Not sure where to go this weekend? 5 Things To See For Free: Visit KL for Urbanscapes 2016

Think fast! What’s the first location that pops into your mind when we say creative arts festival? If you pictured an open field, a desert, a park or an open air car park – you’re not alone! However, URBANSCAPES is back and this year, they’re taking over the lovely city of Kuala Lumpur for a 2.5 week-long festival.

Throughout 23April - 8May 2016, festival-goers can expect musical performances by the likes of Rudimental, Tame Impala, M83, Stellar Dreams, Pastel Lite, OAG, Hujan & Bittersweet and VMPRMYTH among others. In addition to good tunes and hypnotic beats, Urbanscapes 2016 is peppered with art exhibitions, workshops, delicious eats and plenty of creatives to meet and draw inspiration from.

What’s better than a city immersed in creative arts? A chance to experience music, design, art, and experiential events without tearing a major hole in your pocket. Grab your squad and read on, KL’s about to become your playground. Here’s how you can get your dose of city dust and wanderlust at no cost.

1. Market of Experiences
Date: 30 April & 1 May 2016
Entry: FREE
Happening at: Urbanscapes House, 2, Jalan Hang Kasturi, Medan Pasar, 50050 Kuala Lumpur.

Far from your usual market experience, Urbanscapes 2016 is home to the Market of Experiences (MOE) once again. This year, MOE has seven unique experiences lined up which includes a chance for you to take free books and give out flowers to strangers in return, win in Pong Off and interact with scents at Scents and Sensibility. Organised by Joanne Chew and Norman Teh, MOE is a creative collaboration between artists, chefs and designer thinkers. Intrigued yet?

2. Rooftop Yoga with Ash Be Nimble
Date: 2 May 2016
Time: 9.00 a.m. – 10.00 a.m.
Entry: FREE (Limited to 40pax)
*registration required, email hello@ashbenimble.com to RSVP
Happening at: The Kuala Lumpur Journal Hotel, 30, Jalan Beremi, Bukit Bintang, 50200 Kuala Lumpur.

For those all about the ‘namaste’s and latte’s’, Ash Be Nimble is conducting a free, rooftop yoga class on the 2nd of May. Following the fun from Urbanscapes’ Hotel Takeover, this session combines fitness, fun and fashion in one fabulous morning. Ash Be Nimble is a Malaysian brand specialising in affordable and functional sports apparel for men and women so you can sweat in style.

3. The Night Before Tomorrow (NB4T)
Date: 30 April 2016
Time: 8:00 p.m.
Entry: FREE
Happening at: The Bee, Publika, 36, Block C, Level G2, Publika, Solaris Dutamas, Jalan Dutamas 1, 50480, Kuala Lumpur

Back for its fourth edition, NB4T is described as a ‘club night-cum-gig-series’ aspiring to bring fresh beats to the usual nightlife scene. Musical acts such as Los Angeles’ Unconventional Science, Singapore’s fzpz, Harv and F∆UXE, Hong Kong’s J-Hoon and Manila’s similar objects are ready to take the stage for incredible sets that are bound to expand your appreciation for different styles of music. Locally, Home Court, Dae Kim, Yang Ariff, Mushroom Buttons, Fatim, Santaroena and Orang Malaya join the ranks for a melodic night of good vibes.

4. Cannot Be Bo(a)rdered
Dates: 23 April – 8 May 2016
Time: 11.00a - 7.00pm
Entry: FREE
Happening at: Urbanscapes House, 2, Jalan Hang Kasturi Medan Pasar, 50050 Kuala Lumpur.

If you can't be bothered by the rest of the events yet, then you must go to Cannot be Bo(a)rdered. The exhibition is a culmination of work by 16 artists and collectives from Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore, curated by Iman Ismail. Armed with a name inspired by the urban skate term ‘Can’t Be Bothered’, Cannot Be Bo(a)rdered explores the psyche of skate culture, challenging stereotypes, putting out new narratives and showcasing a blend of contemporary subcultures in the process.

5. Pop-up Art Installations

What if your weekends are already full? They’ve got you covered too. Spare a few minutes to walk into a room-sized cube set up in selected RapidKL stations (Malaysia’s Light Rail Transit) from the Kelana Jaya LRT Line, Ampang LRT Line and Monorail route for your dose of specially-commissioned art work. The artists involved in bringing art to you during your commute are abdulrashade, Cloakwork, HappyPass, Kazel Lim, Katrina Khair, Minut Init, Nadhir Nor, Orkibal, and Vivi Hazolene.

RapidKL Stations to stop at:

Join other festival-goers of all ages for an explosion of creativity in Kuala Lumpur! Fill out your calendars with the full schedule below: