10-05-2025
Bintulu band Tika Kala rocks to victory at Miri's Battle of the Bands 2025
(From third left) Hatta, Ismawi and Ting presenting the grand prize to Tika Kala, the champion of the competition.
MIRI (May 10): The vibrant city of Miri came alive last night as local talents took centre stage in the Battle of the Bands, held in conjunction with the Program Bakti Madani Miri 2025.
The event, which began at 8pm, drew a crowd of over 300 people in the parking lot of Miri Indoor Stadium, giving grassroots music and emerging local talent a platform to showcase their performances.
A total of seven bands took part in the competition, with five hailing from Miri and two travelling from Bintulu to take part in the competition.
Each band was allocated 20 minutes to perform, with a variety of musical styles on display, from nostalgic classics to heavier rock influences.
All participating bands brought their own flair and showmanship to the stage.
Bintulu-based Tika Kala was crowned champion, impressing judges and audiences with the band's high-energy performance and youthful presence.
Their lively set and stage presence were a highlight of the evening.
NV Unity, also from Bintulu, took home the first runner-up spot with a powerful performance that blended classic rock and metal influences.
Their bold sound earned strong cheers from rock fans in the audience.
Second runner-up went to Sessonita, a Miri-based band that brought a wave of nostalgia with their renditions of early-2000s rock hits.
Datuk Sebastian Ting, Deputy Minister of Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts, was present to officiate the award presentation, personally handing out prizes to the top three winners.
Beyond the performances, attendees were also treated to several rounds of lucky draws, with prizes given out throughout the night.
Seeing the strong turnout, the organisers expressed hope that events such as this could be held more frequently to give local talents greater opportunities to showcase their musical talents and build confidence through public performances.
Also present at the event was Regional Corridor Development Authority (Recoda) chief executive officer (CEO) Datuk Ismawi Ismuni and Director of the Management Services Section of Performance Acceleration Coordination Unit (PACU) Hatta Said. Battle of the Bands entertainment lead music performance
