KUCHING: Music lovers who turned up at Panggung Udara on Saturday night for the second day of the Kuching Music Festival (KMF) were treated to vibrant musical performances with an energetic display of Sarawak’s cultural and entrepreneurial spirit.
Organised by Kuching North City Commission (DBKU), the festival featured an impressive line-up, including the Kuala Lumpur Orchestra (OKL), Prodigy Orchestra, and Sarawak’s own Tuku’ Kame.
Malaysian music legend, Datuk Jamal Abdillah, took centre stage, supported by performances from Mal Imran, Firdaus Materang, Claudia Geres, Valerie Thiam, Chien NG, and Dell Lawrance.
The festival was not only a musical spectacle but also a platform for community-driven business, especially through the presence of the Kuching Car Boot Sell (KCBS) community.
Vendors from KCBS filled the festival grounds, offering a range of food, snacks and local products, all contributing to the event’s warm, street-market atmosphere.
Siti Khadijah Atok, 43, founder of Ayam Korea and a long-time KCBS member, expressed pride in the community’s journey.
“I’m proud of KCBS. From small beginnings, it’s become something everyone wants to join,” she said.
She also highlighted how the initiative supports vendors, adding that KCBS collaborates with vendors to provide tents, with the cost included in the rental fees, making it accessible and affordable for small businesses.
“We provide tents in collaboration with KCBS, and it’s all included in the rental price,” she said.
Meanwhile, first-time KMF vendor, Muhammad Fakhari Adnan, 37, owner of Kukis, found the event to be well-organised and impactful.
He appreciated the free entry which, he said, allowed more people to attend and discover local offerings.
“The event has helped small vendors like us a lot,” he noted.
Comparing KCBS to other organisers, he said its lower fees made a real difference for small-scale entrepreneurs trying to gain exposure.
Despite weather challenges earlier in the day, vendors remained upbeat.
Muhammad James Tee, 28, founder of Jajanan, who participated for the first time at KMF after previously joining several KCBS events, described the experience positively.
“We’re truly grateful, despite the rain, the response was still encouraging,” he said.
James viewed the festival as more than just a commercial opportunity, calling it a space for meeting friends, family and customers while also introducing their brand to new audiences.
“Maybe people nearby already know us, but events like this help us to expand our reach,” he said.
KCBS’ collaboration with the festival was also seen as a step forward in community recognition.
Siti Khadijah, who represented KCBS in liaising with the organisers, said the event brought about a positive impact not only in terms of exposure but also in proving how vendors could present themselves professionally.
“Each vendor gave their best. In terms of decorating, setting up and really going all out,” she added, hoping that KCBS would one day be entrusted to run even larger events.
As the festival drew to a close, the echoes of music and shared community spirit lingered.
KMF 2025 not only entertained but also reinforced the value of collaboration between culture, creativity, and local enterprise, with hopes high for more inclusive, vendor-friendly events in the future.
