VISITORS to this year’s Penang Hill Festival (PHF) are in for a musical treat as the much-anticipated Music on the Hill – East Meets West returns as one of the festival’s signature highlights.
Slated for July 20 from 3.30pm to 6.30pm at the scenic Bellevue Hotel on Penang Hill, this free-admission event marks the first time the iconic hotel will host PHF’s premier concert, promising a captivating blend of traditional heritage and contemporary rhythm.
This year, the Penang Hill Festival runs from July 18 to 20, offering three enriching days of exploration, education, and entertainment atop Penang’s most beloved hill.
Among the headline acts set to perform at Music on the Hill – East Meets West are renowned Penang-based ensembles such as Wak Long Music & Art Centre, Northern Jazz Unit, Penang Dhol Blasters, Shuang, and Persona Ritma, each bringing their own cultural flavour and performance energy to the stage.
For Nur Wani Derahim, marketing and artist manager of Wak Long Music & Art Centre, this marks their fourth participation in PHF and this year, they are adding something truly special.
“This year’s uniqueness lies in our presentation of the Mak Yong dance, which is recognised as a Unesco Intangible Cultural Heritage,” she shared during an interview session with Buletin Mutiara at Penang Hill today.
Also present was Wak Long Music & Art Centre founder Mohd Jufry Yusoff.
Their 20-minute performance will feature live musicians and dancers, with 11 performers on stage.
The centrepiece will be the ‘Tarian Mengadap Rebab’, the ceremonial opening dance of Mak Yong, performed in reverence to the rebab, a traditional bowed string instrument central to the Mak Yong theatre tradition.
Nur Wani said Mak Yong is a unique form of traditional Malay theatre that combines elements of dance, singing, acting, and music.
“It is our pride to showcase this beautiful art form at PHF,” she added.
Beyond performances, Nur Wani mentioned that Wak Long Music & Art Centre is also actively involved in educational outreach.
“We often receive requests from schools to conduct workshops, especially on wayang kulit, which is our core focus.
“It is a great opportunity to expose students to our cultural heritage,” she shared.
Meanwhile, Northern Jazz Unit making their PHF debut is set to jazz up the hill with a 45-minute performance combining local, Western, and Nusantara classics with their signature jazz stylings.
“This is our first time performing at PHF and we are thrilled,” said Jerome Quah, the group’s representative and chairman of the Penang Jazz Society.
“We will be delivering light and entertaining renditions of songs from legends like Tan Sri P. Ramlee, as well as works from local composers, all while maintaining jazz standards,” Quah shared.
Their set will include both instrumental and vocal performances by their five members, and will also feature a fresh jazz rendition of the official Penang Hill song, ‘Penang Hill, With You’.
Quah also highlighted the society’s broader mission.
“Through the Penang Jazz Society, we promote jazz via performance, education, and community engagement.
“We are especially passionate about nurturing young talent,” he said.
He added that the Penang Jazz Society collaborates with the Penang Education Department (JPN) to organise jazz orchestras and specialised workshops aimed at igniting youth interest in jazz music and musical excellence.
With such a diverse and culturally rich programme, Music on the Hill – East Meets West is set to be one of the most memorable events of the 2025 Penang Hill Festival.
Whether you’re a fan of traditional performing arts or smooth jazz, this year’s edition offers something for every music lover!
Story by Riadz Akmal
Pix by Law Suun Ting and courtesy of Penang Hill Corporation