KUCHING: When Atas Angin Festival 2026 Tour arrived in Kuching as its final stop, it was not a logistical coincidence but a deliberate decision shaped by friendship, geography and the desire to acknowledge voices often heard from the margins rather than the centre.
Managing Director of Atas Angin MY, Arif Imran, said ending the four-week, 10-destination tour in Sarawak carried personal meaning, particularly as the collective prepares to step back from organising large-scale festivals following its final showcase, Atas Angin Festival 2026: One Last Shine, on Feb 14 in Kuala Lumpur.
Kuching was selected as the final destination largely because of Sarawak-based act Drasska, who will represent the state at the festival’s concluding stage, with Arif describing the decision as both personal and symbolic.
“Having a Sarawak representative at the final stage made it important for us to end the tour here,” he said, adding that the stop also reflected long-standing friendships with Sarawak’s music community.
Over the past month, the Atas Angin Festival 2026 Tour travelled across 10 states, adopting an acoustic, scaled-down format that prioritised conversation and accessibility over spectacle, a move Arif said allowed the team to engage more directly with local scenes.
He said the approach also enabled Atas Angin to reach supporters who may not have the means to travel to Peninsular Malaysia, particularly as the festival enters what he described as its final chapter for the foreseeable future.
After the Kuala Lumpur finale, Atas Angin plans to pause its own large-scale festival activities, a decision Arif said was driven by financial sustainability rather than sentiment.
“A gig is not a healthy business if the finances are unstable, and creativity cannot survive under constant financial pressure,” he said, describing the hiatus as a necessary step to allow the organisation to refocus on other ventures.
Despite the pause, the final festival is set to feature 38 artists performing across two stages, with Arif noting that many performers are returning out of loyalty to the Atas Angin platform rather than commercial incentives.
“This time, many artists are performing because of Atas Angin itself, not because of money,” he said, adding that several acts agreed to take part as a show of respect for the platform and its community.
For Drasska, the opportunity to perform at the festival’s final stage carries significance beyond the band itself, as they will be the sole Sarawak act at the event.
Speaking after their performance in Kuching, the band expressed appreciation for the opportunity to represent the state on a national stage.
“We are very thankful to Atas Angin for giving us this opportunity, especially as the only band from Sarawak performing at the festival,” a band representative said.
The band also encouraged emerging musicians to remain resilient despite setbacks, stressing that perseverance remains essential within the independent music scene.
“Even if you fall, don’t stop, because you can always get back up and stand on your own feet,” they said.
Reflecting on Sarawak’s music landscape, Arif said the state remains rich in potential but underrepresented nationally, noting that Atas Angin has only staged two events in Sarawak to date, including the current tour stop.
“There are many talented musicians here, and I genuinely like the sound coming from Sarawak and Borneo,” he said, adding that his long-term hope is for music from East and West Malaysia to feel equally familiar across regions.
While logistical and travel costs continue to pose challenges for cross-regional collaboration, Arif said Atas Angin aims to function as a bridge rather than a boundary between music communities.
Looking ahead, he said Kuching would be the first place he considers if Atas Angin were ever to return from its hiatus, describing the city as receptive and supportive of live music culture.
For now, One Last Shine marks a closing chapter rather than a full stop, with Atas Angin continuing its work through collaborations and artist services beyond the festival stage.
As the tour’s final notes fade in Kuching, the presence of a Sarawak act on the festival’s last stage ensures that the state’s voice remains woven into Atas Angin’s legacy.
