The Papandayan Jazz Fest 2025 Celebrates a Decade of Harmony and Cultural Resonance

Bandung’s creative energy has never dulled and once again, it has staked its claim as a cultural force with the closing of The Papandayan Jazz Fest (TPJF) 2025 on 5 October. Over two days at The Papandayan Hotel, from 4 to 5 October, the festival marked its tenth year with the theme A Culture Resonance, reflecting on ten years of weaving together music, tradition, and community into a shared rhythm that continues to evolve.

Since its inception, TPJF has quietly built a reputation as one of Indonesia’s most steadfast and respected jazz gatherings, and its tenth edition reaffirmed that standing through a spirit of openness and artistic exchange. The line-up read like a meeting of eras and sounds with performers like Barry Likumahuwa with Trie Utami, Dwiki Dharmawan with Rimar, and The Sisters to Imelda Rosalin, Arina Mocca, and Dee Lestari, alongside crowd favourites Afgan, HIVI!, and Iwa K. Across its stages, jazz conversed freely with pop melodies, ethnic textures, and urban beats, creating a living portrait of Indonesia’s shifting musical landscape that is diverse, fluid, and unafraid of reinvention.

One of the most distinctive additions to this year’s festival was the debut of Pasar Jazz, a dedicated marketplace spotlighting local F&B businesses and micro, small, and medium enterprises (UMKM). This initiative extended the festival’s impact beyond the stage, transforming it into a platform for Bandung’s creative economy. Visitors could enjoy local culinary offerings while soaking in live performances, making the event a truly immersive cultural experience that connected art, community, and entrepreneurship.

The opening night carried emotional and historic weight. A Lifetime Achievement Award was posthumously presented to the late Harry Roesli, honouring his immense contribution to Indonesian music. Bandung Mayor Muhammad Farhan officiated the signing of the inscription A Beacon of Jazz From Bandung to the World, while the Bandung City Government awarded Certificates of Appreciation to TP Jazz Management founders Bobby Renaldi, Hari Pochang, and Venche Manuhutu. Adding to the celebration, The Papandayan Hotel received a MURI (Indonesian World Record Museum) recognition as the first hotel in Indonesia to host a jazz festival consistently for ten consecutive years.

The festival closed on a high note as Iwa K took to the Ron88 Stage, bringing a wave of nostalgia with 1990s classics such as “Bebas” and “Kuingin Kembali.” The crowd sang along, capturing the festival’s enduring warmth and communal spirit.

Reflecting on the festival’s journey, TP Jazz Management founder and The Papandayan Hotel General Manager, Bobby Renaldi, emphasised the festival’s purpose as a bridge between generations and genres. He described A Beacon of Jazz from Bandung to the World as both a promise and responsibility to nurture a platform where young and senior musicians alike can connect, collaborate, and learn from each other. The theme A Culture Resonance, he explained, embodies the openness and inclusivity that define TPJF, where jazz not only welcomes other forms of art but becomes a shared home for all who engage with it.

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