Jazz Kota Lama: ParraDice dan Zixuan & Slow Train
For years, it has been a dream to bring an annual jazz celebration to Festival Kota Lama. In 2025, that dream becomes reality as we proudly launch Jazz Kota Lama, an event set to return every year as part of the festival’s tradition.
International artists will share the stage with local talents, including the very first performance of the Orchestra Kota Lama, under the direction of Johnny Rahaket. Originally formed with classical musicians and violinists, the orchestra is boldly stepping into jazz — collaborating with senior musicians from the Netherlands and Taiwan for an unforgettable debut at the festival’s grand opening.
ParraDice (Belanda)
From Utrecht, the Netherlands, PARRA.DICE is a nine-member non-male collective that has been redefining world music since 2021. Blending Arab-Afro, Latin, Jazz, and world music with instruments ranging from brass and violin to percussion, they create a dynamic sound that unites tradition and modernity.
With their debut EP Au Revoir Ooievaar (2023) and singles Paradox (2024) and Elliot (2025), PARRA.DICE has carved a bold identity. Known for their explosive live shows, they’ve graced international stages including the Eurosonic Noorderslag Festival (ESNS) in Groningen. Now, they’re set to bring their powerful energy to Semarang, shaking the stage of Festival Kota Lama on September 7, 2025.
Zixuan & Slow Train (Taiwan)
From Taiwan, ZiXuan & Slow Train (黃子軒與山平快樂團) arrive as pioneers of modern Hakka pop. Formed in 2011 and renamed in 2015, the band — led by Huang Zi-xuan, with Wu Dong-ying (guitar) and Hu Shi-guo (drums) — mixes jazz, reggae, soul, folk, and hip-hop while performing in Hakka and Taiwanese. Their music is a fresh, innovative way of sharing and preserving Hakka culture.
🏆 Award-Winning Excellence
The band has won multiple Golden Melody Awards, including Best Hakka Album for The Way Home (回家的路) and The Stranger (異鄉人), and in 2025, Huang Zi-xuan took home Best Hakka Singer and Best Hakka Album for 牛騷 New Soul.
🚉 The Slow Train Project
Their creative spirit shines through projects like impromptu concerts at train stations across Taiwan, later brought to Japan during their 2019 Kansai tour.
Now, they bring this same spirit to Indonesia, performing at Festival Kota Lama Semarang and adding their distinctive warmth to the festival’s theme of unity and diversity
With world-class artists, cross-cultural collaborations, and the birth of Jazz Kota Lama, the Festival Kota Lama Semarang 2025 is set to be a celebration like no other. From the historic streets of Kota Lama, music will resonate across borders, weaving together stories, rhythms, and cultures — all under the banner of Color of Unity.
📅 Festival Kota Lama Semarang
🗓️ September 4–14, 2025
📍 Kota Lama, Semarang, Indonesia
Sumber: @PARRA.DICE.COLLECTIVE