Pump up the Jamm
Get ready for KL Jamm, a three-day music festival happening in April 2019 featuring local, regional and international artistes.
KL JAMM is a three-day music festival happening from April 26 to 28, 2019. But its launch was done exactly a year before the event date. That’s how serious Datuk Norman Abdul Halim, the chairman of KL Jamm – and president of KRU Music – is about the festival.
At this point of time, Norman had already secured more than a few event partners including Quill City Mall where some of the festival’s activities will be held.
“There are three main aims to this festival,” he said at the launch in Kuala Lumpur. “(One of it) is to promote KL as a world-class city with a modern, progressive and cultured society, using pop music as the platform.”
The other two objectives include creating a venue that allows musicians from all over to congregate and network, as well as to form strategic alliances among local and foreign companies involved in the music industry such as singers, musicians, composers, record label, talent managers and musical instrument suppliers.
He is looking at participation from 200 musicians – both local and international artistes; 50 people to become panellists at music symposiums; and 100 exhibitors. Most importantly, tens of thousands music fans.
“There are many successful international music festivals held around the world, annually. It is high time for Kuala Lumpur to take the centre stage to host such an event,” he added.
At this starting point of the 365day countdown, Norman was unable to name the participants but he revealed there is interest from various parties already.
“We are planning to announce the finalised list of Malaysian performers sometime after September, and international performers by the end of 2018,” he explained.
Norman, who has been in the music industry for almost three decades as a member of the group KRU, said the plan is to have concerts all three nights, with exhibition, seminars and showcases happening throughout the day all around KL.
According to him, the first concert will consist of local stars, whereas the second night will feature artistes from around the region like Taiwan, Korea and Hong Kong.
Meanwhile the third night will see performances by international musicians.
“We will also have smaller venues for pocket shows for different types of artistes, not just pop,” he stated. “There will be opportunities for new talents to show off their capabilities, dance shows, bands, etc.
“KL is already on the world map, but I believe with KL Jamm, it will be on the global music map. I hope the kick-off to the KL Jamm countdown is the start of an event that will change the horizon of the music scene in Malaysia,” Norman added.
When asked about the many concert rules and regulations that exist here, Norman answered: “We will adhere to the guidelines. We want to keep things safe as KL Jamm is a family-friendly affair, a destination visitors and locals want to come to.
“I believe music has a lot of positive elements to offer. Hopefully, KL Jamm might even open up the minds of those who do not share this view. It will take time to change the perception, maybe 10 years down the road ...
“We want to make KL Jamm an annual event, every April. Right now, we are starting with three days, eventually, we want to do a nine-day festival. So we have to ensure our initial step is the right one.”
For more info, go to www.kljamm. com