Lokananta: Why This Musical Landmark is a Must-Visit in Solo

An Article by Natasya Soetantyo

Solo is one of the cities in Indonesia that I always wanted to explore but never got a chance to (despite travelling to Central Java quite often since I was young). Last January, this long-overdue bucket list was finally ticked off.

After a comforting lunch of soto and a cheeky es dawet selasih from the nearby market, food coma didn’t stop us from exploring the city further – after all, it was only a two-day trip. We then made our way to Lokananta, located on Jalan Ahmad Yani, Laweyan.

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Lokananta is a sacred pilgrimage site for those passionate about music, art, and history. Established in 1956, it was Indonesia’s first record label and vinyl record producer. In their heyday, they were the ones that introduced Indonesia to legendary musicians; Gesang (famously known for his song ‘Bengawan Solo‘), Titiek Puspa, and Waldjinah to name a few.

Its archive is not limited to only pop and Keroncong music at the time; but also home to Indonesia’s largest collection of Gamelan recordings, various ethnic/ folk music throughout the country, and even a recorded speech of Presiden Soekarno reading the Proclamation of Indonesian Independence. After several challenging decades trying to adapt to technological advances of cassettes and CDs, Lokananta was revitalised in 2022 and is now functioning as a modern creative hub for the public.

Exploring Galeri Lokananta

The museum, Galeri Lokananta, is an essential part of the visit. It is a ticketed entry with limited time slots – you can either explore the exhibition by yourself or with a guided tour. I opted for the first option; this gave me a bit more freedom to enjoy each part of the exhibition at my own pace. I wouldn’t mind doing the guided tour on my next visit though; turns out the discography room can only be entered with the tour guide present. My share of tips: book a guided tour online as we were unable to book it in-person.

Fun, Concise, and Engaging

Those three words sum up the experience. The first part of the exhibition depicts the origin of Lokananta and its transformative journey in becoming a significant part of Indonesian music history. Brimmed with cool memorabilia (a room full of original Lokananta vinyls!), clear information, and immersive multimedia installations – the entire exhibition was easy to digest. My personal favourite was the room explaining the vinyl production process.

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The later part of the exhibition (only until 8 March 2025) delves into a more general theme of Indonesia’s pop music in the 60s – especially its tumultuous journey under Soekarno’s era of censorship. As I go along enjoying their colourful, aesthetically-pleasing pop graphics and listening to rare Lokananta original recordings, two things particularly caught my attention – the existence of a local genre music called Lenso (please look up its interesting history!) and a once-banned Indonesia Raya recording that was deemed too subversive.

Even if a museums are not your thing, the precinct’s line-ups of trendy coffee shops, restaurants, and retail spaces are still worth a visit. I do suggest you stop by the Lokananta Record Store – their collection of rare Indonesian vinyls from the 60s and 70s really sparked my interest to start a vinyl collection.

Planning Your Visit

⏰ Museum (Galeri Lokananta) Hours: Daily, 10am – 8pm

🎟️ Entry Time Slots (10 sessions per day):

Session 1: 10am – 12pm (with a guided tour)
Session 2: 11am – 12pm
Session 3: 12pm – 2pm (with a guided tour)
Session 4: 1pm – 2pm
Session 5: 2pm – 4pm (with a guided tour)
Session 6: 3pm – 4pm
Session 7: 4pm – 6pm (with a guided tour)
Session 8: 5pm – 6pm
Session 9: 6pm – 8pm (with a guided tour)
Session 10: 7pm – 8pm

💰Ticket Prices:

Adults: IDR 35,000
Kids (above 100cm), Students, Seniors: IDR 25,000
Foreigners: IDR 70,000 (with tour guide) / IDR 50,000 (without tour guide)

💬 Guided Tour Booking: Online only at Galeri Lokananta Website

🙋‍♀️ Personal Tips:

● If you opt for a guided tour, make sure you book online before you arrive as time slots can be limited.

