21/08/2026

FRIDAY | AUG 21, 2026

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26

LYFE

EVENTS LISTINGS

LYFE

A Knight’s Tale – Valor & Romance In Music Date: Aug 29 Time: 8pm Venue: Dewan Filharmonik Petronas Entry fee: RM249 onwards

Helmed by MPO music director Junichi Hirokami, the programme will present a cello concerto written by Antonin Dvorak, regarded as the greatest ever written for this instrument. It brims with melodic invention and exquisite lyricism of the highest order and will be performed by Colombian soloist/composer Santiago Canon-Valencia. After the intermission, the MPO will present Touch Her Soft Lips and Part composed by William Walton and the concert will conclude with Symphony No. 2 in C written by Robert Schumann.

Shanmuga Sundaram: A Life in Bharatanatyam Date: Aug 29 Time: 8pm Venue: Sutra House, Kuala Lumpur Entry fee: By minimum donation Sutra Foundation presents an evening with distinguished Bharatanatyam artiste and educator Shanmuga Sundaram, bringing to Kuala Lumpur an artiste whose three-decade journey in Indian classical dance has been defined by discipline, devotion and an enduring commitment to passing the art to the next generation. For audiences familiar with Bharatanatyam, the evening offers an opportunity to experience the artistry of a distinguished Vazhuvoor exponent.

Forestborn Date: Until Sept 3 Time: 11am to 8pm

Venue: AweGallery, Taman Paramount As Malaysia celebrates 69 years of independence, Forestborn invites us to look beyond the idea of nationhood and reflect on the land, people, cultures and heritage that collectively shape the country we call home. In the exhibit, Malaysian artist Calvin Chua turns his attention to the enduring relationship between the indigenous communities and the rainforests of Borneo. Through scenes of children immersed in rivers, community gatherings, ceremonial dancers and intimate portraits, Chua captures more than moments of everyday life. His works speak of belonging, heritage and a deep connection to the land.

Beyond Words by L. Shankar Date: Aug 22 Time: 8pm Venue: Istana Budaya, Kuala Lumpur Entry fee: RM150 onwards Marking the first international concert at Istana Budaya following its reopening, this one-night-only performance brings together internationally acclaimed artistry headlined by Grammy-winning violin virtuoso and inventor of the double violin L. Shankar and Malaysia’s finest musicians in a rare collaboration that celebrates cultural exchange and showcases the country’s performing arts excellence on one of its most iconic stages.

Studio Monkey Shoulder Live Date: Until Sept 12 Time: Night

Venue: Kyo, Kuala Lumpur (Aug 21)/ Yko, Bukit Damansara (Aug 27)/ Wet Deck, W Kuala Lumpur (Sept 5)/ Desire Limitless, Plaza Batai (Sept 10)/ Souled Out KL, Desa Sri Hartamas (Sept 11) Monkey Shoulder unveils Studio Monkey Shoulder Live, a celebration of homegrown grassroots musical creativity built around independent venues and intimate settings rather than traditional festival formats. Backed by Gilles Peterson and Worldwide FM and curated by Saturday Selects, the six-night programme spans jazz, soul, house, hip-hop and forward thinking club sounds, featuring selectors including Roshan, Mia and LZZY, all paired with a cocktail programme built around Monkey Shoulder’s Ginger Monkey and Monkey Highball.

Twinkle Twinkle Farm Tales Pop-Up Date: Until Aug 23 Venue: Urban Node, The Exchange TRX Entry fee: Free For a limited time, Urban Node has been transformed into a playful Twinkle Twinkle farm. Inspired by the Farm Tales series, the space brings the character’s signature rosy cheeks and star-shaped form into a setting filled with farm scenes and animal-inspired details, inviting visitors to step into the imaginative world of Twinkle Twinkle and its animal friends.

Ecologies, Vectors, Vicinites Date: Aug 22 Time: 2pm to 4.30pm Venue: Level 5, Ilham Gallery Entry fee: Free

10th World Bonsai Convention 2026 Date: Aug 28 to Sept 6 Venue: Pavilion Bukit Jalil

Conversations about writing in Southeast Asia usually centre on what is missing: A lack of critics, unsustainable publishing platforms and a lack of infrastructure. Instead of belabouring this lack, Ecologies, Vectors, Vicinities shows how these limitations have forced local creators in the region to imagine different ways that textual production is shared and transformed.

Held once every four years and often regarded as the “Olympics of the Bonsai World”, the convention brings together bonsai masters, enthusiasts and practitioners from more than 100 countries, making it a significant milestone that the prestigious global event is being hosted in Malaysia for the first time. Visitors can discover thousands of bonsai, suiseki stone and natural wood art masterpieces, alongside live demonstrations, workshops, seminars and Master Classes by world-leading bonsai artists and speakers.