Jakarta. One of the world's largest jazz festivals in the world, the BNI International Java Jazz Festival, will return to the JIExpo Kemayoran in Jakarta on Friday.

The 16th edition of the annual jazz festival is themed "Redeem Yourself Through Music" and will feature a plethora of local and international artists, both young and old.

The younger crowd can groove to R&B singer Omar Apollo while the more senior crowd can enjoy a performance by legendary '60s band The Jacksons.

Indonesian diva Yuni Shara will also grace the stage with her never-before-seen jazz project featuring father and son piano duo Glen-Rega Dauna, guitarists Jopie Item and Is Pusakata from recently disbanded indie band Payung Teduh.

"You can enjoy music, games, food and drinks in one place. This year we also get support from the Tourism and Creative Economy Ministry. This is a bona fide international event," Java Festival Production president director Dewi Gontha said at a press conference in Jakarta on Wednesday.

The three-day event will go on amid the coronavirus outbreak, which has wreaked havoc with the tourism industry. Former Creative Economy Agency (Bekraf) head Triawan Munaf said the music festival should take the opportunity to give hope for Wuhan.

"I think the musicians – both local and international – at the festival should sing a song or two as a tribute for Wuhan. It would show us that humanity is alive and well in this world," Triawan said.

This year's festival also marks its first collaboration with the European Union, who will be represented by the NusantEro band.

The band, which consists of 25 Indonesian and European musicians, will perform 16 songs - seven in Indonesian – to highlight Indonesia's diverse cultural traditions.

BNI will also launch The Funky Bunch, the festival's official mascots of quirky characters that you will meet everywhere at the venue. 

Five different tickets for the festival are available at its official website: Three Day Pass (Rp 1,875,000 or $135), Daily Pass (Rp 775,000), Special Show The Jacksons (Rp 375,000) and Special Show Omar Apollo (Rp 250,000).