Indo Psychedelic Funk Trio Ali To Make KL Debut This August

By Lara Kramer  •  03 Jul 2026 in Events

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For years, Jakarta-based trio Ali have been quietly building a reputation as one of Southeast Asia’s most exciting and genre-defying musical exports.

This August, Malaysian audiences will finally get the chance to experience their hypnotic live show firsthand.

The Indonesian psychedelic funk outfit will make their long-awaited Kuala Lumpur debut on Friday, 14 August 2026 at Vox Live, with local support coming from experimental artist Sayyid el MuuTayyib (which is No Good frontman Smek’s solo project).

Blending Middle Eastern musical traditions with 1970s Indonesian psychedelic rock, cinematic soul, afrobeat, disco, and funk, Ali have carved out a sound that’s as deeply rooted in history as it is forward-looking.

Formed by Arswandaru and John Paul Patton, and later joined by guitarist Absar Lebeh, the trio describe their music as “Middle Eastern beats with Southeast twists”, a fitting description for a project that draws heavily from Arswandaru’s Arab-Indonesian heritage.

Their acclaimed debut album Malaka encapsulates this cross-cultural approach.

Named after the historic Malacca Strait, the record explores centuries of exchange between the Arab world and Southeast Asia, weaving Arabic lyrics, psychedelic grooves, and Indonesian musical traditions into a singular sonic experience.

The band expanded on this vision with their six-track EP Patterns, which further explored their signature blend of Middle Eastern influences, funk, disco, afrobeat, and psychedelic Indonesian and Malay textures through a cinematic lens.

Ali’s collaborative spirit has also led them beyond Indonesia’s borders. Their recent collaborative album Tirakat with Lebanese composer and multi-instrumentalist Charif Megarbane explores the natural intersections between Indonesian and Arab musical traditions, resulting in a body of work that feels both timeless and strikingly contemporary.

Take a glimpse of their sound here:

Over the past few years, Ali have steadily become one of Southeast Asia’s most internationally recognised independent acts.

Their festival appearances include major stages at Fuji Rock Festival in Japan, Best Kept Secret Festival in the Netherlands, Meredith Music Festival in Australia, and Trans Musicales in France. In 2024, the trio completed their first full European and UK tour, performing 13 shows across six countries.

Their global ascent continued in 2025 when they made their United States debut at SXSW, where they were selected as official showcasing artists. Their performances quickly garnered critical attention, earning them a spot on The Austin Chronicle‘s “35 Acts to Watch” list and recognition from Austin Monthly as one of the festival’s standout international acts.

Adding to their growing international profile, Ali recently joined the ranks of artists featured on KEXP’s celebrated live sessions platform, following in the footsteps of acts such as Arctic Monkeys, Khruangbin, Jungle, Cigarettes After Sex, and King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard.

Fresh off tours across Europe, the UK, and Japan, Ali now bring their groove-heavy, psychedelic soundscape to Kuala Lumpur for what promises to be an unforgettable debut performance.

Concert Details

Artist: Ali
Date: Friday, 14 August 2026
Time: Doors open at 9:00 p.m.
Venue: Vox Live, Kuala Lumpur

Presale tickets go on went on sale 3 July at 10:00 a.m., but have now SOLD OUT. General ticket sales begin on 6 July at 12:00 p.m. via Ticketmelon.

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