When Live Gives You Lemons, Plainsong Made Joyland Sessions!
[JAKARTA] The last few weeks were one of the worst weather this archipelago has ever faced within this year, yet the heavy downpour didn’t stop people from swarming Joyland Sessions which was held in 29 – 30 November 2025 in Jakarta. Decreased in its capacity and overall festivities, Joyland Sessions still managed to deliver an almost perfectly crafted experience. The minimalistic aesthetic layout, whether in installations or signage, was carefully arranged to please the eyes, serving as a visual sweetener that attracted everyone who attended. As we walked in during the second band’s set, The Cottons welcomed the crowd, which had already started to pack the front area, even as light rain fell during the last few songs. The audience sang along loudly to their hit songs like “Harapan”. Afterwards, Bernadya drew an even larger crowd from all sides. Some attendees even started their own little picnic setups under the thick, leafy trees at GBK City Park. The highlight of Bernadya’s performance was her fresh live arrangements, which felt less monotonous than her usual setlist.
A 40-minute break was followed up by Bank, who delivered a standout performance with one of their best setup yet. Families and youngsters who attended danced along Bank’s groovy set. Flown all the way from the US, Bright Eyes brought the energy to life with Conor Oberst playfully greeting the crowd. Next up, Kip Berman, Peggy Wang, and Alex Naidus from The Pains of Being Pure at Hear took over the stage. Singing their early three singles like Contender, Come Saturday, and Young Adult Friction, Joyland Sessions successfully rekindled the deep longing fans had felt throughout the band’s half-decade hiatus. Day one was met with the rain as the night grew darker. Despite the rain, the crowd didn’t budge until L’Imperatrice appeared on stage. The energy and charm of L’Imperatrice’s new vocalist, Louve, were just as strong as her predecessor.
On the second day, right as we entered the event gate, I was greeted by the soulful funk sounds of Surabaya’s pride, Thee Marloes. They also performed their new singles, “Harap and Ragu”, which had been released just a few weeks before their debut at Joyland Sessions. Reality Club once again charmed everyone with a cleverly arranged setlist. It flowed from joyful to melancholic and ended on a happy note arrangement-wise, even though the lyrics were drenched in heartbreak. The next two acts, ALI and Galdive, brought fresh energy to this mini version of Joyland as well. Enjoying ALI’s Arabic/funk/soul blend under the scorching sun felt just right, especially with a bit of light dancing. Then Galdive brought a contrasting, cooler vibe that made the late afternoon feel extra cozy.
One of the act that surprised us was Oddisee & Good Company, whose style felt pretty unique to us. Imagine rap layered over jazz/soul instrumentals, it blended surprisingly well. Things then shifted back to dreamy, super-soft pop with two international acts: Luna Li and Soccer Mommy (Sophia Regina). Both managed to bridge the audience’s emotional energy before the crowd stepped into the night’s main headliner. On 10 PM, cheers erupted the moment TV Girl kicked things off with Pantyhose. Upbeat drum patterns and 60s-style electronic textures floated nonstop through the air. Brad’s interaction with the audience was top-tier as it was entertaining, witty, but still effortlessly cool. A string of highly anticipated hit singles like Hate Yourself, Louise, Cigarettes Out the Window, Loving Machine, It Evaporates, and Lovers Rock rolled out almost without pause, each one met with loud, excited shouts from the crowd.
Overall, Joyland Sessions is the answer of what Plainsong Live could pull amidst difficult situations. Although not being able to deliver a festival in its regular scale, Joyland Sessions was not about the lavish things only. The organizers managed to retain the quality of the festival and curated even the smallest part to bring a great ambience for the attendees. There is a saying that you should make do with whatever hardships thrown at you. So, when the universe gives Plainsong Live lemons, they made Joyland Sessions instead, and it worked.
Reporter: Fadly Zakaria/Editor: Novita Widia
Documentation: Plainsong Live/Joyland Festival
