The city of Yogyakarta became home to Indonesian metalheads in early December through the JogjaROCKarta Festival 2025, which featured performances by hard rock bands culminating with Anthrax. For hard rock music lovers, the name JogjaROCKarta Festival 2025 is actually familiar, because the event has long served as a gathering place for metalheads in Yogyakarta to witness top musicians perform.
Final performance on the Kridosono Stadium
This yr, JogjaROCKarta Festival 2025 took place at Kridosono Stadium in Yogyakarta from Saturday, December 6, 2025 to Sunday, December 7, 2025. Over two days, a complete group of performers showcased their skills in rocking the stage, from Helloween and Ugly Kid Joe to Loudness and Anthrax. At first glance, there was nothing unusual in regards to the events of JogjaROCKarta Festival 2025, and every thing went like a typical concert.
However, behind the scenes, the journey of the JogjaROCKarta Festival has come to an end as the ultimate edition of the event took place this yr. Since 2017, the festival has successfully brought together top names including Megadeth and Scorpions, and this yr concluded with Anthrax, while also providing a platform for emerging local bands.
“It is with a heavy heart that we announce that JogjaRockArta 2025 is the last edition. We cannot fight against time, and now the moment has come for this festival to finish with full honors,” said Anas Alimi, founding father of Rajawali Indonesia, in Yogyakarta on Friday, December 5, 2025, as reported by Antara.
The birth of Mataram is a rock initiative
At the tip of the JogjaROCKarta Festival, the organizers introduced a brand new initiative called “Mataram Is Rock”. Through this initiative, the 2 largest hard rock live shows within the Yogyakarta and Central Java Special Region – JogjaROCKarta Festival and Rock In Solo – will unite to strengthen the rock music ecosystem within the region. The query stays whether fans are able to welcome Mataram Is Rock as a successor to this beloved festival.
Humanitarian motion: Scott Ian’s guitar for flood victims
In addition to the powerful performances on the Helloween and Anthrax stage, the last edition of the JogjaROCKarta festival provided one other unforgettable highlight: a humanitarian motion for disaster victims. Indeed, the organizers of the JogjaROCKarta 2025 Festival deliberately organized this humanitarian initiative as a part of the event. The method involved auctioning off a guitar belonging to Anthrax guitarist Scott Ian, with the proceeds going to the flood victims.
Ian arrived in Yogyakarta with two Jackson Series King V guitars, one among which was chosen for auction, with all proceeds donated to flood victims in Sumatra. As is widely known, flooding hit many areas in Aceh, North Sumatra and West Sumatra in late November 2025. The disaster left tons of dead and missing, while 1000’s more were injured and compelled to flee their homes.
Auction process and winner
The auction ran from Friday morning to Saturday evening, offering bidders not only Ian’s unforgettable item, but in addition the chance to interact directly with the legend. The winner of the auction gained the precise to fulfill Ian backstage and receive an autograph on the instrument. Additionally, Ian’s guitar was played continue to exist stage through the performance, which added authenticity and emotional value to the souvenirs.
The winner was announced as Nina Silvana, who secured the precise to take home Ian’s guitar by winning a bid price IDR 60,000,000. “SOLD! The bid of IDR 60,000,000 by @ninasil officially closes Scott Ian’s artifact within the hands of its latest owner. Congratulations to the winner whose courage has been proven right! Remember that this amount will not be only a number, but a mandate of solidarity that we are going to fully convey to revive our brothers and sisters in Sumatra,” reads a post on the official JogjaROCKarta Festival 2025 Instagram account.
A legacy beyond music
The auction was greater than only a transaction between a fan and a musician – it symbolized the rock community’s solidarity with disaster victims throughout Indonesia. This humanitarian gesture gave deep intending to the ultimate edition of the JogjaROCKarta Festival, showing that the spirit of rock music goes beyond entertainment and embraces compassion and social responsibility. Scott Ian’s participation within the charity auction demonstrated the willingness of the international rock community to support Indonesia in times of crisis.
The IDR 60 million raised from the guitar auction will go entirely towards helping flood victims in Sumatra, providing vital support in recovery and rebuilding efforts. This humanitarian initiative ensured that the ultimate chapter of the JogjaROCKarta festival might be remembered not just for its powerful musical performances, but in addition for its significant contribution to helping those in need.
As the curtain falls on the JogjaROCKarta Festival after almost a decade of bringing world-class rock music to Yogyakarta, the event leaves behind a legacy of each musical excellence and social solidarity. The move to Mataram Is Rock heralds a brand new era for the regional rock music scene, constructing on the foundations established by JogjaROCKarta Festival and Rock In Solo.
