This article first appeared in The Edge Financial Daily on July 26, 2019

3 musical marvels

Chapter 15: Dances & Festivals

The Selangor Philharmonic Orchestra (SPO) and the Selangor Philharmonic Youth Orchestra (SPYO) present Chapter 15: Dances & Festivals, a performance that features soloists Dr Andrew Filmer on the viola and Mabel Wong on the violin. The repertoire is filled with music linked to historical events, celebrations and dances, including Danse Macabre by Saint-Saens, the Festive Overture by Shostakovich, and works from more recent times including Lord of the Dance and Evita. The performance takes place tomorrow at 8pm, with tickets going for RM30. MBPJ Civic Hall, No 1, Jalan Yong Shook Lin, Petaling Jaya. For tickets contact Kelvin at (012) 687 5426 or visit spo.org.my

Rocketman — A Tribute to the Music of Elton John

Fans who are still gushing about the recent biopic of the the famed English singer should head to Alexis Bistro Ampang for an evening of Sir Elton John’s best hits. Performing Rocketman — A Tribute to the Music of Elton John is the jazzy vocals of Rozz, whose sharp wit and powerful stage presence will give you an unforgettable evening. Rozz’s other influences include stars such as Barbra Streisand, Joan Sutherland and Freddie Mercury to Grace Jones and Diamanda Galas. Showing today and tomorrow, the night will begin at 10pm. Tickets are RM10. Alexis Bistro Ampang, Great Eastern Mall, 303 Jalan Ampang, Kuala Lumpur. For more information visit alexis.com.my

Rockaraoke at Publika

The first edition of Publika’s Rockaraoke aims to showcase local performers and also gives the public a chance to show of their talents. The first segment presents acoustic guitarist and singer Jamie Lim; Lolita with her blend of alternative hip hop, R&B soul and experimental music; indie rock artiste Cammy Fauzi; and Melissa Sasa, a member of Dotters’ Division and Crinkle Cut. Next is the Rockaraoke session which is just like a regular karaoke session but with a live band — Battle Bloom. Participants choose a song from a list — which includes hits from the 80s, 90s and early 2000s — then the audience will vote for their favourite. The prizes are tickets to Tattoo Malaysia Expo, RM100 cash and two Rockaraoke T-shirts. The show is on today, kicking off from 8pm to 11pm. Black Box, MAP@Publika, 1, Jalan Dutamas, Solaris Dutamas, Kuala Lumpur. For more information visit facebook.com/PublikaGallery/

1 bookworm event

The Minorities

Lit Books is having a meet-the-author session with Suffian Hakim, whose new book The Minorities has just been released. Hosted together with Diana and Honey from the Two Book Nerds Talking podcast, you get the chance to hear Suffian talk about his work. The Minorities is a funny story of four roomates who are haunted by a forlorn Pontianak. The book is a humorous tale that explores those living on the edges of society and their bond. Starting at 4pm tomorrow, admission is free. Lit Books, P-01-11 Level 1, Tropicana Avenue, 12 Jalan Persiaran Tropicana, Petaling Jaya. For more information visit litbooks.com.my

2 comedy-driven performances

Indicinelive! 6

The highly anticipated sell-out show Indicinelive! is out with its sixth instalment. Since its inception in 2010, the show has been filled with sharp parodies and sketches that comment on the happenings in our world today. Malaysian to the core in its subject matter, the show is directed by Kelvin Wong with writers UiHua Cheah, Kevin Eng, Veshalini Naidu, Freddy Tan, Terence Toh and Tung Jit Yang. Synonymous with the hashtag #reallifefunsized, audiences are in for a relatable performace filled with comic relief. Actors include Anjali Nijjar Venugopal, Anrie Too, Belinda Hon, Dexter Lim, Dinesh Kumar, Grace Ng, Jad Hidhir, Jeremy Ooi, Nabil Musawir, Sasidaran Subramaniam and Tiara Anchant. Showing from today to Sunday and again from July 30 to Aug 4 at 8.30pm, tickets are priced at RM70. KLPAC, Sentul Park, Jalan Strachan, Kuala Lumpur. To buy tickets visit klpac.org

