ESEAS Bristol (@eseasbristol) proudly presents the first ever East & South East Asian (ESEA) arts & culture festival in Bristol, MOON FEST (@moonfestofficial).

[Update: Advance tickets are nearly sold out, but we will be adding 20 more on-the-door tickets on Eventbrite on September 10. Thank you so much for your support!]

What's on the MOON?

Expect a fun and festive blend of live music performances, short film screenings & art, craft and food stalls all by the ESEA communities! We are over the moon to bring more ESEA representation, celebrate ESEA Heritage Month as well as the traditional festivals that inspired MOON FEST like Mid-Autumn Festival, Chuseok, Tsukimi, Tết Trung Thu and Uposatha of Ashvini.

We hope to see you on the MOON!

Who are the organisers?

ESEAS Bristol (@eseasbristol) - Catalysed by the rising hate crimes towards East and South East Asian (ESEA) people during the pandemic , ESEAS (ESEA Solidarity) Bristol was born in May 2021 out of the need and desire to create a friendly space for the ESEA diasporic community in the city.

Made on the Moon (@made.on.the.moon) - A new production collective by Monica Wat creating music, films and festivals with a sprinkle of stardust, especially for underrepresented communities in the UK.

Who will be there?

We have already confirmed a line up of talented artists and brilliant short films, but this is just the beginning! Stay tuned for more updates on participating creatives and community members.

1:30-4:30 Performers:

Monica Wat (@monicawat7) - Monica is a singer-songwriter-producer and filmmaker from Hong Kong, now based in Bristol. Her music, a diverse sonic palette ranging from pop, indie pop, folk to R&B, are intimate snapshots of her life, often revolving around the themes of introspection, belonging and identity. She has been part of the line-up at Bristol-wide events like the iconic annual Trinity Garden Party, Hong Kong Friendship Festival and beyond. She hopes to create music, films and stories that make us a little less lonely and more connected.

Thomas 甘 Kam (@_thomaskam) - Thomas is a singer/songwriter, who brings his background in classical and jazz piano, folk guitar and page poetry to form a unique style of music. His songs touch on topics such as time, death, water and love. His music has drawn comparisons to Leonard Cohen, Ludivoci Einaudi and Jeff Buckley.

Kala Chng (@kalachng) - KALA CHNG is a half-Chinese British Pop music artist from Knowle West, Bristol. As a songwriter, singer and producer she creates an original blend of Pop music with Chinese sounds and urban influence, from Bristol bass, grime and dubstep beats, classical Chinese instruments, catchy pop lines to R&B.

Lisa Lee (@lisa33_bean) - Lisa is a Singer from Hong Kong. Her albums can be found on Apple Music. Her performances could be found on her Facebook page: Lisa Lee 李麗珊 and Instagram.

More performers to be announced soon!

4:30-6:00 Short Films:

Spectra (@spectradancefilm)- A dance film collaboration between genderqueer multi-disciplinary dance artist TIM LYTC and filmmaker Chris Pugh. The film explores spectrums of identity, colour and mood through music, light and dance.

Asians Have Feelings too (@asianshavefeelingstoo) - A stranded dreamer, a bored typist and a defiant, transqueerian space captain attempt to rediscover joy in a fantastical #StopAsianHate music video propelled by dance and animation. Outrageously underrepresented in the UK arts, 87% of the creative team were East and/or Southeast Asian or South Asian. Over half were LGBTIQA+, with nearly a third identifying as trans/non-binary/genderqueer. The team included neurodivergent and disabled artists.

Memories, Linger (Preview) - A music video about a Hong Kong girl's journey of moving to the UK, from isolation to celebration of diversity and cultures.

ASSIMILATION - A microshort film about a student who has moved to the UK from Hong Kong for university assimilating into the British culture by trying baked beans, meal deals...with an absurdist comedic twist. The film has been selected as part of the SCENE Programme by BFI.

Mixed Feelings (@mixedfeelings.dialogue) - 'Mixed Feelings' is a short film exploring mixed identity, through Nozomi's own heritage, it is accompanied by a wider digital dialogue that can be found on Instagram.

Asian Declaration (@asian_declaration) - A short documentary about how the COVID-19 pandemic surfaced the rooted hatred the West has towards East and South-Eastern Asia, and how ESEA individuals struggle to voice their issues with their cultural and ethnic identity.

1:00-6:00 Art & Craft:

Little Egg Crafts (@littleeggcrafts) - They design and create amigurumi & crochet items inspired by their shared Hongkonger culture, their heritages and by the things they love. Amigurumi (編みぐるみ in kanji) directly translates to 'crocheted or knitted stuffed toy'. This is the Japanese art of knitting or crocheting small, stuffed plushies using yarn. The word is a blend of the words: ⁠'ami (編)' = crocheted or knitted,⁠ 'nuigurumi (ぬいぐるみ)' = a small, stuffed doll. All our shop items are designed and handmade to order / for markets by them.

Carlo Hornilla (@kaarokaaro) - Carlo is a freelance artist, illustrator and storyteller and awkward human being. They use “play”, “fun” and regular introspection as a platform to explore feelings, connection, communication and the complexities that exist with them. At their stall you can find prints of their art work, their self published graphic novels, postcards and Live 5 Minute Commission where you can ask them to draw ANYTHING you want (within reason)!

