AXEAN Festival, Southeast Asia’s leading music and creative industry platform, has announced the first wave of its 2025 lineup.
Filipino artists such as Budots pioneer DJ Love and alt-rock outfit One Click Straight lead the first wave of acts performing at the international music festival which is set to take place at Jimbaran Hub in Bali, Indonesia,
from September 13 to 14, 2025.
This year’s edition promises a dynamic and eclectic roster of artists, reflecting an impressive array of genres, cultures, and music styles from across the region.
The first round of confirmed artists also includes Bali-based alternative rock band Jangar, psychedelic rock trio Kelompok Penerbang Roket, indie rock quartet Ministry Of, six-piece band L’alphalpha, and rising producer and singer-songwriter XANDEGA from Indonesia, alongside rising dark pop artist Su San from Malaysia; indie pop/rock singer-songwriter Shye and prolific electronic musician and producer Fauxe from Singapore; and experimental rave n’ roll act S.O.L.E. and four-piece alt rock band DOOR PLANT from Thailand.
“These are the Southeast Asian artists we think are ready to break out regionally and internationally,” says David Siow, co-founder of AXEAN Festival. “Many of these artists have a strong local following, and we’re here to connect the dots globally.”
AXEAN Festival co-founder Piyapong Muenprasertdee reveals that this year’s iteration will introduce Club SEA Showcase, a special stage that shines a light on AXEAN electronic and club music: genres born here that are ripe for export and slowly finding resonance across the world. “This year, we’d like to introduce artists who blend local sounds and cultural textures with electronic forms, which is a genre that’s gaining serious traction internationally. We see this not just as a trend but as a powerful vehicle to showcase our regional identity in new and compelling ways, alongside the diverse spectrum of local music we continue to champion.”
Curated with local, regional, and international audiences in mind, AXEAN Festival’s artist selection process places strong emphasis on professionalism, live performance impact, and artistic vision.
Piyapong explains, “Export-ready is a core principle in how we curate artists for AXEAN. But that doesn’t mean simply choosing artists who are already popular abroad or those who sing in flawless English. It’s about selecting artists who are professionally prepared to navigate today’s global music industry—artistically, logistically, and mentally. I believe genres are never a barrier if you can find the right market, the right niche, the right community that truly connects with your sound. Ultimately, what determines international success is how you work, how you connect, and how you continue to grow creatively.”
In line with its artist-first philosophy, AXEAN Festival 2025 will feature its signature Music Conference and Songwriting Camp, both designed to create meaningful opportunities for cross-border dialogue, collaboration, and industry partnership. The conference includes curated panel discussions, business matchmaking, and structured networking between regional and international delegates. The four-day songwriting camp, hosted in the lead-up to the main festival, invites selected artists and producers to co-create in a collaborative, cross-cultural environment.
Presented in partnership with Jimbaran Hub, this year’s festival is set to offer a vibrant, inclusive, and future-facing platform for Southeast Asia’s music and creative ecosystems.
Tunecore, one of the world’s digital music aggregators, also supports AXEAN Festival as a stage sponsor. “Our 5-year journey with AXEAN, including 3 years as stage sponsors, stems from a shared commitment: empowering Southeast Asian artists to reach global audiences,” Head of Tunecore Southeast Asia (SEA) Cyrus Chen shares. “AXEAN’s ‘export-ready’ curation philosophy mirrors TuneCore’s mission—providing the tools and platforms for artists to thrive beyond borders. This festival doesn’t just showcase talent; it builds careers, and that’s why we’re all in.”
Early bird tickets are now available via www.loket.com/o/axeanfestival. The full lineup and conference details will be announced soon.