Sam See

Before heading off to the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, Sam See is coming to the Crackhouse for a night full of laughter. Part of the new wave of Asian stand-up comedians, See has a unique sense of humour. He has been in Singapore’s first-ever comedy panel show OK Chope!, and performed with famed comics such as Dara O Briain, Bert Kreischer, Gina Yashere, Peter Berner and Kevin Bridges. See will be taking the stage today and tomorrow at 9pm. Tickets are priced at RM50 or RM60 at the door. Crackhouse Comedy Club, 1st Floor, 24A, Lorong Rahim Kajai 14 Taman Tun Dr Ismail, Petaling Jaya. For tickets visit facebook.com/crackhousekl

2 wonderful workshops

Vegan cooking workshop

Trying to keep up with a more environmentally conscious diet? Try this vegan cooking workshop by The Hive Bulk Foods. Learn how to prepare three filling and delicious meals that do not contain any animal by-products with expert Davina Goh. You will learn how to make full use of fresh local produce in inventive ways. Recipes include summer rolls with raw peanut dip, baked rice veggie casserole with vegan cheese sauce and matcha pistachio energy balls. After your guided session you can also enjoy the fruits of your labour for lunch. Gluten-free options are available upon request. Bring along your reusable food containers for the workshop tomorrow, from 10am to noon. This class is RM120. The Hive Bulk Foods, 92A, Lorong Maarof, Bangsar Park, Kuala Lumpur. For more information visit thehivebulkfoods.com

Basic Life Figure Drawing Workshop

If you want to improve your skill or learn a new one, try this Basic Life Figure Drawing class. Participants will learn how to draw a basic human body from observations. With the help of a live model, you will explore different poses, the variations of lighting, and simplistic settings. The class will take place tomorrow from 10am to 1pm. MIA City Campus, 70, Jalan Ampang, Kuala Lumpur. To register, call (03) 2022 2515

2 fun-filled festivals

Tian Kong Music Festival

Get ready for the second Tian Kong Music Festival, which revolves around the concept of appreciating the little things in life. Performers for the festival include Litlegras, Anna Chong, Eli Hsieh, Zee Avi, EggPlantEgg and many more. Splitting things into “Cuisine”, “Clothing”, “Living”, and “Travelling”, the venue will also be divided as per these themes. The “Cuisine” has speciality food and beverage favourites that will have your cravings satisfied; the “Clothing” includes a creative arts and handicraft bazaar; the “Living” segment will have art installations for your viewing pleasure; and finally the “Travelling” is a segment of adventure on the main stage. Taking place tomorrow and on Sunday, the festival will run from noon to 11pm. A day pass is RM286, and a two-day pass is RM440. 16th Floor, KWC StarXpo Centre, Kuala Lumpur. To buy tickets visit tiankongmusicfestival.com

Malaysia’s Coffee Festival

Java junkies should head over to 1 Utama Shopping Centre for what is said to be the country’s largest coffee festival. Meet baristas at the top of their game and enjoy some of the finest brews available. To go with your caffeine-fuelled cuppa, there will be delicious treats by local bakeries. Rub elbows with the industry’s top experts, from local artisans and coffee bean specialists to suppliers and coffee equipment distributors and manufacturers. The festival runs until Sunday and includes a line-up of activities, such as a lucky draw, sure-win dip, coffee workshops, and two coffee championships (the Malaya Open Barista Championship and the Malaysia Open Latte Art Championship). 1 Utama Shopping Centre, Lot S327, City Centre, No1, Lebuh Bandar Utama, Bandar Utama, Petaling Jaya. For more information visit mycoffeefest.com.my