphere where even first-time attendees or those who come alone can feel at ease, enjoy the music and environment, and organically build meaningful connections.” “That positive energy is contagious — it helps break down barriers, encourages real conversations, and often leads to exciting new collaborations and business opportunities. Overall, it’s the community spirit and the human connection that make the festival truly special.”
2025 and Beyond
As the AXEAN Festival team look towards the future, they share their goal of “expanding the festival’s reach through deeper strategic partnerships, enhanced sustainability measures, and ever more dynamic, inclusive programming.” “Whether you’re a delegate, an artist, or a music lover attending for the first time, we invite you to discover the joy of connection, creativity, and cultural celebration at AXEAN Festival 2025,” states Muenprasertdee.
Originating in 2020 as a virtual music showcase, AXEAN Festival (formerly, ASEAN Music Showcase Festival or AMS) has since transformed into a full-blown, in-person event since 2022. It has since become an “internationally recognized platform that features musical talents from Southeast Asia and beyond whilst providing a place for artists and music industry professionals from around the world to connect through genuine face-to-face networking opportunities.” For its 2023 iteration, 50 artists participated in the event held in Singapore, with 39 of them from all ASEAN countries. Alongside them were 74 international delegates originating from 16 countries, as well as a total of 7,700 festival attendees.