This article first appeared in The Edge Financial Daily on August 25, 2017

Your quick guide to rest and relaxation.

4 music performances to groove to

MPYO 10th Anniversary Concert

Celebrating a decade since its formation, the Malaysian Philharmonic Youth Orchestra (MPYO) will open its anniversary show with English composer Vaughan Williams’ evocative paean London Symphony, with its Westminster chimes in the opening bars. Conductor Kevin Field will then lead the orchestra in Kodaly’s Dances of Galanta, followed by a 2010 commissioned piece, Getaran by Chow, which expresses the excitement of living in the 21st century, before rounding up the concert with Danse Bacchanale from Saint-Saëns’ grand opera Samson et Delilah. The performance is on tonight at 8.30pm. Tickets are priced at RM60 and RM100. The performance will be at Petronas Twin Towers, Kuala Lumpur City Centre. To find out more, visit www.mpo.com.my.

Bobo KL presents Llew Marsh

Watch maestro Llew Marsh make his debut at Bobo KL with Tria Aziz and Izen Kong this weekend. They will be performing a tribute to the hits from movies and musicals such as Moulin Rouge, La La Land and Beauty and the Beast. Expect an evening of duets, medleys and mash-ups. Joining them are Michael Joshua on bass and Steve Nanda on drums. The performance will be on tonight and tomorrow at 9.30pm. Tickets are priced between RM30++ and RM50++. Bobo KL is located at 65-1 Jalan Bangkung, Bangsar, Kuala Lumpur. For reservations, call (03) 2092 5002.

Publika Jazz 2017

Spread over four different venues within Publika, this festival is the largest indoor and outdoor jazz festival in Malaysia. Featuring over 100 musicians, it showcases the many different genres of jazz from all eras, which will be performed by established artists and upcoming musicians. This year’s line-up includes NewSound, Fazz, Ryot Jones, Diandra Arjunaidi, Phunk Mob and Travis Tan Experiment. The festival will be held at The Square, Black Box, The Bee and The Social tonight and tomorrow. Publika is located at Solaris Dutamas, 1 Jalan Dutamas 1, Kuala Lumpur. To find out more about the line-up and schedule, visit www.facebook.com/PublikaGallery/.

Melissa Indot — Life Is a Rollercoaster

Let Melissa Indot take you on a nostalgic journey with her performance at Alexis Bistro this weekend. She will be performing popular songs from the 1990s and the early 2000s including songs by Lenny Kravitz, OutKast, Ne-Yo, Robbie Williams, Massive Attack and Macy Gray. She will be joined by Naz on guitar, Jude on guitar and Travis on the bass. The performance will start at 10pm and there will be a cover charge of RM10++ per person. To make a reservation, call (03) 4260 2288.

1 play to watch

Watch the play Contractions at the Kuala Lumpur Performing Arts Centre (klpac) this weekend. Starring Sandee Chew and Anne James, this Olivier Award-winning play by Mike Bartlett follows successful saleswoman Emma, who gets into trouble with her manager when she starts dating colleague Darren. As she tries to work her way through one ultimatum after another, the knowledge that a baby is on the way compounds the already complicated tangle. Contractions will be on until Sept 3. The play will be on at 8.30pm and 3pm. Tickets are priced at RM52. klpac is located in Jalan Strachan, off Jalan Sultan Azlan Shah, Kuala Lumpur. For more information, call (03) 4047 9000.

2 art exhibitions to check out

The World Palm Portraits — The Incredible Journey

Don’t miss the final week of the exhibition at the BNM art gallery featuring some evocative and beautiful photography of palm oil related scenes. Part of a collaborative effort with the Malaysian Palm Oil Council (MPOC), this exhibition celebrates 100 years of the industry through this showcase, which gathered top and winning entries from MPOC’s annual photography competition from 2013 to 2017. From breathtaking landscapes and wildlife to portraits and artistic shots, they give a wider perspective to how palm oil has impacted our world. The exhibition ends on Sunday. The gallery is open from 10am to 6pm daily. Admission is free. Bank Negara Malaysia Museum and Art Gallery is located at Sasana Kijang, 2 Jalan Dato Onn, Kuala Lumpur. For more information, visit www.museumbnm.gov.my.

Merdeka: Unity & Diversity

Offering a visual reflection of sixty years of independence, the National Art Gallery presents a group exhibition with 22 local artists, altogether showcasing 60 works. Drawing from the artists’ own personal experiences both past and present, the works range from folk art, expressionism, figurative and representational. Their works express the diversity and yet commonality of what “Merdeka” means to each artist. The exhibition is on until Aug 31. The gallery is open from 10am to 6pm daily. The National Art Gallery is located at 2 Jalan Temerloh, off Jalan Tun Razak, Kuala Lumpur. Visit www.artgallery.gov.my to find out more.

2 reasons to shop

Tropical Wanderlust: A Weekend Market

With a fresh exotic theme, the Tropical Wanderlust market promises to have something for everyone. Offering an eclectic mix of men’s and women’s clothing to lifestyle accessories for the home, get ready to shop tomorrow. The vendors include Mowgli store, Medea Treasures, Bingka KL, Kanoe, Common Observation and Antophilus. Tropical Wanderlust will be on from 11am to 6pm. The market will be held at the Battery Acid Club, 21 Jalan SS21/34, Damansara Utama, Petaling Jaya. Check out www.facebook.com/batteryacidclub/.

FAB (Fuyoh Art Bazaar)

An ideal bazaar for family, FAB is on this weekend at the Red Zone in Publika. FAB is a market that sells an eclectic mix of paintings, handmade jewellery, handcrafted decorated items, toys as well as arts and crafts. This edition will feature more stalls selling items for children such as clothing, toys and games. FAB is on tomorrow and Sunday from 10am to 10pm. Publika is located at Solaris Dutamas 1, Jalan Dutamas 1, Kuala Lumpur. For more information, visit www.facebook.com/artrowpublika/.

2 events for the taste buds this weekend

There’s More behind the Star

There are many stories behind how Heineken® has become the premium global beer it is today. In its latest campaign, There’s More behind the Star, the brand reveals secrets of the beer, its rich heritage and Heineken’s unparalleled international footprint that has ensured its signature crisp and refreshing taste is enjoyed by consumers across 192 countries every day. To enhance the pleasure of enjoying a perfect Heineken, the brand developed its own perfect pour process to ensure the best drinking experience. At TREC, you’ll be able to find out what that is for yourself, from 9pm to 1am, today and tomorrow. For more information, visit www.heineken.com/my.

Release your inner barista

From today to Sunday, sample Nespresso’s latest grand cru coffee while trying your hand at becoming a barista. At the three-day pop-up in swanky APW, you will also be able to get a coffee portrait done — sounds intriguing — and of course, indulge in lots of coffee, from 10am to 1pm today to Sunday at APW, 29 Jalan Riong, Bangsar, Kuala Lumpur.