AXEAN Festival Returns to Bali: A Borderless Playground for Emerging Artists

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AXEAN Festival is coming back to Bali this September, and if last year’s edition is anything to go by, Southeast Asia’s music export platform is one to watch. From September 13–14, 2025, Jimbaran Hub will be home to a two-day collision of beats and borderless connections—bringing together over 40 emerging and established acts from the region and beyond.

While legacy names draw headlines, the soul of AXEAN has always belonged to its emerging artists—those finding their voice in a chaotic industry, breaking genre moulds and carving out new sonic identities. This year, their platform gets even louder.

TuneCore returns to the festival as an official stage partner, spotlighting independent talent from across Southeast Asia and amplifying voices that rarely get regional, or international—exposure. Known for empowering indie musicians with the tools to distribute and own their music, TuneCore’s involvement underscores AXEAN’s deep commitment to the DIY spirit and to giving emerging artists the infrastructure to grow.

It’s that rare sweet spot where music meets industry in a more relaxed setting for networking. AXEAN isn’t just a showcase—it’s a sandbox for ideas. Beyond the stages, the festival runs a music conference with curated panels, business pitch sessions and speed meetings between artists and delegates.

Zee Avi and The Good Things (2024)

There’s also the return of the songwriting camp, a cross-cultural, four-day creative lab where selected artists, producers, and songwriters co-create original music together. Think less label manoeuvring, more collaborative freedom, the kind of environment that lets magic actually happen.

In true AXEAN fashion, they’re once again stretching what a Southeast Asian festival can be. Enter: the SEA Club Showcase, a brand-new stage dedicated to regional underground electronic cultures—from Indonesian funkot and dangdut, to Filipino budots and Vietnamese vinahouse. It’s local, it’s loud and it’s long overdue.

With artists from over 15 countries expected to take the stage, including rising voices and returning favourites, AXEAN Festival 2025 is shaping up to be a celebration of where Southeast Asian music is going, not just where it’s been.

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