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Good Vibes Festival
The festival site in 2018
Genre	Music festival
Frequency	Annually
Location(s)	Sepang International Circuit, Selangor Genting Highlands, Pahang (2016–2019) Sunway Lagoon, Selangor (2022)
Years active	2013–present
Inaugurated	13 August 2013; 11 years ago (2013-08-13)
Most recent	21 July 2023
Organised by	Future Sound Asia Sdn. Bhd.
Website	www.goodvibesfestival.com

Good Vibes Festival (GVF) is an annual music festival in Malaysia. Organized by Future Sound Asia, the first edition was held on August 13, 2013, later held over two days from 2016.

History

2010s

Good Vibes Festival was first organized as a multi-artist concert on 13 August 2013 at the Sepang International Circuit, with a line-up of acts like The Smashing Pumpkins and Modest Mouse. In 2014, the festival was extended as a two-day event, with Ellie Goulding and Empire of the Sun as the main act. The festival did not take place in 2015, and starting in 2016 and the subsequent edition, GVF was held in Genting Highlands.

2020s

GVF was not held in 2020 and 2021 due to COVID-19 pandemic. The festival was return in September 2022, and took place in Sunway Lagoon under the name Good Vibes Weekender, featuring Korean rapper, CL, and Hong Kong singer, Jackson Wang as the main act.

The festival's 2023 edition marks the 10th anniversary since the first edition and return to took place at the festival's early edition venue, the Sepang International Circuit, first edition with three-day event, featuring lineup of acts: The 1975, The Kid Laroi and The Strokes, alongside other artists. The also gained attention due to the increase in ticket prices to become the most expensive in the history of the organization. The 1975's frontman as well as the rest of the band was banned from Malaysia and forced by the authorities to prematurely end their performance at the festival after he criticised the country's widespread anti-LGBTQ+ laws and kissed bandmate Ross MacDonald. Healy stated that the band's decision to appear in Malaysia had been a "mistake". "When we were booking shows, I wasn't looking into it. So I pulled the show yesterday and we had a conversation, we said 'you know what, we can't let the kids down because they're not the problem'". The organisers subsequently cancelled the rest of the three-day festival, on government orders, citing that Healy's "controversial conduct and remarks" are "against the traditions and values of the local culture". Human rights and LGBT activist Peter Tatchell, writing for The Guardian wrote that criticism of Healy and the band "deflect attention from where the criticisms should be most urgently directed: against the homophobia of the Kuala Lumpur regime." He also expressed that Healy is no white saviour for showing solidarity to the community as "queer rights are a universal human right, not a western one". Reactions to the incident from Malaysians on social media were generally critical of Healy. Some members of the LGBT community in Malaysia were frustrated by the incident and expressed concern it would lead to further reprisals from the religious right.

The 2024 edition was cancelled due to the Installation of Yang di-Pertuan Agong XVII.

Lineup

Notes

1. As the Good Vibes Weekender.
2. Originally scheduled to held on July 21 to 23, but was cancelled after the authorities interfered after the 1975’s frontman Matty Healy condemned the country’s anti-LGBTQ+ laws, and kissed his bandmate Ross MacDonald.
3. It was originally scheduled for 20–21 July 2024 but was cancelled due to the Installation of Yang di-Pertuan Agong XVII clashing with the date.

References

1. "Malaysia's own music fest set to thrill crowds of all ages in August". The Star Online. 28 June 2013. Retrieved 26 July 2023.
2. Melody Oei (12 June 2013). "#GoodVibesFest: Smashing Performances And More!". SAYS. Retrieved 26 July 2023.
3. Hong Jing Yi (2014-06-23). "Ellie Goulding, Empire Of The Sun to headline Good Vibes Festival". TODAY. Retrieved 2023-07-22.
4. Selvakumaran, Thashine (2022-09-27). "Best weekend ever!". The Sun Daily. Retrieved 2023-07-22.
5. "Daniel Caesar, Ty Dolla $ign and more added to Good Vibes Festival 2023 lineup". Lifestyle Asia Kuala Lumpur. 2023-05-23. Retrieved 2023-07-22.
6. Hype Malaysia (2023-02-22). "100% Price Increase? Netizens Compare Good Vibes Festival 2023 Tickets To Previous Years - Hype MY". Retrieved 2023-07-22.
7. Aniftos, Rania (21 July 2023). "Matty Healy Says The 1975 Is Banned From Kuala Lumpur After Onstage Kiss". Billboard. Archived from the original on 22 July 2023. Retrieved 22 July 2023.
8. Murphy, Matt (22 July 2023). "Matty Healy: 1975 show ended in Malaysia after singer attacks anti-LGBT laws". BBC News. Archived from the original on 22 July 2023. Retrieved 22 July 2023.
9. Kreps, Daniel (21 July 2023). "The 1975's Set at Malaysia Festival Cut Short as Matty Healy Slams Anti-LGBTQ Laws". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on 22 July 2023. Retrieved 22 July 2023.
10. "Malaysia Halts Music Festival After Kiss Between Bandmates Onstage". The New York Times. 2023-07-22. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2023-07-22.
11. Thomas, Tobi (2023-07-22). "Malaysian festival halted after Matty Healy criticises anti-LGBTQ+ laws". The Observer. ISSN 0029-7712. Retrieved 2023-07-22.
12. Tatchell, Peter (2023-07-25). "Matty Healy is not a 'white saviour' for showing solidarity with Malaysia's LGBTQ+ people". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2023-07-26.
13. ^ "Matt Healy: Malaysia LGBT community angry over 'white saviour stunt'". BBC News. 2023-07-25. Retrieved 2023-07-25.
14. Khomami, Nadia (2023-07-23). "The 1975 cancel shows in Indonesia and Taiwan after Malaysia gay kiss uproar". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2023-07-25.
15. Ratcliffe, Rebecca (2023-07-24). "Malaysia's gay community fears backlash after Matty Healy's outburst". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2023-07-31.
16. Renaldi, Erwin; Zhang, Stevie (2023-07-25). "'Destructive and thoughtless': Queer Malaysians respond to The 1975 singer Matty Healy's rant against anti-LGBTQ laws". ABC News. Retrieved 2023-07-31.
17. "Good Vibes Festival 2024 off after Puspal postpones events clashing with Agong's installation". Malay Mail. 2024-07-01. Retrieved 2024-07-02.
18. "PHOTO GALLERY: All the good things about Good Vibes Festival 2016". Bandwagon Asia. 2016-08-16. Retrieved 2023-07-22.
19. "Good Vibes Festival 2019 announces second wave lineup and additional Boiler Room stage – Yuna, Joji, SonaOne, BAYNK, and more confirmed". Bandwagon Asia. 2019-06-20. Retrieved 2023-07-22.

External links

• Official website

• 2013 establishments in Malaysia
• Annual events in Malaysia
• Music festivals in Malaysia
• Music festivals established in 2013
• 2023 controversies
• Controversies in Malaysia