Bomb threats, bird flu outbreaks and hysterical fans are among the excuses artists have given in the past for scrapping their appearances in Jakarta.
And when American rock band the Good Charlotte called off a gig in Jakarta in January after fears of a possible terrorist attack, it did not bode well for the rest of the year.
But the Good Charlotte lived up to their good name, postponing their concert to March and setting off a chain of events that is still going strong today: Promoters delivering acts that hold star power on the international music scene.
The likes of jazz pianist and heartthrob Jamie Cullum, legendary crooner Chaka Khan, guitarist Sergio Mendez and saxophonist Sadao Watanabe touched down for the three-day Jakarta International Java Jazz Festival in March.
Norway duo Kings of Convenience came in the same month, captivating their young fans in Jakarta and Bandung.
In May, accapella group Boyz II Men indulged their already grownup fans at Istora Senayan with a selection of their hits of the late 1990s.
Chicago-based rock band Fall Out Boy brought their unique sound here in September and, in October, U.S. heavy metal band Megadeth dropped by the city for a second time, after 2001, as part of their United Abominations Tour of Duty. The arrival of hip-hoppers the Black Eyed Peas in Jakarta at the end of October was, for many, the icing on the cake.
Local fans were thrilled when Beyonce Knowles pulled out of her Malaysian gig and graced Jakarta's shores in November. Shortly afterward the powerful live band The Black Dahlia Murder hit the stage at the Senayan A Basketball Hall with full force.
Another jazz festival, Jakjazz, was held in late November featuring both home-grown and international jazz players including the UK-based Bugz in the Attic, Tompi, Monday Michiru, and Bass Attack. Veteran performers Spyro Gyra, Kool and the Gang and Ireng Maulana gave their magic touch to the festival.
The news that Bjork will perform here in early 2008 has brought tears to the eyes of some fans, with My Chemical Romance and Incubus set to follow. Last but not least, the Java Jazz organizers have promised to bring the world to Indonesia. We'll see about that. --JP