Cho Ceramics (@cho.ceramics) - Hand made ceramics in Bristol. East Asian inspired.

Monlineart (@monlineart) - Stories told in gold metallic lines on canvas. The Star Series is the first collection of paintings by Monica Wat. Each Star comes with a special story that hopefully resonates with those who encounters it.

Jennifer Lo (@jenni_ferlo) - Jennifer's work is a culmination of print technique combined with imagery, experimental text and calligraphy. Transpiring from memories of family & her heritage - the works presented are a note to the resilience and legacy of the latter.

Brie (@daisyleaf.art) - Brianna/ Brie is a Bristol based Illustrator with a love for simple and cute illustrations. She is Malaysian Chinese born and raised in Germany. Having started out mostly digitally, Brie now enjoys mixed media and is currently taking special interest in clay art and paper cutting art. While her artworks tackle various topics, she majorly takes up fragments from her childhood taking them forward in her current practice with the goal of exploring her identity and feelings of diaspora.

Alisawithart (@alisawithart) - Alisa is a multi-disciplinary visual artist from Malaysia and is currently based in Bristol. She likes to explore creating art and images in different forms and mediums, from traditional painting and digital illustrations to making 3D physical work. She will be selling stickers, hand printed art prints, tote bags & t-shirts.

Jenny Lee (@jenniqueart) - Jenny is a queer Malaysian non-binary digital artist and graphic designer. Their works can be best described as cute with purple-blue colour palette. The primary focus revolves around the LGBTQ+, mental health, occasionally SEA/Asian/Chinese and environmental subjects. Their art account @jenniqueart strives to maintain and foster an inclusive, loving community.

Jessie Chiang (@______orangest______) - Jessie Chiang is an illustrator from Hong Kong now base in Bristol .Artwork revolves around emotional feelings and human interaction, drawn in the style of character directed with bold brush line and bright fun colours .

Doc Doodle (@doc_doodle) - Doc Doodle works as a clinician in the NHS during the day but in her spare time she is obsessed with arts and crafts. Her art style can vary but there'll always be a black fineline somewhere! She is inspired by travel, literature, pop culture, nature, medicine and her East and South-East Asian heritage.

Momo Chow (@ms.workshop) - Momo is a traditional lantern maker and make- up artist from Hong Kong. She will be showcasing her beautiful hand-crafted traditional lanterns just in time for Mid-Autumn Festival at MOON FEST.

Aco Burnett (@aco_decodoll) - Aco Burnett is a graphic designer and CG artist from Japan who now lives in Bristol. As a hobby she makes handmade toys and sculptures inspired by Japanese folktales. Her most recent project is a procession of 100 Yokai (Japanese Spirits).

1:00-6:00 Food:

5 Foot Way (@5footway)- 5 Foot Way is a family run catering company based in Wiltshire. They cook for weddings and other private events, supperclubs and corporate parties . They specialise in Malaysian food and due to the influence of the different ethnic and cultural identities there, they also cook other South East Asian, Chinese and Indian dishes. Michelle was born in Malaysia of Chinese heritage and has lived in the UK for the last 40 years. Her husband, Steve, is English, loves Asian food and is king of the satay grill and crispy belly pork.

Kring Kringz (@kringkringz_) - Kring Kringz is a Filipino inspired fusion pop-up bringing big, bold, umami-bomb flavez. It’s Filipino at heart with nods to Serena’s life and experiences throughout. Pure Northern comfort with Chinese + South-East Asian influences. Serena’s entire soul is poured into Kring Kringz and her ethos is all about bringing fun, vibrant, exciting food that gets people talkin and feeling GOOD!

What is ESEA?

East & South East Asians (ESEA) is a diverse community, and we respect the differences between our regional culture and are here to foster better understanding of different forms of experience and discriminations that have been faced. Whilst creating space for ourselves we also stand alongside other POC communities in solidarity.

There is a nuance to the British Asian experience; in the UK, the word ‘Asian’ has traditionally stood for South Asian, while the opposite is true of the Asian American identity, where there is much more visibility of ESEA people. In the last couple of years, the acronym, which stands for East & Southeast Asian, has gained popularity in the UK, galvanized by the Stop Asian Hate and Black Lives Matter movements, through the organising of community groups. (ESEA Music, 2022)

Where will the proceeds go?

All ticket sales from MOON FEST will first go back to covering necessary venue-related costs. The rest of the proceeds will go back to supporting ESEA creatives, communities and funding for future MOON FEST and ESEA-specific events. We are a non-profit event with a small budget, so your support would be vital to the running of the event! We very much welcome donations and sponsorships from like-minded partners. :)

Notes from the MOON

Please note, there will be photography and videography at the event. If you have any questions or concerns about this, please speak to us at [email protected] or the registration desk.

The venue is wheelchair accessible.

If you cannot make the event, but want to donate to support us and ESEA communities, you can do so by purchasing a donation ticket!

If you are a friend of East and South East Asian (ESEA) heritage, and you would like to attend but your financial circumstances do not allow that, please email us at [email protected]!

MOON FEST is presented by ESEAS Bristol and co-organised and produced by Made on the Moon.

Refund policy:

We are open to refunding costs of tickets if a request is made more than 24 hours before the event takes place.

Entry requirements: — Read more — Read less