● All exhibition materials were written in Indonesian; perhaps getting a tour guide is worthwhile if Indonesian is not your first language.

● Bring an umbrella on rainy day

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Things to do in Bali. Bali is often seen on social media for its beaches, postcard sunsets, surfing culture, wellness activities, temples, and cute brunch spots - but beyond the surface, there’s so much more to do, see, and experience. It’s also home to a vibrant network of communities that shape the island’s true rhythm. Togetherness is, after all, the heart of Indonesia, and in Bali alone I’ve come across such a unique mix of groups you can be part of, whether you’re just here on holiday or calling it home - here are some of them. Jumpa Lagi ClubRumah Budaya TamansariBe VocalVinyl Book ClubContinuum AthleticsFilm Photography ClubExit Haven You may also like this article: Things to do in Bali - Fun Art Classes at Rumah Rabbit Jumpa Lagi Club This artsy bunch of genuinely lovely humans runs all sorts of workshops like canvas painting, cake decorating, flower arranging, and more. “Jumpa Lagi” means “see you again,” which feels fitting for a space that keeps bringing people with shared interests back together. From just 100K a session, you get to tap into your creative side while they sort out all the tools (no stress, just show up and have fun). They also often collaborate with their chosen venues, so you can sneak in a cheeky food and drink deal while you’re at it - win-win! Follow their Instagram @jumpalagiclub to check out their schedule. Rumah Budaya Tamansari Indonesia is incredibly rich in culture, and even within traditional dance alone, there’s so much to explore. Built on a deep love for this heritage and a desire to preserve it for younger generations, Rumah Budaya Tamansari was born (which translates to “Tamansari House of Culture”). What started as a simple hobby of dancing together has grown into something much bigger. This group of traditional Indonesian dance enthusiasts now performs on major stages across Bali, Java, and beyond, while continuing to share their passion and keep the culture alive. Follow their Instagram @rumahbudayatamansari to learn more and catch their next performances. Be Vocal This has to be one of the cutest groups I’ve come across. Exactly as I imagined when I heard it’s a singing group - it’s literally just a bunch of people meeting at a scheduled time… to… sing together, haha. And yes, it’s as wholesome as it sounds. When I was there, they kicked things off with a fun singing game, then moved on to learning a traditional Indonesian song from Maluku, and wrapped it all up with the best part: open mic. So cute. If you’re looking to meet new friends, definitely give this one a go. Follow their Instagram @bevocalindonesia to check out their event calendar. Vinyl Book Club Hands up, everyone! Literature and the art of properly listening to good music are not dead yet. I stumbled across this group on Instagram and immediately wanted in. They host sessions at Analogue Listening Space on Sunset Road, and the concept is beautifully simple: reading + listening to music. You get access to their vinyl library, can bring your own book, or borrow from their collection. It’s the perfect activity for introverts or anyone looking to slow down after a busy week. I think the world needs more spaces like this. Check them out on Instagram @vinylbookclub to learn more. Continuum Athletics This one’s for all you energised bunnies around Canggu. Three times a week, they get together for different types of training. 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Whether you’re a seasoned film shooter or just curious to try something new, it’s such a refreshing way to spend a day. Check out their next photowalk on Instagram @filmphotographyclub. Exit Haven This is a whole new level of nerdiness that I 100% want to be part of and I want to be friends with everyone in this group. They literally just meet up… to play board games, haha! No screens, just proper games, a bit of friendly competition, and (I’m assuming) some very serious rule debates. It actually sounds like such a fun, low-pressure way to hang out and meet new people. Follow their Instagram @exithaven_ to see when their next hang is. Soooo...next time you’re in Bali and want to skip one beach day, try joining a community instead. You might leave with new friends, new hobbies, new experiences, and a whole different side of the island you didn’t expect. Thank you for reading!

