This article first appeared in The Edge Financial Daily, on April 27, 2016.

IN all its previous 13 instalments, Urbanscapes has always been a weekend wonder — a great escape for KLites looking for a creative outlet to let their imaginations run free, listen to an eclectic mix of music, and explore the arts. This year, the event which celebrates music, theatre, art, design, markets and experiential events brought to you by both international and home-grown talents, will no longer be a weekend wonder.

Instead, it will be extended over three weekends, featuring an exhaustive creative arts programme to entice festivalgoers of all ages and backgrounds. Across three weekends until May 8, musicians such as English drum and bass band Rudimental, Malaysian indie alternative rock band Hujan, and Ipoh’s indie rockers Bittersweet will be entertaining fans with their live music.

True to its ethos, Urbanscapes will present the unique creative arts programming that it is known for as well as a diverse programme of music experiences. The Bee Publika will play host to several intimate Urbanscapes gigs. On Saturday, homegrown rapper Jin Hackman of independent hip-hop movement Raising The Bar will collaborate with Juice Malaysia to present The Night Before Tomorrow (NB4T). NB4T will feature a wide range of electronic music that is both new and familiar to Kuala Lumpur’s vibrant nightlife scene.

Meanwhile, those looking to purchase nostalgic memorabilia in the form of classic vinyls will be excited to know that vinyl enthusiasts’ collective, Musika Publika, will host a party which will feature pre-loved vinyls, CDs and cassettes for enthusiasts and collectors to purchase at the Black Box, Publika.

The heart of Urbanscapes will pulse at the scenic and historic square at Medan Pasar, where the heritage OCBC Bank art deco building (now known as 2 Hang Kasturi) will be completely taken over to serve as the festival hub, Urbanscapes House. Occupying five floors, Urbanscapes House will host weekends of art festivities. Right when you enter, the Urbanscapes Café will feature a signature menu created by the event’s food partners.

The first floor will feature skate and visual culture art exhibition Cannot Be Bo(a)rdered, featuring the works of 25 artists from Singapore, Malaysia and Indonesia. Urbanscapes House will also host weekends of thematic markets that explore the themes of urban culture, arts and crafts and fashion retail. Up on the airy rooftop, expect thematic food markets where some of the best food vendors will peddle gastronomic bits and bites.

Also in the programme is Urbanscapes staple The Generalist, which will return with an even more imaginative line-up of multi-experiential activities with the Market of Experiences. As Urbanscapes bustles to a crescendo, the festival will conclude with a high-energy closing street party from 4pm to 9pm on May 8 at Medan Pasar. A throwback to Urbanscapes’ infancy, this party will see Malaysia’s artists and creative communities coming together to deliver a salvo of artistic endeavours including street performances and art installations, while food trucks will fill the square with their enticing fare and aromas.

Urbanscapes kicked off on April 23 and saw 2,500 concertgoers attending Australian band, Tame Impala’s gig at KL Live. The concert was opened by Pastel Lite, a Malaysian experimental band made up of members Elf Hakim and Mohd Faliq. This was followed by a concert by Hujan and Bittersweet on the next day at the same venue.

This weekend, visit The Craft Crowd’s craft workshop at Urbanscapes House, where you can learn how to design your own original prints on cards, notebooks, tote bags, as well as express  the artist in you through modern portraits. There will also be a basic watercolour workshop which will introduce watercolour, techniques and styles as well as a food illustration workshop, ideal for anyone who wants to know about the medium. You can also learn how to create your own terrarium with Ohsum Mossum Terrarium, which you can design to your own liking. A fee of RM180 covers all the materials to build your own moss terrarium.

On the final weekend, catch a screening of documentary The Obs: A Singapore Story along with August is the Curellest album showcase at The Bee Publika. M83 will be performing at KL Live on May 7, while the Urbanscapes’ closing street party will be held on May 8 at Medan Pasar.

For more information and a full line-up of this year’s events, visit www.urbanscapes.com.my.