Ngayogjazz 2025 Ready to be Held in Imogiri, Brings the Tagline “Jazz is Invited to Mbokmu” and Presents a Collaboration of World Musicians

KabarJawa.com – The annual Ngayogjazz music festival once again greets music lovers with a spirit of togetherness and freedom of expression. Entering its 19th year, this event will be held on Saturday, November 15 2025, starting at 13.00 WIB until the end, located in Imogiri Village, Kapanewon Imogiri, Bantul Regency, Special Region of Yogyakarta.

The area, which is known for its classic atmosphere and historical feel, will become a stage for a combination of jazz music, local culture and the joy of the residents.

This year, the committee chose a unique and smile-inducing tagline: “Jazz is invited by Mbokmu”. This simple sentence is open to the viewer’s free interpretation. Is it an invitation to return home to reminisce about the warm past, or just a friendly joke between friends?

The committee does not intend to debate the meaning of the tagline. In fact, through this theme, Ngayogjazz wants to emphasize the true essence of this festival: a place where everyone can come, enjoy music, joke and have fun without barriers, without protocols and without distance.

Expression Space for the Indonesian Jazz Community

Since it was first held, Ngayogjazz has always held a big vision: to be a forum for expression for the jazz community from all over the archipelago. This festival is not just a concert, but a growing space for young musicians so that the seeds of Indonesian jazz continue to live and develop.

This year, a number of big names are ready to grace the Ngayogjazz 2025 stage. From Indonesia, there are Sri Hanuraga, Andre Dinuth, Aditya Ong Quartet, Dion Subiyakto, and Woppa ft. Farah Di, and many more. Not only that, foreign musicians will also take part, including the Kevin Saura Group Quartet, Pasqua Pancrazi, Laurent Guerirard and Olivier Bertholet from France, Eef Van Breen from the Netherlands, and the Bennet Brandeis Trio from the United States.

It is hoped that the presence of these cross-border musicians will enrich the variety of jazz colors displayed at Imogiri—bringing together harmony between local and international musicians on one egalitarian folk stage.

Cultural and Local Economic Collaboration

Apart from music, Ngayogjazz 2025 is also a momentum for the Imogiri community to showcase their local potential. Through the Jazz Market, local residents will participate in showcasing various craft products, culinary delights and the work of MSMEs typical of Imogiri. This initiative shows that Ngayogjazz is not only a music festival, but also a space for empowering the creative economy of village communities.

This festival will also be enlivened by Guyub Yogja, a space for interaction between creative communities. This community involves various groups such as coffee fans, onthel bicycles, photographers, and automotive lovers. During the event, Guyub Yogja will present a variety of exciting activities ranging from film screenings, music clinics, to various interactive workshops, which will make the Ngayogjazz experience even warmer and more colorful.

“Ngayogjazz is Worship that Grows from Love”

At the 2024 Ngayogjazz Media Meeting, Kusen Alipah Hadi once emphasized that Ngayogjazz is not just an annual cultural event.

“Ngayogjazz is not just a cultural event. For him, this is a worship that grows from a feeling of love. There is no coercion or instruction to worship, everything is done with joy. Ngayogjazz is able to encourage its audience to do that,” he said.

The statement reflects the spiritual and emotional value strongly attached to this festival. Ngayogjazz grew from a spirit of mutual cooperation, without boundaries between the committee, performers and audience—all are part of one community that shares positive energy.

Free for All, But Still Ethical

Like previous years, Ngayogjazz 2025 is open to the public and free. Spectators are only asked to maintain order, be polite, and not bring items that violate norms and laws. The spirit of freedom in this festival does not mean without rules, but rather freedom that is born from a collective awareness of mutual respect.

With the tagline “Jazz Invited by Mbokmu”, Ngayogjazz 2025 not only invites audiences to enjoy music, but also to celebrate togetherness and love for culture. The sound of jazz playing in the Imogiri valley will become a symbol that music can bridge differences, foster friendship and strengthen local identity in a global package.

For anyone who wants to experience a combination of harmony, nostalgia and village warmth, make sure not to miss Ngayogjazz 2025 in Imogiri, a folk party that combines jazz rhythms with the unified and independent Javanese soul.***