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Swapping Beaches for Mountaintops: A Chilly Christmas in Bromo

"How cold is cold?" asked my husband, who’s from a country with single-digit temperatures, as I was packing for Bromo. At the time, I had no idea because I had never been. According to Google, it was around 14°C in December. I thought, "Okay, not too cold," and decided not to pack my winter jacket he told me to bring. I question my life decisions sometimes - as it turns out, it was very cold and windy in Bromo. Why We Chose Bromo for ChristmasOur Bromo Itinerary: Jeep Tours & Sunrise ViewsMidnight Pickup & Scary Jeep RideSunrise at Bromo: Two Viewing PointsWas Bromo Worth It? You may also like this article: Lokananta - Why This Musical Landmark is a Must-Visit in Solo Why We Chose Bromo for Christmas Alright, let’s start from the beginning - why was I going to Bromo? My big family always gets together for special occasions and holidays. It’s not always the full crew, but we make it a point to gather somewhere. Christmas is a major one, and we always go on a trip. Usually, it’s Bali or Yogyakarta. Last year, we skipped Bali because the high season is pure chaos - you can’t go anywhere without battling crowds. Yogyakarta is great, but we wanted something different. So, East Java it was! Christmas in Mount Bromo Our Bromo Itinerary: Jeep Tours & Sunrise Views My cousin was the hero of the trip - she arranged our holiday itinerary and booked everything. We stayed in an Airbnb villa in Batu, and around midnight, we were picked up by a pre-arranged transport that was part of the travel package. By around 3am (I think it was), we arrived at the base of Mount Bromo. Since I always sleep on pretty much any moving vehicle somehow, I missed out on experiencing the supposedly nerve-wracking, curvy journey up through the hills. But based on everyone else’s reactions, it sounds like I dodged a pretty intense ride! A gloomy morning on top of Bromo - the hiking crew and the chill crew Midnight Pickup & Scary Jeep Ride From the base, we hopped into our Jeeps. There were 16 of us in total, with four people per Jeep, riding in a convoy to the top. We didn’t hike - not everyone in the group was up for it physically, and honestly, it made more sense to explore the caldera and everything else by Jeep since there’s so much ground to cover. This time, I was wide awake for the drive to the top of the mountain so yes, it was as scary as everyone said. It was pitch black, steep, and freezing cold, but I put all my trust in our super-experienced driver, Pak Gunawan. We got to the top a little early, so we parked and waited for the sunrise in a warung for some coffee and cheeky instant noodles 😉 The picturesque Pasir Berbisik - me and my cousin in our Jeep You may also like this article: Goolali Gelato Bar & Pâtisserie - Semarang’s Sweetest Escape Sunrise at Bromo: Two Viewing Points There are two viewing points: one for beginners (no hiking skills required) - that’s where I was, because I was cold and lazy, and the actual mountaintop (which does require a little hike). My aunt, uncle, and some of my cousins made it to the top, and it turns out, the view up there is absolutely stunning. There was a traffic jam of Jeeps waiting to head back down since it was high season, but we weren’t in any rush. After a bit, we carried on with our journey to the caldera. The drivers took us to a few spots in the caldera, one of which is called Pasir Berbisik (the Whispering Sand). Normally, you can hear the sand go pssshhhh pssshhh, but unfortunately, we didn’t get to experience that because it started raining - making the temperature drop even colder! (I read somewhere that it once snowed in Bromo mid last year!). From there, we were taken to more beautiful spots, but sadly, we couldn’t stop at any of them because of the heavy rain. At the end of the trip, we stopped at a mountain-view restaurant for lunch (which wasn’t included in the tour package, by the way). Was Bromo Worth It? Overall, our trip to Bromo was super fun. Despite the cold and rain, the sunrise views and the caldera’s beauty made it all worth it. The Jeep tour costs IDR 2 million per Jeep - inclusive of a pick up from our villa. If you’re planning a visit, pack warm layers and enjoy the adventure! Thanks for reading ✨

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5 Unique Ramadan Hampers by Local Indonesian Businesses

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