By Dayangku Hidayatul
KUCHING, July 21: Peterpan is making its long-awaited return to Sarawak as Rock in the City (RiTC) gears up to shake Wisma Melayu on Aug 29 and 30, featuring a line-up of acclaimed acts from Brunei, Peninsular Malaysia, Indonesia, and Sarawak.
Expected to draw 5,000 visitors, RiTC will bring together rock fans with performances by Secret Signal from Brunei, Barbarik from Peninsular Malaysia, Fearless from Indonesia and Sarawak, Senseless from Malaysia, and Sarawak’s own Post Mortem Education.
Deputy Minister of Tourism, Creative Industry, and Performing Arts Datuk Snowdan Lawan said the State government fully supports music festivals such as RiTC as they help boost tourism and the local economy.
“This is a good opportunity for communities to come together and enjoy performances by bands from Indonesia, Brunei, Malaysia, and Sarawak.
“When it comes to music, all of us come together regardless of race, religion, or background,” he said during a press conference at Baitulmakmur II in Petra Jaya today.
Snowdan said events like RiTC provide more entertainment options for the public while attracting visitors from outside Sarawak, contributing to hotel occupancy, food and beverage businesses, retail, and transportation sectors.
He said the festival could eventually become an annual fixture in Sarawak’s tourism and entertainment calendar, provided it continues to be successful and sustainable.
Meanwhile, Peterpan group manager Budi Aloka said the band will perform around 10 to 12 songs, mainly from its first three albums, Taman Langit, Bintang di Surga, and Alexandria.
He said the line-up will feature original members Loekman (guitar), Andika (keyboard), Indra (bass), and Reza (drums), alongside vocalist Arda Hatna, who has performed with the group at several concerts.
Festival director Sunil Mohd Fauzan said RiTC marks the evolution of the successful Rock in the Jungle concert series, which is now moving into Kuching City to accommodate a larger audience.
He said the festival aims to position Kuching as a destination for major entertainment events while strengthening Sarawak’s creative industry ecosystem.
Sunil said the biggest challenges in organising large-scale music festivals are sustaining the event, securing funding, and attracting attendees.
“People have been asking us for years when Peterpan would return to Sarawak. The last time they were here was in 2008, so we decided to bring them back,” he said.
Tickets for Rock in the City 2026 are now available online through the festival’s official platforms. — DayakDaily
